How Necessary is A car in Medical School?

[lakers4ever14]

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I was just wondering how necessary a car is in Medical School? I know it varies from school to school, but If current med students could comment on your experiences and mention the school which you are attending, it could turn out to be a great resource to both me and other applicants.

 

[Laryngophed]

I was just wondering how necessary a car is in Medical School? I know it varies from school to school, but If current med students could comment on your experiences and mention the school which you are attending, it could turn out to be a great resource to both me and other applicants.

I hate to provide this answer, but it will be highly idiosyncratic. Some people/schools may have very convenient accommodations (KCUMB and the apartments right across the street) whereas not everyone/school will make things so easy for themselves. Sorry to give such an unsatisfactory answer.

 

[group_theory]

The first two years - depends on the school, how close apartments (whether school own/operated OR privately owned) are to campus, and how accessible public transportation is (when you need to go shopping, etc)

The third and fourth year of medical school (no matter MD or DO), you will definately need a car. You need it to get to rotations. Even if the clinical site is in the same city, waiting at a bus stop at 3AM so that you can make it to "big city hospital" by 4AM to pre-round on surgery will be brutal and insane (as well as waiting for the bus post-call so you can go home and study). If you attend a DO school where clinical rotations are in a different part of the country than the school's physical campus, rotations will be more of a challenge (even if they provide housing, it may not be within walking distance to the hospital).

*this applies to MD school as well, even those with major hospital located on campus. You'll be hard press to find an MD student that will do ALL of 3rd and 4th year clinical rotations at one spot.

 

[Hybrid1]

A lot of DMU students live across the street during years 1 & 2, but a car is necessary for years 3 & 4.

 

[ShyRem]

If your school has preceptorships first two years, you'll need a car to get to those too.

 

[AMEHigh]

I'm a 1st year in Philly and live in the city. I don't really use my car all that much and take public transportation mostly everywhere, including school.

I'm sure I'll probably be driving it a lot more 3rd and 4th year unfortunately, but we'll see.

 

[beckhunter116]

I'm not a NOVA student, but I know from looking over there weekly schedule (for MS1) that they do have a Dr. that they shadow or something (maybe practice H&P), so you would need a car for that.

Most places that are rural or suburban will need a car because usually things are spread out and there is little public transportation. Big cities tend to have reliable public transportation.

 

[Terpskins99]

Big cities tend to have reliable public transportation.

It would really REALLY suck to only have public transportation during clerkships (3rd/4th year).

 

[Siggy]

As a student at Western, good luck living anyplace in So. Cal. without a car. While the weather is nothing short of awesome, So. Cal. is extremely decentralized and getting pretty much anywhere or anything (like, say, groceries) without a car is next to impossible.

 

[beckhunter116]

It would really REALLY suck to only have public transportation during clerkships (3rd/4th year).

Oh, oops that statement was about 1st and 2nd yr. Yes, I imagine it would really suck to have public transport for 3rd/4th yr.

Personally, I can't imagine not having a car, because I have only ever lived in places that were spread out and had no reliable public transportation--I also love the freedom a car provides. Now if you were going to school in NYC or D.C, then I could see getting by without a car.

 

[lakers4ever14]

As a student at Western, good luck living anyplace in So. Cal. without a car. While the weather is nothing short of awesome, So. Cal. is extremely decentralized and getting pretty much anywhere or anything (like, say, groceries) without a car is next to impossible.

I was born and raised in So Cal, and totally agree. I was able to leave my car at home during undergrad, but this was possible because of shuttles and friends with cars.

It seems like the consensus is that you might be able to get by without a car during the first two years, but for clinicals it will be near impossible.

This thread accomplished what I wanted, in that it bolstered my initial suspicions. Thanks to all the currents/previous Med students for your input!