Top Ten Tips for Commuter Students (From the Hottest One in School)
Written by Cassandra Senna-Published October 10th 2024
You are a commuter, for better or for worse. There are many reasons as to why this could be. Maybe you already live in or around Boston. Perhaps it's the fact that living on campus is too expensive. It could even be that the idea of living with strangers sketches you out. Alternatively, you're a masochist. Regardless of the reason why you made this choice, you are officially in the books as an off-campus student. Luckily for you, weary reader, I too am a commuter (from an hour away, no less) who has lived with these struggles for the past year. It's overall a choice I was happy with (I think? Short term memory), and in the spirit of enco
1. GET A COMMUTER LOCKER AND/OR PORTFOLIO BAG
I don't remember who first informed me about either of these, but I am forever indebted to them. Commuter lockers are available for the school year through sign up with Student Development. All you have to do is fill out the form, and stick a lock on it (which you can get in the school shop if you don't already have one). The lockers themselves are right next to the school store, and they lead right to a basement elevator, which is incredibly convenient if you have classes in Kennedy or South. Many departments also have their own lockers, so definitely look into that, too, if applicable. Lockers, regardless of where, also partially alleviates the threat of forgetting things at home (assuming you leave a majority of your materials in them), and you don't have to carry everything you own around with you all of the time. The only issue is when you have to take everything out at the end of the year (lest it get tossed out). I recommend taking things out gradually when you know for sure you won't need them anymore, or over the course of the last few days of the year.
The portfolio bag was also a cinch for transporting those giant 24" newsprint pads that you'll use maybe a quarter of all year. They're also good for carrying a lot of different things at once, allowing you to have your hands available to play Pokémon Go instead (add me!). I happened to have bought the last one they had at the school store last year, but they were restocked the last time I was down there. They come in a few different sizes, but I personally had the biggest one. They're also pretty water-resistant and have a flap on the top to cover everything (I did sometimes have trouble getting it to stay, though, if I was carrying a lot of things). If they run out again, they're also available at Blick.
Of course, the usefulness of either of these depends on your major, how far away you live, and how often you're on campus. For example, I'm not sure if I'll be using either of these now that I'm a film major, but they were truly life-saving during my Studio Foundation year.
2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE COMMUTER KITCHEN AND THE SHELF
Oh, commuter kitchen my beloved. You inherently, as commuters, have access to the commuter kitchen, located on the second floor of Kennedy across from the bathrooms. They have a microwave and a fridge in there, as well as bowls, plates, and utensils (you just have to wash them yourself afterwards). It's usually not super busy if you time it right (when people are in class and not on breaks, the latter of which is usually midway through class). I ended up with a crew that would end up there at the same time as me that I would hang out with, so it's also an opportunity to meet people! It also leads into The Shelf, which is basically a campus food pantry. It's full of all the basics (ramen, pasta, soup), as well as some surprise goodies. They also have pads and tampons in there, which can be a life saver. I believe I've also seen toothbrushes in there as well. It's run by Student Development, so if it's ever locked, just let them know so they can open it up (as long as it's within operating hours, of course). The Shelf is also available to on-campus students.
3. CONSIDER A DINING PLAN/MBTA SEMESTER PASS
This is my confession that, despite working for Colleges of the Fenway Dining, I don't have a meal plan. I also don't have an MBTA semester pass, despite being a big fan of trains. Why is this? I just simply don't need them. I wouldn't personally use them enough for them to be worth the price. I'm only on campus three days a week this semester, and I usually bring one meal from home. However, for most students, these are absolute mainstays of their college experience. It's really up to you and your situation.
You can try out either of these for the year or semester and see if it works for you. I would recommend looking into the MBTA pass if you're going to be on campus probably even four days a week, or if you think you'll frequently be coming out this way. The nice thing about it is that it works for all zones below yours as well as the one you're buying it for. For example, my stop is in Zone 6, so if I bought one, I would also be able to use it between zones 1A-5 if I needed to. The discounted semester passes are only available before the semester starts, so make sure you pay attention to emails detailing the signup process in between semesters. If you don't already have one, you'll have to wait until the spring, or buy monthly passes without MassArt's discount.
A dining plan would be worth checking out if you plan on going to Beatty a lot (especially since Kennedy is closed on the weekends and closes at 6pm on Fridays), because the door price is actually less in dining points than it is in money. Beatty is buffet style, so I personally only go there if I'm intensely hungry, but a lot of other people like to use up their meal swipes there. Everywhere else, one dining point is equivalent to one dollar. You just pay the price listed on the overhead menus. You can use swipes at Kennedy, too, with their 3-2-1 program. Anyway, if you DO buy a meal plan, make sure you're buying one of the off-campus meal plans (Huntington, Ruggles, or Parker) and not one of the on-campus ones (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Titanium, Palladium, Ruby). The off-campus ones are cheaper anyway, fun fact. Also, make sure you're buying a MassArt dining plan. The website lists Wentworth and MCPHS, too. There's also the option to just use Dining Flex (like me!), where you just add money onto your account with your credit/debit card, which is completely separate from meal plans.
