CS in Philly

[pmpkn219]

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Sorry if this isn't entirely on topic, as it's not really test strategy so much as logistics!

I'm in the process of deciding when/where to take Step II CS - right now looking like November in Philly as a high front-runner. I'm not from the Phila. area, and have never been. Hotel rooms seem rather absurdly expensive, except for like one at $70/nt nowhere near anything but taxis I presume!

And the ones on Market St near the test center are $200-400, WAY too rich for my blood, thanks in part to USMLE charging me a grand to start with 😉 . So, to those natives/those who attended UPenn.., how easy is it to get around?

I was eyeballing the "SEPTA" system of subways/trolleys/buses. They seem pretty abundant all over the city, and I've found a couple decent hotel prices not far from SEPTA stops, where I could connect to get to Market St. Are they generally reliable; easy to buy tickets, or do you pay a drop-box your $2? Any veteran tips or tricks to getting around without too much hassle? Thanks in advance!

 

[smq123]

Sorry if this isn't entirely on topic, as it's not really test strategy so much as logistics!

I'm in the process of deciding when/where to take Step II CS - right now looking like November in Philly as a high front-runner. I'm not from the Phila. area, and have never been. Hotel rooms seem rather absurdly expensive, except for like one at $70/nt nowhere near anything but taxis I presume!

And the ones on Market St near the test center are $200-400, WAY too rich for my blood, thanks in part to USMLE charging me a grand to start with 😉 . So, to those natives/those who attended UPenn.., how easy is it to get around?

I was eyeballing the "SEPTA" system of subways/trolleys/buses. This seems pretty abundant all over the city, and I've found a couple decent hotel prices not far from SEPTA stops, where I could connect to get close to Market St. Are they generally reliable, easy to buy tickets, or do you pay drop-box your $2? Any veteran tips or tricks to getting around without too much hassle? Thanks in advance!

Well, I don't go to Penn (I go to Jeff), but SEPTA isn't bad. It's easy to buy tickets, and I guess you could call it reliable. If I were in a strange city taking CS, though, I'd still go with a cab. Just for peace of mind. The subway has a weird habit of not coming just when you're in a hurry. And I'm not sure if the subway stop near the NBME is a routine subway stop - if you accidentally get on an express subway, you'd zip right past the stop. Plus, if you have to make a connection between two different lines/two different forms of transportation, you're really better off taking a cab.

If you're still set on taking public transportation, I would stay at one of the hotels near Jefferson, which are fairly cheap. I would then walk to Market Street (a few blocks north of Jefferson), and then take the Market Frankford line towards the west. 25 blocks later, you'd be at NBME headquarters.

 

[pmpkn219]

Thanks for the tips! I leave obsessive-neurotically early in unfamiliar surroundings, so having a subway car come later than usual wouldn't really matter. Accidentally taking an express route and zipping right past where I wanted to be would be distressing though!

Coincidentally I was looking at some of the hotels near Jefferson - then picking up the Market-Frankford around City Hall and heading west. Unfortnuately the only public transport I have experience with is the Boston MBTA and Italy's TrenItalia, then since every system has their own unique and puzzling maps, it gets frustrating trying to figure a new one out! I may bend and take a cab, but I'm really quite cheap, and taxis intimidate me (for unknown reasons).

 

[NuMD97]

Thanks for the tips! I leave obsessive-neurotically early in unfamiliar surroundings, so having a subway car come later than usual wouldn't really matter. Accidentally taking an express route and zipping right past where I wanted to be would be distressing though!

Coincidentally I was looking at some of the hotels near Jefferson - then picking up the Market-Frankford around City Hall and heading west. Unfortnuately the only public transport I have experience with is the Boston MBTA and Italy's TrenItalia, then since every system has their own unique and puzzling maps, it gets frustrating trying to figure a new one out! I may bend and take a cab, but I'm really quite cheap, and taxis intimidate me (for unknown reasons).

Someone recently took the test in Philly and checked the Hot Wire listings near Market Street and found a room for $80.00/night. (Instead of the $149.00 "discount" the exam folks recommend.)

I imagine if you are taking the test for the afternoon session instead of the morning one, cabs wouldn't be a problem. But if you are taking the AM test instead, do you really want to stress getting a cab at 7:30 AM?

Considering all that you have spent to get this far, is another $60-70 going to make that much of a difference?

Just a thought.

 

[pmpkn219]

Thanks for the ideas guys. Actually, by the previous poster mentioning Hotwire, I somehow remembered Priceline (never used it before) and got the Sheraton there a couple blocks away for $70 a night! Highly recommend low-balling the Priceline hotels in "university area" or "center city" (the 2 locales I chose)... the Sheraton was asking $250 on the other discount sites!

Thanks again folks, and I hope this helps somebody else?👍

 

[NuMD97]

the Sheraton was asking $250 on the other discount sites!

Then you did great! The Sheraton is the one the exam folks recommend at the "discounted rate" of $149.00 for test takers. It's a block from the test site.