r/prephysicianassistant • u/kukolka214 • 3d ago
Misc commute or rent?
my program is 35 min drive from my house that I stay at for free with family but with traffic can be 45 min drive and especially winter time with snow could be even longer… is free housing worth this commute every day ? (they expect us to be on campus 8-5 M-Th)
other option is renting an apartment ($1,500+) (I can’t do roommates sry) AND buying all the first apartment things which is another huge expense😭
idk what to do cause the loans for rent seems so much and so scary but the convenience and living alone would be so nice 😬
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u/orangechicken318 3d ago
Pros and cons to both. My initial instinct is to tell you to save as much as possible. But on the other hand, I moved away from my family for PA school only because I was going to a program out of state. Looking back, I don’t think I would have been as motivated to study as much as I did and would have had more distractions if I lived at home. Depends on your family dynamic
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u/DocBanner21 3d ago
Use the commute to listen to lectures and review.
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u/Then-Opening-2519 3d ago
I commuted 50 minutes for 1 semester during my post-bac. I absolutely hated it. I always said I would listen to lectures while driving but I never did
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u/Known-Negotiation482 3d ago
Yikes, same thing in my undergrade. Thinking about the long drive and thr waking up early is more stressful than the classes themselves
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u/sclark2468 3d ago
i commuted to a school 1 hr no traffic (5am) and 2hrs with traffic. 2 years of didactic. does it suck? absolutely. but in my eyes was still worth not paying rent and burying myself in more debt. it’s not forever, you can do it. just my .02
if someone else is paying the rent, that changes my opinion though
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u/subpar-life-attempt 3d ago
Being honest here.
A 45 minute one way commute is average for a lot of people in the US.
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u/IwasBornonthewater 3d ago
To add to the Pros & Cons-
Some schools have college-owned and/or privately owned homes right next to the campus that cater to PA students in the didactic year. The big benefit is you can split expenses with 3 or 4 PA roommates, and you have a built-in study group and support system of cohorts who help each other navigate the ups and downs of PA school. Living so close to your program lets you access things like the cadaver lab and large whiteboard study rooms outside of class time.
Living at home, yes, you can save some money; however, you will quickly learn that in PA school, time is a precious commodity. Also, family members and others not in PA school will have a hard time relating to how much time you'll need to study and the stress you will go through.
Good luck to you.
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u/Final-Resort-1480 3d ago
I commute 30 min from my apartment right now to pa school, with traffic it can be 40-45 min but it’s rare since we’re a hybrid program. I think it’s pretty manageable and not bad at all and would be cheaper and smarter option but ultimately it’s up to you and what you think works best for you as a student
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u/Iron_Rose_5 3d ago
Go with the family. I was in that exact same situation in my undergrad years. You will end up saving more money by the time you graduate. Gas is expensive but not as nearly as much as renting.
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u/Big_Dog_2755 3d ago
I would rent. My home life with my parents is too chaotic and they would have a hard time understanding that I have to study. Good luck!
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u/GodsEye18x 3d ago
I am going to be in a very similar situation, and I’m commuting 100%.
I plan to just get up early in the morning to avoid morning traffic and study before and after class to spend as little time actually driving as possible. It will suck having to drive about an hour, minimum, every day I have to go on campus, but I think living with family outweighs that, especially if you communicate with them how stressful/busy your next year will be.
Keep in mind that while living alone is nice, but it also makes you focus on several things. First is obviously rent, but there’s the fact you have to take care of all of your tasks yourself: cooking, cleaning, laundry, if there’s a leak in the apartment it’s up to you to get that situated, still being completely responsible for these things if you get sick, etc.
I do understand wanting your own space, believe me. I loved my time living in my own apartment during undergrad, but PA school is going to demand a lot more than that.
Also, you will likely also make friends who live closer to be able to have nearby study spaces (if you don’t wanna study on campus), spots to crash for a bit, or just to wind down after class.
So, again, I’d stick with the commute.
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u/OldIceWitch 2d ago
To be honest, I chuckled while reading this. I've always lived 30 min from just about everything. That's typical where I'm from and I don't even consider that a "long commute," it is just normal.
I guess for some people, depending on their living situation, that seems like a lot, but it doesn't even register for me.
1000% I would live at home for free with people who love you and care about your success.
