Live at home or find an apt?

[LuvKittens]

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The title says it all-I was lucky enough to get accepted into my hometown's dental school. I live about 20 minutes away from the school so if I were to live at home, I'd spend 40 minutes total driving each school day. Or, I could live in one of the apartments around campus (these apartments are literally across the street from the school and a 1 bdrm+1bthrm is $700/month).

So, I could live at home and save money or live close to school and be able to walk to class everyday. I know it is selfish to live in the apartment b/c I don't live too far from school but I am worried that it'll make it a little harder to bond with my classmates since a lot of the apartments there are occupied by dental students. At the apartments it would be nice to be able to walk down the hall and study with classmates. But, it would also be nice to not pay rent every month 🙂

During your dental school years, did you make a lot of trips between your home and school throughout the day or just went to school for class then left campus for the day? Any advice would be appreciated

 

[whodat4life]

The title says it all-I was lucky enough to get accepted into my hometown's dental school. I live about 20 minutes away from the school so if I were to live at home, I'd spend 40 minutes total driving each school day. Or, I could live in one of the apartments around campus (these apartments are literally across the street from the school and a 1 bdrm+1bthrm is $700/month).

So, I could live at home and save money or live close to school and be able to walk to class everyday. I know it is selfish to live in the apartment b/c I don't live too far from school but I am worried that it'll make it a little harder to bond with my classmates since a lot of the apartments there are occupied by dental students. At the apartments it would be nice to be able to walk down the hall and study with classmates. But, it would also be nice to not pay rent every month 🙂

During your dental school years, did you make a lot of trips between your home and school throughout the day or just went to school for class then left campus for the day? Any advice would be appreciated

LIVE AT HOME! Think about it this way...you will not be able to work...so you will have to take out loans to pay rent and other things if you don't. After 4 years of DS...(48 months) you will have borrowed another 40-50k on top of your school loans just for living expenses. When you include interest on those living expense loans...you can assume that once you pay it off, it cost you ~60-70k (give or take 5k) to live "on your own." I WISH I was in your situation.

 

[7 Iron]

Live at home. $700/mo*12 mo*4 years = additional $33,600 tagged on to your loans!

 

[Doc Smile]

ditto. live at home.

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

I was almost in your exact situation. Live at home. It was a 20-25 min drive (twice a day, so 40-50 min total). I lived at home and am glad I did because I saved quite a bit of money. My dad actually did make me pay some rent but it was significantly less than an apartment would have been.

Do it at least for a year. If you hate it, move out!

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

I own a house 15 miles south of UTSD in Houston (Formerly known as UTDB). On a good day, it takes me only 30 minutes from door to door. On a bad day it takes just under a hour - each way. Most of the time it takes 40-45 minutes each way.

If I were the party animal I was when I was in college and just after, I would probably live where the most fun is at. But, I was stupid then and money really crossed my mind. Now, I have grown up and have a family. So, going out all the time is not as important. I feel I am not hurt by living as far away (timewise) from the school as I do. I get what I need do. I just take advantage of time during the day to complete lab work. Being where I live never hurt me in lecture courses either. Now, I did study later into the night than a lot of people, but I was still able to get good grades.

So, from my opinion, if money is not an issue and you want to be where the action is, then live near the school. But, if you are only considering living near the school because how it may or may not affect your education, then don't worry about that because it is very doable living at home and doing well in school.

 

[newyorkblork]

Adding yet another vote for 'live at home'.

For 700$ a month, help throw a few parties at a friend's apartment close to school during orientation, and voila, Social life, and 700$ a month after that saved up.

Unless you think Home will be somehow severely detrimental to your studying environment, live at home. 20 minutes away, you will still be able go out 1-3 times a week, and to be honest, you might feel relieved to be able to "go home" and not "head back to the dorm".

 

[Voltron2010]

live at home. 700 is just the base. there will be more expenses i there. and many end up relying on student loans to pay for it. not realizing that ineterest accumulates while in school and that debt rises very fast. the less debt you come out with the better.

 

[HillsNayyr]

Live at home. 33k is a very substantial amount of money.

 

[Sweeti8286]

I lived at home all 4 years of dental school. I also only h ad a 15 minute commute plus another 10-15 on the bus. I just had to drive in the evening to do labwork and whatnot. It was a bit of an adjustment to live at home again after 4 years undergrad being on my own. I think in the end, it's worth it. If you do get along with your family well, then do it. If not so well, then I would say live away from them otherwise they will drive you crazy.

 

[LuvKittens]

Thank you everyone who replied! A apologize for the late response, but I took all of your advice into account and will be living at home. It's the smart thing to do and I don't want to take out more loans than I have to.

 

[Chumpchange]

hate to hijack but would the same "live at home is better" still apply if living at home would result in a 1hr to 1hr 20min commute each way?

 

[psiyung]

hate to hijack but would the same "live at home is better" still apply if living at home would result in a 1hr to 1hr 20min commute each way?

no

 

[Bereno]

no

really? Because if I got into my in state school I would end up having about an hour to an hour and ten minute long drive and am still going to live at home because I still think its worth it... beats paying tons in rent (I think)

 

[setupben]

Advantages to living at home:

Save money
Free food
Support system during hard times
Save TONS of money


Live at home!

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

I would gladly tack on 40-50K in loans to not spend years ~22-26 of my life having my parents as roommates.

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

really? Because if I got into my in state school I would end up having about an hour to an hour and ten minute long drive and am still going to live at home because I still think its worth it... beats paying tons in rent (I think)

I'd blow my brains out if I had to spend 2-2.5 hours in a car every day.

 

[Bereno]

I'd blow my brains out if I had to spend 2-2.5 hours in a car every day.

I drive a convertible 👍 haha