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The Actual Positives of Commuting

Monday, September 8th, 2025
A picture of my dog because getting to live with your childhood pets is the best perk about commuting.

Saving money is the only positive to commuting that you need, at least that is probably what your parents will argue. But when you are taking out loans to cover your tuition, all money begins to feel fake. Saving thousands, but still paying thousands begins to feel like it’s not worth it. In the long run it is, but while you are still in college it is helpful to look at the current positives. 

Living at home

There are lots of particular benefits you get when you live at home. Some of them are noticeable, others you may take for granted. Whenever I get stressed about commuting I like to remind myself of some of the perks.

Here is a run down of some basic benefits of living at home while in college: 

  • Home cooked meals.
  • Snacks (not just a random assortment of dining hall food that you have collected).
  • A kitchen that isn’t communal with strangers. 
  • No housing restrictions. (Also known as have as many candles as you want.)
  • A full size fridge.
  • Your own bed. (No shade to the twin xl, some of the best naps I have taken were on a twin XL. However there is a whole different type of comfort that your own bed provides.)
  • Your own space.
  • You get to live with your childhood pets.
  • Strangers won’t be able to touch your laundry.
  • You also will not have to wait for a washer to be free because all ten are being used by other students. 
  • No fire alarms going off early in the morning because someone decided to burn mac and cheese.
  • No crowded elevators.

There are of course an abundance more, some are niche and personal, others universal. Sometimes you need to rationalize, even if it seems counter-intuitive. 

Saving money means you can spend a little more on yourself–right? 

Saving money means surely you can spend a little more on yourself. Take this with a grain of salt, while living at home you want to be financially responsible. Save money while you can, of course. If you do think about it you are saving thousands, so if buying that cute tote you have wanted or getting your nails done makes you happy, why not? 

Perhaps it is bad advice, but commuting is hard. I have discovered that when I feel put together and have little things like cute nails, which I couldn’t afford on campus, it allows me to feel the positives of commuting instantly. 

Get into that routine

When you are in college, you get into a routine. This is true whether you live on campus or not. The best thing about commuting is there is less disruption to your routine.

You don’t have to worry about packing your life back up again and again. You have everything in one spot whether it is during the semester or winter break. You can go to the same gym, the same coffee shop, the same library throughout the year. There is value in consistency and familiarity. It is comfortable. 

That being said you can get out of your comfort zone if you so choose. Even though it may not feel like it, being in your childhood home and all, there are places nearby that you may have never experienced. If you have access to a car you have the ability to go where you want when you want. Having a car and being at home doesn’t mean you have to go to the same few places you have been going to for years. 

One thing I’ve learned is you can travel and see areas that have been next door to you your whole life. Explore the trails near you and take little road trips to places close by. It is even more fun bringing your college friends from campus to see your town and state with you. Taking the time to experience your home town before you become a visitor in it, is rewarding and can be sentimentally fun. 

Commuting is hard work, but if you romanticize it enough and prioritize yourself, it can still be a well rounded college experience. 

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The Positives of Commuting (Statistically)

Saturday, August 30th, 2025

Statistically speaking, there is one positive to commuting to college–saving money. This post is going to reinforce your decision to commute, because it is a smart one. While it may sometimes not feel worth it, commuting from home will save you thousands in the long run.  

For this post, I have done some research on local dorm and apartment costs. I will be focusing on Boston. According to the Boston University International Students & Scholars Office  (ISSO) resource page, there are an estimated 250,000 students in Boston. Despite being home to many students, the prices are far from college kid friendly. 

Dorm Costs

Many college students reside on campus in the school affiliated housing. Dorms are usually small rooms where students live with roommates. Despite living communally and sharing facilities, the prices tend to be astronomically high.

I have elected to look into four Boston colleges and universities housing costs. While it is only a small percentage of the colleges in Boston, I believe it will be representative of most housing costs, as between the four there is only a slight discrepancy. 

The four colleges I looked into are:

  • Emerson College
  • Boston University
  • Suffolk University
  • Simmons University

The colleges/universities are all located in different areas of Boston. I pinned each location on the map to depict their distance.

Emerson College

My college is located near Downtown Boston, Chinatown, and the theater district. Located right in front of the Boston Commons, the school is in the heart of Boston. Housing is expensive; the college website provides an estimate of $21,652 for a year of housing for a standard double. This estimate includes housing and a meal plan. 

I lived in the dorms my freshman year. Emerson College guarantees housing and ‘requires’ all students to live on campus for three years. If you decide to commute or live off campus you must fill out a form relinquishing your right to guaranteed housing. 