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u/thrwawymed1 3d ago
commute. not only is it cheaper but you can rely on your parents for groceries, meals, and other miscellaneous things. living alone is not just about the money and commute time but also the mental load of 100% taking care of yourself. obviously as adults we are doing that, but having parents as a crutch makes a big difference during pa school
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u/lau_poel 3d ago
As long as you can study the way you need to by living with family I would stay at home! The cost savings is huge but also if they’re helping you out with groceries and meals and then the added social benefit of having your family support, I could see it being pretty nice during didactic!
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u/Suspicious-Form5360 3d ago
Stay at home!! I go to school in Manhattan and live in queens at home and my commute is 30 min. I have classmates in other boroughs and areas and commute for over an hour
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u/Big-Ranger-2891 3d ago
My commute every day is 1.5hrs each way to my program. It’s tough on me mentally and physically but I would choose it again just to avoid the loans. 45 minutes isn’t terrible.
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u/milkartan 3d ago
I’d commute. Some of my classmates commute over an hour each day to get to class. It’ll also save you some money.
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u/djlauriqua 3d ago
I’d say live with your family, and if needed rent an airbnb closer to campus for bad weather. Honestly you’ll make friends and could probably crash on their couch close to school for bad weather. If traffic is bad, adjust your schedule to get to school early, and use the time to study.
As a PA of 6 years, my biggest advice to any prospective student, is: MINIMIZE YOUR DEBT. I have PA friends with $100k++ of student debt that they essentially treat as a second mortgage.
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u/Samericann 3d ago
Commute 100%. Back when I was in PA school (which was 12 years ago), I commuted about 45 mins each way. I did very well in school and never had any issues. I used my drive time to listen to either a podcast, or just enjoy some quiet time. The amount I saved and home cooked meals was most definitely worth it. I still had a great group of friends and would crash at their apartments on the weekend if we went out after finals or a hectic week.
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u/leeda-g 3d ago
i commute 45-50 min to my school m-f and often end up driving home during rush hour. but my school is also located in a city area and the rent can be upwards of 2k. yes i’m paying with my sanity but i try to go to coffee shops often to give myself space to study. i also listen to a lot of podcasts and make my notes into audios to take up some time
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u/Level_Working5084 2d ago
What kind of loans for rent? Are you talking about taking out the max each year for student loans? The rules changed this past July. Grad PLUS loans are no longer a thing and the cap on federal student loans is $50k annually. Let’s say your tuition and fees are $35k a year, that leaves $15k remaining for 12 months. You would have to pay rent, utilities, food, gas, and other necessities on $1250 a month or less. If an apartment itself is $1500, where’s the rest of the money coming from?
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u/DadTalk_MJE 2d ago
Dad conversation here.........I'd commute, without hesitation. You're looking at $1,500+ a month in rent alone, not including utilities, furniture, groceries, and all the other expenses that come with living on your own. That's easily tens of thousands of dollars over PA school, especially if you're borrowing to cover it. And remember, those loans accumulate interest! A 35 - 45 minute commute isn't ideal, but neither is spending YEARS paying off debt you could have avoided. Winter weather will require some planning, but I'd take the free housing along with home cooked meals and keep that money in my pocket. Your future self will thank you!
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u/prettycoolhehe 2d ago
Tbh the commute let me decompress before going home and locking in again. But I was def jealous of my friends who lived nearby
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u/Dark_Ascension 2d ago
Commute… 35 minutes has been my regular commute since I got a car and turned 18… it gets to be a little much when you get over 45 minutes (although I did that too!)
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u/SaltySpitoonReg 2d ago
The older you will call the younger you a fool for spending all those thousands on avoiding a normal commute.
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u/Then-Opening-2519 3d ago
I would rent. If you do the math driving 40ish minutes is going to be a lot of money already and that’s not including adding mileage to your car or any car repairs. You might as well pay the difference and get a apartment (I would strongly recommend a roommate. Especially if you can find one in your cohort).
I think paying the extra money for an apartment is worth it to be in a better learning environment and for your mental health of not having to be in a car for so long.
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u/Praxician94 3d ago
Your calculus of gas money and car maintenance is nowhere near $36,000 over two years + interest on those loans as long as they exist. This is a silly argument.
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u/subpar-life-attempt 3d ago
40 minutes could be 10 miles in certain areas. At that point renting is a much worse option.
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u/mooseman1052 3d ago
Rent. Live like a student when you’re a student so you don’t have to live like a student when you’re a PA.
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u/Praxician94 3d ago
Commute 100% no question. Live with family for a few years after if possible and annihilate your loans.