HELP!! Is it possible to commute?

[josehernandez94]

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So I got into my top choice school, Rochester! I just have one really big concern right now about going there.

My girlfriend and I would likely live ~30 minutes from the school (there's a reason for it, don't want to waste your time with details) and I was wondering if commuting is feasible. My understanding is that while winters in upstate NY are brutal, they also have the equipment to take care of the snow and poor weather should only be an issue maybe 2-3 times/year (I can live with that). I guess my bigger concern is during the 3rd and 4th years--would it be impossible to have a 30-40 minute commute during clinical rotations?

Any insight/advice/ideas/suggestions are GREATLY appreciated. I really, really, really want Rochester to work out for us.

 

[doc05]

yes it is possible.

 

[Adcadet]

I commuted ~30 minutes throughout grad school and a number of people in my med school commute. During the winter (or year-round, for some) most leave their house such that they will get to school ~ 1 hour early. If the weather and traffic is OK, then they review before class. If traffic is bad, they're still on-time. And if traffic is horrible....well, that's why we have lectures online.

 

[dancelover]

I commute about 40 minutes to school. I'm a second year and so far it hasn't really been an issue, other than the fact that dealing with heavy traffic on a regular basis can be irritating. It is only a problem when we are required to be at school only for something minor (a small group meeting; journal club) and i spend more time traveling there and back than i am actually there.

As for third and fourth year, it is my impression that when you are on call, you will be at the hospital overnight anyway, so commuting won't be an issue.

 

[beanbean]

Plenty of us commute 30-45 minutes each day. If you are concerned about the winter roads, try to find a decent four-wheel drive car. It can be a bit of a pain not being nearby when it comes to extra study time in the anatomy lab on weekends - I find it a little hard to get motivated to drive in Sat or Sun.

 

[xaelia]

30 minutes is a substantial commute, but plenty (if not most) of the folks here commute - though I would venture to say the majority of their travel times are <15 minutes. A long commute is a good way to lose an hour you could be procrastinating from studying. 🙂

 

[Street Philosopher]

it takes me 20 minutes to get to class on a shuttle. 30 minute commute doesn't sound too bad to me.

 

[smugrinch]

I used to drive 45 minutes to school in south dakota winters and all I had was a crapy saturn...YOU CAN DO IT!!!

 

[doepug]

You can do it, but beware of those winter mornings when you need to wake up extra, extra early to make it to the hospital in time for 5 am surgical rounds.

 

[MeganRose]

Originally posted by josehernandez94
So I got into my top choice school, Rochester! I just have one really big concern right now about going there.

My girlfriend and I would likely live ~30 minutes from the school (there's a reason for it, don't want to waste your time with details) and I was wondering if commuting is feasible. My understanding is that while winters in upstate NY are brutal, they also have the equipment to take care of the snow and poor weather should only be an issue maybe 2-3 times/year (I can live with that). I guess my bigger concern is during the 3rd and 4th years--would it be impossible to have a 30-40 minute commute during clinical rotations?

Any insight/advice/ideas/suggestions are GREATLY appreciated. I really, really, really want Rochester to work out for us.

Hey Josh,
Maybe I'm just a baby but I started off the year commuting and ended up moving closer to school 2 months after school started. I'm now living in a slightly ghetto efficiency 1 mi away from school. Its only $389/mth (I live in San Antonio) and on weekends, I go back to my mom's house. My commute was about 25miles, 30 minutes in light traffic and as much as an hour in heavy traffic. For me the loss of nearly two hours per day was just too much (not to mention falling asleep on the road after my first set of exams) I literally had to live out of my car with enough food for lunch and dinner as well as clothes and soap, lotion, hair stuff for the gym. Plus, school is so close now, I have literally woken up at 7:50 and been seated in class by 8:10. I guess it was easier for me with no kids or husband/boyfriend to move, but as I am mostly a library-studier, it made the most sense. So while I agree with others that it may be doable, its less stressful to live near to school.
Best of luck,
M