Roommates

[gugoodoll]

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I'm wondering what people's thoughts are on having other first years (or other people in the same class as you) as roommates as opposed to non-same-class vet students or grad students/other professionals. I definitely want to have 1 or 2 roommates, but I'm hesitant to live with another first year because we'll see so much of each other at school to begin with. Living with an upperclassman(men) might be also advantageous (tips and hints on surviving classes/clinics, etc). On the other hand, I think it might be nice to live with other people sufffering also going through the same thing. 😕

For those of you who have roomed/are rooming with people in your class, what has been your experience so far? Do you regret it? What about those of you doing the opposite?

On a side note, I did a quick search in the pre-vet form for "roommates" and was amused (but not surprised) to find that most of the results were in the "RANT HERE" thread 🙄

 

[JaynaAli]

I'm a third year who lives with a first year. We have been friends (but not super close friends) for all of undergrad and she moved in when I was a first year and she was still applying places. It's been great. Our schedules are different enough one of us can usually be around to let the dogs out and feed them. We see each other around school but not all the time. I always recommend to try to find roommates in a different class before settling for someone in your own class. You're already with those people 8 hours a day for class...should tempers flare or you just get tired of each other, you may regret it. That said, I know several people from my class who room together and it's worked for them, so it doesn't always end badly. It's really dependent on people's personalities.

 

[NStarz]

I lived with another first year my first year of vet school. It didn't work out 😉

 

[that redhead]

The majority of the people in my class that lived in same-year arrangements fell through. Those in different year situations did better. If you've decided to live with some, I'd say don't live with someone in your class.

 

[DVMDream]

I live on my own and have zero regrets. I hear stories from friends who room with other students and while most of the time people get along, there is almost always some sort of drama. I had a friend that was stressed out enough by roommates that she was considering taking a weekend to just stay in a hotel to get away for a bit and she gets along with her roommates well. I get to come home, sit on my couch, study how I want, where I want, when I want. I can be however loud I want to be, play whatever music I want, keep my flat the way I want. I don't have to worry about bothering someone else or dealing with other people. I don't have to worry about someone else being messy or someone being a massive neat freak where a stray piece of paper puts them over the edge. For me, it is worth the very small amount extra I have to pay each month compared to my classmates who do have roomies. I have very little to no stress coming from my living situation, which is awesome because there is enough stress with school, I don't need stress at home too.

/end shameless plug by the extreme introvert who really loves to live on her own. 🙂

 

[gugoodoll]

Well I can guess what the general consensus is, lol! I'm an introvert too but I want to make an effort to be slightly more social. I feel like I'm less likely to be a hermit if I have roommates, whether or not that even makes sense 🙄

 

[wildcatj]

I live with one of my fellow first years and it works out really well for us, but we have a slightly different situation. Things I think make us good roommates:
We have a pretty big place with totally separate study areas. I have the master bed/bath with my desk in there, he has the smaller bedroom and third bedroom for his office and the bath down the hall.
We used to both spend a lot of time in the family room because we only had one TV, but now I have one in my room, so that means we see even less of each other.
He and I aren't best friends, we really like living together, get along fine, etc. but we don't see each other in class or hang out.
He's also a guy an I'm a girl which I think cuts down on some drama (let's be honest, us ladies aren't always the most reasonable...)
We have the same kitchen habits. Dishes don't get left in the sink for more than a day. We're both relatively tidy (he's a guy so he's a little messier, but he's mostly good about cleaning up after himself).
So my advice. If you're going to live with another first year, live with someone you don't think you want to be best friends with. Look more for compatibility with noise levels, clean/dirty, having people over, etc. If someone seems like they might be difficult, not want to compromise, etc. don't live with them.

 

[Hotfillyky]

Should I get in, I do not plan to have a roommate. I am older and stuck in my ways. 😉

 

[Rainheart]

Personally, I'd love to live alone. But, it is much more expensive; plus I'd probably be looking at an apartment (which I have two goldens, so I really didn't want to go the apartment route). I live with two first years like myself- I don't have any qualms, really. We've become great friends and it has been super helpful to have them as roomies to ask questions, etc. We've got a cheap place with plenty of space and a fenced in backyard (small, but still is fenced). We are all staying next year for sure! It's also been great if someone comes home early to let the dogs out (one of my other roomies has a chihuahua). I mostly stick to my room for studying, so I don't see them all the time when home.

