Schools where a car is not necessary

[GreenLiving]

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Hi, I've been browsing this forum for a while but have just now registered, and I'm wondering if anybody knew of schools where a car is not a must-have. Especially for the clinical assignments. Basically, are there schools were many students get by without any problems by relying on public transport, walking, and biking? I like living without a car and would like to continue doing so.

I'm not applying this cycle, but I'm gathering this information now so I can plan on meeting the prerequisite requirements and apply next summer. I've graduated already, but I don't have some classes like A&P, micro, economics, and statistics (but not all schools require all of those).

I'm in the process of checking off a list of schools I've made, but many aren't entirely clear. For example, University of Chicago, Illinois, says everybody must have "reliable transportation" for sites that aren't accessible by public transport or walking. A search of this forum didn't lead to much general info, either.

I appreciate all and any help! I'm open to suggestions all around the country.

Thanks!

EDIT: I forgot to add that I haven't taken the PCAT yet, and I know admission factors are based on grades, test scores, extra stuff, etc. Again, I'm just looking for a general list of schools that may be a fit for me. Thanks again!

 

[UNMorBUST]

My only suggestion would be to look in big cities with reliable public transportation such as NYC, Boston etc.

 

[Passion4Sci]

UCSF... duh.

 

[homeslice]

Hi, I've been browsing this forum for a while but have just now registered, and I'm wondering if anybody knew of schools where a car is not a must-have. Especially for the clinical assignments. Basically, are there schools were many students get by without any problems by relying on public transport, walking, and biking? I like living without a car and would like to continue doing so.

I'm not applying this cycle, but I'm gathering this information now so I can plan on meeting the prerequisite requirements and apply next summer. I've graduated already, but I don't have some classes like A&P, micro, economics, and statistics (but not all schools require all of those).

I'm in the process of checking off a list of schools I've made, but many aren't entirely clear. For example, University of Chicago, Illinois, says everybody must have "reliable transportation" for sites that aren't accessible by public transport or walking. A search of this forum didn't lead to much general info, either.

I appreciate all and any help! I'm open to suggestions all around the country.

Thanks!

EDIT: I forgot to add that I haven't taken the PCAT yet, and I know admission factors are based on grades, test scores, extra stuff, etc. Again, I'm just looking for a general list of schools that may be a fit for me. Thanks again!

As a student at said school, I can tell you that a car is absolutely not necessary. Public transport here is a little run down, but it gets the job done. There are literally several hundred sites to pick from, and the chances of getting one not accessible by public transport are slim to none.

 

[lauradiddle]

Like someone previously posted, look into the quality of public transportation in bigger cities. I'm sure there's at least a bus system you could use if you have to live off campus, but it'll be better in some cities than in others. UT (Austin) has an awesome shuttle system, and students can ride CapMetro (Austin's public transportation company) for free. It's also a very bike-friendly city in that a lot of roads have bike lanes and many people ride bikes around (so locals are used to them being everywhere). The busses also have racks for you to mount your bike so that you can bike to a bus stop and take a bus somewhere that's too far to bike.

 

[GreenLiving]

Thanks so much for the replies!

Like somebody said, looking into schools located in bigger cities seems obvious, but I was concerned that might not be enough (with the University of Chicago disclaimer, for example). Thanks, homeslice, for your insight!

As for UCSF... I'm not a California resident, so that might pose a problem... I had originally discarded it as an option, but I'll take a closer second look now.

Thanks for the info on Austin, also. I'm not a Texas resident, but it's definitely worth looking into now.

Jefferson also looks promising, I've found.

Anyway, if anybody has any more suggestions, I'd be more than happy to hear them! Especially if they're not immediately obvious choices, as Austin was for me.

 

[Pinser555]

Check out Northeastern and MCPHJs (Boston). I heading to MCP as a 3rd year transfer this fall, and I'm getting ride of the whip. I got a 4 month unlimited "T Card" or "Charlie Card" which includes subway, bus, and ferry rides for 4 months. It costs a whopping $188.50. However the money saved will have to go towards the extremely high cost of living. Im splitting a 400 sq. foot studio with my fiance for $1250 a month.

