Med school dorms

[CardiacIntensivist]

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Just wondering what everyone thinks of medical schools that basically make you live in their dorms. I have been out a few years, partially owning a home...and I can't imagine living in a dorm again! For example, NYMC told us that "over 95% of our students live in our on-campus housing," which we were able to tour. It looked (and smelled) like an undergrad dorm, complete with the standard issue college furnishings, dirty kitchen, and tons of booze. Those in my tour group seemed excited to live in dorms, but I honestly do not think I can do it again. However, it seems limiting if you do not...no access to their intranet programs (such as electronic microscope slides and anatomy tutorials), limited social interaction with the rest of the class, higher rent, etc.

Are people actually looking forward to living in a dorm again (especially those of us that have been out working a few years post-undergrad)?

I don't really consider apartment type living situations "dorms." If you want dorm like look at the housing for Cornell and NYU. It's the whole sharing a bathroom with 50 other people all over again . I'd hate to live in dorm-style again, especially after living in an apartment for two years of my undergrad. However, if I was to go to a school like the two I mentioned, I think I'd be able to stand it for a year or so 🙄

edit: uhh... why is my date of posting 1/1/2003?

 

[freetheyaz]

Just wondering what everyone thinks of medical schools that basically make you live in their dorms. I have been out a few years, partially owning a home...and I can't imagine living in a dorm again! For example, NYMC told us that "over 95% of our students live in our on-campus housing," which we were able to tour. It looked (and smelled) like an undergrad dorm, complete with the standard issue college furnishings, dirty kitchen, and tons of booze. Those in my tour group seemed excited to live in dorms, but I honestly do not think I can do it again. However, it seems limiting if you do not...no access to their intranet programs (such as electronic microscope slides and anatomy tutorials), limited social interaction with the rest of the class, higher rent, etc.

Are people actually looking forward to living in a dorm again (especially those of us that have been out working a few years post-undergrad)?

 

[Psyche Estrelle]

Just wondering what everyone thinks of medical schools that basically make you live in their dorms. I have been out a few years, partially owning a home...and I can't imagine living in a dorm again! For example, NYMC told us that "over 95% of our students live in our on-campus housing," which we were able to tour. It looked (and smelled) like an undergrad dorm, complete with the standard issue college furnishings, dirty kitchen, and tons of booze. Those in my tour group seemed excited to live in dorms, but I honestly do not think I can do it again. However, it seems limiting if you do not...no access to their intranet programs (such as electronic microscope slides and anatomy tutorials), limited social interaction with the rest of the class, higher rent, etc.

Are people actually looking forward to living in a dorm again (especially those of us that have been out working a few years post-undergrad)?

Hmm... I would live in a dorm again, because they're cheaper than looking for an apartment with utilities etc., they're usually singles (at least the med school dorms I have), they're SO conveniently close, and it's so easy to meet people. But it depends. I thought Harvard's dorms were really really nice, but another school that shall remain nameless had dorms that I thought were really ghetto. lol.

 

[baylormed]

Do you get roomates? If you do, I would look elsewhere. If you have single rooms with decent space...it might be more convenient and cheaper, especially at a place like NY.

 

[epigastric]

However, it seems limiting if you do not...no access to their intranet programs (such as electronic microscope slides and anatomy tutorials),

I can't speak for NYMC, but pretty much any major university/med school with intranet restrictions will also have a way for you to log on from off-campus, just with a few password hoops to jump through. I went to a pretty small and not terribly prestigious college, where about 90% lived on-campus, and they still managed to offer this service to the off-campus students. Just in case that's the deal-breaker.

As a non-trad, you'd have to offer me a pretty significant couples housing benefit before I'd move into a dorm. For that, I'd put up with it.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Yeah - you'll be able to access all the internet resources. They'll have ways aruond that. And if you don't want to live in dorms again then don't. The way they made it sound at NYMC was that it was decently cheap in the surrounding area too, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding your own place at a decent price.

But honestly, I think a lot of students are just thinking about cost. I am going to try to get a spot in GWU graduate dorms if I go there just because its WAYYY cheaper than everything else in the area - but I can have my own bathroom and a pretty big room. PLUS, for my first two years I won't have to pay for summers (where as if I rent an apartment I will). Its just overall cheaper and more convenient.