Whether these would be helpful to you is entirely up to you. Neither of them are required by the school for off-campus students (those who live in the dorms are required to have meal plans, the MBTA passes are optional to everyone). Just don't let yourself get pressured into them if they won't genuinely help you.
4. FACTOR YOU COMMUTE INTO YOUR PLANS
This might seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes you really need that reminder. Personally, my commuter rail train only comes every other hour. When I agree to a plan at noon, that means I have to leave home at 10 just to get to the school at 11 and wait another hour until noon. When you sign up for that 8 AM class, what time will you have to leave? What time will you have to wake up in order to be ready? This goes the other way around as well. If the class ends at 6:30, do I have enough time to make the 6:43 train, or will I have to wait until the next one? What will I do until the time comes for that train? You might have to leave that event that ends at 9 at 8 instead just so you're not stuck here until 10. These are all things that take an ample amount of consideration.
You always want to check the MBTA website if you commute by train or bus, too. They put updates on there if there's delays, so if you catch that notification early enough, it lets you stay at home/on campus longer instead of waiting around at the station. It also alerts of closures if you're otherwise not up to date on those situations. Keep in mind that the commuter rail schedules change twice a year from spring/summer to fall/winter (and vice versa), so keep an eye out for when that change will happen. The spring/summer schedule will usually have more frequent service, so make sure you adjust your commute accordingly when it switches over to the fall/winter one.
On that note, ALWAYS have a back-up way back home. For me, missing my train means standing around in Ruggles like a lost puppy, trying to avoid eye contact with all the other regulars. This especially means big trouble if that was one of the last trains of the night, when the first ones of the next day are around 5 AM. It's crucial to have alternatives. Maybe you have a friend or family member that could come pick you up at a different station or in the city, or maybe there's someone whose dorm/apartment/house you could crash at for the night. It's important to note, however, that none of these are sure things. A lot of people out there won't necessarily be able to (or even want to) accommodate you without notice (which, of course, is their right), so it's probably a good idea to set up your possible emergency helper before any potential crisis arises. In the end, you really have to do whatever you need to do to not be totally stranded in Boston for the night, especially if you're somewhere you're not comfortable with.
5. GO TO THE BATHROOM BEFORE YOU LEAVE
You don't want to use those freaky commuter rail toilets is all I'm saying. I guess it also takes time out of class, too, but… the toilets! That alone should sway you! You might think, "Well, I don't actually have to go to the bathroom, though!"...but eventually you will! It's a lot easier if you just take the time to try and get something out ahead of time than for it to arise at the most inconvenient moment.
This also applies to the other way around. You don't want to miss your train because you had to take a bathroom break right as you planned on leaving, or walk home while also holding in your mondo dookie (unless you do, who am I to judge?).
Also, you're probably going to want to take note of where the public bathrooms are both on campus and nearby. Your pro-tip of the day is that not all MBTA stations/stops have bathrooms (Ruggles doesn't, for example). Dorm-ers can just go "home" to use the bathroom whenever they want. You can't (probably).
6. FIND "YOUR SPOT"
When I'm not in class or on the train, I'm in the library. When I had classes in South, I would also often be in the lounge on the second floor of Kennedy. It's imperative that you find a place you can hang out at in between classes, or in between class and commuting. There are many different locations that you could hang out at for a few hours without anyone raising an eyebrow: the library, the Kennedy lounge, any of the cafeteria spaces, the commuter kitchen, on the benches in front of the school, the courtyard, and all of that good stuff. If you have a train station you're comfortable with, that would probably be okay, too. I wouldn't recommend staying in the dorm lobbies for too long. It's going to look suspicious to the security guards there, The same goes for staying in a bathroom. People are going to think you're wicked constipated. If you have a friend that will let you hang out in their space for a bit, that's great as well. Just never make someone feel like they have to let you stay there. It is, in the end, their place, and they have the right to refuse. Regardless of where this safe-spot is for you where you can take shelter for a moment (however long that moment is), you should be able to unwind for a little bit before moving on to the next thing.
7. DRESS FOR BOSTON WEATHER, NOT YOUR HOMETOWN'S
I live close to Rhode Island. My town is landlocked. It also takes a million years for the roads to get plowed when it snows sometimes. Boston is 45 minutes to an hour away. It's directly on the coast. It's a city that was built 300 years ago with streets for horses. It's also generally a little warmer in Boston than in my hometown, and far enough away to sometimes have completely different weather patterns. It snows a lot more where I'm from, too. Depending on where you're commuting from, this could also be the case for you. You have to prepare yourself for what the weather conditions are going to be like where you're going to be spending the bulk of your day (presumably) on campus, or at least out of the house. There have been a few times where I've been caught in the rain with my portfolio bag awkwardly over my head because it hadn't been raining when I left the house, so I didn't feel the need to bring my umbrella or hot pink poncho. Big mistake! Don't find yourself pulling a Cassandra. Just don't. Trust me, bro.
