I walked into Target with a friend the other day. Right as I walked in there   were two massive pencils hanging from the ceiling. They were both pointing   towards the back of the store where a massive sign was also hanging from the   ceiling with the words every student dreads hearing

“Back to school”

Now that I’ve graduated, I no longer have to sweat the whole ‘I should be getting ready to go back to school but I can’t be bothered’ thing. My friend however isn’t as fortunate and as we walked around the back to school section, we talked about commuting as a student. I did it both times that I was in school and my best friend being a first time commuter, had a lot of questions.

Here are the top 8 tips I have for surviving school as a commuter:

• If you are taking the bus, be sure to have a schedule on hand at all times. Whether you download an app or keep one of their little schedules in your bag. It will come in handy more than you think. Check Durham Schedules here!

• Whether you’re driving or taking the bus, make sure that you know how long it will take you to get to school. Take some time to travel the route ahead of time, so you know how to get there and exactly how long it will take.

• Keep in mind when figuring out how long your commute will take, that buses will either show up 5-10 minutes early/late. Giving yourself an extra ten or fifteen minutes is always best so that you don’t end up missing half of a class. If anything, you have time to grab a coffee or look over last class’ notes before class starts.

• For those who are taking the bus, headphones are your best friend. I have always had a back up set that I keep in my bag at all times. Nothing sucks more than your headphones breaking and you end up sitting on the bus for 40+ minutes in silence. It’s also a good way to avoid that really weird lady that likes to tell you about her cats.

• Always have plenty of commuter funds set up. Whether it’s gas to drive you to and from school or money for the bus. It’s always a good idea to double check in the morning that you have the right amount of money to get you there and back.

• Snacks are a must. I always bought those 100 cal snacks and would keep a bag or two in my school bag. Sometimes you just cannot wait until you get home to eat, so it’s always a good idea to have it, just in case.

• If you’re commuting from further away and will spend a lot of time on public transportation; why not spend some of that time reading your notes? Going over your notes from the day, or reading those chapters that are due on Friday is a good way to pass time. Either that or help you into that little cat nap. Check out this link on other ways to stay organized this semester!  

• This one is for the bus commuters specifically. When you take your seat on the bus, as awkward as sitting next to a stranger is, do not put your bag on the seat beside you. Nothing is more annoying than having to stand on the bus when there is a perfectly good seat available. If you’re stuck standing on the bus then you might want to put your bag between your feet. Nothing is more obnoxious than being hit in the head/face with someone’s bag. It’s just good bus etiquette to be mindful of others around you.