My freshman year I lived in Little Building, the freshman only dorm. I was extremely lucky with my housing assignment as I was given a suite. It was equipped with a bathroom and the rooms were large. However, most people are not lucky and are placed in small rooms without bathrooms.

Little Building is particularly unique as there are lightwell dorms. These dorms are small and have one window that does not go directly outside. The architecture of the building creates a column where dorms face other dorms. Natural lighting is sparse in these dorms only coming from the open gap above. If the window blinds are left open other people can see into your room. It is definitely not worth the high cost for people stuck in lightwell dorms. 

Well I have no experience with the dorm conditions in surrounding Boston colleges, I will be listing their prices for reference. 

Suffolk University

This university is the most expensive on this short list of colleges, with the official Suffolk website estimating room and board to cost students $22,782. This is the price for a standard double, without a kitchen, and the required plan C meal plan. 

Boston University

Boston University has many different types of housing. However to live in a standard dorm (either a double, triple, or quad) it costs $19,970 according to their housing cost breakdown. 

Simmons University

Simmons University provides a breakdown of estimated student costs on their website. To live on campus it costs an estimated $18,146.


A chart created by Simmons University breaking down the estimated costs of attending university 
Highlighted are the room/board costs

Again, this chart emphasizes the amount that commuters save by living at home. While the off campus and at home numbers vary from student to student, the at home is drastically different. 

Apartment Living

Dorming is not the only option for college students. Many colleges don’t guarantee housing for all four years, therefore most people need to live off campus at some point.

Apartments in the city are small and costly. According to Apartments.com Boston is 115% more expensive than the rest of the country’s rent. Apartments range in cost, so sometimes you can get lucky. But even if you win the Boston lottery and find an apartment with a few roommates that will cost you $1,000, you still will be spending $12,000 for a one year lease. This doesn’t include utilities.

I decided to do a quick search on apartments. Using Apartments.com I found a few options. First I decided to use Emerson College as a marker. For anything remotely close to campus you will be paying at least $2,000, if you plan on living by yourself. I found one apartment slightly farther away, but still walkable, with a roommate the rent would be a reasonable $1,500. This apartment only includes a water utility. 

Across the many apartments I searched the average rent seems to be around $1,500. Therefore you will be likely spending an estimated $18,000 to $24,000 yearly for a small apartment that might not include utilities. 

The farther out of the city you go, prices get more reasonable. However, from my own experience looking into apartment living over the past few years, Massachusetts is expensive, even outside of Boston. Not only will you still be spending a decent amount of money, but the farther you go from campus, even in places where you can take the MBTA, you will have to factor this commute into your schedule. 

Living at Home

Living from home and commuting to school undeniably saves you money. According to the Simmons University estimated costs it will save approximately anywhere from $11,000 to $15,000 dollars. If you do it for multiple years, that adds up to a lot of money, quick. 

College is already so  expensive. Tuition prices require most students to take out loans, putting themselves into debt. If students can save any money in the four years of undergrad, logically they should. 

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Car, Train, MBTA–My Never Ending Commute to College

Friday, August 22nd, 2025

By Isabel DeSisto

Boston Skyline by the water
The beautiful Boston waterfront

My commute to college feels as though I am making an attempt to collect every form of transportation. To attend class I must travel in a car, then a train, and then finally the subway. If it were practical to travel by plane and boat, then I would really have a collection to boast about. 

My schedule is built around this transportation. A factor many people forget to consider when commuting into the city is that if you aren’t going by car you are going on someone else’s time. In order to commute you must be aware of the transportation schedules so that a proper class schedule can be built. 

I have never been a morning person, so I pretend 8 a.m. classes do not exist. Instead my first class starts bright and early at 10 a.m.. Unfortunately I can no longer roll out of bed in my pjs and run to class ten minutes before it starts. Now I have to wake up early to make the train that will get me to campus on time. 

My commute to campus takes an hour total. However, because the commuter rail, a train that spans a farther distance from Boston than the subway, has a strict schedule, I end up having to wake up three hours before class. 

So at 7 a.m. I wake up and get ready. I have to make sure all of my essentials are in my bag–I can’t run back home to grab homework or lip gloss. Once I’m ready I sit in my car for a minute letting it either cool down or warm up, depending on the state of the unpredictable New England weather. This has become a ritual that allows me to wake up and be in my own space for a few minutes before I am surrounded by many others for the rest of the day. 