 

[equineconstant]

I live with a third year vet student and another first year (the third year put out something on the facebook group and both of us responded). Living with an upperclassman is great--she's giving me tons of advice (and her toxicology note cards), and I've even used some of her textbooks for PBL. For the most part, the three of us keep to ourselves. We don't even have cable, so we're mostly in our own rooms anyway. So I haven't had any trouble with getting sick of my roommate who's a fellow first year, even though she sits behind me in class.

This semester we instituted a schedule for cleaning, which was the biggest problem for us last semester (as in, one roommate was always doing the floors, one never seemed to do dishes, etc.). Other problems include that I can't have a pet when my roommates can (because of the way our rooms are set up, I can't have a dog, and there's already a dog in the house so I can't have a cat), and one of my roommates fostered a dog last semester who would always bark when I came downstairs. I can't say it's made me any more social, either (I was hoping for that too), except maybe during orientation. But I really like having roommates, not only because I get the cheaper bills from splitting them but also because we're all willing to help each other out.

 

[gugoodoll]

I can't say it's made me any more social, either (I was hoping for that too), except maybe during orientation. But I really like having roommates, not only because I get the cheaper bills from splitting them but also because we're all willing to help each other out.

Hmm, thanks for that input. In college I always had at least one roommate but I did live by myself for about 4 months when I was working in Berkeley. Living alone, I did enjoy the freedom of having things where I want them to be (or not caring about it at all), but it also got kinda lonely even with my dog and cat.

The one area of the apartment where I'm really finicky about "sharing" is the kitchen. I like to cook and bake, and I like having a spotless kitchen even more. The idea of having an entire fridge to myself is also very very appealing.

The obvious issue weighing against me living solo (besides the social aspect, which I guess isn't really a factor anymore haha) is cost. The school I've been accepted to has relatively high living costs ($850+/month for a 1 bedroom) but the school I'm still waiting to hear from is super cheap (~$500/month for a 1 bedroom). So many things to consider 😕

 

[equineconstant]

The one area of the apartment where I'm really finicky about "sharing" is the kitchen. I like to cook and bake, and I like having a spotless kitchen even more. The idea of having an entire fridge to myself is also very very appealing.

Heh, yeah, I know that one too. I love cooking and baking, but I really haven't done so much in vet school. Part because of sharing a kitchen, part because the kitchen itself is tiny and there's very little counter space, but mostly because I just don't have enough time.

 

[deleted498041]

I live with two vet students (one first year and one third year) and a first year pharm student and I hate it. I've had so many issues in this household and it all basically comes down to the first year vet student. All last semester there were complaints about how dirty the house was -- which was funny because I was the one that did all the cleaning, and I know I was because I was the only one buying and using the cleaning supplies! She has her boyfriend over every single weekend which would be fine if they didn't immediately stop talking and freeze when I walk downstairs or do anything like exiting my room... talk about awkward. Plus, I'm pretty sure she gave him a key to our house which I'm not okay with. Oh yes, and did I mention the VET student kicks my dog? The absolute kicker was yesterday though when I stepped outside with the dog, without my keys, and she raced to lock the door and then made a couple hour drive to her parents... no one even came back to our house until four hours after this incident, so I had to practice a little B&E.
If you can afford it, I'd really recommend living on your own.

 

[Filly Bay]

I currently live with a fellow first year student and it is not working out. My fiance and I have decided to get a place of our own this summer and I'm really looking forward to it. If you definitely want to have a roommate, I would recommend not living with someone in your class. When things go bad, it makes it worse that you literally spend all day in class together and then come back home to the same apartment. You never really get a break. Plus you will have exams at the same time which makes both of you stressed at the same time. I find myself coming home dreading to see her car outside our building. It's also awkward that we share a lot of the same friends in our class.
Edit: I also know of a lot of other roommates in my class that are not getting along either. I'd say its a rather common occurance

 

[Falina]

I'm living with another first year, and we get along great 🙂 Haven't ran into any problems yet.

c-c-c-combo breaker?

 

[shortnsweet]

If you're going to live with fellow vets, I would say make sure they aren't in your year! It is uncommon for those to end well. I have always lived with upper years, and they were a great source of advice. We always had something to talk about when we got home, and spending time together wasn't hard because we hadn't seen each other, sometimes for days. I also knew what the next year had in store for me well in advance 😉

Choosing someone completely random in another degree can also work out sometimes, but a lot of people have trouble understanding the vet student lifestyle.

