How doable is a long commute during grad school?

[shrinkgirl15]

One of the schools I'm considering applying to is a little over an hour's drive one way for me from where I currently live. It'd be ideal to not have to move because I have kids who are in an amazing school right now, but I'm wondering if this is going to be a totally crazy thing to attempt to do. Would it be possible to try and schedule classes and research/teaching for three days out of the week? I know I can do an externship and internship closer to where I live, so this would be for the first two to three years of the program. What do you guys think?

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[futureapppsy2]

I had a cohortmate who tried to do this (I think it was 90 min each way), but she ended up dropping out after first year because she realized that the required night hours of our second year placement (because we worked with child clients) would just be untenable with her family. Otoh, one of my faculty lived about 90 minutes away from the university where they got their PhD, but that was a pure research degree, so clinical placements weren't an issue.

 

[Ollie123]

I personally would hate spending that much time on the road on top of already long hours, but its certainly possible. Expect to be on campus 5 days a week though...its not like undergrad where you can pick and easily arrange your schedule since you will likely have a relatively fixed courseload for at least the first couple years and there is usually only one section so you have to be there when you have to be there. They may want/need coverage in the lab and clinic at particular times. I found grad school to be more like a relatively intensive full-time job (with weird hours) than like undergrad. Eventually it may work out so that you spend 1 day/week at X practicum site, but I wouldn't necessarily count on it.

Do you have good childcare in place? Know that you are likely looking at leaving ~7AM most days and getting home ~7PM (or as late as 10-11PM if you have a night class). You'll have some degree of control....but not a lot.

 

[shrinkgirl15]

Eek, thanks, guys. I do have great childcare and a husband with a flexible job but this makes me nervous.

 

[OneNeuroDoctor]

Some programs are set up for commuters where you can take classes one day a week and this allows for practicums the remainder of the week. We had students flying to Dallas from Tampa Bay, Lafayette, Louisiana, Oklahoma City, Houston ect... They all finished and had great practicums in their home community. Since most courses only meet once a week, they could spend one night and take classes two days a week.

60-90 minute commutes are common in grad school.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

It can work…but you'll need a lot of outside support (bc you have a family) and you'll need to use your "down time" (e.g. 15min here, 30min there) efficiently. I had someone in my cohort do this, though she also had a friend who lived near campus and she could escape there at different times.

 

[psychrat]

Some of the people in my MA program commuted that far, so it is possible. Would you be driving or taking the train? If you are on the train you could get some work done at least.

 

[deleted343839]

One of the schools I'm considering applying to is a little over an hour's drive one way for me from where I currently live. It'd be ideal to not have to move because I have kids who are in an amazing school right now, but I'm wondering if this is going to be a totally crazy thing to attempt to do. Would it be possible to try and schedule classes and research/teaching for three days out of the week? I know I can do an externship and internship closer to where I live, so this would be for the first two to three years of the program. What do you guys think?

Three days a week would have been impossible in my program in the first few years, and even if it were feasible it would have been frowned upon. Other programs may be more accommodating, but my point is to find out what the norms are for the school you are considering.

Just out of curiosity, what would you do if you couldn't match to an internship site close to home? In the current climate, it's risky to make assumptions.

 

[nessa34]

Depends a lot on how the program is set up and how your advisor feels about it. I'm split between the med school (where my lab is) and the main campus across town and I would not recommend it. Clinical work is the big thing (lots of irregular hours/lack of control over schedule) so if you are certain you could do that closer to you that would help. Also depends if you will be doing assessments or running subjects in lab, as then you may not have as much control over when you do research. And you may also not have much say in what classes you take (in my program, the first year is pretty standardized and so I had to travel for class 4 days/wk) or what/when you teach. Your advisor may also expect 'face time' in lab. All things to consider.

 

[PsyDr]

If you are thinking that you can go to grad school three days a week you are misguided. Classes are scheduled at the professors convenience. Most apa accredited programs have classes that are required to be completed before practicum. It would be a very big problem if you had problems in taking a class because it did not fit in your requirements (e.g, objective psych assessment 1 prior to assessment practicum). Same for research.

Then there's internship. You do realize that you get out somewhere, not just interviewing in your hometown, right? Please say yes. I know there are some part time internships that are 2 years in duration. You should check the application website to see if one is in your hometown, that is apa approved, that pays a reasonable stipend, Ina speciality you are interested in.

But just commuting an hour each way? No problem. Plan for the additional expenses such as lunch, fuel, parking, etc.

