Car a Necessity at EVMS?

[JaiKai]

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Hi, I'm hoping some current/past EVMS M.D. students can provide some insight on transportation! Of course, the school is in Norfolk, VA, but I'm not sure how good the public transportation is there. I know I'll likely need a car eventually to get to certain rotations, etc., but when do these begin? If needed, I can get a car right at the start of M1; I was just wondering how important it would be. Thanks!

 

[EVMS Medical Master's]

Not the MD program, but in Norfolk it depends on where you live. There's a light rail that runs through the town and halfway to Virginia Beach, and buses that run throughout the city. I know there are current students who don't have cars as M1s, even M2s. You can usually find housing close to campus, and there are some restaurants and smaller shops within walking distance for sure. There's a Harris Teeter (larger grocery store) that's a 15-minute walk from campus.

 

[deleted994889]

At my interview, an M2 student said she hardly needed her car, only for groceries if she was buying a lot. You'll probably need a car by M3 (start of rotations).

 

[JaiKai]

Awesome. Seems like I probably won't need one for the first 1-2 years as long as I live close to campus. Thanks you both!

 

[deleted994889]

Awesome. Seems like I probably won't need one for the first 1-2 years as long as I live close to campus. Thanks you both!

Close to campus and close to transport. The some areas of Norfolk aren't the safest and apparently it floods regularly (it did during my interview!)

 

[JaiKai]

Not going to EVMS (attending elsewhere this summer) but currently live within 15 min of EVMS and very familiar with Norfolk since I live and work nearby. I highly recommend having a car. Public transit around here sucks (we do have buses but they can be sketch/unreliable and the rail system goes around Norfolk but no where else) and the city of Norfolk doesn't have too much going on if you like to do other things besides bar hopping. I much prefer to be able to go to the beach, parks. You could probably scrape by without a vehicle if you live super close to campus and don't want to do anything besides go back and forth to campus and home. There are nice areas of Norfolk but there are also a lot of sketchier locations around that I wouldn't want to walk by myself around after dark. Be sure to check out the area you plan to live in before you sign the lease.

Basically you could get by without one if you just go to and from class. But living in Hampton Roads, I wouldn't be able to live without a vehicle and be happy.

Thanks for the insight! I'll have to think about my decision.