TO MAKE PUBLIC 10/22 12:00 pm
Pace University can be characterized through an array of different qualities and personalities—its top-notch programs, its rich diversity, along with its undeniable homey-feel. However, being a “commuter school” is one of the most common phrases used to describe our campus.
It is true that Pace University is home to a mass of commuter students, the majority of them coming from Westchester, Putnam, and the Bronx. As a Pace commuter myself, I am curious to know what this experience looks like for other students. Thus, I decided to survey commuters of various age ranges and backgrounds to get a better idea of their experience at Pace.
I first asked students what initially drew them to being a Pace commuter. For most of the commuter students, proximity to home was their
main incentive. According to a junior commuter, he was drawn to “how close campus was to my home.” He explains that he commutes from The Bronx, New York, with about a twenty-minute drive up to campus every day. A sophomore commuter had a similar thought process, emphasizing that she felt worried about “feeling like I was stuck on campus.” She explains that “I wanted to go about my usual life and do things I love to do, such as going to the gym, going shopping, going out with my boyfriend and my friends.” A senior commuter remarks “I
like being in my own room, in my own bed, having my own privacy, and not sharing a communal bathroom.” Many others include not wanting to leave their home-life behind. The same senior commuter states, “I feel like when people dorm they sort of lose that homely family dynamic they had growing up, and sort of rush away those last few years with them.”
For other students, there may have been external reasons pressuring them to stay close to home. Another senior commuter recalls applying in 2021 at the peak of COVID-19, in which “commuting seemed like the most practical choice.” She also states that “commuting enables me to save money on tuition, which is particularly important.” This reason rings true for most Pace commuters, as through commuting, they are saving money on room and board. However, the junior commuter remarked that “I’m sure by the end of the year, the gas money will be the same as room and board.
I found myself receiving many of the same answers, the most popular one related to living the “best of both worlds.” According to a senior
commuter, “You don’t feel that shift from having left your home life or feel like you’re a completely different person whenever you’re living at
home or at school.” A sophomore commuter supported this claim, stating “The biggest benefit is coming home to your own room, with all
your clothes and your own bed. Truly it is the best part of my day. I like leaving campus whenever I want to go into town and get lunch, and just
having that independence.”
Having the opportunity to drive to and from campus also offers the opportunity to let students “recharge.” According to another senior commuter, “After classes, I can recharge in a familiar environment surrounded by my family and support system. This balance positively contributes to my academic success and mental health, allowing me to concentrate more effectively on my coursework and extracurricular
activities.”
However, returning home after classes to home-cooked meals and childhood friends are not the only benefits for commuter students. Another
big reason is the money. Per a junior commuter, “Being a commuter, I save a lot more money than people who live on campus. College is expensive, so I try to save as much as I can.” A junior commuter attributes this to “being able to keep your jobs from home.” This way, commuters can make money throughout the school year while still receiving an education.
But among all these benefits of commuting, there also comes the struggles. Thus, leading me into my next questions: What struggles have you
faced as a commuter? Do you ever feel a disconnect from campus or wish you had a different college experience?
According to one of our senior commuters, a struggle she is always faced is still feeling “ruled over” by her parents. She explains that as a commuter, you must “give up some of that freedom and independence that students who dorm have.” She adds that “You don’t get as close with the students who live there, you don’t get to notice all the quirks around campus as intimately, and you don’t truly experience that college life that you’ve always seen growing up.” And she is not the only commuter who feels this way. The junior commuter sometimes feels the sense of wanting the “typical” college experience.
For transfer commuters, this feeling may ring even closer to home. According to a transfer commuter also in her junior year at Pace, “If I wasn’t on the cheer team, I think I’d feel the disconnect more. Since I am a transfer student, I wish my college experience was still living on campus, but commuting is fine.”
Unfortunately, for those who have had a taste of boarding, commuting may feel a bit underwhelming. One of our senior commuters recalls “it
was always out of the question for me to dorm, but a huge part of me wishes I could’ve. I can’t imagine how differently my experience would’ve gone if I had—probably better I think.”
For many Pace commuters, this feeling is attributed to the hassle of getting to and from campus. According to the senior commuter, “A significant challenge I face as a commuter is building a strong sense of community. Because I am on campus for limited periods, I sometimes
feel disconnected, especially when others have formed close friend groups based on their living arrangements.” She adds that “While I participated in Commuter Appreciation Week and met other commuters, some commuter events had low attendance, making it harder to establish deeper connections.” A freshman commuter shares a similar account, stating “One of the struggles I have is if there are events I would like to go to but they’re late at night. I don’t like to drive too late, so this can hold me back from events that I’m interested in.” The
sophomore commuter adds, “I do sometimes think about joining a sorority and going to parties, but I just feel that it’s too much on my already
packed schedule, as well as having a job off campus closer to home. I think the traveling back and forth would be too much trying to make every
meeting and event.
After reflecting on their time commuting at Pace, I wanted to give these students an opportunity to recommend any ways the campus can improve their experience. Some students found themselves blanking. The junior commuter remarked “Nothing since they have the
commuter club and implemented the commuter lounge in the library.” Another junior commuter adds, “Pace does an excellent job supporting
commuters, from the initiatives led by the Commuter Advisory Board to the efforts of Jacklyn Romani, the Assistant Director of Commuter Student Services.” He also notes, “it’s important for everyone to recognize and understand the unique challenges that commuter students face.”
Many commuters may find themselves going into commuter life with unrealistic expectations, and it not meeting the reality it entails. However, a handful of commuters have some ideas on how to improve this experience. Another junior commuter suggests “more stuff in the commuter lounge like a coffee machine, snacks, fairy lights, etc. Something that feels like home and a better place to relieve stress.” The sophomore
commuter simply wishes for more parking, “Especially in Elm,” she states. A senior commuter recommends “Weekend excursions to places like SixFlags in Jackson, New Jersey, or a Broadway show and dinner in New York City.” along with “activites like bowling, volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House, or apple picking at Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard.” And finally, a junior commuter notes that commuters need ” a better meal plan.” She continues: “The meal plan now doesn’t even cover one meal per day. Perhaps the commuter meal should be all flex dollars since commuters often find themselves at off campus spots.”
Overall, commuter life is not suited for everyone. For some, the commuting route may have been non-negotiable—a way to save money while still receiving a college education. For others, it may have been a last resort—a way to escape the overwhelming life that boarding entails for
some. But for most of these students, commuting has been a way to balance home and school life, giving them the best of both worlds.
Yes, commuter students still face their everyday struggles, such as feeling disconnected from campus, or feeling overwhelmed by the back and forth from campus, but at the end of the day, Pace University offers amazing opportunities for commuter students and is waiting for more of them to take advantage of it.