 

[GreenLiving]

Thank you for the information! I looked at those schools but saw that they were 6-year programs, so I thought I wouldn't qualify (I've graduated college). So if I were to apply, I would be considered a "transfer"? That's what confused me at first. But thank you again! Boston sounds very appealing -- even with 400 sq. ft.

I've noticed that even schools like UT Austin and UCSF say that a car may be necessary for rotations outside of Austin/San Francisco... I would love to hear input from current students, in case the situations there are similar to my University of Illinois, Chicago, example and its disclaimer. Should I re-post this in another forum?

 

[Sparda29]

Touro NY.

 

[confettiflyer]

Get used to the pervasive smell of urine if you come to Philly. Heck, you smell it blowing out of the subway walking down the street. Exception would be if you take PATCO or regional rail.

 

[GreenLiving]

Touro has been added now. Thank you for that. I didn't know it was in NYC proper.

Philly and urine? Oh, well. I guess that's the price one must pay for city living

 

[busyizzy]

As for UCSF... I'm not a California resident, so that might pose a problem... I had originally discarded it as an option, but I'll take a closer second look now.

UCSF doesn't look at state residency in admissions. The downside to being out of state is high tuition rates, not a lower chance of admissions.

 

[Sparda29]

Touro has been added now. Thank you for that. I didn't know it was in NYC proper.

Philly and urine? Oh, well. I guess that's the price one must pay for city living

I'm actually one of the few students who drives. But I live in Long Island, and I find the rail service to Long Island to be too unreliable later in the evening. (Only runs like every 1/2 hour.)

 

[horseraddish]

Check out Northeastern and MCPHJs (Boston). I heading to MCP as a 3rd year transfer this fall, and I'm getting ride of the whip. I got a 4 month unlimited "T Card" or "Charlie Card" which includes subway, bus, and ferry rides for 4 months. It costs a whopping $188.50. However the money saved will have to go towards the extremely high cost of living. Im splitting a 400 sq. foot studio with my fiance for $1250 a month.

You should NOT have to pay this much for a studio apartment in Boston. And I'm sure you can get a much nicer place right outside the city for the same or less money. If you have an unlimited T pass you should definitely check out renting in some of the places outside (Brighton, Brookline, Cambridge, Allston, Somerville) where you would have a relatively easy and short commute via T (40 mins max). Boston is expensive but you shouldn't have to live in a studio apartment with two people paying that much.

 

[UES Girl]

Touro has been added now. Thank you for that. I didn't know it was in NYC proper.

Philly and urine? Oh, well. I guess that's the price one must pay for city living

For UCSF specifically - you absolutely don't need a car for your first two years. For the last two years - depending on the concentration of study
"pathway" you choose, you may or may not need a car. UCSF has three concentrations or "pathways" that you pursue in addition to getting your Pharm.D, sort of like specializing. If you go the science route, you are guaranteed to stay on main campus for the last two years, meaning esentially you spend all four years in SF. If you pursue the other two pathways - you may end up needing a car or you may not, dpeneidng on where you get assigned for rotations. UCSF has 8 rotation sites and people get assigned to them randomly, for places like Fresno or LA, I'd imagine you most likely would need a car.

As for having a car while actually living in SF, you absolutely don't need it - I grew up here and I don't even have a license. You either end up walking or taking public transportation everywhere, this is a kind of place where a car is a hindrance. 🙂

 

[Project2015]

You either end up walking or taking public transportation everywhere, this is a kind of place where a car is a hindrance. 🙂

Indeed! Parking costs are ridiculously expensive. I would imagine that it's also pretty hard to drive unless you're really skilled as those buses and taxis are gonna run you over in those narrow streets! 😛

 

[charfdorn]

Hi, I've been browsing this forum for a while but have just now registered, and I'm wondering if anybody knew of schools where a car is not a must-have. Especially for the clinical assignments. Basically, are there schools were many students get by without any problems by relying on public transport, walking, and biking? I like living without a car and would like to continue doing so.

