College Commuter Student, what will i do inbetween classes??

Question

I did the best i could to get the earliest possible classes and close together as possible but there wasnt very much to choose from. now i'll be stuck on campus from 8-4 pretty much every day. an hour inbetween classes i can deal with but on one day i have four hours inbetween my classes. i'll be taking the train to school so i dont even know if coming home would be worth it. its about a 40 min ride. and if i wanted to come home i would have to find a good time to come back. any ideas of what i can do. in the beginning it will be esp. boring as i will still be in the process of meeting new people and making friends.

Answer 1

Well, is this going to be your first year at College? I'd say that you should take the time to check out the new clubs and stuff that you can get involved with. Because College or any sort of Post-Secondary education for that matter, isn't all about academics. You need to get involved, and using your 4 hours of spare time to check out some club meetings or whatnot would be useful. You might find something you want to join, but you don't have to commit yourself... just learn about them.

On a more serious note, you can use the time to do actual work, like your hwk or organize your notes... etc... or go to your teachers and ask questions. You may think that the 4 hours will be hard to pass, but in the end, like later on in the year... you may find that you'll actually be quite busy.

Answer 2

When I had big gaps like that between class I, 1) worked on campus so just had my shift between classes, 2)went to the library and surfed the net, did some homework, caught up on random things, 3) went to the gym/pool that was on campus or 4), sat on a bench and stared off into space wishing my schedule didn't leave a 4 hour gap between classes.

Answer 3

I would look into the schools workstudy program and perhaps you can work and earn a little money on that day. Often, you would be able to work on your homework or study while youre at that job, depending on what type of job it is.  The workstudy programs are very flexible too.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Go to the library or the union or somewhere and do homework!  

Answer 5

Read. Do your homework. Spend time in the libary studying. Spend time in the library learning about something new. Find the gym and workout. Go for a run.  Explore the campus and the surrounding area. Check out current exhibits. Read the paper. Read a novel. Journal.

"I'm bored" is something a spoiled 8-year old says right before you send her to her room for the afternoon.

If you're bored, it's your fault. Find something better to do. You're in college now.

Answer 6

Stick around on campus. It's not so bad. Most colleges have plenty of places on campus to hang out-- lounges, cafeterias, computer labs, libraries, etc.

Also, colleges that have a lot of commuters sometimes have a lounge especially for commuters. They might even have lockers and other facilities for the students who are in your situation.

Once you've got homework and papers to do, you'll probably be VERY happy to have that block of time during the day to work on stuff.

In general, I always try to avoid scheduling classes back-to-back. Less stress rushing to and from classes.  

Answer 7

Your school probably has a commuter club and a commuter lounge. I'd have you join that club, so you meet other students, and also hang out in the commuter lounge. Between classes you should absolutely study, and if you want to, for those very long stretches in between class, you could try to find an on-campus job, or else join an activity that you can do during those hours (like join the campus radio or tv station, which are examples of student activities that need staffing at all hours of the day.) Not only will such activities use that time wisely, but you'll also be meeting other students and making friends.  

Answer 8

Lots of good suggestions on here.  Here's one from someone who's taught college courses and done some undergrad advising:  

Research the course schedule before classes start and find out if other sections of the classes you have meet at better times - or if other classes you can take instead meet at better times.  If there are openings, switch into them.  If not but these classes meet during your big free time blocks, go to them and talk to the professor on day one, tell him/her that you're a commuter hoping to switch into his/her class, and see if s/he will give allow an enrollment override.