Advice for commuter students
During the Fall semester of 2020, I had decided to commute for a couple of months until I sadly switched to entirely online learning. However, in that time, I had learned a lot of lessons regarding commuting as a student.
Tip #1: Plan ahead
While it sounds obvious, planning ahead is the most important thing to think about when you’re commuting. Traffic is always going to be surprising, and chances are if you cut your time to the slim side, you’re going to be late. I took public transportation and found that scheduling your arrival 30 minutes earlier helps a lot and prepares you for any unexpected delays. (Fun fact: I missed a stop and ended up having to walk 30 minutes from Boulder station to Kittredge.)
Tip #2: Use the Transit app
The Transit app is a very helpful tool a lot of freshmen use during their first year as they learn the ropes of the bus routes. I lived in Will Vill during my first year and know all about the buses. The app however, makes that info easily accessible and you can even plan entire trips and the app will tell you stop locations and arrival times for a lot of different bus services, including the Buff Buses as well.
Tip #3: Talk to your professors about being a commuter
This tip might not apply as directly as it did for me during the pandemic. But at times, when weather got bad, I would email my professor that I could not make it for in-person class and rather hopped onto Zoom and watched the lecture from there. However, especially if your class is relatively small, it is always nice to give your professor the heads up about your transportation availability.
Tip #4: Take time out of your schedule for hanging out on campus with your friends
Another major obstacle I faced was being burned out so much and the feeling of just wanting to go back home and relax. However, I found that I barely hung out with the friends I had in Boulder even if I really wanted to meet them. So my advice to you is to try to dedicate time in your daily schedule to hang out with friends or opportunities to meet people and make friends; even if that time slot isn’t used, it’s still there for any surprises.
Tip #5: Be prepared
Road construction, heavy weather, and getting lost in Boulder will happen. However, the best thing to do is prepare for these occurrences. Check the weather, set a timer, and have a backup plan. Although it may seem silly, remain vigilant in maintaining a schedule so that you can arrive and depart on time to avoid unintentional stress.
Tip #6: Be familiar with available resources
One thing I regret is not being aware of the commuting resources available to me. It took me a year to realize that I had access to most regional bus routes with my bus card, and only a $10 fee to DIA. Moreso, it took me until my junior year to realize that I was parking much farther than I had to in order to take the bus to and from campus.
Tip #7: Get involved on campus
Between a job off-campus and classes, it was often difficult for me to remain downtown for social events. After class I was heading home, and at home I was heading to work. Because I did not live nearby, I oftentimes would attempt to find student groups that met within my class schedule. For example, if my last class ended at 2pm, and there was a group playing frisbee at Farrand Field at 4pm, I would go to Norlin to complete some homework instead of heading home.
One last thing: Check out Off Campus and Neighborhood Relations’ resources for commuting buffs and view the schedule for Transfer and Commuter Student Orientation.
In the end, your college experience might not be entirely traditional, but it’s still something that’s yours and you can have fun with it. It’s what you make it, and honestly, you’ll start to have a groove of things and healthy habits that will help you succeed. Yes, you will fail at times, just as I did, but you’ll get the hang of it.
Take care y’all!
Hi! I’m Luis, and I’m a JLM currently studying aerospace engineering with a minor in astrophysics and Spanish. I was born in Nebraska and raised in Colorado, and I really like music and watermelon
Hey, I’m Kelly, and I’m a Journey Leader Mentor studying environmental studies and minoring in ecology and evolutionary biology. I am originally from Connecticut but moved to Colorado my senior year of high school. I enjoy the outdoors and producing music when I have the free time.