PCO and vehicle

[stmu11]

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Hi! I was recently accepted to PCO and I love the school, but I am concerned about getting an apartment for the first time (I have never bought, rented, or leased anything big so I have no credit) as well as not having a vehicle (I have never needed my own before).

If possible, could a student who does not have a car, or someone who knows a student without a car/ helped them carpool, let me know how reasonable it really is. The admissions office said that people carpool to clinic anyway, but I would like to know how difficult it really makes things from the perspective of someone who's been there.

This is the only thing keeping me from making my decision so thank you in advance.

 

[Abeness8]

Hey i also got into PCO! I will end up taking my car with me. Doing a long road trip. I like to be independant and not have to depend on people driving me around. If you have a roomate with a car...i think it would be best. But its better to have your own car. If you dont have a car... i would suggest living at the Colonade apartments which are the apartments closest to PCO...walking distance... 5min. There are lots of PCO students living there and i am sure you can find someone to give you a ride! Dont let a car get in the way of chasing your dream.

Leasing an apartment is not that big of a deal. Need about 1500 dollars from your loan money to begin. That will include a month and a deposit. living with people will allow your monthly payments to be lower.

Hope it helps. good luck

 

[jc328]

Most people without a car stays in Wyncote House and Colonade. Wyncote House is a very nice but expensive apartment with mostly retired residents (that means keeps noise down or they report you). Colonade is not as nice, but more affordable to most students. Depends on the apartment, you will need some kind of financial proof (student loan letter, tax return, pay check etc.) and/or co-signer (your parents).
It is a little inconvenient without a car, you will have to find people to take you to go shopping and clinic. Carpool is not hard to find, just get to know people with a car from your clinic group and you can probably get a ride easily. It is definitely doable without a car.

 

[luvely]

i understand the convenience of having a car to get around, but i'm just wondering does anyone walk? or is that not a safe option to do so?

I was also wondering if there are any available buses to get around to the clinic and the school from say, Towers at Wyncote? or whether the distance is again, walkable? 🙂

I think carpooling would be excellent if you live with someone with a similar schedule to your own. I personally won't be bringing a car because I don't have my license since I've never needed to drive in the city since the subways were so convenient! 😳

thanks in advance for any input!

 

[jc328]

People from nearby apartments such as Wyncote House, Colonade, Jenkintown Gardens, or nearby houses walks to Salus. Towers is ~2.3 miles away from Salus, it is walkable but I wouldn't recommend doing that especially in the cold winter days. You may be able to take the shuttle from Towers to Jenkintown train station and walk ~1 mile to school, but it is still really inconvenient.
Bus stop is far from Towers, and I would not recommend taking the bus to TEI.

 

[luvely]

People from nearby apartments such as Wyncote House, Colonade, Jenkintown Gardens, or nearby houses walks to Salus. Towers is ~2.3 miles away from Salus, it is walkable but I wouldn't recommend doing that especially in the cold winter days. You may be able to take the shuttle from Towers to Jenkintown train station and walk ~1 mile to school, but it is still really inconvenient.
Bus stop is far from Towers, and I would not recommend taking the bus to TEI.

thanks for the advice 🙂 i will look into the shuttle bus actually and see how that goes. i'm really considering biking actually 😳 any thoughts on how doable that is? thank you 😳

 

[jc328]

Biking is possible, but philly rains often in the summer and it's freezing cold outside during the winter. I personally would not count on the bike as a daily transportation tool.

 

[luvely]

Biking is possible, but philly rains often in the summer and it's freezing cold outside during the winter. I personally would not count on the bike as a daily transportation tool.

well ... crud lol i've decided on towers at wyncote for price + i know the person i will live with but i don't want to ask for rides all the time, especially since she will be a 2nd year when i start so i'm sure our schedules won't really match up.

i would totally get a car if i could afford to. buying the car is one thing, i asked my parents how much insurance is monthly and they pay 300. O.O
i don't even know where i'll be getting my rent money, most likely loans at that. gotta get my license too. oh the joys of brokeness :cry:
sorry just freaking out a little bit, but i'm lucky even to have found a place with someone i know at that!

 

[jc328]

Insurance rate here at philly runs ~300 every 6 months (for basic plan). Maybe a cheap car can help you get-by. On top of the loan (which should be more than enough for everything), the school offers work-study program up to $2500 per year and you should maximize your work hour because work-study here at PCO is very easy if you find the right job. Most people here just uses their "work time" to study. And that money should be able to get you an usable car.

 

[luvely]

Insurance rate here at philly runs ~300 every 6 months (for basic plan). Maybe a cheap car can help you get-by. On top of the loan (which should be more than enough for everything), the school offers work-study program up to $2500 per year and you should maximize your work hour because work-study here at PCO is very easy if you find the right job. Most people here just uses their "work time" to study. And that money should be able to get you an usable car.

the insurance quote is very reassuring, may i ask if that is a specific insurance? i'm not quite sure how it works since most likely if i were to buy a car it would be in new york, and then i guess i would file for insurance when under the location of PA?

i already submitted the work study form for hours but i will try to see if i can change for more, for a first year may i ask what you think if reasonable? i think my bracket i checked off on for like 10-15?

i'm also waiting to see how much i received in loans as well! if it were to cover tuition +living expenses i wouldn't have to look into private loans which is what i've been dreading! thanks so much for your helpful replies 😍

 

[chocol8]

Hi everyone,

I've also recently been accepted to PCO, and am worried about the car issue. So the consensus seems to be that first year is doable without a car... but second year and beyond it's not? I probably won't be able to get my full license until the next 2 years. Is the bus system really THAT bad? I went on the train (although someone here actually said it can be sketchy), and i didnt find it bad at all... can someone who does not have a car please comment on how they are doing without one? Maybe it may ease my mind.... I'm pretty worried about this.

Thanks

the insurance quote is very reassuring, may i ask if that is a specific insurance? i'm not quite sure how it works since most likely if i were to buy a car it would be in new york, and then i guess i would file for insurance when under the location of PA?

i already submitted the work study form for hours but i will try to see if i can change for more, for a first year may i ask what you think if reasonable? i think my bracket i checked off on for like 10-15?

i'm also waiting to see how much i received in loans as well! if it were to cover tuition +living expenses i wouldn't have to look into private loans which is what i've been dreading! thanks so much for your helpful replies 😍

 

[nailclipper]

Hey Chocol,
congrats on your acceptance. I got accepted as well!
Have you started looking for a place yet?

I'm also really iffy on the car thing, I think I will have to see what it's like for the first semester and see if I need to come back with a car after the holidays.

 

[optosurf11]

Hey I got accepted to PCO as well!

Im trying to get my license before august but i also doubt it? Anyone interested in a roommate btw?

 

[chocol8]

Nope i haven't started looking for a place yet... I wish they had some kind of shuttle service from the clinic to the school though. I'm still on the fence as to whether I'll accept.

Nailclipper and Optosurf11 - have you started looking for places to live yet? I'm guessing you want to live close to the school?

 

[Commando303]

I don't drive, and I find things to be pretty manageable. The clinic is just a few miles south of campus — I feel the walk is longish (you might bike or roller-blade down, if you do either), but there is a local bus (the #55) that can get you right from either to the other.