Students who live off campus (commuter students) may feel lost in a college where the majority of students live in residence halls. Commuter students may have a more difficult time meeting other students, be less informed of campus news and feel like outsiders. Difficulties such as these sometimes lead commuter to students being unhappy with their college experience or even to dropping out of college.

Making friends with other students in college is essential for students to feel they are connected to their college or university. Residential students (students who live on campus) often meet people in their residence halls (also call dorms or dormitories). Commuter students, however, must make a greater effort than residential students if they want to meet other students.

Commuter students often live close to many friends from high school and continue spending their free time with them. These friends may or may not be attending college. When a commuter student's friends are not attending college, the student may be inclined to spend time with these friends instead of attending classes, which is likely to result in lower grades and greater disengagement from the college.

In cases where the majority of a commuter student's friends are also attending the same college or university, the student has a better chance of feeling connected to the school. This will be even more likely when the student also becomes involved in campus activities and makes new friends.

Residential students may get campus news by reading flyers in posted in their residence halls or by being informed during a residence hall program. Commuter students miss out on much of the information distributed in residence halls; therefore, commuter students will need to make a more concerted effort than residence hall students if they want to be well informed of campus information.

While commuter students may have to make a greater effort to engage in the campus community, their college experience can be just as enriching as residential students. A few things that commuter students can do to help themselves connect to the campus are below:

1. Check campus email daily. Sometimes students continue using their personal email and ignore their campus email. However, the school will typically send important information to your campus email. Many schools allow the campus email to be forwarded to a personal email. If you would rather check one email, check into mail forwarding.

2. Find out where information is posted and check those locations regularly. Many organizations will post flyers in student unions, cafeterias, or other locations with high student traffic. Many campuses also have a website where campus information is posted.

3. Get involved. Involvement in campus activities is a great way to meet new people and develop a connection to your college or university. Many schools have commuter student organizations that not only give students an opportunity to meet others in a similar situations but it is another opportunity to stay informed because these groups often make a point of trying to keep each other updated regarding campus information.

4. Befriend students in your major. This can be beneficial because students spend much their in-class time together. They are also students with whom you already have at least one thing in common, an interest in your chosen major. To meet students in your major you can join a related club, a study group or simply make an effort to talk to the person sitting beside you.

5. Meet with your academic adviser regularly. Your adviser can often help you navigate your way through college life beyond helping you understand graduation requirements. Advisers often can let you know about campus resources (such as tutoring, counseling, and many more), explain campus processes, help you with study skills and much more.

Being a commuter student in a residential college or university can make it more difficult to meet fellow students, stay informed and to feel connected to the school. However, with some effort commuter students can have the same rewarding college experience as residential students.