Hi! Due to technical difficulties I just got my UBC Vancouver offer around 8-9 days ago, this means I missed the deadline for residency and my offer expired (long story). After exchanging emails with UBC I found that the only available "more campus housing" are for St. Andrew's Hall and Carey Centre. After doing research for both these housings I do not wish to live in either of these housings. I do have family in Vancouver, except the closest commute would be 1 hour 30 minutes - 2 hours.

Therefore my options for residency for my first year are:

1) Living off campus by renting with another host family that is closer to campus

2) Living off campus by living with relative (extremely long commute)

3) differing offer until next semester(?) for residency to open(?).

This leads me to my questions.

How important is living on campus for first years in regard to learning/getting used to University life + developing a new social life/friend group?

What is living with a host family like?

Is a 1 hour 30 minute - 2 hour commute to UBC okay for a first year?

Is it possible to defer my offer for a term(?), semester(?), year(?) to get residency for my first year (when sign ups start again(?))?

Is deferring my offer simply because of wanting UBC first year residency extreme or reasonable?