When you don’t live on campus, sometimes you can feel like you don’t belong. It can be difficult to make friends if you only come to campus for class and then turn around and head back home. Don’t worry, commuters — you are not alone!

All students who commute face these challenges, but you should know that every student is a valued member of Rider’s community, no matter where he or she sleeps at night. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your time at Rider University as a commuting student.

Get involved

I can’t stress this enough. Finding your niche on campus is one of the most important things that you can do. Stepping outside of the classroom expands your opportunities to form relationships and find new things that interest you. 

Rider has many different clubs and organizations, so you're certain to find one that interests you. The Association of Commuting Students (ACS) is definitely a good place to start, because everyone there is in the exact same situation. The ACS strives to help commuting students connect with the rest of the Rider community. Try going to one of their weekly meetings on Thursdays at noon in the Bart Luedeke Center Leadership Suite.

For more ways to get involved, here is a full list of Rider’s activities, ranging from fraternities and sororities to academic clubs and special interest groups. Whether you're interested in the Alternative Film Club, the History Club, or the Adventure Club, there's a group at Rider that is the right fit for you.

Seek Out Resources

That's right, as a commuter student, you get special perks. One such perk exists on the first level of the BLC: the Commuter Lounge. Stretch out and watch TV, find a corner to eat and do homework in between classes, or use it as a social rec room to meet new people or hang out with friends. This isyour lounge-away-from-home, and I encourage you to use it. 

Another valuable benefit of your commuting experience is the option of getting a meal plan specifically geared for commuter students. While it is just as valuable as any student's meal plan, this one gives you the convenience and flexibility that works perfectly with you schedule — no matter how many (or few) days you're on campus a week.

Find Your Balance

With the pressure of classes, jobs and internships, you're bound to get overwhelmed during the semester, and traveling only adds to that stress. It's important to recognize your limits when it comes to how involved you're going to get on campus. Streamlining your schedule is an important aspect of knowing what works best for you. If you find yourself crunched for time and rushing to work often, consider looking for a job on campus.

Rider's One Stop Services offers students searching for on-campus jobs the opportunity to do so via the Broncs Career Link, which lists all of the open positions on campus. You can go to Rider's student employment page for more information.

Keep in mind that your time in college can be made better by even small adjustments to your schedule. Commuting may not be your ideal choice, but it doesn't mean that you have to miss out on the college experience.