 

[SocialStigma]

I've been living with a classmate since 1st year (now in 3rd year) and we are still living together now. Going to live together next year too. She's actually in my practice group and surgery group as well, so we literally have the EXACT same schedule (lectures, labs, surgeries, etc). We work together on group projects. We even sit together in class. I spend more time with her than I do with anyone else (including my SO haha). We hang out regularly outside of school as well.

Clearly this only works because she's one of my best friends at vet school (we became best friends over the course of vet school, we weren't initially). I thought that we would eventually get sick of one another but we haven't yet! We get along very well and when we get home after school we usually do our own thing to have some time apart.

 

[BlackDog17]

I live on my own and have zero regrets. I hear stories from friends who room with other students and while most of the time people get along, there is almost always some sort of drama. I had a friend that was stressed out enough by roommates that she was considering taking a weekend to just stay in a hotel to get away for a bit and she gets along with her roommates well. I get to come home, sit on my couch, study how I want, where I want, when I want. I can be however loud I want to be, play whatever music I want, keep my flat the way I want. I don't have to worry about bothering someone else or dealing with other people. I don't have to worry about someone else being messy or someone being a massive neat freak where a stray piece of paper puts them over the edge. For me, it is worth the very small amount extra I have to pay each month compared to my classmates who do have roomies. I have very little to no stress coming from my living situation, which is awesome because there is enough stress with school, I don't need stress at home too.

/end shameless plug by the extreme introvert who really loves to live on her own. 🙂

This is me too. I had roommates all through college and it never turned out well. My last roommate and I got along very well, but even then I discovered that I hated living with another person. We had vastly different schedules and hardly ever saw each other, and had fun together when we did, but even then I would cringe when I got home and saw her car in the parking lot. At the end of the day, I really just want to be left alone. I don't want to make small talk, I don't want to share dinner, I just want to eat alone, leave my dishes in the sink, and do whatever I want for the rest of the night. I'll never be able to go back to living with roommates now that I've gotten so used to being on my own. Especially now, as a vet student, it's much easier to be able to come home and choose whether I want to study or relax without having to worry about disturbing someone else.

I do wish there were other vet students in the house though. Mostly because it's weird being the only tenant, just me and my landlords. And it would be nice to have other students around, as long as I don't have to live with them. I'll probably plug the other two apartments in the house to the new first years next fall.

 

[pooter]

I started first year with eight roommates from my class, and major drama only cropped up with one of them. So, really, it's a seven-and-one record, which is pretty good. 😉 On the other hand, when there's so many of us and we see so much of each other, when drama does happen, it's massive.

 

[BlackDog17]

I started first year with eight roommates from my class, and major drama only cropped up with one of them. So, really, it's a seven-and-one record, which is pretty good. 😉 On the other hand, when there's so many of us and we see so much of each other, when drama does happen, it's massive.

EIGHT ROOMMATES?! 😱

 

[Coquette22]

I feel like roommates in vet school has less to do with whether they are/aren't your classmates and more with whether you just like having roommates. Oh, and whether you end up with someone bat-guano insane. That's a crapshoot too.

My experience:
In undergrad, I shared a 2 bedroom with my best friend of 10 years. It was more or less okay. The only frustrating bit was that I had a much more demanding course-load then she did and there's nothing like cramming for yet another exam when your flatmate has been playing video games for the past 3 hours and then complains she has so much work to do.
First year of vet school, I went in on a 3 bedroom townhouse with two classmates. One turned out to be a narcissistic sociopath that no one in the entire school likes. The other one was fine; he was more or less clean and quiet and we got along okay. But I still had the same reaction that BlackDog mentioned. The feeling of coming home and Oh goody! They're gone! I just can't do roommates. I've been on my own since the end of first year and I love it. I have the whole fridge and more importantly, the whole freezer to myself (I like to batch cook). I have an entire pantry for food staples (flour, sugar, oats, etc) for baking. If I want to crank up the music, I can. If I want quiet, I have it. It's worth the cost to keep my sanity.

