Housing during M2 and Step 1 prep?

[mats7]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Study period is 3-4 months of dedicated time. Did y'all go home during this time or study in the library or at home? Deciding between housing options and can't decide whether a comfy, quiet apartment is worth double the expensive of a non-quiet apartment with no natural light or just going home and studying there. ($1300 vs. $750)

 

[67552931811]

Study period is 3-4 months of dedicated time. Did y'all go home during this time or study in the library or at home? Deciding between housing options and can't decide whether a comfy, quiet apartment is worth double the expensive of a non-quiet apartment with no natural light or just going home and studying there. ($1300 vs. $750)

Personally, I wouldn't even consider the cost difference.

 

[sloop]

I got up early each day and camped out in one of the study rooms of my med school. I think there is a Laffer-curve like relationship between comfort and productivity. Studying in my apartment was too comfortable (and too distracting) for every day studying for Step 1. When I study at home, I often start lying down on the couch while reading, spending time making tea, watching Netflix, etc. This was fine when I had more time and didn't really have specific goals I was trying to keep, but it would not have worked for Step 1.

My routine was that I got up early enough that I could reliably get a room, threw some chilled coffee, sugar, cream and ice in a thermos and shook it up, grabbed a yogurt and a spoon, and headed to school. When I got there I watched YouTube and relaxed for 15-30 minutes while eating my breakfast and then I was away to the races.

I did very well on Step 1 so it worked for me, but I also have ADD and accordingly there are a number of things that went into my calculus with this decision that may not apply to others. Your mileage may vary.

 

[LaurenMD]

I got up early each day and camped out in one of the study rooms of my med school. I think there is a Laffer-curve like relationship between comfort and productivity. Studying in my apartment was too comfortable (and too distracting) for every day studying for Step 1. When I study at home, I often start lying down on the couch while reading, spending time making tea, watching Netflix, etc. This was fine when I had more time and didn't really have specific goals I was trying to keep, but it would not have worked for Step 1.

My routine was that I got up early enough that I could reliably get a room, threw some chilled coffee, sugar, cream and ice in a thermos and shook it up, grabbed a yogurt and a spoon, and headed to school. When I got there I watched YouTube and relaxed for 15-30 minutes while eating my breakfast and then I was away to the races.

I did very well on Step 1 so it worked for me, but I also have ADD and accordingly there are a number of things that went into my calculus with this decision that may not apply to others. Your mileage may vary.

I also used my med school's study rooms every day, and it worked really well. I got there between 8-9, studied for most of the day, and still made it home in time for Jeopardy every night 🙂