Luckily I have two trains I can get on, an earlier one at 8:13 or a later one 30 minutes later, so there is some room for delays, but not too much. If I miss the later one, I will definitely miss a class, which will impact my grade quickly. Normally to air on the side of precaution, I chose the earlier one. The commuter rail is predictable, but the MBTA (Boston’s subway also known as the T) is much less so. I prefer to be prepared. 

I drive my car down the road to the train station. The radio plays some random song quietly. The ride is much too short to hook up my Bluetooth, so I never bother. I pull in and try to find a parking space in the packed lot. 

I pay for parking–most of the time. If I forget I can count on a nice bill making its way in the mail. I walk towards the platform checking my bag one last time; leaving something in my car feels worse than leaving it at home. 

Once on the train I show my digital ticket and try not to fall asleep. The internet is always comically bad, so I either read or listen to some downloaded music. Sometimes, if I was too busy the night before, I do homework. The ride goes by fast, normally. I know the stops well and the conductors are all familiar faces at this point. 

Once we get to North Station everyone exits. People throw away their coffee cups, others go to stand in the Dunkin line that is only growing. Some exit the building, but many people, including myself, walk straight to the underground trains. 

In Boston the T are categorised by color. There is the red, orange, blue, and green line. I can take either the orange or green, the flexibility comes in handy as frequently one or the other is down. Depending on which is running and which is sooner, I get on, standing as they are often packed. I hold my bag as close to myself as I can to try to make space. I disassociate as people talk or yell. 

Eventually we get to my stop and I exit quickly. The subways are stuffy and humid and I need the outside air. I leave and walk towards campus, which is only a short walk. 

Now that I still have an hour before class starts I walk through the Boston common (a beautiful park right across from my campus) when the weather permits. If it is cold I go to the classroom early, turn the lights on, and wait for others to appear. 

The journey to campus isn’t horrible, but it is hard to balance classes around the trains, and it gets costly. Round trip, the journey costs about twenty five dollars. The semester pass is over a thousand dollars. 

Luckily my college only allows us four classes per semester, so I stack them. The first semester I did all four on one day forcing me to be on campus from 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. two days a week. The days I was in class were long and exhausting. The days that I had off I spent catching up on all my homework and readings. It was difficult to balance work, school, and a social life, so it was a schedule that I would never recommend. 

The second semester I commuted I took three classes in person and one online. This balance was much better, and I was able to do all the classes back to back. This upcoming semester I have enough credits to take just three classes. Therefore I only have to commute two days a week. Even so, travelling is still exhausting and time consuming. 

There are many benefits of taking this journey, even if it is difficult. This blog is going to cover the positives, the negatives, and my tips as a seasoned commuter.

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Crash Course Connections Ch. 9: Saying Goodbye

Thursday, August 14th, 2025

Part of me wishes college could last forever. The dorm sleepovers, late-night library hang-outs and chaotic coffee runs. Even the lecture halls hold a kind of charm. There’s a certain beauty to the rhythm of university life. Beyond aesthetics, it’s the final step before entering the adult world. It’s the last time you and your friends share the same calendar, the same milestones, the same breaks and goalposts.

But eventually, everything ends. And with that comes goodbye.

Friends tossing caps after graduating college. Credit: https://images

It’s not just a farewell to the school, professors and classes. You’re also saying goodbye to your friends. Some are close. Others are what I’d call “friends of convenience”. That may sound harsh, but it’s honest. These are people you see every day because your schedules align. You bond through routine, not necessarily through deep connection. And once the routine ends, so often does the friendship.

That doesn’t make those friendships less real, and this isn’t unique to college. You’ve had these kinds of relationships in high school, at jobs, summer camps and internships. You will continue to have these relationships throughout your life. Even when built around convenience, those friendships can be meaningful. They can brighten your day, get you through tough mornings or give you a reason to show up just to sit beside someone in class.

When those connections start to fade, it doesn’t mean they weren’t valuable. Sometimes life simply doesn’t allow space to maintain every relationship. And that’s okay.

Even the friendships you cherish most will shift. The closeness you feel while living in the same dorm, eating together every day and sharing every stress is hard to sustain. Eventually, you drift. Maybe not right away. Maybe you’ll live together after graduation or try to keep the same rhythm. But new jobs, routines and people will start to fill your time. The tight-knit group you once built becomes a web of separate paths. There might still be overlap, but there will also be space.

So this goodbye is just the end of a chapter. The story continues, you’re simply turning the page.

