Concerns About Transportation

[ChoC0L@+JunK1E88]

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Hello, I hope everyone is doing well. I have a nagging concern about traveling during medical school. I'm over 25, and I've never had a car my entire life. The reason being that I've been in 3 car accidents, each time I was in the passenger seat.

I tried in the past to get my driver's license, but failed. My fear was so crippling that me and my instructor almost hit an oil tanker truck on the highway at 55mph. Thank goodness my instructor was quick to take control of the wheel.

My question is if a car is required for medical school? I'm worried that my not having a car will count against me when it comes time to apply for medical school. I understand that med students often have to go to some away rotations during 3rd and 4th year. Am I screwed? Should I bring this phobia up during interviews? I hate that I'm suffering this but I can't shake it. I've only been taking public transportation to go places.

 

[chilly_md]

Moved to Pre-MD forums.

I am sorry to hear about your past experiences with car accidents. I am not sure why you would want to bring it up during an interview. This is likely something you should seek professional help with addressing before applying as many schools do have rotation sites that will be further away from the home institution. DO schools especially, but even MD schools in major cities could have sites where it is inconvenient to try to find public transportation or rely on Uber everytime. You would be severely restricting yourself when applying to med school, residency and jobs in the future if you could only go to places with a very robust public transport system (ie NYC).

 

[xffan624]

Hello, I hope everyone is doing well. I have a nagging concern about traveling during medical school. I'm over 25, and I've never had a car my entire life. The reason being that I've been in 3 car accidents, each time I was in the passenger seat.

I tried in the past to get my driver's license, but failed. My fear was so crippling that me and my instructor almost hit an oil tanker truck on the highway at 55mph. Thank goodness my instructor was quick to take control of the wheel.

My question is if a car is required for medical school? I'm worried that my not having a car will count against me when it comes time to apply for medical school. I understand that med students often have to go to some away rotations during 3rd and 4th year. Am I screwed? Should I bring this phobia up during interviews? I hate that I'm suffering this but I can't shake it. I've only been taking public transportation to go places.

I wouldn't mention this during interviews, but you need to be realistic when you apply to schools and maybe try to subtly gauge accessibility during interviews when you have a chance to engage with students (without specifying exactly why). There are some schools that are in areas that it simply isn't going to be possible to get around without a car. Even in schools where you can live close by to the school and the hospital you might end up rotating at a site that is less accessible (not even as an away rotation but just a regular part of MS3 or MS4). You can probably improvise with an uber or taxis temporarily, but I would take medical school as the time to try to address your anxieties and least pass a driving test so that you don't severely limit your residency opportunities. One of my fellow residents didn't have a car , but I think eventually she got one as the inconvenience of not having one became too difficult. We were in a pretty large city, but with most major hospitals there was sometimes rotations in outlying clinics that were less accessible.

 

[jhmmd]

Hello, I hope everyone is doing well. I have a nagging concern about traveling during medical school. I'm over 25, and I've never had a car my entire life. The reason being that I've been in 3 car accidents, each time I was in the passenger seat.

I tried in the past to get my driver's license, but failed. My fear was so crippling that me and my instructor almost hit an oil tanker truck on the highway at 55mph. Thank goodness my instructor was quick to take control of the wheel.

My question is if a car is required for medical school? I'm worried that my not having a car will count against me when it comes time to apply for medical school. I understand that med students often have to go to some away rotations during 3rd and 4th year. Am I screwed? Should I bring this phobia up during interviews? I hate that I'm suffering this but I can't shake it. I've only been taking public transportation to go places.

As someone who didn't get their driver's license until age 17, and didn't start driving until age 19, I can tell you that it really depends on where you go to medical school. A lot of cities have good public transportation. Most don't. I wouldn't bring your concerns up in an interview, or while talking to fellow students lol.

Have you been admitted to medical school yet?

 

[ChoC0L@+JunK1E88]

As someone who didn't get their driver's license until age 17, and didn't start driving until age 19, I can tell you that it really depends on where you go to medical school. A lot of cities have good public transportation. Most don't. I wouldn't bring your concerns up in an interview, or while talking to fellow students lol.

Have you been admitted to medical school yet?

No, I'm still an undergrad sophomore. But I wanted to plan ahead so that I wouldn't stumble into any problems. This fear has been with me for years and I worry that it would hinder me in becoming a doctor.

 

[jhmmd]

No, I'm still an undergrad sophomore. But I wanted to plan ahead so that I wouldn't stumble into any problems. This fear has been with me for years and I worry that it would hinder me in becoming a doctor.

Well, truth be told, I haven't heard of a doctor who can't drive. But there is a first time for everything, as they say.
Have you thought about taking a driving class for adults?

 

[cj_cregg]

No medical school will ask you whether you can drive, so it will not hinder you from getting in. Others are correct that it may be a relatively large inconvenience for you not to be able to drive depending on where you end up for clinical rotations and for residency.

 

[LunaOri]

You have plenty of time before you apply to address this problem and learn to drive. There are therapists who specialize in fears/phobias.