Commuting to university
Mollie Harvey
Physical Geography BSc(Hons) - First Year
Hi, I'm Mollie. I am currently a first year student studying Physical Geography. I am interested in anything creative, animals and reading. I really look forward to sharing my uni experience with everyone.
Hi, I am a first year Physical Geography student. I still live at home and commute daily into university via two trains, one taking me to Leeds station and the other into Huddersfield. Whilst commuting is thought to deprive you of experiences, I’m gaining a lot from my commute, so it is still a great chance to attend university without having to make the jump to moving out straight away.
Choosing to commute:
Commuting to university was my top priority in sixth form so my main focus was on universities accessible to me. There were many factors that impacted my decision to commute to university and there are many reasons why you may decide to live at home and the decision can be very personal and hard. At first, I found the choice to be a little bit difficult due to the fear of missing out, but I soon realised that the reasons for commuting were more of a priority to me over missing out on a few things, so I pushed away my doubts.
My experience:
I find living at home to be the perfect fit for me, and I intend to continue to commute throughout my next few years at university. I do struggle a bit with the commute into and out of Huddersfield, especially on the occasions that trains are cancelled and rush hour can mean a lot of people, but it is worth it to be able to sleep in my own bed, see my family every day and have a quiet place to study. I have also found my lecturers to be very understanding when I experience travel disruptions, especially since many of them commute themselves.
Pros:
The most obvious benefits to living at home during university are;
- Sleeping in your own bed
- Being in a comfortable environment
- Living with family
One, unexpected benefit is the amount of money I am saving from budgeting travel costs, paying towards living costs at home (instead of a full rent) and not having to buy all new stuff in September. This is allowing me to save some money for other things such as learning to drive.
Additionally, always being at home makes it so easy to see your old school friends whenever they have their own university holidays, without having to worry about different term dates.
Also, the benefit of getting up early for a morning commute is the ability to view and capture some amazing sunrises and scenic photography.
Another great thing about commuting is that you can experience a new place first before you commit to living there. This then gives you the option to move out in second or third year and you’re able to develop your independence at your own pace.
Worries and solutions:
Regarding the social life of university, I did originally feel like I would miss out. However, living at home suits my personality much more as I am not someone who enjoys going on a night out and I am happy to see people during the day, which also means I have fewer distractions when it comes to meeting important deadlines.
Another thing I initially thought would be a struggle was societies because many hold their meetings in the evening, which could make it less accessible to those who commute, depending on their timetable. But a lot of societies can be flexible with their meetings and failing that, anyone can set up a society so if you can't find one to suit your commuting needs or your interests, you could create a society and still be involved. For me, as a first year, I am just getting used to the transition from school to university and will maybe start thinking about fitting in sports and societies at a later date.
My last piece of advice for people considering commuting to university is to prepare yourself well and look after your health by investing in a strong, sturdy backpack, a warm coat and scarf and some hand sanitizer. I also chose to get the flu jab in November making me less worried about the number of people you encounter whilst travelling and whilst at university.
Also, take advantage of any money you save, and when it’s cold outside and you’re at the station, treat yourself to a hot drink!
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