Who could live without a car?

[medica2006]

I have a little dillemma here. I got accepted to MCW and they do not include a car in your living expenses. Try and tell me who could live without a car. My problem is the car I have now is 10 yrs and is about to die. I need a new car now, but I am afraid to buy one because they won't allow it in my budget. Medical school is stressful enough, I don't want to have to worry about money. MCW says that it is illegal to include car payments or credit card payments in their budgets, but I know a lot of other schools that do. Is anyone else have similar problems? Sorry i am poor and have been working 25-30 hrs a week since I was 16. The lady for financial aid even had the nerve to ask me if I had a rich relative. Any suggestions of comments would be greatly appreciated.

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[THE instiGATOR]

Don't you have the liberty to take out a little extra? I thought the budgets of these schools were only guidelines.

Answer to your Q...No! I couldn't survive without my car. All these punks in administration at my university keep claiming to want to go to a car-free campus.... <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> That would never happen. And then the employees (not students) that I work with always moan and complain. They say that students shouldn't be allowed to own cars. I'm like...EXCUSE ME! I didn't pay the money I did for a new car for nothing. I'm going to use it!

Sorry, parking and cars are sore subjects for me. On my campus, you can never find a decent spot to park. Aaaahhhhh...can't wait to attend South Alabama. When I interviewed, there was a sea of empty parking spots.

<img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

Perhaps you don't understand. I guess you have to deal with leaving an hour+ early EVERY DAY just to find a spot.

 

[moo]

I don't think I could survive without a car at MCW. The public transportation system in Milwaukee is horrible... they don't even have a subway! My best advice to you is to try to get a not too old used car. If I choose to matriculate there, I'll definitely be bringing my four year old acura integra.

 

[Trek]

Yes, i could not live without destroying our environment :wink: j/k...although ANYONE could live without a car. That's why you have legs. Or can get a bike. The milwaukee weather isn't that bad for biking either. --Trek

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

Being in Milwaukee and at MCW, I might be able to give some insight. In my opinion, not having a car here sucks. I didn't have one for the first 3 months and it was terrible, nothing is close and the buses are not great. However, there is one guy in our class who has managed to go all four years without a car, so its possible. Especially in winter, he would have a very hard time with things. We rotate all over the city in the final two years. Imagine biking 5 miles at 4 am on your way to your surgery rotation in January when the temp is -5 degrees!

Now the other side of the coin. Although MCW does not give money for car payments (this is not allowed for federal loan programs), I have a couple of friends that have been able to buy cars during their time in school. What you need to do is spend less on some of the other stuff. Don't buy every book (which is true even if you could afford theM), use the library for most of them. Have a roomate. You could live in a decent place for $250 a month in Milwaukee if you have a roommate. They give you $500 / month I think for rent.

So think about getting a decent used car for your time here. In my opinion, it will be worth it.

 

[Spidey]

Speaking of cars, I was in Toronto a while ago and saw one of the new Lexus SC 430s... MMMmmmm so sweet. I'm kind of a car fanatic, and I love the look of this thing, ahh but I could never own one, it doesn't come in manual, only automatic.

<a href="http://www.lexus.com/showroom/model/sc_2.html" target="_blank">http://www.lexus.com/showroom/model/sc_2.html</a>

 

[chef]

This will be my car when I start medical school (and I'll pay w/ my own money!!)

<img src="http://g3.roadfly.com/gallery/photos/photos-06-2001/2537.jpg" alt="" />

yeah baby yeah! (MINI=Austin Powers' new ride)

 

[pwrpfgrl]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by chef:
•This will be my car when I start medical school (and I'll pay w/ my own money!!)

yeah baby yeah! (MINI=Austin Powers' new ride)•••••The mini is awesome!! you should get the one with the racing stripes!

I think living without a car is tough. Skimping money on other things is definitely a good idea. Another thing you could try is to work your butt off for the next few months and try to put down &gt;50% on a newer used car - then your payments would be much smaller once you get to med school (that's what I'm trying to do right now, but I won't be going until 2003 - if I get in, so I'm in a different boat).
Good Luck!

 

[KelliJelliBeans]

I don't have a car, but I live in Manhattan, N.Y
So I guess that explains why!

 

[PunkRockDoc]

I'm actually looking forward to getting rid of my car. I'm sick of driving. But I'm moving to downtown Philly, so I can just use public transportation or walk or something. Plus, if I have to drive anywhere, I'll just make my fiance take me

 

[EMDrMoe]

My husband and I were contemplating getting rid of one car when we get to school this fall. However, in the 3rd and 4th years, when we're rotating all over the place, we'd need 2 cars and then would REALLY have no money to get it. MCO allows a larger budget for auto "expenses" that will almost cover our current payments (they'll be gone in 3 years, then these cars will be driven until they die!). I know that especially as a "non-traditional" student who's worked for a while, I would not be without a car.

 

[bald]

it just depends on where you go to school. if you're on an urban campus with great public trans. you acn probably get by w/o a car. if you're not, you'll probably need one (grocery shopping? gotta eat). But I havent had a car for the last 4 years of undergrad, and i know plenty of people on more rural campuses (iowa, isu, notre dame) who have gone w/o cars for 4 years. it can be done, might just be a little more work.

i only reply because sometimes people get a little worked up like "omg how will i live w/o a car" or "omg what am i going to do w/o a cell phone." like a previous poster said, ANYONE can make do w/o these things

bald

 

[otter]

At Tufts, I was told on the interview day that you DO need cars for 3rd and 4th years. Same thing at Finch, accoring to my friend who's there right now.

Anyone heard of Flexicar program? I'm not sure if they have it outside of Seattle. But basically, it's a program where they have cars parked all over town that you go and use whenever you need to, drop it off at your destination, and then only pay for the amount of time you use it (whether it's 1 hour or 2 days). It's not cheap, but still a pretty good alternative to having your own car.

I really feel for those of you without cars. I hear arguments all the time that you don't truly need cars if you're willing to make some sacrifices and if you plan things right. But this doesn't always work in reality. In undergrad, it's different. I didn't have a car all through undergrad and never needed one. But med school's different, with all the preceptorships and residencies all over the place. Even if you do have a car, cars are such a huge cost. My 1993 Honda is as reliable as can be and I drive only ~5000 miles a year on it. But I still spend about $4000/year on it, including gas, maintenance and insurance. And, like the OP said, I don't think this is included in the published budgets.

 

[snowballz]

I don't have a car. I am happy without one quite honestly. I have no insurance premiums or monthly payments. I can spend more on things I want.

However, I live in downtown Indianapolis where everything is within a mile walk or so. If I need something, I just walk. All you need is a good scowl and some mace...and the gumption to walk.

Alicia