 

[that redhead]

This is me too. I had roommates all through college and it never turned out well. My last roommate and I got along very well, but even then I discovered that I hated living with another person. We had vastly different schedules and hardly ever saw each other, and had fun together when we did, but even then I would cringe when I got home and saw her car in the parking lot. At the end of the day, I really just want to be left alone. I don't want to make small talk, I don't want to share dinner, I just want to eat alone, leave my dishes in the sink, and do whatever I want for the rest of the night. I'll never be able to go back to living with roommates now that I've gotten so used to being on my own. Especially now, as a vet student, it's much easier to be able to come home and choose whether I want to study or relax without having to worry about disturbing someone else.

I do wish there were other vet students in the house though. Mostly because it's weird being the only tenant, just me and my landlords. And it would be nice to have other students around, as long as I don't have to live with them. I'll probably plug the other two apartments in the house to the new first years next fall.

I'm looking to move...I shall be PMing you 🙂

 

[gugoodoll]

During our senior year my SO lived in a large house with 10 other people 😀 They had all been friends before (friendships made over the past few years of undergrad). It actually worked out okay in the end, but I think it's mostly because there were 8 guys and 3 girls. Like someone else mentioned, girls = drama. There was occasional tension here and there with people not cleaning up after themselves in the kitchen/bathroom, but for the most part it was kinda fun.

I had my own share of apartment drama my 2nd semester of junior year. Academically, it was a really tough semester for me and I was also going through constant fights with my parents. Add a cray-cray roommate to that (still very much dislike her...) and it was just a recipe for disaster. I had a bout of depression coupled with an eating disorder, which led me to shut myself off from the other 3 girls in the apartment (all of whom were good friends. now it's just 2 of the 3, lol). Anyway, it was not a great semester for me drama-wise 😕. So while I don't want to be a hermit during vet school, I'm kind of afraid that what happened during that semester in undergrad will happen again (with even more stress from academics, this time). I've matured a lot since then, but what happened still bothers me and I don't want it to happen again. Gah.

Depending on how finances work out, I think I'll end up getting 1-2 upperclassmen as roommates my 1st year and go from there.

One thing that boggles my mind is that Cornell allocates $8,600 for room/board. That's only $955/month for 9 months which seems insanely low to me. Rent in Ithaca is absurdly high for the area (at least $650/month for a room in a 2bd). I know $300/month is more than enough for some people but I guess I'm just used to spending more on food. I'll just need to cut down on grocery spending in vet school 🙁. It's a shame I have the appetite of a perpetually hungry Corgi.

 

[psilovethomas]

I lived with 2 classmates my first year. We all got along for the most part (a few disagreements here and there, which is perfectly normal) and we could bounce ideas off each other when it came to studying. But we all had different studying habits and different sleeping patterns, so I just decided to live on my own. If you can afford to live on your own, I would recommend it. It's nice to be able to come home at the end of the day and do whatever I want to and not have to feel pressured into studying because I know my roommates are.....because, well...my guinea pig is my only roommate and he doesn't study!

 

[dvmhopeful2018]

I'm going to be living with one of my classmates, but we've known each other for 3 years and have had the same complaints about roommates in the past. The bigger thing that's going to help us (in my opinion) is that we are already working on an agreement/contract about how all costs will be split and what our expectations are for each other and our housing. I think a lot of problems will be solved in advance because we're being proactive instead of waiting until one of us gets upset and and we end up not talking for the rest of the year. I've been living with 5 other girls currently on undergrad, and I swear NEVER AGAIN. Too much drama, and we don't even have the same classes!

 

[503372]

.

 

[pooter]

EIGHT ROOMMATES?! 😱

Yep. I was up to nine for a while! It makes for interesting times. 😀

 

[gumtree]

Choosing someone completely random in another degree can also work out sometimes, but a lot of people have trouble understanding the vet student lifestyle.

I live with 2 non vet students. They actually aren't even students anymore--they both have full time "adult" jobs. So far it's been really great--one of them I knew and was friends with in undergrad. They're really nice and understanding of my wacky schedule (getting up at 4 am to study before an exam, for example) and love to hear any silly animal facts I learned that day. It's nice to have people there to talk to about non-vet stuff--it reminds me that I'm more than just a information cramming machine.

