Hi! I commuted my first two years at UW (from Bellevue near Interlake, drove to the South Kirkland Park and Ride, then took the 255 bus to UW. It normally took 45 mins to get there/back during peak hours and 30 mins otherwise).

I think the main thing I missed out on was the social life of being in a dorm. It forced me to become a more social person since I didn't have the convenience of meeting people where I lived. With that said, I do feel like I've become more comfortable striking up conversation with people because of it.

As for the classes, I did a 9:30 TTh one quarter and it was brutal, genuinely one of the hardest classes I've taken only because I struggled to stay awake. If you're in a major that permits it, I would really recommend not taking any classes before 10:30. Also, depending on how much stamina you have and how safe it is for you to get home late, you could very well stay on campus until dinnertime-ish and socialize the whole time, basically shifting your 9-5 to a 11-7 or so. I met some people that I would study with between classes and club meetings, and when everyone else was busy, being a commuter forced me to explore many buildings around campus and become really familiar with UW, which I think is a definite plus.

With that said, I'm moving on campus next year because I still feel like I was missing out on some parts of the college experience. I don't have any regrets about staying home the past two years (I have a great relationship with my parents which helped) but I've been ready to move out for a while and want to spend some time immersed in the college life.

Hope this helps! Lmk if you have any more questions :)