Winnie the Poo “Saying Goodbye” graphic. Credit: https://images.app

In a world where we’re all hyperconnected, physical distance isn’t the challenge it used to be. You can still meet up, plan reunions, send a message when someone crosses your mind. What you’re really saying goodbye to is the ease of it all. The built-in structure that made friendship simple. Letting go of that doesn’t mean losing the people entirely. It just means accepting change.

As I start my senior year, I’m writing this as both reflection and preparation. Part of me wants time to stop, to stay in this space a little longer. But most of me is ready for what’s next. Change is hard, but it’s also what makes life beautiful. It’s what gives this chapter meaning.

So here’s to this final year. I’m choosing to embrace it fully. To give myself grace when I mess up. To appreciate the ease while it’s still here.

Thanks for reading, and goodbye!

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By Logan O’Connor

Logan is a rising senior at NYU pursuing degrees in Journalism and Politics. She grew up on Long Island, but always dreamed of living in New York City. When she’s not in class or at her favorite local cafe, you can find her wandering the city (film camera in hand) or baking up a storm in her kitchen.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram andTikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for ournewsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Crash Course Connections Ch. 8: Friends In Your Field

Tuesday, August 5th, 2025

Some step into college with a ten-year plan. They know exactly what they want to do, the internships they’re gunning for, and the career ladder they plan to climb. It’s impressive, intimidating even. But that wasn’t me. I came in with a vague idea of my interests, a few broad passions, and absolutely no clue what I wanted to pursue after graduation.

And honestly? That’s completely okay.

The early years of college are meant for exploration. It’s the time to take random electives, try clubs you never considered in high school, and let yourself lean into curiosity without pressure. Even those people who seemed so sure of their path sometimes end up pivoting dramatically. Plans change. Passions evolve. Eventually, things start to click into place, and when they do, that’s when you begin building real connections in your field.

Networking graphic via LinkedIn

Now, “networking” is a word that tends to freak people out. It sounds stiff and transactional, like you’re collecting business cards at a conference you don’t want to be at. But in college, networking often looks completely different. It can be fun, casual, and surprisingly effortless when it stems from shared experiences.

As you find your footing—through classes, clubs, on-campus jobs, or student orgs—you start to naturally gravitate toward others with similar interests. Maybe you’re working late on the layout for the student magazine and end up bonding over coffee with the other photographers. Maybe you spark a conversation with the person sitting next to you in your chemistry class or chat with students after a panel on the future of medicine. These little moments grow into friendships, and those friendships become a network before you even realize it.

That’s what happened to me. As I dove deeper into my major, I found myself surrounded by people with similar goals, challenges, and curiosities. I started getting to know professors better, not just as instructors but as mentors. Classmates became collaborators, motivators, and friends. These relationships weren’t built on LinkedIn messages or polished resumes, but they were built on late-night study sessions, group projects, and shared enthusiasm for our field.

Networking of creatives caught in action at NYU Baedeker travel magazine’s “Welcome” meeting, 2024.

These connections have been more than just social. They’ve opened doors, pushed me to grow, and reminded me that I’m not in this alone. Friends in your field can serve as both healthy competition and sources of inspiration. They’re the ones who share the application link to a niche internship, encourage you to pitch that story idea, or drag you to a lecture from a visiting professional who ends up reshaping your perspective entirely.

If you’re a creative, these friendships can be especially meaningful. They teach you how to take your talent seriously, how to value your work, and sometimes, how to monetize it. You might not intend to make your hobby as a writer or ceramicist your career, but being around others who do can push you to go beyond casual practice and explore what’s really possible.

What started for me as stress-baking during finals week eventually led to setting up a bake sale table in Washington Square Park with a couple of friends. We sold out that day and even turned a profit. Now, we’re making plans to host more pop-up sales in the future. It’s the kind of thing I never would have done on my own. But with the encouragement, creativity, and practical support of the friends I’d met through shared passions, the idea came to life. Their belief in me helped transform something small and personal into something I could be proud of.

Proof of bake sale success, as captured by my friend and fellow vendor Vimary.

So don’t stress if you don’t have it all figured out right away. The beauty of college is in the discovery– in trying new things, failing a little, and eventually finding your people. And when you do, you’ll realize that some of the most valuable career connections you’ll ever make started as simple conversations.

Your future is shaped not just by what you study, but by who you grow with along the way.

