Crazy long commute

[montessori2md]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Here's my preliminary commute plan:

Class is 8-12 most days, one day/wk there's a clinical skills class in the PM.

Monday: Leave 6am for 8am class
Return by 2 PM
Tuesday: Leave 6am for 8am class
Stay overnight, study 8+ hours
Weds: Return by 2 PM
Thursday: Leave 6am for 8am class
Stay overnight, study 8+ hours
Friday: Return by 2PM

Total Hours travel time/wk with 2 overnights: 12 hours
With 1 overnight: 16 hours

Commuting will be necessary on lab days; could rely on slides, notes, recordings on non- lab days. For years 3 and 4, I will be 10 miles from my current house, can use the library there now.

VCU doesn't video record classes, and don't do a lot of MP3s, so to listen to audio I'd have to recruit another student to take my recorder to class with them if I chose to skip and stay home.

I'm not jumping up and down about spending so much time in the car, but there is no "halfway point" for DH and I, because I'm reverse commuting (no traffic) and he's going into DC -if we moved anywhere near I-95, he'd pay triple in time for any savings I'd gain. And if we relocated, he'd take a huge paycut and have crummy hours compared to his current job, not to mention the other relocation issues.

Am I totally nuts? I know there are people who simply don't go to class, but I learn well from lectures. My tour guides told me they were putting in about 5 hours/day studying (avg), and I think, even with the time enroute, I can do that no problem.

 

[2008orbust]

Wow! It's nice that you have a plan. Would you be crashing on couches or do you have family over there? IS hubby OK with the overnights? How old are your kids? Having two toddlers myself, I can see how the overnights would be really good for you cuz you could just study like crazy those nights and have the other nights for your rugrats.

I am commuting myself but 42 minutes from door to door is nothing. And M3 and M4 will be in my backyard.

Good luck to you!!! (and maybe you'll still get a call from someone a little closer to home)

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Yeah, I'm interested, too, about the overnight thing. If need be, you probably could find a cheap rental solution like a small studio or a multiple roommate deal. It's really not ideal, but I guess it's doable, especially since you can do 3rd and 4th year locally. I've got to say that I'm probably just not go to class in that situation even if I learned from lectures.

 

[montessori2md]

I'm thinking the "real" schedule would be more likely to entail skipping class once a week. DH is not exactly jumping up and down about the overnights, but he has a lot of options available to him -he always has one of his days off during the week, if he wanted to, he could use it to come out that way on my overnight, and leave our son (he'll be almost 5 when I start next year) w/ grandma.

We talked about the logistics of it before I applied, b/c I wasn't going to waste the cash on secondaries if we weren't willing to do it. DH has made some Gray's Anatomy jokes about not sleeping w/ attendings😛 but is really worried about car crashes more than anything else. He once left me for 8 weeks to train for a new job, and when I was pregnant his hours often brought him after 2AM, so we've sort of been there done that, it's just that it's been him, not me, who's been out of the house.

I think the overnights would really help my w/ studying, and I'm hoping another student who would like to live w/o a roommate, but doesn't quite want to take on the rent, will lend me their sofa and a shower once a week. If not, hotels in the area are very affordable, and I'm sure that via a rewards program or what have you, it would be even more affordable. And there's always the 24 hour library

 

[gman33]

It's great that you have a plan, but I might think about some other details.
What if it turns out that your commute takes longer than you think? The longer the trip, the more potential for delays. That 2 hour drive could turn into 4 hours on some days, especially during rush hour. Can you deal with that, and if not what are your alternatives?

Is there anyway you could spend more nights sleeping at school at least in the first few months? I would hate to see you not succeed just because of a lack of time. Maybe it would be possible for your spouse to find a lower paying job by school for the first two years. There are ways to reduce your expenses if you really look.

That being said, I think what you propose is reasonable. Just try to think of a few worst case scenarios and how you can deal with them.

 

[montessori2md]

The problem isn't really the income loss as much as it is quality of life loss -he's a chef, and happens to have a job with very family friendly hours and a fair amount of flexibility. Changing jobs would likely mean a return to long and unpredictable working hours that would make it impossible for him to be much help as far as parenting goes, which would seriously affect my ability to study. Most chefs we know work hours that are only slightly better than those of intern year.

