Today we are going to be going over some of the best college commuter hacks that I have learned throughout the last year commuting to college.
If you’ve never been a college commuter before or looking for ways to make commuting to college easier, you’re going to find some tips in the post that will change the game for you!
Related: 13 Habits of Successful College Students
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I will earn a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.
What is a Commuter Student?
Before we jump into the hacks, let’s go over exactly what a college commuter student. A commuter student is a student that lives off (typically at home with their parents) campus and drives to classes every day.
You may be wondering why someone would willingly want to be a commuter student. Well to keep it simple, it’s usually less expensive than living on campus. And they don’t have to pay their own rent!
Must Know College Commuter Hacks
Plan your day ahead of time
Planning your day ahead of time will make the day go by so much easier as a commuter student.
When you are planning your day it’s important to take into account travel time, class time, and time to finish your homework. This will help you stay on task throughout the day and ease your stress on those super busy days!
Pack a lunch and/or snacks
In order to keep your energy up throughout the day, be sure to pack a lunch or snacks to keep you full if you don’t plan on buying food on campus. You can also save so much more money bringing your own food every day!
Make a TUE/THUR schedule
If you can get a Tuesday/Thursday, GET ONE! You’ll only have to drive to school 2x per week for classes and it’s super easy to incorporate into a work schedule if you have a part-time job.
Get to school early
Be sure to plan ahead to get to school at least 30min-40min before your scheduled class time. Why? It’s no secret that parking on campus can be horrendous, especially if your classes start in the middle of the day.
Getting to school early will allow you to have enough time to find a parking spot and walk to class with time to spare.
BUY A PARKING PASS
To piggyback off my last point about having enough time to park, I want to encourage you to get a parking pass. I know I know, they can be expensive, but in the long run, the parking tickets aren’t going to be worth it.
Make the most out of your down time
As a commuter student, you’re probably going to have some downtime in between classes. Using this time productively to get your tasks done is a great way to get more done for your classes, meet with groups, or take care of personal tasks.
Finish your homework before you go home
Keeping your schoolwork at school will do wonders for your productivity every day. I found that when I went home I had a hard time focusing and getting things done. But when I went to the library doing homework was less stressful and I completed my work faster!
College Commuter Survival Kit
College commuter survival essentials that you can’t forget!
Insulated lunch bag
If you plan on taking your lunch to school, you are going to want to make sure you pack your food in an insulated lunch bag so it stays cold/hot.
Hydro flask
It’s so important to stay hydrated throughout the day so having a water bottle, or more importantly, a hydro flask is a must. This hydro flask will keep your water cold all day long.
Charger holder
Since you’ll out and about most of the day, you want to make sure have all the chargers you need for devices in case you need to charge them. This case holder will help keep them nice and organized so they’ll be easy to grab when you need them.
Portable charger
In case you aren’t able to get to a wall outlet during the day, having a portable charger on you will come in handy.
Energy drinks
Commuting days can be long days and energy drinks are a great way to get a quick boost of caffeine to push you throughout the day. These are my all-time FAVORITE energy drinks. They taste so much better than Monster/Red Bull and are better for you too!
Snack bags
These reusable snack backs are perfect for packing snacks for the day. You can use them over and over again and save money on plastic Ziplock bags.
Planner
In order to stay on track with your schedule, classes, and other daily tasks, having a planner is essential!
Headphones
Walking from class to class, eating lunch, or hanging out in the library can get a little boring at times. Having a pair of headphones on you at all times will do just the trick!
Looking for more college tips?
Leave a Reply