Around a third of Geneva’s students are commuters. While there are pros to commuting, especially in room and board savings, it can present its own set of challenges at times. Here are some tips for making the most of your Geneva College experience as a commuter.
- You’re here for more than classes. The Geneva College community is an important piece of what makes this place special, and simply going to classes and going home might mean missing out on great friendships, conversations, and memories. Geneva will shape you not only academically, but also spiritually and personally. Give it time to do so by engaging in extracurricular activities or just hanging out on campus!
- Ok, so you want to spend more time on campus. Doing what? Being a commuter can make it a little more difficult to make connections that will enrich you beyond the classroom. But a little effort can go a long way. Join or start a club, choose one or two events to attend regularly, or apply for a student leader position. All of these are effective ways to find friends with similar interests, and once you get started, the invitations to other events and new opportunities tend to just keep on coming.
- If you’re anything like me, you’re not going to make a spontaneous, day-of decision to stay on campus an extra five hours after classes are done for a sporting event, and you’re not going to have the social battery to be involved in everything. That’s ok. Pick just a couple of commitments that are important to you and make attending those a priority. Look ahead at upcoming events on the website or Stall Talk and make a plan to stay for something fun with friends, even just once a week.
- If you’re not like me and you live for spontaneous decision-making, at least have the forethought to pack like you’re going on vacation when you leave the house. You never know what might come up during the day, and I can’t count the number of times I have opted not to stay for dinner or an event because I didn’t bring the books or assignments with me that I needed to work on in the meantime. Bringing along extra snacks, extra homework, and definitely a laptop charger never hurt!
- Depending on how far you live from campus, the drive time back and forth can be a decent chunk of your day. Don’t waste it. Listening to a good podcast or book, spending time in prayer, or verbally reviewing class content can all be productive ways to spend drive-time. What you choose to listen to has a huge impact on your decisions, your mood, and your motivation. Listen to things that energize you, give you peace, or set you up for success in your day.
- Take advantage of resources that are just for you — and for everyone! The Commuter Lounge is a great place to hang out, share a meal with friends, or study in between classes. The Commuter Club is also helpful in meeting other commuters. Health Services, Calling & Career, Peer Tutoring, the Writing Center, and more are all available to commuters. Plus, you have the same access to spaces like the Fitness Center, McCartney Library, Riverview, the Brig, Skye Lounge, and the CSE. Take some time to explore places outside the walk from your car to classes!
- College is a big piece of your life, whether you’re a commuter or not – but not your whole life. Chances are, if you’re a commuter, you have commitments outside of school in other communities you were a part of before ever coming to Geneva. Whether that’s your church, a job, a friend group from high school, or something else, don’t worry about taking time for things that matter to you outside of the college world. Even if it seems that your resident classmates are busy adjusting to a whole new life, it's okay that you've kept some of the old ones. In fact, those things might help keep you joyful and motivated when school can get tough.
It’s easy to feel like you’re missing out sometimes as a commuter. But it’s just as important to be grateful for what you do have. Family that you get to see every day, home-cooked meals, and those familiar commitments you’re able to continue from before college are no small blessings, just to name a few. And with a little bit of extra effort to find events, friendships, and opportunities on campus, you can make the most of your time at Geneva College, enriched by community, learning, and faith.
By Reagan Shields ‘26
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
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