 

[PhDToBe]

I think it depends on what your funding is/what you will be doing besides taking classes, how efficient you are, how research-oriented you are, etc. Could you afford to have an apartment closer to your program, or maybe look on Craigslist, etc. for something more flexible than a full-time apartment? I think it would be difficult and tiring.

 

[QAsPsych]

I agree, mostly, with PSYDR. You cannot count on 3 days a week in person working out. 5+ days a week in person is not uncommon at all. My cohort's first year absolutely required 5 days a week of classes in person, no exceptions were going to be made. That was the class schedule, period. Some people had to come in on weekends to run participants on top of that; that is the type of lab situation you are unlikely to know until you are there.

There are people in my program who do a 1 hour commute. I do not hear sunshine and roses, and they definitely miss out on the deep connections that other people develop, but a 1 hour commute is doable. Just be aware that it may be out of your control that you need to make that commute 5 or 6 days a week.

Also and separately, never take advice from OneNeuroDoctor. Man, that guy/gal.

 

[WisNeuro]

In my grad experience, I would not have been able to do it. Maybe in the last two years, but definitely not in the first two years. Those were 60 hour weeks. 2nd year was class 3 days a week, research where I needed to be on campus to run participants, and therapy and assessment clients. Would have been impossible for my particular experience. I'm sure it's doable in some way, just fairly difficult in many programs.

 

[shrinkgirl15]

Thanks for the candid advice, everyone! I am applying widely, not just to this program, but I did wonder if this one would make grad school less disruptive for my kids with regards to moving, changing schools, etc. I think I'll have to speak to them and see what other students are doing.

And yes, I do know that internships will also have to be applied for widely. I currently volunteer at an APA site in my hometown, though. So while I may not match there, I do hope to.

 

[WisNeuro]

.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Agree with the others--it's not a deal-breaker, as I know a small handful of folks at my own program who did it, but it definitely spread those people more thinly than the average grad student, and it meant that they weren't able to participate in most of the social activities (take that for what it's worth).

On the flip side, because the drive home was 60 minutes rather than 5 or 10, they were really productive while on campus. This was partly because they stuck around all day, as opposed to many students who would go to class, then maybe head home for an hour or two before coming back for lab work, meetings, clients, etc. Thus, they kept their work momentum going for longer periods of time.

Edit: Forgot to mention, these folks were on campus 5 days/week, at least during the first year. By years two/three, I think some were able to winnow that down to 4 days/week by extending the amount of time they were on campus on those days, and by completing other work (e.g., writing, studying, research) at home.

 

[BuckeyeLove]

The folks in my program that were able to do it had about 60 minutes max commute time one way. One dude had something above that and he didn't last.

 

[FLpsychstudent]

yeah i would definitely not assume you can schedule your coursework and other stuff to only 3 days a week. maybe later on in the program but def not at first. also, keep in mind you will prob have clients who you need to schedule with potentially during evening times etc which will also make your schedule a little more hectic (if you have an in-house clinic which most programs do). and it's nice to be able to pop in and do something real quick when needed. i think it will be a lot of stress tbh but probably doable if you are really dedicated.

 

[Moose A Moose]

Yes, it's very doable.

 

[PsychScience]

Some programs are set up for commuters where you can take classes one day a week and this allows for practicums the remainder of the week. We had students flying to Dallas from Tampa Bay, Lafayette, Louisiana, Oklahoma City, Houston ect... They all finished and had great practicums in their home community. Since most courses only meet once a week, they could spend one night and take classes two days a week.

Although there may be "some" programs set up like this, this is really not true for the vast majority of APA approved clinical psychology doctoral programs. In fact, I think the opposite of what is described here is more often the case then not. Especially in the first year. So I would really not rely on this being the case.

OP, as you can probably glean from the responses, there is a good deal of variability in how programs and courses are structured, and so the "do-ability" of a long commute is highly dependent on the structure of your program, your year in the program, and it also may depend on geography. For example, my first and second year, it would have been impossible to be on campus any less than 5 days a week due to courses, lab work, and internal practicum hours at the program's clinic. Third/Fourth/Fifth year, it depended more heavily on your external practicum sites and where these were located. Personally, I think anything more than a 30-45 minute commute the first two years would have been a nightmare. Depending on where you are living and going to school, it might also be worth factoring in the geography and weather factor. For example if you happen to be in an urban area in the midwest/great lakes region, you can go ahead and count on that one hour commute doubling many times during Dec through March when there are snow storms and you still need to be on campus, in lab, or at your practicum site :-/

 

[shrinkgirl15]

This is all really great info, guys, thank you. I'll plan on being on campus 5 days a week the first two years and see what I can work out after that if I get into this program. It might mean us moving halfway between there and here, which is not totally out of the question.