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By Logan O’Connor

Logan is a rising senior at NYU pursuing degrees in Journalism and Politics. She grew up on Long Island, but always dreamed of living in New York City. When she’s not in class or at her favorite local cafe, you can find her wandering the city (film camera in hand) or baking up a storm in her kitchen.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram andTikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for ournewsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Crash Course Connections Ch. 6: Dating 101

Thursday, July 24th, 2025

Ah, college dating life, where to begin? The lore of finding your “true love” on campus runs deep. We all hear the stories: two freshmen sit next to each other in an Intro to Psych class, and boom —they end up getting married ten years later. There’s a kind of romantic hope that college will be the time where it all clicks. High school was just practice for the real thing, a prequel to the great love story we’re meant to star in.

In reality, it’s quite brutal.

Some people fall into (and out of) relationships like it’s part of their routine. Others don’t date at all. And in between, there’s the strange, emotionally ambiguous purgatory that is the situationship: a non-committal “thing” that looks like a relationship, feels like a relationship, but is never named as one. It’s confusing and often exhausting.

In my world, the first year of college wasn’t about dating. I bounced around, got to know people, and explored different circles and sides of myself. I had no heavy intention to commit because I didn’t want to. I was curious and open and still figuring out who I even was. And on top of that, I knew I was going abroad to Florence, which added a natural time limit to any potential connection.

Studying abroad opens up an entirely new kind of dating landscape. In Florence, connections were usually fun, passionate, and short-term. People were in it for the experience, not the longevity. That in itself can be beautiful: learning how to live in the moment, how to flirt in another language, and how to appreciate someone’s presence without worrying about the future. But it also meant that any real commitment fell off the table until I was more grounded, until I was back “home.”

My friends and I roaming the streets of Florence, circa fall semester 2023.

It wasn’t until junior year that I went on what I would consider my first real date, right before I left for London, of course. (I seem to have a habit of falling into things right before I leave.) The idea of the date scared me more than I care to admit. Not because of the person, but because it was set up through Hinge, which comes with its own psychological rollercoaster. Online dating is, frankly, horrendous for forming genuine connections. It can work, but most of the time, it’s a quick spark of banter, a few days of chatting, then a ghosting from one side or the other. Tinder? Mostly hookups. Bumble? Well… it’s Bumble.

But Hinge—Hinge had potential, at least in theory. And that first date was sweet and chill and surprisingly easy. It helped set a gentle precedent: dating didn’t have to be a minefield. To this day, first dates still make me sick with stress and nerves. I overthink my outfit, my voice, and whether my smile looks right. But once I’m there, it’s rarely as bad as I imagine.

That being said, I have had bad dates. I’ve had awkward silences and forced affection. But I’ve also had wonderful ones, fun, flirty, or even completely platonic, where I left with a new friend instead of a crush. That’s the thing about dating in college: it’s unpredictable. If the hit dating show Love Island taught us something surprisingly real: sometimes you’re torn between committing to something good or holding out for something that might be great. There’s no easy answer.

Chris and Huda’s final date, Love Island Season 7.
credit: Ben Symons/Peacock

The best guide, in the end, is your gut.

Don’t commit just because you feel you’re supposed to. Don’t date just to prove you can. And definitely don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t had a “serious” relationship by a certain age. Everyone moves through this process at their own pace, on their own path. Love, however it looks, finds people in different ways and at different times.

That said, you do have to put yourself out there. That’s part of the process. Be open. Be brave. Be willing to laugh about the disasters and appreciate the little moments. But don’t let dating become something that drains you to the point of hopelessness. 

Dating in college should feel like an adventure, not a punishment. A search for connection, for romance, or just for a good story. Whether you’re looking for a life partner or just a dinner date who makes you laugh, remember: this is your timeline, and there’s no wrong way to move through it.

Just breathe, and have fun!

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By Logan O’Connor

Logan is a rising senior at NYU pursuing degrees in Journalism and Politics. She grew up on Long Island, but always dreamed of living in New York City. When she’s not in class or at her favorite local cafe, you can find her wandering the city (film camera in hand) or baking up a storm in her kitchen.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram andTikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for ournewsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Chapter 5: A different kind of college story

Thursday, July 10th, 2025
Me trying to make a circuit for my project

My orientation week at Tandon NYU was different from what I expected. I saw it on my first day of college. I planned the perfect outfit and makeup to show up as the perfect version of myself. If there was one thing I struggled with in high school, it was limiting my yapping. I’d talk too much, share too many personal details, and often walk away from conversations wondering if I’d come off the wrong way. So, during my orientation, I wanted to have a little balance. With this in mind, I expected to struggle a lot, wondering if I was blending in the right amount. 