I also find that the classrooms and studios run a little toasty, regardless of the season. It's worthwhile to wear (or at least bring) layers, especially if you have a long walk in the cold just to end up in the warm buildings.
8. USE YOUR UNIQUE LOCATION TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Although there are some parts of commuting that are… straining (to say the least), there are also unique opportunities that come from living wherever it is that you live. Maybe that's certain stores that have things you need that aren't in Boston, people you have at your disposal at home, or locations and items you can use in your art that your classmates won't have seen before. As a film major, I can film things in my hometown and surrounding areas as opposed to the regular Boston locations that everyone uses. This goes for photography, too. I'm willing to bet that my professors have never seen a short film based around Daddy's Dairy in Norwood, let alone even heard of it. It brings something fresh to the table. In my Visual Language class, I did rubbings of things around my childhood home, making a collage from them centered around themes of nostalgia and the passage of time. Being at home also meant I could use my handyman father's garage workshop, which had different tools than the Studio Foundation woodshop did. I could also use his in-person professional expertise (and ask him to cut some stuff for me… don't tell Garrett I said that). This doesn't even include the things I took from my job to use in projects. The point here is, see what your specific area has that you can bring to the table and use that to stand out! You never know what might reveal itself, and you might end up with a new appreciation for your town.
9. USE YOUR TIME WISELY
Being a commuter student, you're naturally going to have less time to work on assignments than your on-campus classmates, especially the longer your commute is. You also might not have the same resources as they do, being literally right across the street from the school. Although I myself am generally unfamiliar with this whole "time management" scam they keep trying to sell me on (see my single article last year, and the multiple half-finished ones on my Google Drive), it's "probably" an "important" skill to master. Well, according to my high school librarian, anyway. Besides, you wouldn't want to be like ME, would you? I would only wish that on my greatest enemies.
This doesn't necessarily mean that you should overwork yourself into oblivion, though. It's important to also take time for yourself and do something fun every now and then. Again, you have the advantage of being at home with all your stuff. Let loose a little, huh? Anyway, pace yourself while simultaneously utilizing that time to the best of your ability. Like a pro.
10. GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS/PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE
God, I sound like your guidance counselor, don't I? Well, maybe Ms. Gorman was right! Unfortunately, the reason that this statement is reiterated so often is because it's true. As you can tell from reading this, I am a writer for Vision Magazine (a shameless plug? Oh, that's what I live for). It started as something to do on Tuesdays waiting for the commuter rail after class, but it's given me connections with upperclassmen in various majors. This year I also joined the Colleges of the Fenway Dining Street Team (a paid position!), which is giving me connections with students from other COF schools. This doesn't even include the various events put on through MAC, other clubs, other schools, Student Engagement, and the general Colleges of the Fenway. All of those are a must, if you're available. I try to check them out if I have time between classes or before I have to leave to catch my train.
Similarly, you're going to have to overcompensate in any friend-making attempts compared to on-campus students. It's a necessary evil. You'll most likely have to be more extraverted in class, or make the outright attempt to socialize with people you meet that you're interested in building connections with. It might not be a bad idea to establish a social media presence, too, so that your peers will recognize you around campus. I followed people in my grade level during the summer so that I would already be familiar with people. Someone even asked if I was "bonjowdy from Instagram" because they had seen me before. This person is actually one of the people I'm closest with at MassArt, so it actually works! It's verified!
Also, you're probably going to have to be the one to initiate attempted hangouts. It's not because people don't care about you or forget about you, it's just because they might not know if you're around or not. They just don't see you around as much as people that are also living on campus. If you live rather far out like I do, people might feel like they're inconveniencing you by making you "have" to travel. It's not anyone's fault in particular, just subliminal, unintentional misunderstandings. You just need to find ways to let people know that you're ready and willing to make time for other people, and others will hopefully start to reach out, too.
There are of course other tips and tricks out there (get free water in Kennedy by putting it in a cup at the fountain instead of getting it in a bottle, bring snacks, bring your charger with you), but these are just ten (hence the article title). It should go without saying, but you also don't have to follow any of my advice. Some of things might have worked better for me specifically and not for some others. It's up to you. Maybe you want to be incredibly inconvinienced and miserable. Maybe that's what you're into, it's none of my business. Just know that a majority of MassArt's student body are actually considered "off-campus" students as well, so maybe it's not so bad out there after all.
