Non med student roommates

[Lost Vagus]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Does anyone have any experience/ insight about living with roommates that are not in medical school? I'm really having trouble deciding where I am going to live. My situation is probably a little different than most. I waited to get in to medical school in my home town, and I am thrilled that I get to stay in a familiar city and be close to my family. I thought I had my housing situation figured out until I was approached by some friends from college that need a fourth roommate for an absolutely amazing house. It's a four bedroom, 4 bath with a finished basement, a backyard, in unit laundry, security system, google fiber, private parking, and a frigging HOT TUB! It is also mega cheap. Not that these things are important at all for what is important (succeeding in medical school), but it is a heck of a lot nicer than any apartment complex. Edit: I forgot to mention, all three of the other roommates are young professionals (1 law student, 2 engineers).

My other option is living in the apartment complex directly across from KCUMB. 99% of the tenants are medical students. It's incredibly convenient being able to walk to class and to be able to go back and forth between home and campus. A lot of people that live in this apartment complex say it's the best way to make new friends because everyone is around. That being said, it is located in a not so good area of Kansas City and you basically cannot walk around anywhere outside of the gated complex (other than to class). I've thought for months that I was going to go with this option, but the more I think about it, the more I question if I will be too stressed out being around my classmates constantly. Also, I'm not entirely sure I want to live alone in medical school. I've always had roommates, and I think I might go crazy living alone, especially so close to school.

Is housing really that important in medical school? Do you like being around your classmates all the time, or is it nice to get away? How easy is it to meet new friends if you do not live by campus? What is most important to you when picking housing?

I realize it is very difficult to give advice about personal preference questions.. but I'm bored so lets give it a shot.

 

[Donkk]

I think living in a community where you have the option of inviting someone over to your place/going to their place, is nice when you really need that alone time, so the apartment complex sounds good to me. Do not forget that often when you live with roommates that you often end up dealing with their friends, family and significant others. This alone can end up being a miserable situation and make for an unpleasant living situation, because none of them will understand the medical school demands. Will there be a no party rule unless unanimous decision? Are these people reliable enough to depend on for rent? Does your landlord have an opt-out clause allowing short term eviction/contract termination if he decides to sell the house? Being forced to move mid semester for a multitude of reasons may cause a great deal of stress when it could be avoided. I guess it would really depend on how well you know these people.

 

[MJS4878]

Yea I'm currently in a gap year living in a great house with 4 other friends from college. I could never live like this if I were in med school. I need my own space where I know it will be quiet and I won't have any distractions. But that's just me, maybe you could handle the distractions.

 

[deandean25]

I am gonna be living with one roommate and she isnt a med student but she is graduated and applying in June. I think it's important to live with people who are gonna understand your lifestyle and what you're going through

 

[Wipeout416]

I'm also pretty interested in this topic.

If I could, I'd like to add on what people think about living alone versus living with 1-2 other med students(in the same unit/house). I've always lived with others in college, like we probably most have, and feel like it may be encouraging to live with fellow first years.

 

[mnsman]

I would take the 4 bedroom over CT if I were you. I think it helps to be surrounded by a different mindset. Being cheaper is also a plus.

 

[Lost Vagus]

I would take the 4 bedroom over CT if I were you. I think it helps to be surrounded by a different mindset. Being cheaper is also a plus.

I don't know why I am so indecisive with this decision. No matter where I end up I think things will be ok. The whole failing out of med school thing is in the back of my mind. Maybe it is normal to have some anxiety about doing well. I guess the one thing I'm worried about is the "party" atmosphere. Two of my potential roommates are fraternity brothers from college. They are both responsible and respectful but I'm a little nervous. I partied a bit too much during undergrad, and as a result it took me 2 years to repair my gpa and get into medical school. CT has a lot of attractive things. Proximity to school is huge. It's so convenient. I think my head might explode though if I have to constantly talk about medical school all the time. Home should be home.

 

[mnsman]

I don't know why I am so indecisive with this decision. I guess the one thing I'm worried about is the "party" atmosphere. Two of my potential roommates are fraternity brothers from college. They are both responsible and respectful but I'm a little nervous. I partied a bit too much during undergrad, and as a result it took me 2 years to fix my gpa and get into medical school. CT has a lot of attractive things. I think my head might explode if I have to constantly talk about medical school all the time. Home should be home.

Do you know of any good study locations around KC?

 

[chizledfrmstone]

I'm planning on living with a med school roommate. I think it would be nice to live with someone who understands the importance of peace and quiet. It would also be nice to be able to study certain topics together before a major exam.

 

[Poliscidoc]

I'm planning on living with a med school roommate. I think it would be nice to live with someone who understands the importance of peace and quiet. It would also be nice to be able to study certain topics together before a major exam.

This, it's way easier to take over the living room because my roommate is also studying the same thing as me.

I can bounce questions off him and he can do the same. Also it makes OMM easier since you can just practice at home if you have a table instead of spending time at school


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ignore spelling and/or grammar

 

[Lost Vagus]

Do you know of any good study locations around KC?

My family is from kc and live in the burbs, if I really needed a getaway I could always drive 20 minutes back home. Smith hall on kcumb campus is open 24/7 for studying as well.

I feel guilty wanting to live in a more fun atmosphere. Med school doesn't have to be a terrible experience. I'm single, young, and have relatively no responsibilities other than doing well in school. I think it might be nice to live off campus in a house with friends. But I don't know. This decision is driving me crazy.

 

[Elevencents]

Young professionals or not, they will not be putting in the time that you will be when it comes to class work. I'm sure there will be occasions where they will want to go out and drink and rather than being able to say no through a text to a friend you'll be more inclined to go when asked in person.

I personally would never live with my college friends because there are just too many temptations.

 

[abolt18]

I live with a non med student. 3 actually. It's great!



Disclaimer: those roommates are my wife and 2 kids 🙂

 

[abolt18]

Also, in med school, if I were single, I'd rather live right by the school with a bunch of med students or with family.