Before I came to USF, I had an idea in my head about the quintessential “college experience.” I always felt like one of the biggest factors of college life was living in a dorm on campus. 

But I never got to experience this. 

I live in an apartment about a 15 minute walk away from the Publix on the north edge of campus. Even being down the road on Fletcher, I often feel I am missing out on what makes college special. I do not know dorm floor camaraderie or have the spontaneous feeling of being on campus. 

As I thought about this more, I wondered how commuter students felt. Do other non-resident students feel lonely and disconnected from USF like I do? And how do they grapple with this?

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In fall 2023, 80% of the 37,263 enrolled undergraduate students at USF commuted or didn’t live on campus, according to the 2023-24 USF Common Data Set . 

Talking with fellow students who live off-campus made me realize there are many positives to commuting, despite how isolating it can be.

Commuter students lack a “typical” college lifestyle, but it is still possible to be involved and experience independence as a young adult. 

Joining clubs, connecting with classmates and finding activities to do while at campus make up for the lack of constant immersion among peers. 

Last semester, I joined Music Makers of USF and I love the community it has given me. The advantage of already having music in common makes establishing friendships easier. I have found people who I really connect with and have even become an officer of the club. 

I also enjoy living near a major city that will always offer new discoveries. College towns can feel stuffy and coddling compared to a big city. With Tampa, you are not confined to only college life, having to frequent the same three crowded college clubs and restaurants. 

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“USF gets absorbed into the culture of Tampa that compliments it, whereas with other Florida universities it is just the college town,” said David Hodgson, a junior majoring in political science. “Especially in South Tampa, there’s a ton of stuff to do.”

Of course, living away from USF does have its downsides. For many students, the infamous Tampa traffic is a major drawback. 

Jay Morisset, a junior criminology major, said if the roads get backed up, his 30 minute drive can take up to an hour.

“Once that traffic hits in there when I’m driving to USF, it’s a pain,” Morisset said. “So sometimes I’m like, ‘Why did I even come?’ And that’s why I don’t come every single day. I think if I did I would just give up.”

While living away from the action of college does have its disadvantages, it is important to remember college looks different for everybody.

If anything, having a bathroom to myself free from the horrors of sharing with others, is a huge reason to be thankful I live in an apartment.