 

[HumbleMD]

I've vowed never to live in dorms again (I like my own freaking bathroom). Some school's are better than others. UPitt's, for instance, will be brand new this spring and looks to be more apartment-style. WashU's, however, is indeed super close to the hospital system (connected, in fact), but it is VERY much a dorm, complete with communal showers. Never again...

 

[freetheyaz]

I just mentioned NYMC because they seemed most proud of their dorms..when we toured them, they were 5 people, 3 bedrooms, one bathroom, one kitchen, and shared living room - pretty much the definition of a standard undergrad dorm. Personally, I don't think I can share a shower with 50 people ever again...my cleanliness OCD has officially taken over, and I would probably pass out just looking at the showers. Although some places have family-friendly on-campus housing (not dormlike at all), I would have a hard time going back to that. I figured it couldn't just be me...

 

[alwaysaangel]

I just mentioned NYMC because they seemed most proud of their dorms..when we toured them, they were 5 people, 3 bedrooms, one bathroom, one kitchen, and shared living room - pretty much the definition of a standard undergrad dorm. Personally, I don't think I can share a shower with 50 people ever again...my cleanliness OCD has officially taken over, and I would probably pass out just looking at the showers. Although some places have family-friendly on-campus housing (not dormlike at all), I would have a hard time going back to that. I figured it couldn't just be me...

Uhhh...thats not how it is. You must have not been paying much attention. Every single suite in that place is identical and they are all 4 rooms, all singles (they said they don't have doubles except you know - in the family housing - which isn't really a double). There were 2 bathrooms per suite so you only shared your bathroom with one other person, and yes one kitchen with a shared living room.

What the heck were you looking at? Because what you just described doesn't exist at NYMC.

 

[brbsb]

I currently live in residence halls (I'm an RA) but I really don't think I'd want to live in them again after I graduate. I can understand the reasoning behind it, but it just doesn't have much appeal to me.

 

[C.P. Jones]

Uhhh...thats not how it is. You must have not been paying much attention. Every single suite in that place is identical and they are all 4 rooms, all singles (they said they don't have doubles except you know - in the family housing - which isn't really a double). There were 2 bathrooms per suite so you only shared your bathroom with one other person, and yes one kitchen with a shared living room.

What the heck were you looking at? Because what you just described doesn't exist at NYMC.

hahaha, i was wondering myself.....i remember seeing single bedrooms, where did this 5 ppl w/ 3 bedrooms come from. I was wondering about the bathroom situation b/c 4 ppl to one bathroom would be too much esp. when everyone basically has class at the same time. 2 ppl per bathroom is cool.

 

[alwaysaangel]

hahaha, i was wondering myself.....i remember seeing single bedrooms, where did this 5 ppl w/ 3 bedrooms come from. I was wondering about the bathroom situation b/c 4 ppl to one bathroom would be too much esp. when everyone basically has class at the same time. 2 ppl per bathroom is cool.

Yeah I saw two different suites because I stayed with a student THEN went on the tour. I actually thought the dorms were quite nice. Not undergradish at all.

And I did ask specifically if they were all like that, the tour guide said yes, with the exception of family housing which are obviously just you and your spouse or family.

 

[C.P. Jones]

Yeah I saw two different suites because I stayed with a student THEN went on the tour. I actually thought the dorms were quite nice. Not undergradish at all.

And I did ask specifically if they were all like that, the tour guide said yes, with the exception of family housing which are obviously just you and your spouse or family.

i also liked that each room has an air conditioner holder in the wall...idk why, but that stood out as important to me 😀

 

[Stolenspatulas]

I've vowed never to live in dorms again (I like my own freaking bathroom). Some school's are better than others. UPitt's, for instance, will be brand new this spring and looks to be more apartment-style. WashU's, however, is indeed super close to the hospital system (connected, in fact), but it is VERY much a dorm, complete with communal showers. Never again...

I'm with you. Screw dorms. Never again.

Though if I get into Columbia.... urgh, ok maybe one year of dorms 😀