The only issues have been centered around regular roommate issues, like tidying up the kitchen if you make a mess, or who's turn it is to buy toilet paper. Also my one roommate has an unusual work schedule, which means that sometimes her "weekend" falls on weekdays, and so she'll be a bit noisy coming home after a night out celebrating. I get her back though come Friday hehe

 

[Minnerbelle]

Love my current roomie from my class, but I would def love to live on my own if I could (esp after 7 diff roommates in the past 6 years). But the $500+ more it would require me per month just wasn't worth it no matter how many times I considered it. I would much rather be able to buy whatever groceries I want and eat out when I feel like it, than have my own place and need to be super stingy. Even then, I save hundreds per month.

Sooo looking forward to getting a job and moving in with my SO in a place I can really call my own for the first time.

 

[bluesails]

It sounds like the consensus seems to be that living alone is nice because no drama, more freedom etc., but I was wondering if anyone commenting was someone who absolutely thought they needed to live with people (when coming into vet school) and then changed their mind (rather than someone who knew they wouldn't really like roommates in the first place and then got into that situation). I can get very antsy and distracted and lonely when I am living alone and am on good terms with my roommate now, who is an acquaintance but not someone I hang out with outside of living together. I actually believe that I function better when having another person around and was wondering if anyone thought the same way and then seriously regretted it in vet school.

 

[twelvetigers]

I have one roommate. We split all the chores pretty evenly, we both take care of the pets. We are very comfortable with each other.

He pays 100% of the rent. He also pays all the bills. He buys groceries, and he pays for dinner when we eat out.

But he sure does roll around a lot in his sleep. So there's that.

 

[wildcatj]

It sounds like the consensus seems to be that living alone is nice because no drama, more freedom etc., but I was wondering if anyone commenting was someone who absolutely thought they needed to live with people (when coming into vet school) and then changed their mind (rather than someone who knew they wouldn't really like roommates in the first place and then got into that situation). I can get very antsy and distracted and lonely when I am living alone and am on good terms with my roommate now, who is an acquaintance but not someone I hang out with outside of living together. I actually believe that I function better when having another person around and was wondering if anyone thought the same way and then seriously regretted it in vet school.

I'm the same way with not wanting to live alone. I get lonely and have a tendency to get nervous when I'm in the house alone at night. I think I'd only live alone if I had a big scary dog. I don't regret having a roommate, but I'm also in a situation where I don't hate mine.

 

[HorsesRLife]

I have one roommate. We split all the chores pretty evenly, we both take care of the pets. We are very comfortable with each other.

He pays 100% of the rent. He also pays all the bills. He buys groceries, and he pays for dinner when we eat out.

But he sure does roll around a lot in his sleep. So there's that.

Ha, I wish my 'roomate' split chores evenly and helped with the pets, but he does pay for everything so that helps.

 

[DVMDream]

It sounds like the consensus seems to be that living alone is nice because no drama, more freedom etc., but I was wondering if anyone commenting was someone who absolutely thought they needed to live with people (when coming into vet school) and then changed their mind (rather than someone who knew they wouldn't really like roommates in the first place and then got into that situation). I can get very antsy and distracted and lonely when I am living alone and am on good terms with my roommate now, who is an acquaintance but not someone I hang out with outside of living together. I actually believe that I function better when having another person around and was wondering if anyone thought the same way and then seriously regretted it in vet school.

Everyone is going to have their own personal preference as to what is best. I really enjoy being on my own, but that is just who I am. If you really do better with roommates, then live with roommates. I would suggest people from upper years or someone not in vet school, you can live with people in your year but if there ever is drama at home, it follows you to school, and possibly outside of school when hanging out with friends, especially if you and the roomie have the same group of friends. I have yet to hear anyone living with people in the same year not having drama. Ultimately only you can decide what is best for you, everything we are posting are just our opinions and experiences. I'm much more comfortable by myself, you sound like you'd be more comfortable with roommates, so find some roomies. Just do what you feel is best for you. 🙂

 

[orca2011]

I live with someone in my year and the year below me. For the most part, we don't have any drama. And the drama we do have, hasn't been an issue at school or with friends outside of school. The only major issue is sometimes tidiness and a few other minor things. No major fights or anything like that. Although, I'm also super laid back, so that might be why I haven't gotten super worked up over things that would probably bother others.

 

[Museum Nerd]

I live with a fellow vet student in the same year. (now on our second year of living together) It has worked out well for us. We have very similar study habits so we actually even study together most of the time. We made a point to talk about what are pet peeves were before we moved in together. We have enough space that we can be apart if we want. We also have similar personalities that we don't like drama so i think that helps. I know of several of my classmates that by the end of the first semester couldn't wait until the year was up to find another roommate. I think that it helped that we were not best friends when we started living together so we made an effort to respect each other and not take each other for granted from the beginning.