But I guess everyone else was just as nervous—so nervous that they didn’t talk much at all. So, I felt like I had to bring my yapper self out just to make the room feel a little more alive. And so I did. And that beginning made me believe that maybe in college I could be a yapper and be okay. 

But then came the first week of classes, where things got real. As time went on, I was swept into the rush of assignments, exams, and the constant fear that maybe I wasn’t smart enough. Being one of the smartest people in my classes for most of my life had suddenly turned into feeling like one of the dumbest. I truly started questioning my place among all these people who, somehow, just seemed effortlessly smarter than me. And that was when I kind of noticed myself going quiet. All I wanted to do was just go to college, attend my lectures, do my labs, come back home, finish my homework, and cry before going to sleep. Amidst this chaos, I really forgot to go out, have fun, and be the yapper I enjoyed being. 

To be honest, with a routine like that, it would normally be pretty hard to make friends. But I guess I was lucky—people still found me friendly. Maybe we just trauma-bonded over the engineering grind. Whatever it was, it made integration in calculus a little more bearable, three-dimensional motion in physics slightly less painful, and those six-hour labs just tolerable enough to survive. 

Sometimes I wonder if people on this engineering campus even get a chance to enjoy college. I see my friends from high school going to parties every weekend, going out every day, posting stories from rooftops and cafes while I’m sitting in the library Googling “how to survive thermodynamics without crying.” For a while, it felt like I was missing out, and maybe I should just be a writing major, then at least I would have some time to breathe. 

It was really tempting. I remember almost going to my advisor and changing my major. After all, I have a passion for writing as well. But I didn’t. I felt ashamed, like changing majors meant I’d failed. Like, I wasn’t strong enough to handle engineering. That feeling hit my ego hard. Instead of admitting defeat, my pride pushed me to try even harder, maybe more out of stubbornness than anything else. It became less about what I truly wanted and more about proving to myself that I could do it, regardless of the circumstances.

Maybe this is what my college journey is really about—not the wild parties or the packed social calendars like some of my friends talk about. For me, it looks different. It’s late nights spent struggling with physics problems, trying to make sense of mechanics. It’s staring at a page filled with symbols until integration by parts finally seems okay. It’s discovering how to design something that doesn’t just look good but stands.

It’s the small victories of finally understanding a tricky concept or the moments of laughter with friends during study sessions. It’s about learning who I am when everything feels overwhelming. It’s about learning how I learn and thrive.

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By Marzia Seemat

Marzia Seemat is a sophomore at NYU studying civil engineering and creative writing. She loves being close to nature, especially at the beach. Her favorite things include good food, morning tea, hour-long movies, and spending time with the people she loves.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Crash Course Connections Ch. 5: The Third Space

Wednesday, July 9th, 2025

College campuses are inherently conducive to connection and community. From frat life to campus food halls, cafes, and sprawling green lawns for picnics and post-class hangouts, they often serve as self-contained bubbles of social activity. It’s easy to forget the vastness of the world beyond your college gates when everything you need seems to exist within them. NYU, however, famously brags that though it doesn’t offer the traditional campus experience, “the city is your campus.” And honestly, that mostly checks out.

During the fall and spring, from West Houston to Union Square, NYU students are everywhere. We flood the cafes, comb through the thrift shops, linger at halal trucks, and turn every bookstore into a study nook. In a borough of nearly 1.7 million people, I still manage to run into my campus crush, my favorite professor, and my academic nemesis all in the same week.

But one of the most underrated perks of going to a school “without walls” is the natural encouragement to explore third spaces—places that exist outside of school and home. These are the environments where you start to find yourself beyond your student identity.

A third space is defined as any social setting outside of one’s home (the first space) and work or school (the second space). It’s where people gather, interact, and slowly, sometimes unintentionally, build community. Coffee shops, libraries, parks, gyms, and even online spaces can all function this way. For me, third spaces have been the key to experiencing connections that extend beyond the classroom.

Photo of La Colombe off Lafayette taken from bar.

One of my favorite third spaces is La Colombe—the location on Lafayette Street, specifically. It’s a chain, sure, but there’s something about this particular cafe that drew me in. It started out as my go-to alternative when Bobst Library started to feel a little too stuffy. I liked the light, the energy, and the cold brew. But then one of the baristas told me I looked like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, and I was hooked (pun very much intended).

From that point on, I became a regular—not just because of the caffeine, but because of the people. I got to know the baristas by name, and before long, they became my first real friends outside the world of NYU. It started to feel like its own little ecosystem.

