do most of you students live with other classmates or by yourself or with other people not associated with med school and do your prefer your living arrangement?
I found grad students make the best roommates. You get your fill of med students, especially in a small class. It is like a high school atmosphere at times. There is no competition from other grad students and it offers another social group which is refreshing too.
I've never had roomates that were competitive with me. Mostly, we worked together with each other not against each other. The biggest problem with roomates is the noise factor (TV, music, etc) when you're trying to study.
Ive lived with another med student all through med school and it has worked out really well. We both know what the other is going through, we never were competitive, and there is always someone to have a beer with after a test.