Calling all commuters (any school) Forum

[beach_terror]

So as the title suggests, I'm now considering commuting from home to my law school instead of taking out extra $$ for living expenses. I'm roughly 15-20 minutes away from the school (Villanova). I'm primarily concerned with the effect it'll have on my social life (which by my calculation, will be severely limited to begin with). I'm also coming straight from undergrad.

So to all you commuters, do you ever feel disadvantaged (socially, school-wise, etc) by commuting to school and living at home with your family... as opposed to living in an apartment where other law students live? I'm a bit worried about leaving the "law school mentality" when I go home, as I might get lazy/not work as hard as when I'm surrounded by others going through the same thing all day. Does anyone feel like this, or is it a breathe of fresh air to get away from it all when you go home? I'm planning on staying at the school all day to do work and go to class, and only going home for dinner and sleeping. I'm figuring by living at home, I won't have to pay anything beside tuition... which will leave me anywhere from 20,000-30,000 saved in living expenses.

Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: Actually, mods, if you see this, if you could put this in the FAQ... it may be better suited for there.

[BriaTharen]

So as the title suggests, I'm now considering commuting from home to my law school instead of taking out extra $$ for living expenses. I'm roughly 15-20 minutes away from the school (Villanova). I'm primarily concerned with the effect it'll have on my social life (which by my calculation, will be severely limited to begin with). I'm also coming straight from undergrad.

So to all you commuters, do you ever feel disadvantaged (socially, school-wise, etc) by commuting to school and living at home with your family... as opposed to living in an apartment where other law students live? I'm a bit worried about leaving the "law school mentality" when I go home, as I might get lazy/not work as hard as when I'm surrounded by others going through the same thing all day. Does anyone feel like this, or is it a breathe of fresh air to get away from it all when you go home? I'm planning on staying at the school all day to do work and go to class, and only going home for dinner and sleeping. I'm figuring by living at home, I won't have to pay anything beside tuition... which will leave me anywhere from 20,000-30,000 saved in living expenses.

Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: Actually, mods, if you see this, if you could put this in the FAQ... it may be better suited for there.

Depending on the school, a lot of people live off campus to begin with. I would be more concerned about living with family, who may not be used to the amount of studying you will be doing now. Be prepared to spend a lot of time in the library, but if you think your family home is a good environment, you shouldn't have a problem.

[andreea7]

15-20 minutes doesn't actually qualify as "commute." My 90 minute ride to school does, and from my previous experience with doing this in grad school, I can tell you that it will affect you as much as you allow it. Why would living on campus be better for you socially? Because you live with other students? You have a very short trip to school and that shouldn't prevent you in my opinion from hanging out with people or anything like it. But that's just my opinion. I don't think living on campus is worth the extra loans. Unless you decide you would rather not live with your family, which is a different thing altogether.

[Janus]

15-20 minutes doesn't actually qualify as "commute." My 90 minute ride to school does, and from my previous experience with doing this in grad school, I can tell you that it will affect you as much as you allow it. Why would living on campus be better for you socially? Because you live with other students? You have a very short trip to school and that shouldn't prevent you in my opinion from hanging out with people or anything like it. But that's just my opinion. I don't think living on campus is worth the extra loans. Unless you decide you would rather not live with your family, which is a different thing altogether.

+1 15-20 minutes does not count as commuting. I'll be commuting 90 minutes each way to law school. Most law students live off campus due to the fact that most schools have a limited number of housing spaces for grad students. Plus, it's a preference for many to live off campus. If you look at it that way, then everyone is commuting. And I would say that driving from an apartment to campus and parking will take at least 15 minutes for most people. Even if you live close enough to walk, your walking commute will probably take about 15 minutes. So, it's a wash.

I would be more concerned about whether or not you will be able to stand 3 more years living at home. Will you be able to do adult things and run your own life?

Edit: In speaking to current law students, many have a lively social life. Probably not in the same realm as undergrad (depending how you partied), but an adult social life. I don't think all law students are hermits.

[Logjik]

15-20 minute commute? Seriously? That's not a commute. I wish mine was anywhere near that.

[jlnoa0915]

I'll be doing a 15-20 min commute to Villanova, not concerned about it and actually liking the fact I'll have some distance to unwind when need to but still will be close enough to socialize.

[chicagolaw2013]

HA 15-20 mins a commute...I had to laugh. I will be going to school in Chicago and living in Chicago, and quickest route using pub trans is 30 minutes. BAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

[beach_terror]

The commute part was more meant to be commuting from home, not the actual distance.

[jlnoa0915]

HA 15-20 mins a commute...I had to laugh. I will be going to school in Chicago and living in Chicago, and quickest route using pub trans is 30 minutes. BAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I don't see how berating him answers his question or helps him out.

[chicagolaw2013]

I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have laughed so hard. But seriously, "home" is whatever you think it is. I live with my fiance and 2 dogs. Should I up and leave them and live on my own? Obvi not.

"Home" could also be you holed up in an apartment all by yourself. You are basically asking if you should live at the library.

[beach_terror]

I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have laughed so hard. But seriously, "home" is whatever you think it is. I live with my fiance and 2 dogs. Should I up and leave them and live on my own? Obvi not.

"Home" could also be you holed up in an apartment all by yourself. You are basically asking if you should live at the library.

No, the point of the post was to hear about others experiences about living at home and going to law school. I'm going to be fresh out of undergrad, and I was curious to hear others who underwent a similar transition from living at college, then living at home with their parents again. Thanks for trying, you were almost helpful... almost. I've had a few PMs of those who went through the situation I just described, explained how they handled the transition, and gave me some good tips. /thread ... not sure why this was resurrected to begin with.

