April 8, 2026 by

I’ve been happily commuting to Cedarville University for about three years now. My parents, sisters, and I live in Xenia, about 20 minutes away from campus. Not only does commuting save money, but it allows me to spend time with my family and friends (and my pet cat, TigerLily!)

So, you’re planning to commute? That is exciting, and I look forward to meeting you! Maybe I’m a bit biased since I run the unofficial “official” commuter org, but I think you will enjoy commuting!  

Here are five of the most important pearls of wisdom I’ve collected from my time as a commuter at Cedarville. I hope they will help you as you start commuting to campus! 

Pearl 1: Parking as a Commuter  

… can be difficult but the feeling of triumph and victory as you take a prime but overlooked parking spot is unparalleled!  

We have certain areas we are allowed to park in and certain areas we can’t. White lines around a parking spot signify student parking. Yellow on white signs that say “commuter parking only” show where you should park as a commuter. 

Plan your parking timeline so you aren’t rushing to get to class. To get the best parking in general, especially the limited spots near my classes in the Apple and Tyler buildings, I arrive 20 minutes before my course. This gives me time to claim a nearby parking spot and walk to my classroom.  

Allow wiggle room for traffic delays. If your first class is at 11 a.m. or earlier, chapel (at 10 a.m.) is mandatory. Plan to arrive very early on chapel days with prominent speakers or other big events because parking becomes tricky. Veterans Day Chapel, Retirement Chapel, and homecoming weekend are days you want to arrive earlier than you usually do to avoid the stress of finding parking spots. 

Pearl 2: Meal Plans — Should You Scan? 

A meal plan is like a subscription to food for the semester. There are different amounts of meals you can get depending on your meal scan.  

The meal plan for commuters is called “Block 120.” “Block” means you can scan multiple times at once, and “120” means you get 120 meal scans. The benefit of this is that you have practically unlimited meal scans and meals. The disadvantage is it expires at the end of each semester, so any unused food scans go to waste.   

Another option is intrinsically tied to being a commuter: packing your own lunch. Packing lunches can save money in the long run, money that can be used to purchase yummy treats at our campus coffee shop! 

What I find to be a happy medium is the third option: voluntary flex dollars, money you purchase from Pioneer Catering, our food supplier, and that’s put on your student ID. That way, you pay as you go and as you need.   

That’s what I do. I’m on campus all day Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I keep an eye on my flex dollars, and whenever my balance gets low, I purchase more. Once a week, I use flex dollars to treat myself out to lunch (usually at Panda Express). On the other two long days, I pack my lunch.   

In the end, what meal option you choose is up to you! Go with what fits your schedule and your budget. Have fun with your food, whatever you do. I’ve packed overnight oats with carrots and guacamole. Is it strange? Maybe. But I like it!  

Pearl 3: On Friendships as a Commuter 

People act like commuting and friendships fit into a math equation: commuting = no friends.  

This is silly. Just like anyone on campus, you make friends with your classmates, the random people you talk to throughout the day, the girl you work with, and the guy who needs to borrow your ice scraper because an ice storm hit while you both were in classes (true story).   

Another place to make friends is in the commuter group chat on GroupMe. We try to have commuter events once a month. Our monthly commuter events are varied but always build community. Last semester, we had a pumpkin-carving and s’mores night. Game nights are a crowd favorite. This March, we went to Dairy Station in Xenia for an ice cream social.  

We also share helpful bits of information like weather issues, traffic delays, and road conditions, and we can relate to each other in ways only other commuters can! 

Pearl 4: On Group Projects  

One of the biggest strengths I’ve come to appreciate as a commuter is time management.  

Because I’m not on campus, my team and I can’t procrastinate until the hour before our project is due. If we want to meet in person, we meet earlier in the days preceding the due date, and our project is submitted comfortably several hours ahead of the deadline.  

If someone suggests meeting at nine p.m. for a group project and you leave campus at five p.m. (also true story), offer an alternative time or meet virtually. I’ve been in groups where those on campus meet in person, and I join via phone or video call. They get to meet at the time they wanted, and I get to participate without having to drive back and forth to campus again … it’s a win-win!  

Most classmates are willing to be flexible with your schedule, so don’t be afraid to advocate for a solution that works for you!   

Pearl 5: Get Involved   

… both on and off campus. As much as there is to love about it, I’ve found the hardest part about being a commuter can be the campus events. Because many students are in classes all day, most events take place in the evenings after you might have planned to go home.   

Even so, there are plenty of fun events on campus to go to if you are a night owl! To stay up to date on event options, read the Daily Buzz. The Daily Buzz is an email we receive every morning detailing events going on that day or major events coming up.  

Some of these events, ALT Nights, bring fun events like mini-golf or movie showings onto campus since most students don’t have a car. Cedarville also has a bunch of really fun extracurricular activities on campus you can get involved in if you don’t mind driving back out! 

And there is one advantage we have as commuters that not everyone on campus has: We have cars! That means you can take your campus-bound friends out of Cedarville and go to the movie theater in Beavercreek, shopping at the Fairfield Mall, or golfing at Top Golf.  

Prefer to food? You could bring your friends to brunch at one of the coffee shops in Xenia. Another great outing is taking time to appreciate the falling leaves or the greenery of spring on a drive out to Kairos Coffee in Wilmington, one of my personal favorites! 

Commuting at Cedarville 

I had fun distilling my commuting experience down into five points, and I hope they are helpful to you. Being a commuter is not something I would change for the world. I enjoy commuting at Cedarville, and I think you will too!  

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