 

[Chalupacabra]

This is all really great info, guys, thank you. I'll plan on being on campus 5 days a week the first two years and see what I can work out after that if I get into this program. It might mean us moving halfway between there and here, which is not totally out of the question.

I did something similar for my internship year. My commute would have been about an hour/50 miles roundtrip so we moved midway between my internship site and where my partner works, so we both were commuting about 25 minutes. in the end I think we were both better off for it.

 

[a326e]

I chose to commute for undergrad. I have kids and a super supportive husband as well. It was about a 90 minute drive (3 hours daily) and I was able to stack my classes together on Tues/Thurs or M/W/F each semester. However, I was told (by my mentor) that commute could not be sustained for graduate school for most of the reasons already mentioned above. To be honest, even if the department had given the okay for a commute, I don't think I would be able to keep it up. 2-3 days a week was rough, but I made it through. 5 days a week (plus weekends) with early mornings, late nights, etc., PLUS 3 hours of daily driving... I highly doubt I would be able to do it. If you do opt to do the commute be aware that it may be frowned upon by the faculty.

 

[erg923]

I chose to commute for undergrad. I have kids and a super supportive husband as well. It was about a 90 minute drive (3 hours daily) and I was able to stack my classes together on Tues/Thurs or M/W/F each semester. However, I was told (by my mentor) that commute could not be sustained for graduate school for most of the reasons already mentioned above. To be honest, even if the department had given the okay for a commute, I don't think I would be able to keep it up. 2-3 days a week was rough, but I made it through. 5 days a week (plus weekends) with early mornings, late nights, etc., PLUS 3 hours of daily driving... I highly doubt I would be able to do it. If you do opt to do the commute be aware that it may be frowned upon by the faculty.

Plus, how many thousands per year in gas is that?

 

[a326e]

Plus, how many thousands per year in gas is that?

oh yeah, that's definitely a good point. I had to trade in my car for a prius to make my commute in undergrad.

 

[G Costanza]

I commuted an hour each way 4-5 days a week for four years of grad school and now commute about 30 min-hour on internship. This is what I've learned over the years...

1) You have to make a stronger effort to feel part of community which was important to me. When your cohort wants to go out for drinks at 10pm, I would often stay knowing I would be in bed much later than everyone else.

2) You need to leave early. A lot can happen on 60 miles of road and I never wanted to be late for anything. The drive would take me an hour but I often left 30 min early in case of traffic or accidents. I also lived in a cold weather state where snow was a regular variable. Drive a reliable car that won't depreciate by the $1000's when you put on 20,000 miles a year. My 99 civic is still going strong.

3) Plan ahead. Push meetings back to back. Be assertive in trying to create a schedule that fits. If you can set it up to commute 4 days instead of 5, your life will be literally 1/5 easier.

4) Carpool. This is huge.

5) Use the time in the car efficiently. I always had a carpool buddy and would talk about upcoming lectures, process the interesting new concepts for the day, or explore anything from the meaning of life to my FOO. Honestly, I got so much more from my classes and pracs because I spent everyday processing the experience on the way home. If you're riding alone, books on tape or learning a new language might be a productive way to spend your time.

6) You will probably get road rage after the first year or two. That's okay. Grist for the mill in discovering the real source for your anger. See point number 5.

7) Invest in creature comforts for your car. I bought a nice back support, usb stereo for my iPhone, and always kept it clean and tidy. I spent 8-10 hours in my car each week and wanted it to feel inviting.

8) Don't complain about your drive to anyone. No one cares that you might have to be in the car for an hour, attend a 30 min meeting, and turn around and drive an hour back home. You chose to live where you do and shouldn't expect others to have empathy for those choices. Advocate for your own schedule but never use your commute as a excuse.

9) If you have a late class and a 7 or 8am the next day, see if one of your cohort members might be willing to take you in one night a week. It can turn an exhausting two days into a fun night with friends.

10) Grad school is tough on partners and a long commute can make it worse. She never saw me during the day and couldn't spend much time with my grad friends. It felt like I was living two different lives. It would have been so much nicer if she could have integrated into that community with me.

My experience commuting was challenging but not without its benefits. I was not in a position to move to attend grad school so the commute was just part of the deal. That was key for me because acceptance was critical. The commute became a way of life rather than something I was trying to fight or even regretted. I would do it all over again but I also had a phenomenal grad school experience. It changed my life. Had I been in a program where I felt out of place, I imagine the commute could quickly become a source of tension.

