By Verla Roberts
“Being in a dorm, you form relationships with your roommates and your dorm floor,” Craig Johnson, a Social Psychology professor at the University, said. “Freshman year is an important time because there is a lot stress and stress makes people bond together a bit. The friends you make in your freshman year are friendships that last a life time.”
The Office of Freshmen Advancement is designed to help first-year students make the switch to college life. The office holds many social programs to help a student adjust to college and living on Long Island. There is a three-day orientation for incoming freshmen so they can make up their schedules and capture a taste of college life. The orientation program is offered not only to resident students, but also to commuter students.
The Office of Freshmen Advancement also takes students on the Long Island Railroad and teaches them how to travel to the city. There are barbeques held every spring and fall near Memorial Hall for commuter students, so that they can be involved with the University community.
“Living on campus is an excellent opportunity if you can have it,” Jennifer Boscarino-Green, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Freshmen Support Services, said. “Even a commuter student can have an excellent college experience as long as they are a go getter and make themselves available.”
For other freshmen, making the switch from high school to college was not that easy. The cost of living on campus forced some students to live off-campus, especially if they live a few minutes away from the University.
“It was a lot cheaper to commute than to dorm,” Matt Cerny, a freshman from Bay Shore, said. “I figured that since I wasn’t on campus, I wouldn’t party as much and I would focus more on my work. The plus from it all was I got a better car.”
Some commuter students have to wake up earlier to beat rush-hour traffic and arrive to class on time. Finding a parking spot on the southern side of campus can also be an adventure.
Although commuter students have the comforts of home, they often find it difficult to get involved with school-related activities. For some, it’s harder to make friends and feel part of the University community.
“It’s been an adventure trying to make friends,” Anthony Scarola, a freshman from Glen Head, said. “Luckily I was in First-Year Program and I was able to see people everyday to make friends with them. Then I got into radio because of my major and I played intramural football, so that also helped to make friends around campus.”
“I try to get involved as much as I can, but I am taking 17 credits and working 20 hours a week, so it gets hard,” Macerino said. “I also do work in the biology department and that’s about as involved as I get.”
Residents have a better sense of the school and can form bonds with people. Residents are away from their parents and have the freedom that some commuters dream about.
“I really like living on campus a lot because I love the people here,” Evan Woschnik, a freshman from Eastport, said. “It’s been an easy switch from high school to college and it’s been easy to make friends because people are always around.”
The University offers many different activities such as clubs, intramural sports and Greek life for its students to get involved. This is a great way for a freshman to get used to college and meet new people. The school also offers movie nights during the semester for students in the Student Center.
“I participate in rugby and I’m starting my own club this semester,” Audrey Dinerio, a freshman from Smithtown, said. “So I feel like I’m getting the most out of my college experience here at Hofstra.”
Even with all of the great opportunities living on campus, there are some drawbacks.
“Hofstra is a great school but it wasn’t the college experience I thought it was going to be,” Michael Notarile, a freshman from Holbrook, said. “There aren’t enough people around on the weekends. A lot of people go out also because there is so much to do around here. Upstate is different because people are always around since there is nothing else nearby.”
There are many pros and cons to living on and off-campus, but it’s important for all students to get involved.
“I’m happy with my decision to dorm instead of commute,” Notarile said. “It has just been easier to make friends because you are around them all the time even if you don’t want to.”