How essential is a Car in med school?

[LIM]

Hey everyone..Just wondering if some of the current med students could provide an insight into how essential is having a car when starting med school?..I dont have a car right now and have been using the transit throughout my undergrad..Will I be lagging behind on get-together events just because transit may not be accessible at a certain hour in my area ,..or are carpools amongst meds common? I know that 1st year probably is just like undergrad...fixed hours for stuff...but later on during on-call shifts, a car may be essential..So do you think I could delay buyin one until like 2nd or 3rd year or should I buy a cheap one now? With tuition and other costs,,the only thing that stops me from buying one is insurance and gas costs...any ideas please??

[someguy]

Needs vary depending on living arrangements. If you live within walking distance to school, no big deal. Buses are a pain, but doable in pre-clerkship. I wouldn't want to do clerkship without a car, though. You could be in any of the four hospitals in Calgary depending on the rotation, and I wouldn't want to deal with the added stress of that on top of the workload. Car pools and C-train take care of all the get-together needs.

 

I live within walking distance, and the only time I really need to use my car right now is for grocery shopping.

[LIM]

Needs vary depending on living arrangements. If you live within walking distance to school, no big deal. Buses are a pain, but doable in pre-clerkship. I wouldn't want to do clerkship without a car, though. You could be in any of the four hospitals in Calgary depending on the rotation, and I wouldn't want to deal with the added stress of that on top of the workload. Car pools and C-train take care of all the get-together needs.

 

I live within walking distance, and the only time I really need to use my car right now is for grocery shopping.

 

Thanks someguy! Much Appreciated!

[ihatechem]

do u know how we can arrange to get parking at the health sciences centre? i don't want to have to park at alberta childrens and then take the shuttle

[Shadowplay]

I don't know if this is the same during the school year, but I work at foothills during the summer, and was given an option - $32.00 a month to shuttle in, or $92.00 to park on site.

 

Depends what is affordable to you. The shuttle really isn't that bad, though I imagine its likely worse in winter.

[mandolin]

Does anyone know if the Children's shuttle is available to students during the school year?

[mandolin]

What's the walk like from McMahon? I'm a cold weather wuss so I'd rather have car to hospital service.

[Icebox]

It's a ~10 minute walk and while prices may have gone up slightly, it used to be around $70 per semester and is always free during the summer.

[TeaHatingBrit]

It's a ~10 minute walk and while prices may have gone up slightly, it used to be around $70 per semester and is always free during the summer.

 

They've started charging for the summer too now. I think it's around $25/month.

[krgregg]

do u know how we can arrange to get parking at the health sciences centre? i don't want to have to park at alberta childrens and then take the shuttle

 

get your name on a waiting list for parking and hope that it works.

 

or eat the $10/day cost. or park on the streets and hope you don't get a ticket.

 

not a lot of options for parking on-site

[TeaHatingBrit]

get your name on a waiting list for parking and hope that it works.

 

or eat the $10/day cost. or park on the streets and hope you don't get a ticket.

 

not a lot of options for parking on-site

 

Foothills stadium shopping plaza, (where the Keg/Wendy's is) across the street has all day parking for $5.00 now.

[krgregg]

Foothills stadium shopping plaza, (where the Keg/Wendy's is) across the street has all day parking for $5.00 now.

 

that's reasonable - who do you pay? i think it's $120/month for the official on-site parking pass

[TeaHatingBrit]

that's reasonable - who do you pay? i think it's $120/month for the official on-site parking pass

 

It's at a machine - I think there are 4 posted in the corners of the parking lot.

 

Mind you; it is free if you are under 2 hours (you get a free 2 hour ticket; but I don't know what stops you from changing that ticket every 2 hours, if you were inclined ... ).

 

Also tickets are from inpark; so they have no authority to make you pay ...

 

$120 a month is steep. You could become a hospital volunteer and get a free one .. hah.

[cas1234]

Just a question. I realize that in year 1 students get exposure to working in a hospital with patients but would we have to go to different hospitals in the city for this? If so, then having a car would make things a lot easier. Or is it that in the pre-clerkship years we only have to go to Foothills hospital?

 

Thanks

[someguy]

which hospital you're at will depend on what specialty you're doing and what preceptor you're assigned. We usually carpool over to whatever hospital anyway, so it's only a problem if nobody in your core group has a vehicle.