Have you chosen a university where you could easily make the commute but also want to move out? Are you struggling to choose a university due to not knowing whether you’d rather stay near home? University can be an exciting yet daunting time for lots of students; you’re expected to make big decisions and step into adulthood when you don’t feel ready. Deciding whether you should move away from home or commute to university can be hard for many students (I moved out in first year and commuted in my second) with it being a very personal decision. There are multiple factors that you should weigh up which should help you make that all important choice.
Cost
Let’s face it, uni students who move away from home and into halls don’t have much of their loan to spend on nights out and partying! Sometimes the maintenace loan doesn’t even cover a year’s rent let alone the weekly food shop which can make it extremely hard to get by. You may find yourself having to work the entire year alongside your studies just to afford the basics which can be a stressful workload to manage. If you can afford to do so, moving out can be rewarding but if you’re more of a party animal then you may prefer the extra cash you will have if you commute.
Social Network
Often commuters struggle to build up their social network as awkward train times mean that they can’t go to the majority of events put in place to help them make friends. Going to society events or on nights out may be a struggle which means that you have to make an extra effort whilst on campus to connect to people. If you don’t mind missing out on events then this may not be a problem but if you suffer from major FOMO then moving out into halls may be the option for you.
Home
Are you the type of person who is always out and never at home as it is or are you a major home bird with a strong connection to your family? It’s normal to get homesick when you move out but some suffer more than others – I know I did! Consider whether moving out will increase your independence or whether it will make you unable to enjoy your time at uni properly. There’s no shame in staying at home with your parents if you think it’s the right thing for you.
Health
Mental and physical health can play a large influence of whether you feel able to move out. If you need support from those who know you best then perhaps moving out is not the best step for you right now. It is worth noting that universities do have lots of support for those struggling with your health but of course, the stress of being away from your loved ones and having to change to a new GP may also be something to consider.
University Choice
Not all universities do the courses we want to do which means that it may not always be possible to commute to our chosen university. Consider your life ambitions and dreams and whether you are best moving away from home to do the course that’s right for you as opposed to one you half-heartedly sign up to just because it’s nearer to home. If you do live near to your chosen university, however, you may wish to live away from home with the comfort of knowing that you aren’t far from home if you feel that you need to go back.
Time
Commuting takes time, especially if you have multiple trains to catch to reach campus. I get two trains each morning to reach my university which is rather time consuming. Are you someone who loves their beauty sleep? If so, perhaps the ease of living five minutes away from campus would benefit you more than having to wake up at 6:30am just to make it in time for your 9am seminar.