[chicagolaw2013]

I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have laughed so hard. But seriously, "home" is whatever you think it is. I live with my fiance and 2 dogs. Should I up and leave them and live on my own? Obvi not.

"Home" could also be you holed up in an apartment all by yourself. You are basically asking if you should live at the library.

No, the point of the post was to hear about others experiences about living at home and going to law school. I'm going to be fresh out of undergrad, and I was curious to hear others who underwent a similar transition from living at college, then living at home with their parents again. Thanks for trying, you were almost helpful... almost.

You should change the title of your thread then.

[beach_terror]

No, I shouldn't. I'll be commuting from home to school. I was curious to hear about commuting in general, even if it's not the same situation I'll be in. But nice job being an asshat, tool.

[chicagolaw2013]

No, I shouldn't. I'll be commuting from home to school. I was curious to hear about commuting in general, even if it's not the same situation I'll be in. But nice job being an asshat, tool.

Relax, it's just TLS haha.

[2009 Prospective]

There hasn't been any sort of negative stigma where I'm at towards students living at home. I think the only way it would hinder your social life is if your parents were constantly bugging you about drinking too much before going out etc etc. A couple people ended up moving out of their parents' houses 2nd semester b/c it was either too inconvenient or it was just annoying to be living with parents. Personally, I think it's well worth the money saved, especially if your parents are hands off and won't be up your ass the whole time.

[beach_terror]

I am relaxed. However, that doesn't change the fact that you are both an asshat and a tool. I still don't quite get why you're continuing to post, as you haven't mentioned anything helpful or useful to anyone who will read this. And although "this is just TLS", it's still a place where you can gather useful information.

There hasn't been any sort of negative stigma where I'm at towards students living at home. I think the only way it would hinder your social life is if your parents were constantly bugging you about drinking too much before going out etc etc. A couple people ended up moving out of their parents' houses 2nd semester b/c it was either too inconvenient or it was just annoying to be living with parents. Personally, I think it's well worth the money saved, especially if your parents are hands off and won't be up your ass the whole time.

Yeah, I'll have to see. My parents aren't exactly "hands off" but they aren't a pain either. I plan to be at home as little as possible, so any problems should be minimized I hope. Even if it doesn't work out, it's still a year of rent saved, which is anywhere from 10-15k. Definitely worth trying, at least for me. It's also nice to know there's not a negative attitude towards those living with parents, as there that sort of vibe in undergrad.

[chicagolaw2013]

I am relaxed. However, that doesn't change the fact that you are both an asshat and a tool. I still don't quite get why you're continuing to post, as you haven't mentioned anything helpful or useful to anyone who will read this. And although "this is just TLS", it's still a place where you can gather useful information.

I just enjoy getting you all worked up over a thread on the internet because I laughed that you thought 15-20 minutes was a commute. This is my humor for the evening.

EDIT: Probably want to work on "thickness of skin" if you plan on surviving a law career, if you are honestly getting this worked up over someone laughing a little at your expense. Just a thought. I'm hoping you are jabbing back at me for comedic value as well, to be honest.

[09042014]

I'm about an hour and half from where I'm starting this fall, and I'm just going to move to campus. But if I were 15 minutes I'd stay at home for sure.

[beach_terror]

I am relaxed. However, that doesn't change the fact that you are both an asshat and a tool. I still don't quite get why you're continuing to post, as you haven't mentioned anything helpful or useful to anyone who will read this. And although "this is just TLS", it's still a place where you can gather useful information.

I just enjoy getting you all worked up over a thread on the internet because I laughed that you thought 15-20 minutes was a commute. This is my humor for the evening.

EDIT: Probably want to work on "thickness of skin" if you plan on surviving a law career, if you are honestly getting this worked up over someone laughing a little at your expense. Just a thought. I'm hoping you are jabbing back at me for comedic value as well, to be honest.

I'm not worked up, nor have I displayed any signs of being worked up, I just think you're a moron. The more you post, the more obvious it becomes. I enjoy pointing out idiots, and you happen to be one of them. And, once again, my use of "commute" wasn't directed at the time it takes to get from A to B, it was the lifestyle that not living with other law students entails. Need to work on that reading comp, bro.

[chicagolaw2013]

I am relaxed. However, that doesn't change the fact that you are both an asshat and a tool. I still don't quite get why you're continuing to post, as you haven't mentioned anything helpful or useful to anyone who will read this. And although "this is just TLS", it's still a place where you can gather useful information.

I just enjoy getting you all worked up over a thread on the internet because I laughed that you thought 15-20 minutes was a commute. This is my humor for the evening.

EDIT: Probably want to work on "thickness of skin" if you plan on surviving a law career, if you are honestly getting this worked up over someone laughing a little at your expense. Just a thought. I'm hoping you are jabbing back at me for comedic value as well, to be honest.

I'm not worked up, nor have I displayed any signs of being worked up, I just think you're a moron. The more you post, the more obvious it becomes. I enjoy pointing out idiots, and you happen to be one of them. And, once again, my use of "commute" wasn't directed at the time it takes to get from A to B, it was the lifestyle that not living with other law students entails. Need to work on that reading comp, bro.

I'm a girl, sweetheart. And again, RELAX.

[babyshark]

My house is nearly 50 miles from where I will be attending law school. I have to commute for family reasons, otherwise I would live downtown where the school is located. I commuted for undergrad, too, and I think it is a drain on your social life. You are physically away from the center of activity. You can't just bump into a friend and do things spontaneously. But cest la vie. You're going to law school, not pre-school. The point is to enter a learned profession, not have a robust social life, although if you can do both, more power to you.