 

[gumtree]

I'm someone who has lived alone before, found I didn't like it, and knew I wanted to have roommates when I started vet school. Yeah, it's really nice to come home and make a mess and not worry about cleaning it up, walk around in your birthday suit, and never have to share the bathroom. But I got pretty lonely and depressed when I lived by myself. Things that I initially thought were positives of living solo (quiet, less distraction, can be as messy/clean as I want) became negatives later on.

 

[DVMDream]

Things that I initially thought were positives of living solo (quiet, less distraction, can be as messy/clean as I want) became negatives later on.

Really shows just how individual everyone is. These are still positives for me and I have been living on my own for over a year now. Even when I go home to visit now, I used to be just fine being at home with my parents and whatever sisters were around at the time, but after living alone... I now kind of get annoyed after a couple of weeks. I still love hanging around them, I just like my own space too. Perhaps I like living alone so much because I grew up with 3 sisters, constantly had roommates throughout undergrad and have never been able to really have a nice, quiet space completely to myself until now...

But, having roommates or not having roommates and who exactly you room with is a completely personal decision and no one way is more right or better than another.

 

[HowIMetYourPet]

So, I have a question for you all....

My mom and I were talking about living arrangements, and she made a kind of out there offer I hadn't even considered, but I'm unsure about it.... She offered to come with me..... now, as back story, I'm the baby of the family (and the only girl) and my brothers are all "grown" with families of their own. That being said, they're all very busy and my mom doesn't see them very often. The school I *hope* I will be going to is only about 4-5 hours away from where we are now. My parents are divorced, but on good terms, and my father lives a few states away, but my mom will go and visit him from time to time. I would love your opinion on this, here' s my current list of pros nad cons,m but let me know what you guys think:

pros:
NO LIVING EXPENSES....my mom would buy a house and pay all expenses(so no landlord, and would prbly keep it as a rental investment after I finished school, since it would be near a campus) so LOWER DEBT
I could keep all of my dogs with me (I currently have 5, so some would have to stay with my mom if I went out on my own)
Help with the dogs (even though she complains sometimes), house care, etc
Having my mom there for moral support when I need it (although we really aren't THAT close, ie, I don't tell her about boy drama, etc)

cons:
my mom would be coming to vet school with me (I'd be THAT kid 😉 )
She already gives me a hard time about when I'm really busy and get behind on laundry/grooming dogs/cleaning my area.....my thinking is, laundry can wait, and it wont kill the dogs to be a little dirty for a few days while I pass my molecular genetics exam....she thinks I can "make time"....
I worry it would interfere with my social life a bit....when she's home, I sometimes feel like I should stay home with her, and feel guilty about going out with friends (she and my dad only got divorced a few years ago)

Also, I've lived in multiple arrangements through undergrad, with both parents, with roomates (a stranger and my best friend, the drama was always with the stranger, not my best friend), by myself (after I kicked out the stranger, and my best friend ran out of money) and finally my mom (when she sold her house, hadn't bought a new one yet, and doesn't know where she wants to be...so for the mean-time she's with me)

So...after that unnecessarily long post...thoughts?

 

[that redhead]

So, I have a question for you all....

My mom and I were talking about living arrangements, and she made a kind of out there offer I hadn't even considered, but I'm unsure about it.... She offered to come with me..... now, as back story, I'm the baby of the family (and the only girl) and my brothers are all "grown" with families of their own. That being said, they're all very busy and my mom doesn't see them very often. The school I *hope* I will be going to is only about 4-5 hours away from where we are now. My parents are divorced, but on good terms, and my father lives a few states away, but my mom will go and visit him from time to time. I would love your opinion on this, here' s my current list of pros nad cons,m but let me know what you guys think:

pros:
NO LIVING EXPENSES....my mom would buy a house and pay all expenses(so no landlord, and would prbly keep it as a rental investment after I finished school, since it would be near a campus) so LOWER DEBT
I could keep all of my dogs with me (I currently have 5, so some would have to stay with my mom if I went out on my own)
Help with the dogs (even though she complains sometimes), house care, etc
Having my mom there for moral support when I need it (although we really aren't THAT close, ie, I don't tell her about boy drama, etc)

cons:
my mom would be coming to vet school with me (I'd be THAT kid 😉 )
She already gives me a hard time about when I'm really busy and get behind on laundry/grooming dogs/cleaning my area.....my thinking is, laundry can wait, and it wont kill the dogs to be a little dirty for a few days while I pass my molecular genetics exam....she thinks I can "make time"....
I worry it would interfere with my social life a bit....when she's home, I sometimes feel like I should stay home with her, and feel guilty about going out with friends (she and my dad only got divorced a few years ago)