Midterms season rolled around, and I needed an outlet. I’ve always used baking to decompress, but my roommates could only eat so many brown butter cookies and Basque cheesecakes. So, I brought a few treats to the cafe. The reaction was immediate and warm: ”thank-you” free coffee, and a new kind of reciprocity. I started sitting at the bar whenever I came in. Between rushes, baristas would pause to chat. Sometimes my new friends would slide into the seat next to me on their break and catch up for a bit. Eventually, they invited me to their Friendsgiving.

The infamous barista Friendsgiving.

There’s something grounding about having relationships with people who aren’t students, people who are still in their twenties and thirties but a few steps ahead in life. They aren’t worried about club e-board elections or what their thesis is going to be about. They remind me that life keeps unfolding beyond the classroom and that identity can exist outside of resume lines.

Third spaces give us the rare chance to be seen as full people—not just as students or workers, but as regulars, neighbors, and community members. In a city as overwhelming as New York, it’s easy to feel anonymous. But in a third space, you can start to feel known.

Take 10% off your next latte or pastry when you present your student ID at compilation coffee roasters in Brooklyn!

By Logan O’Connor

Logan is a rising senior at NYU pursuing degrees in Journalism and Politics. She grew up on Long Island, but always dreamed of living in New York City. When she’s not in class or at her favorite local cafe, you can find her wandering the city (film camera in hand) or baking up a storm in her kitchen.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram andTikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for ournewsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Chapter 3: The Me in Me

Tuesday, June 24th, 2025
Me in my High School Graduation Ceremony
A picture of me in my High School Graduation

I still remember graduation day. Actually—pardon me—I still remember how I felt during my graduation. For most people, graduation is a milestone, a celebration. But for me, it was something else entirely. It was a nightmare.

I had everything I thought I wanted. My family stood beside me. My amazing friends cheered. I wore the dress I had dreamt about. I had the honor roll title I worked so hard for, and even the flower bouquet I pictured in my hands. But still… something inside me refused to feel whole.

That morning, I started getting ready. First, the sunscreen. I rubbed it into my skin, and with it, rubbed in the thought that echoed in my head—‘I’m so ugly.’ Tears fell before I even made it to step two. I wiped them quickly. Foundation next. I kept applying, but the more I tried to cover up my skin, the messier it got. One hand held the sponge, trying to perfect the look; the other clutched a tissue, soaked in my tears. 

Then came the concealer. I dotted it under my eyes. I started blending, along with the thoughts that always followed—“Why do I have dark circles?” More tears came, of course, ruining all the foundation I had just put on. I sat there in front of my mirror, staring at the mess on my face. 

I gave up on perfecting it. I moved to blush. A soft pink, something that usually makes me feel alive. I swirled it on my cheeks, and—guess what? Yes, more tears. 

Eyeliner was the worst of all. I don’t know why I even tried. My hands were shaking, my eyes still glossy from crying, and every line I drew ended up crooked. I kept wiping it off, trying again, messing it up, wiping again. At some point, I just stared at myself and thought, Why am I even doing this? Why am I even crying? 

The truth is, I wasn’t sad that high school was over. I was sad about myself. About the way I was. About the way I looked. About the way my personality felt too much or not enough, depending on the day. That day, I felt like a failure. It’s like I haven’t done enough for myself. I haven’t accomplished anything compared to the people surrounding me. I felt like people hated me. 

That was the first time I had ever cried like that—not because something went wrong, but because, for the first time, I saw how deep my insecurities ran. How unsure I was of myself, inside and out. The reason I’m bringing up that day is because… yesterday, I almost felt that way again. 

Funny thing—yesterday was supposed to be just another beautiful day. And it was. It was an amazing dream. I was on a cruise for hours, surrounded by the people I love dearly. But I guess self-doubt always sneaks in at the worst times, right when there’s nothing to doubt. 

The thing about self-doubt is, no matter how many compliments you receive, it never quite feels real. You struggle to believe you’re enough. That you’re okay. That you’re already whole, just as you are.

Now that I am in college, where it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison, I find myself constantly looking at how others present themselves—how effortlessly pretty or put-together they seem. It makes you wonder if you’re enough just the way you are. But I’m starting to realize that growth doesn’t always show up in the mirror. Sometimes it’s choosing not to pick yourself apart, smiling at your reflection even when you don’t believe it, or reminding yourself that beauty isn’t something you have to earn—it’s something you already carry.

