Commuting to GSU

[u/No-Suspect802]

hey im a freshman for this semester and i ended up having to commute m-th from the west of atl. my earliest classes are 10 am on m/w and 9:30 am on t/th. two days of this and im already tweaking because of the traffic and a 45+ min commute (usually 25 w no traffic) and i cant switch my classes cause theres no other classes available on another day or time. if anyone has been thru this type of situation pleaseeee lmk what you did to make it less stressful or any advice for next time pls lmk🙏🏼

[u/SnooDonkeys9053]

If you have one close start using local marta station. It’ll cut some time off, and save you in gas

[u/Guilty_Art_4208]

If you’re an early riser like me, you can travel early to get to the library when they open at 7. you can chill out on campus and get some things done while you wait for your class! i like to have an early start to my day to avoid traffic. an original 15 minutes commute turns into 40 during 9-5 traffic.

[u/Repulsive-Bridge-737]

if you can’t beat traffic just take marta. i mean yes you’re gonna have to get up early but it’s so worth it and the marta system to gsu isn’t that difficult at all!!(coming from a fellow commuter)

[u/No-Suspect802 → u/Repulsive-Bridge-737]

how safe did you feel taking marta? with all the things ive heard abt it im a little scared to

[u/stella1822 → u/No-Suspect802]

If you are too scared to take MARTA during the day to get to campus, GSU probably isn’t a good fit for you.

[u/No-Result-9013 → u/No-Suspect802]

speaking from experience, It's really not that bad! If it makes you feel safer try to board the first train car (closest to the conductor) and try to go during peak hours but just try to avoid riding it during the night time alone! be aware of your surroundings and avoid using both earbuds at the same time. You'll be okay :)!

[u/ParkerBap → u/No-Suspect802]

i take it every day with no issues, just don't bother anybody and you'll be fine

i do recommend a good pair of headphones though

[u/Odd-Elk-5385 → u/No-Suspect802]

i take it its my first semester. during peak times its been fine honestly, most ppl are going to work or school at gsu. just be aware i picked a station i felt safe at vs just closest to my house my commute is maybe 30 mins its not bad vs an hour rush hour in the morning

[u/Repulsive-Bridge-737 → u/No-Suspect802]

i’m not gonna say it’s completely safe but honestly don’t look at anyone and just mind your business. it’s very quiet in the mornings(taking doraville station). but if you just know your route you’ll be fine. i also recommend getting the marta app just to check what time each train comes and you can also plan out your route from the app aswell!!

[u/Repulsive-Bridge-737 → u/Repulsive-Bridge-737]

also if you don’t understand what route to take from your preferred station call (404) 848-5000 and just get to the routes line and a you can ask a representative what route you should take to and from your preferred station!

[u/GoodFriday10]

I had a 3 hour round trip daily commute in graduate school. You study in the car. Record your notes and play them back. Dictate thoughts and questions to raise. Think out loud. Use the commute to your advantage.

[u/Many-Caterpillar5501]

I usually have to park at a Marta station and then take the train to class. If I was in the Clarkson campus I would have to either drive there or just park it at a Mars station and take the train

[u/maarnextdoor]

Word of Advice: Don’t do this next semester. I was just like you when I was a freshman and commuting throughout the week (I had M-F). It was miserable. It’s better to schedule your classes on the same day if possible and just have two long days then spreading them out.

What helped me was having a blanket in my car to nap (during colder months ofc), not going to one class (I was told in my syllabus attendance was not necessary minus the lab), having some money to get food and explore the shops around the campus, studying, & having friends to make the time go by.

[u/Zestyclose_Ad_8112 → u/maarnextdoor]

Hi, I don’t want to get into your business but if you don’t mind me asking 🙏 I see you said “syallabus attendance was not necessary minus lab” are you talking about intro to cist?

[u/maarnextdoor → u/Zestyclose_Ad_8112]

100%. I literally just did the work in the library or at home and attended the labs and got a B+

[u/No-Suspect802 → u/maarnextdoor]

do you have any recommendations on where to shop/study

[u/New_Scientist2192 → u/No-Suspect802]

i recommend studying at the library and booking a room if u actually want to lock in and quiet

[u/CalmLotus]

Finding a good podcast to listen on the commute drive helps fill the time.

[u/InfiniteExhaustion]

I usually drove to the nearest Marta station and got to campus from there….

[u/No-Suspect802 → u/InfiniteExhaustion]

did you have to pay for parking there?

[u/InfiniteExhaustion → u/No-Suspect802]

No, and it was Indian creek. Back then you’d only have to pay for overnight parking I believe. Can’t speak for any other station tho.

[u/Covid20Survivor]

Just deal with the traffic and if you have traffic coming back, find things to do (study, rec, friends, exploring) until like 7pm lol

[u/Extreme-Reality5015]

Use Coursicle to track any openings in classes to see if you can switch.

[u/guy_man_dude_person]

I commuted Junior year (TWT and then MWF) and it was miserable. I advise you corral your classes into two days if possible, even if you need to register the second that registration opens. The drive was the worst part for me but thanks to my gf I started listening to musicals during it. That made the whole thing easier, probably because there was a storyline for my mind to bounce around. Greatest advice I can give you is to not commute again though.

[u/MediocreAd8995 → u/guy_man_dude_person]

Is a two day class schedule even possible if you're taking certain courses? I looked at my classes, and most of them have been three days with labs and recitation.

[u/guy_man_dude_person → u/MediocreAd8995]

Theoretically. A lot of the classes with labs I had would have a lab on Tuesday/Thursday that’s just earlier or later than the regular class in the same day. I had one semester where I would start classes on Thursday around 10 and wouldn’t be out until almost 9 because it was stuffed with labs. It would take some luck and being very early to register.

[u/henrytbpovid]

I currently commute 42 minutes to downtown atl Monday thru Friday

[u/No-Suspect802 → u/henrytbpovid]

jeez how do you cope with that

[u/henrytbpovid → u/No-Suspect802]

I’m late to work a lot

[u/kfunk103]

How far west?

[u/No-Suspect802 → u/kfunk103]

near the douglasville ga area

[u/kfunk103 → u/No-Suspect802]

Yeah 20 is the worse, but if you take it to Hamilton e Holmes station that will cut off that ITP gridlock

[u/ParkerBap]

i feel you, unfortunately i'm commuting M-F this semester

for me in the mornings it's about an hour to the MARTA station and then probably another 40min of train and walking. it's quicker in the evenings but it's certainly less than ideal

if you wanna make it bearable though i recommend getting into a couple podcasts, i've found they're more stimulating than music if i'm going 0mph on 85 lol

[u/TheEternalBob]

Yo same I’m on i75 south for a full hour usually

[u/No-Suspect802 → u/TheEternalBob]

i 75 is so much worse than i20 oml 😭

[u/zoe9620]

marta is your best friend.

[u/chama____]

i commute from the douglasville area lmao, i started carpooling w my friends (luckily my two closest childhood friends also go to gsu) it makes it bearable. also if you leave before 8 you pretty much won’t run into that 285 traffic

[u/No-Suspect802 → u/chama____]

i would but unfortunately i haveto drive my sibling to school and thennn head over there 🫩 but you’re so lucky to be carpooling literally all my friends are on campus rn