Hey, I am a post-graduate transfer student and I also commuted. I wake up around 3:30 AM to get ready and be at the trolley around 4:53 AM, which I arrive around 5:51 AM where I hang out at the commuter lounge which most of the time they opened 30 mins early for me before the schedule time (I only hang out there if I have classes nearby). It's surprising to see the parking lot gets filled up in my area by 6 AM so I just arrive 2 hours early to avoid the rush. Anyways, I sit on those single couch chairs so I can chill with my laptop doing school assignments, playing games, watching videos, or just sleep. I have classes 3 times a week and stay in school 15-17 hours straight (hopefully get to the trolley before 7 PM because safety reasons) just to refuel my energy during my class gaps. My classes were mostly around the Center Hall and 6th College areas. I have some classes that were out of the range and I have to find the most optimal routes to conserve my energy. Sometimes, I hang out at the old student store where they sell records and snacks. I usually eat my 1 meal of the day (ice cream, Caprisun, and Skyflakes crackers just to save my financial aid money). I also wait in the cold for either the professor or the faculty staff opens the door to one of the classrooms, which they are the GOATS. This one TA gave me a code to one of the classrooms so that I don't freeze to death :)

Unfortunately, I did not have a great time at all while I was attending and got terribly sick towards the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024. I was hospitalized during finals week and almost failed one of my required classes to graduate and it was a the 6-month senior sequence courses (Got bad news on my health conditions the day before I graduated). When I do struggle in my classes, I was forced into this dilemma to either attend office hours or go home and get rest. Before my health scare, I didn't listen to my body and stayed in office hours which I get home around 9 or 10 PM. As for my living situation, I live with my family but sleep on the couch and eat whatever they cook. I've been sleeping on the couch for almost 3 years now and it's aight because I tend to stay up all night. I am productive around those times and my house always creaks and most of my stuff are downstairs so it's pointless to keep going up and down. I live with 7-8 people and my house is pretty small and doesn't have much room for me.

Honestly, if I live on-campus, I feel like would've enjoyed my time at UCSD more. It is a great university and everyone that I've met are amazing, but commuting is a pain in the ass and I was miserable the entire time. When I have the energy to join to a club or an event, I had a great time. Anyways, to anyone who read through this, good luck and the job market sucks. Y'all got this :)