I know I still struggle with that, but I am better than I was on my graduation day. It’s not easy, but there’s a quiet kind of power in choosing to trust myself—even just a little. And I’ve proven that to myself, in small ways: by still smiling with the people I love, by still taking pictures even when I don’t feel perfect, by trying to feel pretty—because everyone is pretty. We all deserve to see that in ourselves, not just in others.

Get 10% off your next order at Baya Bar with your student ID!

By Marzia Seemat

Marzia Seemat is a sophomore at NYU studying civil engineering and creative writing. She loves being close to nature, especially at the beach. Her favorite things include good food, morning tea, hour-long movies, and spending time with the people she loves.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Dreamland Ch. 2: Surefire tricks to get your relatives to stop asking you about school

Wednesday, June 18th, 2025

Money. It makes the world go round, or something like that. I may have decided my passion from a young age, but I hadn’t decided on a job, not in any practical way. The hard lesson everyone learns between ages 17 and 21 is that choosing your dream is different from choosing your major, which is yet again different from choosing your career. I learned this lesson the moment I fostered my love for creative writing, and I keep learning it every day.

It’s not so bad, really. I’m studying English, which is very transferrable to a number of different fields, no matter what people will tell you. You only have to engage in a quick cursory scroll through any social media platform to understand that people lack writing skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills. People lack empathy and can’t formulate nuanced opinions. I’m not suggesting that everyone become an English major, but I do encourage a reworked perception of what the field can offer. 

So I don’t regret what I’ve chosen; I only regret not pushing myself out of my comfort zone far sooner, all the way back in high school, in order to learn the skills I’d need to shape my career in English. In freshman year of college, I unfortunately hesitated to join extracurriculars and attend general meetings that would allow me to meet new people and find things I might be interested in. I’ve since overcome that hesitation, thankfully, and now I know that I enjoy journalistic writing, marketing, communications, and more generally, learning new things.

That doesn’t mean the insecurity doesn’t creep in every once in a while. Every month, I spend at least one evening freaking out about what I will do after I graduate, and I panic-apply to a million jobs that I ultimately don’t hear back from. My parents are incredibly supportive and love to hear about school, but I’ve noticed that my family friends, the aunties and uncles, aren’t quite sure what to ask or if there is anything to even discuss. I get it, truly, but I can’t help but compare myself to my sister and others in our family who’ve chosen something more recognizable.

If you’re in the humanities, you probably understand this feeling—the tugging sensation that suspends you between your wildest dreams and the real world below. The Icarian knowledge that either side will damn you. Most of the time, it doesn’t feel quite this theatrical, but I don’t think anyone is immune to the chilling realization, even if inaccurate, that the things you do as a teenager determine the rest of your life. Such is the condition of being a teenager in the first place. Why can’t we all just do what we love, right?

NYU’s Silver Center for Arts and Sciences, home to English majors and others. Image Credit: https://meet.nyu.edu/locations/silver-center/

The divide between your passion and your career prospects might feel chasmic now, but there are ways you can reconcile even the most distant of pipe dreams and the most mundane 9-to-5 jobs. 

I used to work for NYU’s outreach and fundraising organization, which was often the bane of my existence, but I took every shift as an opportunity to learn about other people and their backgrounds. I learned about their fields of interest and the ways they used their schooling to propel them into careers that suited their niche interests. I once spoke to someone that illustrated tarot cards. I still quit that job after a semester, but I have plenty of stories to tell. which makes the semester of asking strangers for money sort of worth it. I don’t intend on continuing that sort of work full-time, but I know that if I keep collecting stories and experiences like that one, I’ll find joy in any job.

My ultimate goal is to have a job that sustains me financially and doesn’t make me dread it every night and morning, but I think eventually I’ll come to accept that your job won’t and probably shouldn’t be your life. If I completely turn creativity and writing into my source of income, will I still covet them as I do now? 

If you siphon all your passion into the thing that you have to do or you lose your stability, is it still passion? 

My hope is that I can look down that cavernous gap and feel security in traveling between both sides of it. My hope is to make just enough money that I feel content waking up each morning—though I certainly wouldn’t be mad if I made a little more. Money might sustain you, but your passions will keep you alive.

Students receive a 10% discount at Dim Sum Palace at three locations in NYC. Redeem now for authentic Chinese dim sum.

By Oshmi Ghosh

Oshmi Ghosh is a rising junior at NYU’s College of Arts and Sciences, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English with minors in Creative Writing, History, and Entertainment Business. You can usually find her appreciating the simple things in life: tea with milk and sugar, a good book, and/or intensely competitive board games.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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