Temple Transit Question

[coincidental]

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Hi guys,

I am currently in the process of trying to choose between Temple and Jefferson in Philly. One of Jefferson's big appeals (to me) is the access to housing. So, I was wondering, current Temple students, how do you get on campus? Car? train? subway? buses? regional rail? What if you are on campus late; is this a problem? One of my concerns is Septa is threatening to cut its evening hours, would this affect access to the university? I really didn't want to bring my car into Philly if I could help it...

This choice is so difficult. Both of the schools are extremely similar, I can't find a good solid reason to choose one over the other...

 

[kcrd]

I'm a current temple student. I drive, so I don't know too much about the septa situation, but several people do take the subway to and from school. For the most part, it is up to you to decide if you are going to attend class (with the exception of anatomy and certain small group sessions), so if you can't make it in due to transportation problems, it should be fine.

When you are a 3rd and 4th year, though, you will need to have access to a car. It is not likely that you would have all of your clinical rotations at temple hospital, and if you have to arrive or leave at odd hours, the neighborhood is not safe enough to be walking the few blocks to the subway alone at night. Parking at temple is cheap and easy, however.

 

[coincidental]

I'm a current temple student. I drive, so I don't know too much about the septa situation, but several people do take the subway to and from school. For the most part, it is up to you to decide if you are going to attend class (with the exception of anatomy and certain small group sessions), so if you can't make it in due to transportation problems, it should be fine.

When you are a 3rd and 4th year, though, you will need to have access to a car. It is not likely that you would have all of your clinical rotations at temple hospital, and if you have to arrive or leave at odd hours, the neighborhood is not safe enough to be walking the few blocks to the subway alone at night. Parking at temple is cheap and easy, however.

Really? I have been very wary of Philly parking, as my few experiences haven't been cheap. Does Temple have a student rate? how much is it per day? I do have a car, I just wanted to avoid using it if possible.

 

[susan96]

I'm also trying to pick between Jefferson and Temple...it seems that everyone on this board likes Jeff more than Temple, and Jeff has a better location, but I also felt like there was a different vibe at the 2 schools, and it's hard for me to pick which one would be better. They are pretty similar, it seems.. 😕
I did LOVE the children's hospital at Temple, and I feel that you would get to see more interesting cases at Temple? I'm interested in working with the underserved, so I wonder if Temple would be more conducive to that. Any thoughts?

 

[coincidental]

I'm also trying to pick between Jefferson and Temple...it seems that everyone on this board likes Jeff more than Temple, and Jeff has a better location, but I also felt like there was a different vibe at the 2 schools, and it's hard for me to pick which one would be better. They are pretty similar, it seems.. 😕
I did LOVE the children's hospital at Temple, and I feel that you would get to see more interesting cases at Temple? I'm interested in working with the underserved, so I wonder if Temple would be more conducive to that. Any thoughts?

well, I spoke with some people at Temple, and I get the sense it is less competitive and focuses more on primary care, whereas Jeff focuses a little more on surgerical subspecialities. Their match list seems to confirm that.

This board strongly follows the rankings, but what I have been told is that Jefferson will have a stronger first two years, but Temple is more hands-on in the second two years. I was also a little concerned about Jeff because the increased class size may strain the clinical rotations. Of course, I am sure they wouldn't have increased the size if they didn't have the resources, but that just means you will be somewhere, who knows where though.

I know Temple is definately the place to be for the underserved. And I was looking at housing on Craig's list, so the location might not be that big of a deal, given that there are some pretty nice places 10-20 minutes away from campus. I really want to get together a group of people and rent a house or something. I am totally pumped about having a yard and washer/dryer.

I honestly don't know. I really liked Jefferson at the second-look and was all set to attend, and then I started talking to some people at Temple and now I don't know...

 

[kcrd]

It costs about $60/month to park at temple. During 1st and 2nd year, they have you pay per semester. During 3rd and 4th, you pay for the month or 6 week period for your rotation only. If you are at a suburban community hospital for rotations, parking will usually be free. Parking is very expensive in center city, however. I don't know if Jeff provides or subsidizes parking for its students - perhaps a jeff student could pipe in about that.

I know very little about the clinical experience at jefferson, but I can say that if you choose temple, you will have a fantastic clinical experience. The faculty at temple hospital is very committed to teaching, and they view teaching as one of their main reasons to be there (along with patient care). I have heard very different stories about some of the other university hospitals, where the attendings are more concerned with their research or private practices.

Temple childrens is not the greatest place for rotations because hospital is seldom full.

 

[kcrd]

I would not say that temple focuses on primary care. A good portion of my class matched in internal medicine with the intention to specialize in cards, gi, etc. Temple has a fantastic internal medicine program, so many became interested in IM. But there is definitely not a primary care focus at temple.

 

[susan96]

I have a question about the financial aid at Jefferson...I filled out all the paperwork and the MPN, does this mean that I am bound in any way to a loan that they give me? I got scared after I did this and received an email making it seem like the next step is that they're just going to give me money, since I'm not even sure I am going to Jeff yet. 😕 Also, it seems to me that a lot of people don't like Temple solely based on location, and not because of the actual school.

