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4 Tips to Help You Survive Commuting to Campus

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCLA chapter.

Commuting to campus can be difficult, especially with all this crazy LA traffic. Check out my tips on how to survive commuting to campus:

1.) Plan your schedule around traffic

I always try to pick my classes so they are back-to-back and on the same days, but the most important thing is to make sure your classes start after 12PM to avoid morning traffic and end before 4PM or after 8PM to avoid night time traffic.

2.) Find a safe place to hang out on or near campus

Pick out your go-to coffee shop or library to hang out at while you are waiting for traffic to calm down. I actually joined a gym near campus that I like to hang out at whenever I have an extra hour or so. It is also really convenient for whenever I need to change or shower to get ready for a party or event after class. 

3.) Pick out a radio station or podcast show to listen to during your commute

I always download The Brett Davern Show on iTunes and listen to it while I sit in traffic on my way to school. It is hosted by Brett Davern (from MTV’s Awkward) and musician Marty Shannon and is one of the newest and coolest podcast shows. For someone like me who commutes to campus every day, there is nothing better than finding a great podcast to listen to.

This podcast is hilarious and always has the best guest hosts including Nathan Kress (iCarly), Frankie Muniz (Malcolm In The Middle), Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf), and Brett’s Awkward co-stars  like Jillian Rose Reed (Elena of Avalor), Greer Grammer, and Beau Mirchoff.

Photo Credits: The Brett Davern Show

4.) Compare all maps!

Make sure to compareGoogle Maps, Waze, your car navigation, and any other navigation systems you use to find the fastest route to class. For me, I usually take Waze since it helps me get to campus through backstreets and canyons rather than the freeway, which can get heavy traffic. 

Good luck to all my fellow commuters! I hope these tips help you survive your commute, now all you need to worry about is getting a good parking spot. 

Sara Zaghi was the Campus Correspondent and Editor in Chief of Her Campus at UCLA, which rose to the #1 chapter in the Her Campus Chapter Network of 370+ Campuses during her tenure, from 2015-2019. Zaghi is a self-proclaimed "Professional Fangirl” and currently works in entertainment and fashion publicity. In 2016, Sara was listed as one of Her Campus' Top 22 Under 22 Most Inspiring College Women. Check out Sara's College Girl's Travel Guides for Catalina Island, Las Vegas, New York, Napa Valley, Boston, and Chicago. Contact Sara via email: Sara_Zaghi@yahoo.com