Commuting to College: How I Stay Connected at the Mount

When I transferred to Mount St. Mary’s, I knew my experience would be a little different from most students, I wouldn’t be living on campus. I commute from Frederick, Maryland, which means I don’t have the typical “dorm life” experience. At first, I worried that being a commuter might make it harder to make friends and feel like part of the Mount community. But I’ve found ways to stay connected, get involved, and truly enjoy my time here, even without living on campus.

One thing that’s helped me is taking advantage of campus resources. Even though I don’t live here, I make sure to use the library, student lounges and other spaces between classes. It’s a great way to meet people and feel like I’m not just coming and going. Plus, it gives me a chance to interact with my professors outside of class, which has been super helpful.

Here are some of my biggest tips for commuters at the Mount

• • Get involved in something early on. Whether it’s a club, a team or even just going to school events, being part of the community helps you feel more connected.
  • Use your breaks wisely. Instead of driving home right after class, find a place on campus to study, grab food or hang out—it makes a huge difference in feeling like part of the school.
  • Make an effort to connect with classmates. Since you don’t have roommates or suitemates, it’s important to build friendships in other ways. Talking to people in class, joining study groups or even just grabbing coffee with someone after class can help.
  • Stay organized with your schedule. Commuting adds extra time to your day, so keeping track of class times, meetings and assignments helps you avoid unnecessary trips back and forth. 

Even though commuting has its challenges, I’ve found that it doesn’t have to take away from the college experience. The Mount has such a welcoming community, and as long as you put yourself out there, it’s easy to feel like you belong. If you’re a commuter student, know that you’re just as much a part of this school as anyone else—you just have to take those extra steps to stay connected!