For some students, college is a time to meet people, party and have a great time. At SF State, however, students don't have much interest in hanging out on campus and meeting people or participating in school activities. College is merely a means to get an education--just one aspect of their busy lives.

Most students here don't live on or near campus, but commute from all over the Bay Area--and sometimes further--making it difficult to meet people and make friends outside the classroom. In an article examining the commuter lifestyle of the school, U.S. News and World Report reported that a full 93 percent of the university's students live off campus.

"It's hard to meet people here because people are from all over," says SF State junior Derrick Williams. Williams, who commutes half an hour from San Mateo, is not one to hang around campus when he doesn't need to. "I usually leave [campus] as soon as I can."

SF State is widely recognized as a commuter school, selected by U.S. News and World Report 2004 Edition of America's Best Colleges as a prime example of a commuter school.

Despite the commute many SF State students make to the campus, along with the constant tuition increases, this semester the school has the highest enrollment rate in its 104-year history.

According to Jo Volkert, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Planning and Management at SF State, a total of 29,709 students are enrolled this semester, up from last fall's 28,378 enrolled students.

Christina Holmes, from the Department of Public Affairs, suggests that there are numerous reasons for the university's high enrollment rates. "I think that when the economy is bad people tend to stay in or go back to school," Holmes says. She also sites 'Tidal Wave II'--children of baby boomers are now at the college age, along with the added increase in college participation in general.

"I'm certain some students come to SFSU because it is in an urban city and is a great cultural destination," Holmes says. She also adds that the university has a variety of really strong programs, which is another reason many students choose the school.

Apparel design and merchandising major Rose Tran transferred to SF State from American River College in Sacramento, where she is from. Although San Francisco is quite far from home, she picked SF State over other schools because of the fashion design program.

Monday through Friday Tran stays at a flat in the city that she shares with a friend, but drives home to Sacramento every weekend. "But sometimes I do have to drive back during the week," Tran says, which can take up to three hours depending on when she goes.

But most students' commutes are not as extreme. Pedro Perez, who is a second- year international business major has an hour-long commute three days a week from Richmond. Perez, who commutes by BART, says he tried driving but that it was too hectic and cost more to pay for the bridge toll and parking.

Perez, who keeps busy with school and his part-time job, doesn't participate in any student organizations or clubs. "I would like to be more involved, but I just don't have the time for it," he says.

Volkert suggests that just as some students choose a particular college because it is far away from home, many students choose to come to SF State because it is actually close to their home.

Liberal studies major Fernando Gutierrez transferred to SF State from Diablo Valley College, a community college in the East Bay. Gutierrez did not apply to any other colleges except SF State. Though the university offers a dual program that allows students to get their master's degrees and teaching credentials simultaneously, he picked the school over others in the Bay Area because he says it is the most commutable.

From Hercules, Gutierrez gets picked up by a car pool that drops him off at the Montgomery Bart Station, which he rides to Daly City to catch the shuttle to school. He doesn't mind the commute so much since he realizes that the cost of living in San Francisco is so expensive.

"I think that at SFSU students get more value for their money," says Holmes. "Even with the tuition increases, it is still considered affordable and the education and experience is well worth it."