We would also have to uproot my son and would either have to relocate my mom or deal without an extra grownup to help (as well as the dozens of friends we have who could help in a pinch), as well as figure out what to do with our house. All that for basically 360 days of school, which to me doesn't seem worth it. It would be easier to do a M-F overnight than to relocate all of us.

I could stay overnight more often if necessary, and that would be one way to handle a bad traffic day, and I don't intend to drive during rush hour(s). DC metro is obsessed with weather and traffic, it would be a relatively easy thing to keep track of -there are mass media panic attacks in anticipation of snow. I imagine I would choose to stay overnight the night before an exam just to make sure I didn't miss it b/c of traffic.

 

[gman33]

I agree that relocating isn't the best option for your situation, but I also wasn't sure if staying over at school (most nights) during the week would work. I just thought you should think about that in case the commuting becomes too burdensome. Hopefully it won't, but I wouldn't want to see you end up in a situation where you didn't have enough time to study.

Good luck with everything. I'm sure you will work out something.

 

[QofQuimica]

I don't think you're totally nuts, but one other thing you should consider is that spending so much time in the car is not relaxing, and it's also not time when you're learning anything. So basically, you're going to be wasting 12 hours per week on an activity that is neutral at best and downright aggravating and stressful at worst. This is on top of being stressed out over school and possibly feeling like you are not spending as much time as you would like to be with your husband and son.

I think if you are dead set against moving (which seems reasonable based on what you've said) and you're insistent on attending all of your classes, then a good option would be to stay at school Monday through Friday and spend your weekends at home. You could study every day during the week and have most of the weekends off to spend with your family. It's not ideal in terms of how much time you'd be home, but at least while you were there, you would totally be there, if that makes sense.

Whatever you decide to do, best of luck to you with school. 🙂

 

[Doowai]

During medical school I had some crazy commutes during clinical rotations. One psychiatry rotation was only 55 miles one way, but due to city traffic often took an hour and a half one way- for a month. Internal medicine was roughly the same - 3 months. Physical medicine and rehab was 2 months - same general location and commute. It was 6 or so months, 3 hours per day in the car - at times it was maddening. I donwloaded some USMLE board reviews to my MP3 player and would listen to them in the car.

 

[montessori2md]

During medical school I had some crazy commutes during clinical rotations. One psychiatry rotation was only 55 miles one way, but due to city traffic often took an hour and a half one way- for a month. Internal medicine was roughly the same - 3 months. Physical medicine and rehab was 2 months - same general location and commute. It was 6 or so months, 3 hours per day in the car - at times it was maddening. I donwloaded some USMLE board reviews to my MP3 player and would listen to them in the car.

I was thinking about doing audio review in the car...I did this for MCAT while commuting (only 30-40 min one way) to my post-bacc classes. I could audio record lecture and then listen to that and/or StepI review audio. I think for some classes (like anatomy) that could be basically a waste of time, but for others (genetics) it might be useful. I'm taking biochem right now, and the prof talks so fast, it's helpful to go through it a second time simply b/c you can't absorb at the speed she speaks.

Agree w/ Q about the possibility of either skipping, or M-F. I think, especially second year, the extra time will be hard to sacrifice to the car. I want to go semi-regularly at first to meet my classmates and figure out the basics. Every time we start a new block, I'll want to be there, and I Must attend at least once a week for clinicals (though there is a possibility that the preceptor could have an office closer to home than campus).

What's really bizzare to me is even w/ the commute, I will have more time to study than if I were at GWU (where I'm on the waitlist) b/c of PBL and lab time, classes are 8 hours/day most days, and I'd still have an hour on the train each way (though granted, it's easier to unwind/review on a train than in your car).

Talked to someone who did their master's in Richmond, and she said it wasn't a bad commute, even in the winter, she crashed at a friend's place once a week. From what she said about the med students' happiness and competence 3rd and 4th year, it seems worth it.

 

[QofQuimica]

I can't speak for anyone else, but as far as I'm concerned anyway, first year is like a joke compared to second year. I haven't worked this hard and studied this much since I was prepping for my PhD quals....this year feels a lot like that year, actually, especially with the boards coming up this summer. Now I'm doing clinical stuff instead of teaching UGs, but it's kind of the same thing in terms of spending large chunks of time dealing with people's personal problems. 😛 All kidding aside, I can't even imagine driving 12 hours per week on top of everything else that's going on. If you manage to pull it off, well, more power to you, m2md.

