How far as too far to drive to college? how far would you drive ?

TexasPoodleMix · Aug 11, 2004

I want to go to this college so bad and I can't move there because I have a family so moving is not an option for me.I use mapquest to map directions to a college.The drive is 74.82 miles and an hour twenty nine minutes to the college so I will be on the road three hours everyday. I thought it is a waste of my time if I go college and I'm too tired to study when I get home. The only solution I can find is having all my classes on two days. What do ya'll think? I appreciate your time and advice.

I know your concerns. I would drive about an hour probably one way. There are alot of factors I would consider. Maybe you can find a short cut? Or car pool (that always makes it go faster)

Sheri257 · Aug 11, 2004

For me it's not just distance, but traffic conditions and what time you're driving. The drive to one school I considered wasn't too bad, about a half hour, but it involved an interstate where's there's been too many accidents and delays. I don't need that stress on top of school, so I decided to stay closer.

:coollook:

James12345 · Aug 11, 2004

If its truly the school that you want to go to, then no distance is too far. Yeah and like you stated previously, 2 days of classes is not too bad. I used to drive 45min to school 4 times a week and would do it again in a heartbeat if I had to. Now, luckily for me, my nursing school is just 20 min away...

As someone else said, time of day would be a great influence on my decision also. Maybe you can just leave super early in the morning and study some before your class starts (library). Thats what I would do. Make an early commute and study/review in the library before my classes begin.

Best of luck!

James

Todd SPN · Aug 11, 2004

That is a lot of study time out of your day. If there is public transportation available it would allow you time to study to and from school.

Sheri257 · Aug 11, 2004

That is a lot of study time out of your day. If there is public transportation available it would allow you time to study to and from school.

Some people I know tape lectures and listen to them while they're driving to and from school. But I don't know if that works well or not.

:coollook:

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2004

Keep in mind that if the school itself is an hour and a half away, your clinical sites may be even further away in the opposite direction. e. g. Our school tries to keep clinical sites within an hour radius of the school. My last clinical was about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes away. Keep in mind I only live 20-30 min. from school. It was about an hour in the opposite diredtion. Possible scenario with your clinical being TWO and a half hours from home. Do you really want to be leaving at 3:30 am to get to a site by six? (Plus have clinical all day and drive 2 and a half hours home.) Worse yet, have only half day of clinical (I'm not sure how your program divides clinical time.) and have to drive five hours round trip for 4-5 hours of clinical time. Also, you may have to take imclement weather into account and spend even longer in the car. I don't know.

abundantjoy07, RN · Aug 11, 2004

in all honesty that is way too long of a drive. even if you don't think so in a week you will in a month. waking up late, bad weather, traffic, car troubles, and emergencies are things that can make that nearly 2 hour trip even longer. if you are doing pre requisites, think of your schedule and how long of a break you will have to wait in between classes. also consider the late nights you might be spending in school. in whatever you decide best of luck to you!

manna, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2004

Like others, I'll agree that it depends on the conditions (roads, times, etc) as well as you. I will say, though, that I drive to a school that is around 65 miles from my home. I make that trip five days a week, some clinicals are more than 120 miles from my home. I also have two little kids to get home to (6 and 2), so that makes time management an even more critical issue for me.

Is there anyway you could move closer to your choice school?

Good luck, whatever you decide. :)

kittylvr · Aug 11, 2004

I will be attending a college that is about 45 miles from my house and will have to travel the interstate to get there. I think it will be worth it because I will be going to a school that I want to attend and that has one of the best nursing programs in the state. I will be doing the LPN to RN bridge so my program is only 12 months. I did all my pre-reqs at my local community college so that I only have the nursing portion to drive to. Good luck with your decision!

KaroSnowQueen, RN · Aug 11, 2004

I drove an hour one way to my school. However, I live that far the nearest major urban area, and drive that far now, to work. I would call the school and see where they do clinicals, if it is in major city, and the clinicals are in the same vicinity, I'd say go for it, especially if you can get your classes on two days a week. Once you get used to the drive, it's not a big deal.

rollingstone · Aug 11, 2004

I knew a lady in college who drove a long way to get to classes and clinicals. One day she told us she was so tired she fell asleep in the bathtub reading one of her textbooks which became quite waterlogged in the process. Even after college she drove quite a distance to work. People do all sorts of things to get through school.