I'm not applying this cycle, but I'm gathering this information now so I can plan on meeting the prerequisite requirements and apply next summer. I've graduated already, but I don't have some classes like A&P, micro, economics, and statistics (but not all schools require all of those).

I'm in the process of checking off a list of schools I've made, but many aren't entirely clear. For example, University of Chicago, Illinois, says everybody must have "reliable transportation" for sites that aren't accessible by public transport or walking. A search of this forum didn't lead to much general info, either.

I appreciate all and any help! I'm open to suggestions all around the country.

Thanks!

EDIT: I forgot to add that I haven't taken the PCAT yet, and I know admission factors are based on grades, test scores, extra stuff, etc. Again, I'm just looking for a general list of schools that may be a fit for me. Thanks again!

Colorado uses the same disclaimer... the Denver metro area is incredibly sprawled out, so if you get an experiential practice site that's too far away it could make public transportation a nightmare - but not impossible. The school does include a bus stop in the student fees, so I don't normally drive to school. I do have a car, though, which I use to save time, especially when I have to drive across the entire city to get from school to IPPE.

 

[Ji the Captain]

Campbell University School of Pharmacy, NC ok
Appalachian school of pharmacy,VA ok
Mercer, GA
West Virginia University School of Pharmacy,WV
University of Charleston School of Pharmacy,WV
University of Toledo College of Pharmacy,OHIO
Ohio State University College of Pharmacy ok
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy ok
South carolina college of pharmacy
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

 

[GreenLiving]

Wow, thanks for all the help and clarifications -- especially from current students who have more insight into the matter.

I looked into the three pathways at UCSF, and unfortunately, the sciences one sounds the least interesting to me. In fact, I pretty much despise research. I'd probably be most interested in the pharm. care pathway, but over half (60%) of the experiential learning is outside of SF. which is a big deterrent for me. I'm too afraid of driving/keeping a car in SF, with all the hills And LA traffic is almost legendary, so having to drive there, for example, would be horrifying for me lol. Again, though, thanks for shedding more light on this matter!

I haven't considered Denver. If using public transport throughout all four years is possible, even if a little less efficient, it's certainly worth looking into. However, I'm now beginning to think that I'll have to drive at some point (since I can't be too exclusive with my applications), and if that's the case, I certainly don't want to have to deal with snowy/icy conditions, which I'm assuming are a way of life during the winter...

I think I'm going to expand my search a bit to schools that may require a car but offer many sites within a reasonable driving distance of the school (<30 min, avoiding highways?), essentially guaranteeing you to be relatively close all four years. I could handle something like that, I guess. I know that the experiential learning process is a huge part of school, but not being compensated for time/travel really bothers me, and I wouldn't want to be expected to drive 60 miles, for example, to a site. Any experience with schools where most students don't have to venture far, for the most part?

 

[GreenLiving]

Ji the captain, will you please explain your post? I'm not quite sure what "ok" means, since I've looked into some of those schools, and they pretty much require individual transport. Thank you!

 

[sRX]

Um... believe me, you're going to need a car for the Appalachian College of Pharmacy in VA. It is in the mountains and pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It's a school that prides itself in being extremely rural.

 

[Sparda29]

For UCSF specifically - you absolutely don't need a car for your first two years. For the last two years - depending on the concentration of study
"pathway" you choose, you may or may not need a car. UCSF has three concentrations or "pathways" that you pursue in addition to getting your Pharm.D, sort of like specializing. If you go the science route, you are guaranteed to stay on main campus for the last two years, meaning esentially you spend all four years in SF. If you pursue the other two pathways - you may end up needing a car or you may not, dpeneidng on where you get assigned for rotations. UCSF has 8 rotation sites and people get assigned to them randomly, for places like Fresno or LA, I'd imagine you most likely would need a car.

As for having a car while actually living in SF, you absolutely don't need it - I grew up here and I don't even have a license. You either end up walking or taking public transportation everywhere, this is a kind of place where a car is a hindrance. 🙂

 

[UES Girl]

goofy picture

When you are a smoking hot piece of asss like myself, you manage just fine w/out a car. See for yourself:

 

[Sparda29]

When you are a smoking hot piece of asss like myself, you manage just fine w/out a car. See for yourself:

 

[GreenLiving]

Um... believe me, you're going to need a car for the Appalachian College of Pharmacy in VA. It is in the mountains and pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It's a school that prides itself in being extremely rural.