 

[Yourmother]

Your not nuts but that kind of a schedule is bound to wear on you at some point. Something will have to give and it might be your grades. Personally, I don't like being on the road that long. Do you have a safe and dependable car? What about the rising cost of gasoline? We're at $3 now and it may be $4 soon. I complain about being 9 miles from school. And your margin for error is razor thin.

You could do it that way but is it the best way? Is it the only way? There must be an easier solution than all that driving.

 

[montessori2md]

😀 Well, I actually make my fuel right now (biodiesel from fryer oil) for a 2002 Jetta TDI. She's a reasonably reliable car, diesels are known for longevity, and BD is a "green" fuel and I get 40mpg with an automatic. I don't know that I will take the time to process BD once I'm in school -I may set myself up for fall semester by processing a big batch in August, and then maybe do another large batch over winter break. We'll see.

 

[Beau Geste]

CCOM is 30 miles from my house, but the construction makes it 1 to 1.25 hours worth of driving (one-way). So I'm looking at a potential 2-2.5 hour daily commute.

My husband once brought up the idea of getting an apartment for me closer, but I know I'll just sleep in for the morning hour and relax after class for an hour, so I might as well just commute. I've always been diligent about recording my lectures, so that's something I can listen to on my commute.

I also like books on tape and AM talk radio, so I keep myself entertained.

I already drive 3 hours a day for work as it is, but I MAKE money instead of lose it.

 

[Kateb4]

Me too Meg, but I guess I'm slightly closer. It should be about 45-60 min each way to CCOM. I've been doing the same drive to NIU daily, so I think it will be fine.

For the OP. I couldn't handle being away from my kids 2 nights per week! But, it really sounds like you know what you're getting into. I say play it by ear. You can always find a place closer to campus if the commuting isn't working out.

 

[Beau Geste]

Me too Meg, but I guess I'm slightly closer. It should be about 45-60 min each way to CCOM. I've been doing the same drive to NIU daily, so I think it will be fine.

For the OP. I couldn't handle being away from my kids 2 nights per week! But, it really sounds like you know what you're getting into. I say play it by ear. You can always find a place closer to campus if the commuting isn't working out.

How's your study schedule doing with your drive to NIU? That's the only thing that has me nervous - you are a good role model for me! 🙂

 

[montessori2md]

Megboo, what is STFU?

And thanks all, for your thoughts. We'll figure it out, one way or another.

I was talking to my MD, she did this when her daughter was 9, and is fantastically enthusiastic about my acceptance 🙂. She stayed in Richmond M-F, hired a nanny to stay w/ daughter back in our neck of the woods. Needless to say, her daughter missed her, but reportedly survived and has gotten over it. Made me feel better about my situation, in any case.

 

[Beau Geste]

Megboo, what is STFU?

And thanks all, for your thoughts. We'll figure it out, one way or another.

I was talking to my MD, she did this when her daughter was 9, and is fantastically enthusiastic about my acceptance 🙂. She stayed in Richmond M-F, hired a nanny to stay w/ daughter back in our neck of the woods. Needless to say, her daughter missed her, but reportedly survived and has gotten over it. Made me feel better about my situation, in any case.

Shut the eff up 😱 😀

 

[Kateb4]

How's your study schedule doing with your drive to NIU? That's the only thing that has me nervous - you are a good role model for me! 🙂

No, I'm probably not a good role model, lol! I also have 3 kids now, so studying only happens late at night when they are asleep, and most of the time I really only have time to cram right before tests. I try to make my schedule so that I have an hour or so between classes when I can sit somewhere at school and study. That was really the best thing for me. I'm hoping that there will be some downtime between classes in med school for studying. I have a full time nanny, but I just don't really study at home. I'm going to try to work it out so I can study at school either before or after class. Maybe get in some study groups! If we both end up at CCOM, we can set something up for commuters maybe.

 

[Kateb4]

How's your study schedule doing with your drive to NIU? That's the only thing that has me nervous - you are a good role model for me! 🙂

Oh, one thing that I have found that is really nice though... I record alot of my lectures and listen to them in the car to study. This really helped me in Cell Bio! I also subscribed to an audio book thing online, and listened to alot of books while driving.