 

[shrinkgirl15]

Thank you so much, @G Costanza , for such an experience-based response! I've talked it over with the husband and he is more than willing to move halfway (and is even excited at the prospect), so it looks like the commute won't be an issue. Still, it's nice to know that it can be done with a lot of reframing and positive thinking!

 

[smalltownpsych]

Moving half-way would be a great solution as a half hour commute is not too bad and can actually serve as a good decompress and free thinking time. Somedays I actually regret having less than 5 minutes from office door to front door.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Moving half-way would be a great solution as a half hour commute is not too bad and can actually serve as a good decompress and free thinking time. Somedays I actually regret having less than 5 minutes from office door to front door.

Not me! I had 60min and 45min commutes during internship and fellowship, so any commute over 10-15min was unacceptable for me when I was considering neighborhoods. I may eat those words in a couple of years if I can find a nice piece of land outside of the city, but that'd be a welcome meal. 😀

 

[smalltownpsych]

Not me! I had 60min and 45min commutes during internship and fellowship, so any commute over 10-15min was unacceptable for me when I was considering neighborhoods. I may eat those words in a couple of years if I can find a nice piece of land outside of the city, but that'd be a welcome meal. 😀

I used to have a 20 minute commute to our cabin out in the aspen forest in the foothills of the mountains. That was just about right!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Commuting can be a slow death (or feel like it). For anyone who has spent time in the Northeast (or LA, ugh!)..bumper to bumper traffic can be soul crushing. It is a necessary evil for most, but it is important to really consider the toll it can have on an already long day.

Now..if you all will excuse me…the sun is out and the top is about to be put down on my car. 😀

 

[jade1234]

You will all think I am crazy, but I commute a total of 6 hours to and from school each day I go to school, which is 3 days a week. I am a second year student transitioning into third year. I do not drive. I am married with no kids. I also work part-time and see clients in my school's clinic. For me it is an affordability issue (the area around the school is pretty pricey) and honestly I am not fond of the area around my school in terms of living (it's a campus that you really ought to have a car and I've always been a city girl). I've also grown accustomed to long commutes from my work life prior to grad school.

Here is how I do it:

1) I live in a city with subways and buses. If I drove my commute would likely be 1 hour, 1.5 hours tops. I use my commuting time to study for classes.
2) During second year, my husband and I decided that I would move closer to campus for this academic year alone. This allowed me to see clients late at night and not fall asleep during the day during classes. I have since moved back home. When I was 5 minutes from class I used to see my clients on the evenings that I had classes.
3) Occasionally, I carpool, but I can't rely on this most times (sometimes my classmates' schedules simply do not synch up).
4) I totally agree with G Costanza about not complaining to others. Sometimes I hear my classmates complain about having to get up at 7 AM, when I have to leave the house by 5 AM or else I am late for class by an hour (because of missed train connections). If I complain, I feel I will not get empathy so I just suck it up.
5) Consider the sacrifices. And there will be sacrifices. You often have to choose between the three: social life, sleep, and school. Usually you will get 2 of the 3, but not all three. I usually average 4-5 hours of sleep per night, and from time to time my friends feel as though I have abandoned them. It is a trade-off. But I love my program and the sacrifices will pay off in the long run.
6) Plan to do your schoolwork (such as papers) and progress notes on at least one day that is not dedicated to school or client work. Because I go to church on Sundays, it is the one day that my husband and I definitely make plans to go on dates and stuff like that.
7) I have 2 clinical supervisors and the occasional testing supervisor, for a total of about 5-6 hours including travel time. I am assertive about meeting with my supervisors either on campus or in a location that is convenient for the both of us without being disrespectful about it.

 

[PreDrANB]

the required night hours of our second year placement (because we worked with child clients)

Quick question.... why would child clients require night hours? Are you talking like overnight hours or evening hours?

 

[futureapppsy2]

Evening. Kids go to school - they generally like to be seen after. When I saw kids for therapy in grad school, the clinics were typically open until 8pm.

Yep. We generally saw child/family clients between 5-8 pm, IIRC.

 

[PreDrANB]

Evening. Kids go to school - they generally like to be seen after. When I saw kids for therapy in grad school, the clinics were typically open until 8pm.

Yep. We generally saw child/family clients between 5-8 pm, IIRC.

Right okay I thought you meant evening but I work at a hospital so when I hear "night hours" I automatically think OVER night

.....poor residents