That's what what thought... I'm still confused by that list.

Last two posters: Thanks for the laughs lol.

 

[rxlea]

When you are a smoking hot piece of asss like myself, you manage just fine w/out a car. See for yourself:

 

[Pinser555]

You should NOT have to pay this much for a studio apartment in Boston. And I'm sure you can get a much nicer place right outside the city for the same or less money. If you have an unlimited T pass you should definitely check out renting in some of the places outside (Brighton, Brookline, Cambridge, Allston, Somerville) where you would have a relatively easy and short commute via T (40 mins max). Boston is expensive but you shouldn't have to live in a studio apartment with two people paying that much.

My place is in Davis Square, Somerville. Tell me where you can find an apartment that is in a safe area, clean, somewhat updated, with off street parking, and without having to make a bus transfer to the T, and pet friendly, for under 1250?

 

[charfdorn]

Wow, thanks for all the help and clarifications -- especially from current students who have more insight into the matter.

I looked into the three pathways at UCSF, and unfortunately, the sciences one sounds the least interesting to me. In fact, I pretty much despise research. I'd probably be most interested in the pharm. care pathway, but over half (60%) of the experiential learning is outside of SF. which is a big deterrent for me. I'm too afraid of driving/keeping a car in SF, with all the hills And LA traffic is almost legendary, so having to drive there, for example, would be horrifying for me lol. Again, though, thanks for shedding more light on this matter!

I haven't considered Denver. If using public transport throughout all four years is possible, even if a little less efficient, it's certainly worth looking into. However, I'm now beginning to think that I'll have to drive at some point (since I can't be too exclusive with my applications), and if that's the case, I certainly don't want to have to deal with snowy/icy conditions, which I'm assuming are a way of life during the winter...

I think I'm going to expand my search a bit to schools that may require a car but offer many sites within a reasonable driving distance of the school (<30 min, avoiding highways?), essentially guaranteeing you to be relatively close all four years. I could handle something like that, I guess. I know that the experiential learning process is a huge part of school, but not being compensated for time/travel really bothers me, and I wouldn't want to be expected to drive 60 miles, for example, to a site. Any experience with schools where most students don't have to venture far, for the most part?

I guarantee you'll have to deal with more icy conditions in Chicago than Denver. Our snow melts quickly. Yes, it does happen, but not nearly as much as you think.

I'm concerned about your ability to get around without a car on fourth-year rotations. I know Colorado requires at least one rural rotation. Now, you may be able to set this up so that you don't need a car while you're there, but you're still going to have to travel fifty miles or more at the start and end of the rotation. You could probably arrange a ride from somebody at that point, if you were determined enough.

 

[lauradiddle]

I've noticed that even schools like UT Austin and UCSF say that a car may be necessary for rotations outside of Austin/San Francisco... I would love to hear input from current students, in case the situations there are similar to my University of Illinois, Chicago, example and its disclaimer. Should I re-post this in another forum?

Well, I'm just applying but I have a few friends at UT's COP and when it comes to 4th year rotations you might not be guaranteed a spot in Austin. You might end up in DFW, Houston, or even El Paso. And even if you are selected for the Austin area, it includes such a large region that one of my friends had to drive to Temple, TX every day for one of her rotations (it's an hour north of Austin... without traffic). So yeah, though you'll be totally fine your first three years, you might have to figure out something better for the rotations. It might be different at some of the other programs you're looking into though, so I'd definitely check with some students familiar with those.

 

[KARM12]

My place is in Davis Square, Somerville. Tell me where you can find an apartment that is in a safe area, clean, somewhat updated, with off street parking, and without having to make a bus transfer to the T, and pet friendly, for under 1250?

You can't find anything for that price in the city proper... Davis Square is a decent location with regards to the T.

