Finding a Commuter Community

Coming to college, I was worried about how being a commuter would affect my social life. I need not have worried: while the commuter experience is definitely different, I was quickly able to find a commuter community here are Rutgers.

Since my hometown of Edison, New Jersey, is only 15 minutes away, it was easy to connect with other commuter students since I already knew a lot of them from home.

Additionally, before coming to Rutgers, I participated in the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) summer bridge program. This was another avenue that allowed me to find other commuters very early on in my college experience.

A Commuting Schedule

As a commuter, I plan my schedule strategically, because I have to balance everything that comes with still living at home. Even though it’s not very popular I like to schedule my classes early on in the day, so that I have the rest of the day to myself.

This gives me the flexibility to either go home or stick around on campus. Besides, living so close to Rutgers lets me easily accommodate any emergencies or classes that are later on in the day.

Getting Involved with Campus Life

Contrary to popular belief, Rutgers commuter students are very involved on campus. Regardless of where you might be commuting from, there are plenty of communities and organizations on campus that will welcome you with open arms.

The Society of Hispanic Engineers (SHE), which I’m on the executive board of, and EOF are two of the organizations that have made me feel just as involved as any student who lives on campus might be. And as an Engineering Ambassador, I have the opportunity to share my experiences at everything from campus tours and community outreach events to student panels and Rutgers Spring Open House.