How far would you drive for an interview?

[DrRiker]

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From the 30 schools I've applied to, I've been fortunate to have 3 MD II's so far. A number of the schools I'd really like to attend are a great distance away (>10 hour drive), and this recent bout of luck or success has me thinking about my budget. I don't want money to prevent me from flying to dream schools. For my most recent II, I could fly to the interview for $500 round trip (literally the cheapest that will fit the interview day schedule), or I can drive 9 hours each way for maybe $100 round trip.

What is the farthest you think it would be reasonable to drive?

 

[theKingLT]

From the 30 schools I've applied to, I've been fortunate to have 3 MD II's so far. A number of the schools I'd really like to attend are a great distance away (>10 hour drive), and this recent bout of luck or success has me thinking about my budget. I don't want money to prevent me from flying to dream schools. For my most recent II, I could fly to the interview for $500 round trip (literally the cheapest that will fit the interview day schedule), or I can drive 9 hours each way for maybe $100 round trip.

What is the farthest you think it would be reasonable to drive?

I would not drive that far. I've already decided to fly over drive for a 7 hour trip because it was much more convenient time wise and only about $30 more. I would re-evaluate your driving cost as well because chances are 18 hours of driving costs more than $100 when factoring in gas, maintenance/repair costs, and vehicle value depreciation. I've also heard of people contacting schools about rescheduling interviews to dates with cheaper ticket options. $500 seems steep unless maybe if you're flying coast to coast

 

[DrRiker]

I would not drive that far. I've already decided to fly over drive for a 7 hour trip because it was much more convenient time wise and only about $30 more. I would re-evaluate your driving cost as well because chances are 18 hours of driving costs more than $100 when factoring in gas, maintenance/repair costs, and vehicle value depreciation. I've also heard of people contacting schools about rescheduling interviews to dates with cheaper ticket options. $500 seems steep unless maybe if you're flying coast to coast

I think the price tag is because of a regional airport. Not flying into JFK or OHare!

 

[freedoctor17]

9 hours is a very long drive. Did you include breaks in there? Maybe if a friend came along with you or someone else to help with the driving. Personally I drove about 5 hours for one and I felt like that was reaching my limit. I couldn't imagine driving 9.

Check different airlines and search engines. You may find cheaper ones. Especially if you book them as one way and book separately, you could save some more money. My round trip tickets all the the way to Cali from the Midwest/East coast weren't even that much.

You could also buy one way there and then take a bus home. Can save you money and you went be exhausted day of the interview after a long drive.

 

[freedoctor17]

I would not drive that far. I've already decided to fly over drive for a 7 hour trip because it was much more convenient time wise and only about $30 more. I would re-evaluate your driving cost as well because chances are 18 hours of driving costs more than $100 when factoring in gas, maintenance/repair costs, and vehicle value depreciation. I've also heard of people contacting schools about rescheduling interviews to dates with cheaper ticket options. $500 seems steep unless maybe if you're flying coast to coast

Don't forget about all the tolls too

 

[ciestar]

I had two interviews more than six hours away.

 

[DrRiker]

I had two interviews more than six hours away.

And you decided to drive? I drove about 6 hours for my first. Wasn't too bad, but was definitely becoming fatigued.

 

[theKingLT]

I think the price tag is because of a regional airport. Not flying into JFK or OHare!

Ah gotchya. Well still re-evaluate your driving cost. I drive a very fuel efficient car but the listed price per mile is still 50 cents. I took that and factored in the fact that I got it used and my actual repair costs and it came out to about 25 cents per mile. You're 18 hour trip will cover maybe 1400-1500 miles of driving so for me that would cost about $350. If you're car isn't very fuel efficient or you bought it new then that price would go up way up. Alternatively, if you do all your own repairs and buy POS used cars that last, that price would go down. Lastly, consider the time you save and how valuable that is to you. I can do homework, study, etc. on a plane but while driving the only thing "productive" you can really do is practice interview answers which will get old very quick on a 9 hour drive. Just my .02

 

[ciestar]

And you decided to drive? I drove about 6 hours for my first. Wasn't too bad, but was definitely becoming fatigued.

Dartmouth and WVU are legit in the middle of nowhre lol
But yes, drove. It gets tiring for sure.

 

[DrRiker]

Dartmouth and WVU are legit in the middle of nowhre lol
But yes, drove. It gets tiring for sure.

Dartmouth would be a flight for sure for me. I think that drive would be about 12 hours! It's one of those dream schools I'm saving my cash for though.

 

[ciestar]

Dartmouth would be a flight for sure for me. I think that drive would be about 12 hours! It's one of those dream schools I'm saving my cash for though.

I looked into flights to NH. But a flight from PHL is super expensive to the regional airport up there. Logan is still a several hour drive. So, i got a super nice hotel and took in the beautiful sights on the drive!

