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Commuting from NYC to UMDNJ this fall?
Started by sabra48
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Hey, I live in Manhattan now and will be going to UMDNJ in the fall. I'm still deciding if it's worth it to stay where I am and do the commute or if I should just move to NJ. If I do stay I'd definitely be into carpooling.
fyi- the commute to UMDNJ from NYC is too long via public transportation. very tiring...
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I'm going through the same thing- I actually posted this in the dental thread as well, and asked if any UMDNJ students have any input as to whether commuting is a good or bad idea. Driving in off- peak hours, and in reverse traffic- means the trip wouldn't be too bad. However, they said in the interview that we shouldn't have more than a half hour commute. It's definitely more than half an hour, but I don't think getting home earlier to be in NJ would make me happy, and it's not such a big difference. No offense to Jersey---I just love the city and don't want to move.
Have you done the commute a few times now to be sure there won't be traffic? What is your proposed route? The Lincoln tunnel is backed up on weekdays from 4 pm - 7:30 pm trying to go into the city, even though one would think this direction is the "reverse commute." I don't know how the Holland tunnel is which is closer to the school.
The toll alone is $13, EZ pass makes it something like $10 and change. Off-peak EZ Pass isn't until 8 p on weekdays and is $8.25. That's a lot of tolls each month.
I know someone who commutes from NJ back to the city via the GW, and she doesn't sit in traffic. Obviously, there's no clear rule as to what is the best traffic-free route/time, but she's on the bridge around 5:45pm daily and hasn't had any issues. She says once in a while route 80 is a disaster, but there is usually never traffic. I figured I can work around traffic- if that means leaving an hour or 2 after class ends to avoid traffic times, I could just study in the library. I know Newark traffic is terrible as well, so even if I was living in Jersey, I would probably leave later to avoid sitting in a parking lot.
I know the tolls are expensive, hence the reason for posting! If I can find someone to carpool with, it cuts the cost in half.
Yes, I know the bridge doesn't usually get traffic because I take if I have to return to the city before 8 pm. My spouse used to take it on the way back every day around 5 pm and rarely got traffic. But the bridge is far from Newark which is why I didn't mention it. And then you have to factor in time to reach your destination in Manhattan. Where will you be parking? I have done both, garage (not cheap) and street and that really varies by the neighborhood. I don't know, maybe you drive already and have some of these things figured out.
I am not a dental student so there is no chance of a professor releasing his/her wrath on me because I was late for an exam. At my dental school, illness with a doctor's note or death of an immediate relative were about the only 2 things that were acceptable excuses. If you were talking about commuting for a job, then this conversation would be different. I also don't have to stress about getting home so I have adequate time to study for an exam. To me, 50 minutes of driving is a waste of study time. I don't advocate driving 50 minutes each way for dental school. I know some NYU students sometimes post about 50 minute subway rides to Queens but that is a bit different since you can force yourself to read and study on the trains or even catch up on your sleep.
You need to talk to UMDNJ dental students and see if there are any who do this to see if this is a realistic plan. I can see dental residents commuting, but not dental students.
Thank you very much for your input. I would be parking on the street, and leaving via the Lincoln Tunnel in the morning. As long as I leave my apt before 7:00 am, I never had an issue getting to NJ. That's why I figured the morning is super easy- I never had traffic leaving @ 6:55am. If I leave at an appropriate time in the evening, I figured I can get back into NYC easily as well.
As you suggested, I will try to find someone in UMDNJ who can shed light on whether or not a 50 min commute is doable for a dental student. I am worried about that too. I'm taking everything you said into consideration and appreciate the time you took to post. Thanks again🙂
I totally agree these are all important points to take into consideration. I'm still pretty confident that living in the city is doable. I live in the west 70s with a 3rd year UMDNJ med student, and he's been doing the commute the whole time. He mixes it up between driving and taking NJ transit depending on the day's schedule. I agree that the long commute will be the most inconvenient on exam days or when we have to stay late in the lab, but I have family in NJ that I can stay with when necessary. Overall I think the extra time spent commuting will be worth it to be because I really love living in the city, and I have a great deal on a rent stabilized apartment I'd hate to give up.
