To commute or not commute? The answer is a matter of cost

By Jillian Barricelli

As high school seniors throughout the region decide where to go to college in the fall, many are weighing the pros and cons of commuting to a local school or living on campus.
Each, students say, can provide a very different experience, not to mention high costs.
Tuition and fees constitute about two-thirds of the cost for students at private, four year colleges but just over a third of the total budget for in-state students in public colleges.
The average total charges, including tuition and fees and room and board, were about 5.9 percent high than a year earlier, according to the study, Trends in College Pricing, by The College Board.
"I have to pay my own tuition, so I was looking to have the least amount of loans possible." said Paul Leonard, 21, of Norton, a Bridgewater State College student. "Commuting is not as bad as people think. I go and visit my friends at their schools on the weekends, and I can keep the money I earn at my job and not have to worry about any ridiculous expenses."
For other students, how far they go away for school may not be totally their decision.
Jenne LaManna, 19, a Stonehill student from Westchester, N.Y., said her original plan was to go to California for college.
"I had always wanted to go to Cali for school, but my mom didn't want me that far away in case something happened. I like the 4-hour distance between home and Stonehill though- it's far away that I can have my independence, but it's close enough that I could go home if I had to."
Chris Palmer, 21, a Stonehill student from Santa Barbara, Calif., said there are ups and downs to being far away from home.
"The only negatives for me are that things on the East Coast are a lot different than the West Coast, like food and weather. So I miss things like that from back home."
According to a National Survey of Student Engagement conducted by the Indiana University Center for Post secondary Research and Planning, many view commuter students as less committed to academics and less involved in school because of their other commitments, such as jobs and family.
That's not true, said Michael Murteira, 21, who commutes to Stonehill College in Easton from his home in Taunton.
On campus, he is the Commuter Council President, and is also involved in student government and the student alumni association.
Murteira said he commutes to save money and while some students prefer dorm life, he said he loves commuting.
"I was allowed to have a car on campus when I was a freshman. I am able to see my family and friends back at home. I do not have to deal with roommates from hell and not having to share a bathroom with a dozen people," he said
Some students commute - and live on campus.
Lauren Smith, 20, of North Attleboro lives on campus at Stonehill College, where she is a student, and takes classes at Bridgewater State College.
"While I don't exactly commute from home, I still can understand what it feels like to be a commuter. Since Bridgewater is mostly a commuter school, it is less homey thanStonehill. As far as the distance from Stonehill to my house, it's perfect. I can go home on theweekends whenever I want to, and I can still make it back for the night."perfect. I can go home on the weekends whenever I want to, and I can still make it back for the night."
jbarricelli@student.stonehill.edu