How far would you commute
- Thread starter HipChick
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QofQuimica
Seriously, dude, I think you're overreacting....
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Commute for what? Post bac? Med school? Residency?
For post bac, it would depend on what else I had going on and how many classes I was taking. Ideally it would be best to arrange classes so that you would only go to campus on two or three days per week (ex. take all Tues/Thurs classes). Listening to audiotapes or podcasts can help make up for the wasted time spent commuting. For the first two years of med school, same thing. A lot of med schools don't require class attendance, so it might not be much of an issue.
Starting after that, I'd move to be as close to the hospital as possible. You really don't want to be driving two hours per day on your third year surgery rotation or during your intern year. I actually chose where I'm living for residency in large part based upon the fact that it was close enough to walk to the main hospital where I work. There is one out in the boonies community hospital where I had to work for two months, and that was excruciatingly painful. I'd drive an hour to get there, work 10-12 hours, then drive an hour home, basically eat, shower, go to bed, get up the next day, and do it all again, sometimes for up to 10 days in a row. I was really hating life. Not to mention the expense of buying all that gas.
Yeah, definitely depends on the stage and how many days a week or how many hours a day you need to be there.
I'm commuting for my masters right now because I work and own a house in one city and grad school is in a city about 90 miles away. Just finished my third year of this and it's really starting to get old. I average 2 days a week most weeks but two semesters it was 3 days a week as my classes are generally M,W or T,Th, but occasionally had to do T, W, Th. Due to weather and road construction I generally give myself an hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours to get there. Based on this experience, I wouldn't commute more 40 minutes to years 1 & 2 for medical school and closer for years 3 & 4.
*edit, my willingness to commute like 40 minutes during med school is based on the fact that I have two mutts and am probably not going to be able to swing apartment living with them and to save on housing costs as a result by not living in "city center." Also, I'm a small town girl, so it fits me better to be a bit outside the hustle and bustle. But I'll get as close as I can while still trying to meet my requirements.
I'm commuting for my masters right now because I work and own a house in one city and grad school is in a city about 90 miles away. Just finished my third year of this and it's really starting to get old. I average 2 days a week most weeks but two semesters it was 3 days a week as my classes are generally M,W or T,Th, but occasionally had to do T, W, Th. Due to weather and road construction I generally give myself an hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours to get there. Based on this experience, I wouldn't commute more 40 minutes to years 1 & 2 for medical school and closer for years 3 & 4.
*edit, my willingness to commute like 40 minutes during med school is based on the fact that I have two mutts and am probably not going to be able to swing apartment living with them and to save on housing costs as a result by not living in "city center." Also, I'm a small town girl, so it fits me better to be a bit outside the hustle and bustle. But I'll get as close as I can while still trying to meet my requirements.
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All the above. That's why I left it open. I commute about an hour each way for my prereqs. If I get into are school, the four closest are an hour away, followed by 1.5 hrs, 1.75 hours, and 2.25 hours.
Residency? I don't know what I want to do so I won't venture to guess. Although there are three hospitals within 15 minutes.
Residency? I don't know what I want to do so I won't venture to guess. Although there are three hospitals within 15 minutes.
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There is only one school on my list that in commutable and it is about 100 miles away. If I end up there we won't move, but I most likely would rent a room in that town so I always had the option to stay near school.
The furthest I would travel is 40 minutes
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Once you get med school level, time is extremely precious! Any time spent commuting is time that could be spent studying or sleeping.
The qualifier is if you can use public transportation, the distance can be further because you get the benefit of multi-tasking (commuting/studying or sleeping).
15-30 mins each way isn't bad, if you drive. As long as your route is stress-free. Getting stuck in traffic really puts a damper on your study/learning mojo.
The qualifier is if you can use public transportation, the distance can be further because you get the benefit of multi-tasking (commuting/studying or sleeping).
15-30 mins each way isn't bad, if you drive. As long as your route is stress-free. Getting stuck in traffic really puts a damper on your study/learning mojo.
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In undergrad I used to commute 40-45 minutes one way. Now in medical school I don't want to commute more than 15 minutes mainly due to a slightly busier schedule and time is important.
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I've had to commute an hour before, and it's a real pain. I suppose the most I could feasibly do in med school is 1.5 hours each way. Any more than that and I feel it would cut into my time too much. Of course this is a maximum value... ideally no more than 30 minutes.
