Anyone commute to school?

sddlnscp · Mar 29, 2006

Well, if it makes you feel any better, the campus that I will be attending is 50 miles away from my home and 70 miles away from work (which is where I will be traveling from more often than not). The areas where I will do clinicals will range anywhere from 50 - 150 (maybe even more, depending) miles away. I am going to stay where I am though, I love it and I have a decent job. If you really have your heart set on staying at home, then the 30 miles won't be bad at all - plus the driving time is always good de-stress time at the end of the day.

Best of luck to you!!!

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2006

I drive 31 miles one way to my current job, every day - that's 62 miles a day, 310 a week, and about a tank of gas a week in a V6 Accord (I also go to class two nights a week, which adds a few miles on to the total). I lose gas mileage because the first ten minutes is stop-start on a main street before I get to the interstate. I live in Durham, NC and work in Cary, which is near Raleigh.

I used to drive 14 miles ONE WAY to HIGH SCHOOL!

30 miles isn't really a commute, IMO. My DH works in the Middle East and comes home every five to six weeks for two weeks. Now THAT'S a commute. :)

RNin2007 · Mar 29, 2006

Before I got my acceptance letter (actually, the month before I even applied...) we sold our house and moved closer to where I had applied for school. I have two kids, and did not want to spend 2 hours a day away from them (that would have been commute time). Since we bought our house 3 blocks away from my daughters best friend, it was a good decision. It put my fiance's commute to work about the same distance as mine to school and everyone was happy. I know that is not something everyone can do, but I am soooo glad we did it. I now only have a less than 30mi/round trip drive to school and a 5 mile drive to clinicals.

If I didn't have kids, I doubt I would have moved...that is what really made my decision. Not to mention, we had only lived in the area for a few years and have no family here...I didn't like the idea of being so far away, in the event of an emergency or if a kid needed to come home from school sick.

There were several students about your age in my program with boyfriends/pets, were commuting at first (little further than you) but eventually decided to rent a cheap apartment in town (roomates) during the week, and go home to boyfriend/pets on the weekend. However, I still think your commute is very reasonable provided you don't have a gas hog! I'd stay put if I were you.

Best of luck to ya...

~J

ShockerGirl · Mar 30, 2006

Is your commute about 30 min? I had to drive 45 min. both ways for a year, and gas was a pain in the butt because i have a camaro which can be a gas guzzler! My drive was 36 miles and it took me about 45 min. to drive. I've seen that some of the people on here who do commute will tape their lecture and listen to it on the way home. If the drive is only 30-45 min, i'd stay at home! Good luck

Golden_Clover · Mar 30, 2006

I have the exact same situation. My school is around 30 mins both ways. This is the first semester I have done it and it isn't too bad. I take a back way so it is scenic and nice. It will be a little bit of a pain for those early clinicals but I can't afford moving, that is just another stressor I don't need! Also I have a little dodge neon which I got before starting this school and it was the best investment! Saves a ton on gas!!! Good luck-- just either get some good music or a tape recorder and listen to your notes on the drive.

smilin_gp · Mar 30, 2006

I live about an hour away from school and work, more in traffic. It really has been worth the commute though, I like being able to live in a nicer area than what we could afford closer to the city.

DarlinNurseRed · Mar 30, 2006

I drive an hour to school, an hour back home everyday.

I kinda enjoy the private time, and I de-stress by listening to music.

I lived in the dorms the first time I went to school, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought,,,all the other students were liberal arts, and I was in Nursing (which is a whole different world-almost a sorority to itself)

The nursing students always felt a lil outta the loop cause we would get up so early for clinicals and such. The gas is expensive, but the time to myself probably saves me money on antidepressants or anxiety drugs by letting me chill out a little instead.

EmilyCCRN · Mar 30, 2006

I drive almost 40 miles each way to school, and my clinicals have been anywhere from 15 to 40 miles from my house. It's less than an hour each way, and while it is slightly annoying to have to drive that far, I keep telling myself that it's only for two years (and only three months to go--yay!). Any amount of driving is worth it for me to become an RN! :nurse:

Bala Shark · Mar 30, 2006

I am 3 miles away from my school and 1 mile away to clincals..

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 30, 2006

I used to have a 45 min drive, but after the first semester I got a roommate because it was driving me MAD!

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2006

Although I only live about 17 miles from school, it takes me almost a half-hour each way because of traffic. Right now some of my classmates commute an hour each way, and for grad school I'm looking at a 3 hour round trip! Thank goodness I will only have to go to campus one day a week :) It took me a while to get used to the driving, but now I don't mind and some days it's even kind of nice to have the quiet time.