 

[delano2000]

Well, I'm just applying but I have a few friends at UT's COP and when it comes to 4th year rotations you might not be guaranteed a spot in Austin. You might end up in DFW, Houston, or even El Paso. And even if you are selected for the Austin area, it includes such a large region that one of my friends had to drive to Temple, TX every day for one of her rotations (it's an hour north of Austin... without traffic). So yeah, though you'll be totally fine your first three years, you might have to figure out something better for the rotations. It might be different at some of the other programs you're looking into though, so I'd definitely check with some students familiar with those.

So true. The San Antonio metro has about 18 counties in it.

 

[GreenLiving]

Thanks for the ongoing advice and insight, everyone. I've removed UT Austin and Colorado, Denver, from consideration.

I have several schools that I'm very interested in, plus a few where some compromises will have to be made, but that's life, I guess.

Board closed?

 

[dtcocoz]

Greenliving,

In case you were still interested (board closed?), I go to MCP Boston and for the first 5 years of living there, no car was needed. I do drive a car and it stayed at home, but here is the trade off. You can have rotations all within Boston-Some of the world's best hospitals and take public transportation to all of them; however, someone had mentioned a commute from Brookline, Brighton, etc would be 40 minutes max. The thing is, that is if there is a direct line to MCP Boston. MCP is located on the Green E line. If you need to transfer lines, it can be up to an hour (much faster though during rush hour which is 6-10AM or 3-7PM). I lived on Commonwealth Ave in downtown Boston and did not transfer lines and it took me sometimes 35 minutes to get to school because the lines are not always dependable. If you are coming in from those other cities mentioned, you will need to transfer lines. The positive is that MCP is right on a subway and bus line (it is 0.1 mile away) and if you are patient, you can get to where you want to easily as the city is well-equipped for pedestrian commuters. Look at Saint John's in New York also. And in addition, you can apply to virtually all pharmacy schools with an under-grad degree as long as you meet the requirements of the school for pre-reqs. MCP-Boston allows this and also does Worcester, (I believe Manchester too). Mind you the Worcester program is 3-years and runs most of the year.

Hope this helps,

Dean
www.rxinsider.com
www.mcphs.edu
http://rxportfolios.com/login_by_pin.php?pin=12791-09899-88362

 

[GreenLiving]

Greenliving,

In case you were still interested (board closed?), I go to MCP Boston and for the first 5 years of living there, no car was needed. I do drive a car and it stayed at home, but here is the trade off. You can have rotations all within Boston-Some of the world's best hospitals and take public transportation to all of them; however, someone had mentioned a commute from Brookline, Brighton, etc would be 40 minutes max. The thing is, that is if there is a direct line to MCP Boston. MCP is located on the Green E line. If you need to transfer lines, it can be up to an hour (much faster though during rush hour which is 6-10AM or 3-7PM). I lived on Commonwealth Ave in downtown Boston and did not transfer lines and it took me sometimes 35 minutes to get to school because the lines are not always dependable. If you are coming in from those other cities mentioned, you will need to transfer lines. The positive is that MCP is right on a subway and bus line (it is 0.1 mile away) and if you are patient, you can get to where you want to easily as the city is well-equipped for pedestrian commuters. Look at Saint John's in New York also. And in addition, you can apply to virtually all pharmacy schools with an under-grad degree as long as you meet the requirements of the school for pre-reqs. MCP-Boston allows this and also does Worcester, (I believe Manchester too). Mind you the Worcester program is 3-years and runs most of the year.

Hope this helps,

Dean
www.rxinsider.com
www.mcphs.edu
http://rxportfolios.com/login_by_pin.php?pin=12791-09899-88362

No, feel free to add to this discussion 🙂 I just thought that I had gathered everything I wanted/needed to know. Thank you for the additional info on commuting. MCP-Boston is definitely a school I'm interested in, but I won't be applying anywhere until the next cyle, and I wanted a list of schools beforehand so I could see which pre-requisites I'd have to complete. And you can apply to only one of the MCP schools, right? In that case, Boston would probably be a better fit, since Worcester seems rural.

I believe I got information that St. John's was car dependent... I'll have to double check now that you include it as a school to look into.

Thank you!