 

[coincidental]

I have a question about the financial aid at Jefferson...I filled out all the paperwork and the MPN, does this mean that I am bound in any way to a loan that they give me? I got scared after I did this and received an email making it seem like the next step is that they're just going to give me money, since I'm not even sure I am going to Jeff yet. 😕 Also, it seems to me that a lot of people don't like Temple solely based on location, and not because of the actual school.

I don't think you are bound...but I've hesitated on filling out my MPNs for either school because I don't know for sure. Call Jeff financial aid and ask They will know for sure.

I get that sense about Temple too. It makes me feel vaguely guilty for holding back because it seems like such a superficial reason to turn down a school. I am waiting on Jeff aid, and then I will make a final decision. I think. Maybe. There might be a coin involved.

 

[susan96]

Great...I hope I am not screwed. I knew I should have procrastinated longer!! Anyways, you know how they say you shouldn't live near campus? What if you live near the undergrad campus? I assume there's a ton of students living around there, and it'd be closer to the med school than say, living in Center City. One of the biggest draws of Jefferson is how convenient it is and how close you can live to campus. It just seemed like when I was at Temple, they recommended u live in either roxborough or center city, and I was wondering why not closer.

 

[coincidental]

Great...I hope I am not screwed. I knew I should have procrastinated longer!! Anyways, you know how they say you shouldn't live near campus? What if you live near the undergrad campus? I assume there's a ton of students living around there, and it'd be closer to the med school than say, living in Center City. One of the biggest draws of Jefferson is how convenient it is and how close you can live to campus. It just seemed like when I was at Temple, they recommended u live in either roxborough or center city, and I was wondering why not closer.

I don't know. I guess you could...but I was idly looking through Craig's List on the theory that I should be familar with housing options for each school, and there are a lot of houses listed in those areas. Houses! With yards! and washer/dryers! several of them even let you have dogs (not that I have a dog, but if a dog was to suddenly show up one day, I would be ready) and stuff. I just find that really appealing. Ideally, I would like to get 3-4 (or more) people together and rent a house, rather than get an apartment somewhere. I'm all for carpooling and google maps say these places are only 10-15 minutes from campus.

I think it has the potential to be cool. I would have an excuse for learning how to install a wireless router.

 

[Neuronix]

Rumor has it that Temple is going to build over their current parking lot and make students park in a satellite lot and shuttle in (and pay for the privledge of course!). Is this true? If so, when is this going to happen?

 

[kcrd]

The new med school building will be on the site of the lot where most students park, but they have already broken ground for a new parking garage which will provide even more parking. I think the plan is that this garage will be completed before they break ground on the new building, so that no spaces will be lost. And, there is always street parking, which is free and ample (if a little rough).

 

[brucecat]

I don't know. I guess you could...but I was idly looking through Craig's List on the theory that I should be familar with housing options for each school, and there are a lot of houses listed in those areas. Houses! With yards! and washer/dryers! several of them even let you have dogs (not that I have a dog, but if a dog was to suddenly show up one day, I would be ready) and stuff. I just find that really appealing. Ideally, I would like to get 3-4 (or more) people together and rent a house, rather than get an apartment somewhere. I'm all for carpooling and google maps say these places are only 10-15 minutes from campus.

I think it has the potential to be cool. I would have an excuse for learning how to install a wireless router.

If you're looking for a house and don't mind a little commute, definitely check out the NW neighborhoods of the city--Manayunk, Roxborough, East Falls, West Mt Airy, and Chestnut Hill. Besides craigslist, for these communities, check out the classifieds on www.chestnuthilllocal.com . You can find a lot of private owners who rent houses. I live in chestnut hill, and love the fact that I have a basement for storage, and a yard, and I'm a block away from wissahickon park for mountain biking, hiking, and taking the dog for walks. Plus I'm a block away from everything I need without the congestion of downtown--banks, restaurants, bakeries, bookstores, coffee shops, etc.

 

[coincidental]

If you're looking for a house and don't mind a little commute, definitely check out the NW neighborhoods of the city--Manayunk, Roxborough, East Falls, West Mt Airy, and Chestnut Hill. Besides craigslist, for these communities, check out the classifieds on www.chestnuthilllocal.com . You can find a lot of private owners who rent houses. I live in chestnut hill, and love the fact that I have a basement for storage, and a yard, and I'm a block away from wissahickon park for mountain biking, hiking, and taking the dog for walks. Plus I'm a block away from everything I need without the congestion of downtown--banks, restaurants, bakeries, bookstores, coffee shops, etc.

That sounds very nice. One of my worries about living in Philly is the running space...I'm seriously considering the Philly marathon in Nov. Running in the city might be nice occassionally, but that park sounds even better.

I am a bit frustrated at Temple's financial aid process though. I can't figure out what is going on...I got my Stafford Loans, but I have 13k in unmet need. The note on the bottom says more info is coming, but when? And don't we get a budget breakdown? I've found these budgets are wildly inaccurate for me...I spend maybe $30 on food a week, I do not need 3k/year for this.

Does anyone know how long it has taken them in the past to get full budgets out to people?