Also, I've lived in multiple arrangements through undergrad, with both parents, with roomates (a stranger and my best friend, the drama was always with the stranger, not my best friend), by myself (after I kicked out the stranger, and my best friend ran out of money) and finally my mom (when she sold her house, hadn't bought a new one yet, and doesn't know where she wants to be...so for the mean-time she's with me)

So...after that unnecessarily long post...thoughts?

Living with another person who "doesn't get" vet school is likely a challenge; living with someone who "doesn't get" vet school who will also feel free to pester you about your laundry not being done or the dogs not being groomed is probably more than I'd want to deal with. I consider myself a neat person, but when exam time hits, my dishes aren't done, my laundry isn't folded, there are soda cans on the table, I don't cook proper means and I let the house get messy. If someone were to say, "Hey, this is unacceptable! Do your laundry/clean the house/groom the dogs", I think I'd take a chunk out of them. Or bottle it up inside and let it fester and be miserable.

The fact that you don't yet "get" vet school yourself is probably an important factor here; you don't know how you're going to cope with the stress of classes/exams and the stress of feeling guilty about leaving your mom behind when your class wants to do class things, or you want to go out with friends for drinks or you need to study in the anatomy lab all weekend.

The pros of the situation are really tempting, but I would worry that you're further fostering somewhat of a dependence between yourself and your mom that isn't exactly healthy for either of you.

 

[DVMDream]

I have to agree with that redhead, living with your mom during vet school sounds tempting for the few pros you mentioned, but really, it could end badly. It could also create a lot of tension between you and your mom. Someone not in vet school does not understand how you can not have the time to take out the trash the day before an exam, or do the dishes, or pick up your clothes, or whatever else. I was talking to my mom when you posted about living with your mom and asked her what she thought and her response was a resounding NO! My mother and I are very close. I love my mom dearly and we get along really well. I go on vacations with her, we hang out when I am at home. I honestly do not have any issues getting along with my mom or my dad for that matter. BUT, I could not live with her and do vet school. We do have our little disagreements here and there and she would for sure at some point get on my nerves or I on hers. I think vet school is a good time to go off and live either on your own or with roommates and experience life away from parents. It is also a time to start developing your professional image and building professional relationships and that might be difficult with your mom around.

 

[Minnerbelle]

Oh man i would so live with my mama if I could! But then, rather than be all up in my business for not taking care of my self/surroundings, she would probably take care of my every need. If only I could be babied for 4 yrs! Sounds pathetic, but I'd totally let her.

Mom or other random roommate though (vet student or otherwise), it's very important that they understand and embrace the vet student's lifestyle. I take showers, set my alarm clock, do laundry and dishes at very odd hours. I make sure not to snooze my alarm, but it's gotta go off at some point. I also have very busy stretches where bathroom/kitchen cleaning does not happen. It only works out really well with my roommate because we're both okay with that since she's also in my class and equally busy. After big exams, we would just clean together. During clinics, whoever caused things to become disasters during a busy stretch will take care of it once they're free. We just try to keep essential common areas as workable/clean as possible.

 

[Trilt]

When I was an undergrad I talked to someone who had done exactly that (lived with parents in vet school), and she seemed pretty well situated. She also had sooo much less in loans than many other students. Personally, the savings in rent and other living expenses would definitely tempt me... and mom's cooking... yeah, I would probably do it, personally.

 

[wolfspeaker]

I'm so jealous of anyone who could even consider living with their parents past High School. My parents would have just laughed in my face. In fact, the one time I did ask to live with them for 6 months, they laughed. 🙁 The thing to consider when it comes to Mom living with you during Vet school: Do you really want your Mother all up in your ****e a year from now? You're in professional school, with somewhat grownup friends, maybe a boyfriend who wants to come over and "cuddle" and you are living with your Mother? My mother and I have a terrible relationship, so that's a resounding NO from me.