 

[DrRiker]

Well, I'm flying to this interview. This could still be a good discussion though for other people who are fiscally indecisive like me!

 

[DrRiker]

I looked into flights to NH. But a flight from PHL is super expensive to the regional airport up there. Logan is still a several hour drive. So, i got a super nice hotel and took in the beautiful sights on the drive!

The NH landscape is a huge selling point for that school. Honestly, I think that not caring to be around a big city like Chicago or New York is a competitive advantage at rural schools.

 

[smileyfacegirl27]

I have driven up to 10 hrs for an interview, but I am used to the 8 hr drive between my home and my undergrad. However that 10hr drive was my limit any more than that and I don't think I could do it

 

[ndafife]

Think about the total costs.

Driving that long youre probably going to need a 2nd night in a hotel, unless you truly feel comfortable driving 10+ hrs through the night after an interview day. Gas youre looking at $100+. Not sure what youre doing outside of interviewing right now but factor in lost work hours and you probably arent saving that much. Its not a 500 vs free decision. Its probably closer to a 500 vs 300-400 choice depending on hotel/gas/work.

That being said unless it was something i could do same day (<2-3 hrs) or a location i had family/friends i could visit for a few days outside of the interview i flew

 

[RangerBob]

I had multiple residency interviews I drove 12+ hrs to. Much of the time I drove the whole way through, other times I stopped at a hotel for the night. Hotels are cheap in the middle of nowhere, and I like to drive because I can see the country. Plus then I have my own car when I get to the destination, and I typically wanted a day or two to check out the city.

My wife came with me as well so savings were compounded (flight would be twice the coat, but the cost of driving hardly budged except for the extra cost for food). If it were sprig/summer/fall we probably would’ve camped too. We pretty much treated every interview as a vacation.

12+hr drives are long, but if you like driving, the open road, music, being alone with your own thoughts or sitting in silence at times with a good friend/partner, then it’s a blast. And I’m sure some companions out there can keep you talking/listening for the entire trip-chose any companions carefully as that could be good or bad!

I literally drove to every residency interview except for the two I had on the west coast. I loved it.

It’s probably harder to do that for med school interviews since you’re often missing class or work for your med school interview. But if you can do it, it’s a great way to explore the country.

 

[676188]

I had multiple residency interviews I drove 12+ hrs to. Much of the time I drove the whole way through, other times I stopped at a hotel for the night. Hotels are cheap in the middle of nowhere, and I like to drive because I can see the country. Plus then I have my own car when I get to the destination, and I typically wanted a day or two to check out the city.

My wife came with me as well so savings were compounded (flight would be twice the coat, but the cost of driving hardly budged except for the extra cost for food). If it were sprig/summer/fall we probably would’ve camped too. We pretty much treated every interview as a vacation.

12+hr drives are long, but if you like driving, the open road, music, being alone with your own thoughts or sitting in silence at times with a good friend/partner, then it’s a blast. And I’m sure some companions out there can keep you talking/listening for the entire trip-chose any companions carefully as that could be good or bad!

I literally drove to every residency interview except for the two I had on the west coast. I loved it.

It’s probably harder to do that for med school interviews since you’re often missing class or work for your med school interview. But if you can do it, it’s a great way to explore the country.

We did this when my husband was interviewing for jobs his last semester of law school, and it was a blast. We plan on making a ‘road trip’ out of any interviews I get...that way I can assess the school, and he can look around at the city, schools, neighborhoods, etc.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Have an interview about 6 hours away. Flying is half the time in the air, but tack on security, boarding, deplaning, etc, and it’s almost 6 hours anyway. Plus it’s almost $900 for the tickets and hotel. Driving just costs gas, which will be maybe $100 if I have to fill up a couple times, plus the $90 for the hotel. My dad is coming with me for a road buddy. No contest. Driving all the way.

 

[LizzyM]

Take into consideration the cost of parking in some places. In big city hotels, the tab can be $70 for overnight parking.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

I drove from to NJ to Michigan for my UMich and Beaumont interviews; that was about 10 hours of driving total. I'd drive even further if necessary.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Try pricing on some of the websites that let you bundle airfare, hotel, and car rental. I was amazed the first time I saw how much cheaper it was. Bundling saved me the cost of the rental car last time we went to Fla. Agree 6 hrs is my break even point for flying vs driving

 

[BTC0821]

Longest road trip I ever took was just shy of 20 hours. Get an audiobook or a friend to go with you, long car trips really aren't that bad. I'd be driving to an interview regardless of the distance so long as its cheaper than flying

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Longest road trip I ever took was just shy of 20 hours. Get an audiobook or a friend to go with you, long car trips really aren't that bad. I'd be driving to an interview regardless of the distance so long as its cheaper than flying

I mean I’ve driven from California to Virginia, but I wouldn’t want to interview after that lol. I’m driving to my out of state interview which is about 6 hours away. But I’m going the night before.