Commuting to Case - Is it Really that Crazy? PhD Student (rent, home)

[AngelaMaribona]

Hey Everyone!

I am soon to start a PhD at Case Western. All my advisers and fellow grad students see it as absolutely essential that I live within 10-15 minutes. However, I'm used to commuting 45 minutes each way to my undergrad university, driving 30-40 minutes to work, etc, so I'm a little baffled by this.

No one can really give me a compelling reason why I should live close, besides bonding with fellow students, social life, and so on. However, I'm a little older and have a family, so I'm not too concerned about the graduate "experience." I'd rather live 30-40 minutes out where the rent is cheaper and I like the area more, but every grad student I've talked to thinks this is insane.

I want to make a wise decision and give myself the best chance of success in this program. However, I must also balance financial and familial concerns. Any input from past or present grad students would be immensely appreciated.

Thanks!

[Cleveland_Collector]

Unless its curriculum which requires frequent use of campus facilities, I see no compelling reason either. I was a little older when I got my grad degree also. I used to drive 40 minutes to the campus from work and I did have to use the lab facilities quite a bit. It was totally doable.

[216facts]

No compelling reason to live close to CASE. In fact, if you have family and younger children, there's more reason to live further out from the city - but not a necessity. Most families want a suburban lifestyle with safe schools. Live where you want and drive to work/school.

[Regajohn]

Other than the fact that, depending on which direction you live, during a snow storm your 30-40 minute commute might turn into a 1-2 hour commute ... or it might turn into not going at all that day.

[Stonepa]

Originally Posted by AngelaMaribona

Hey Everyone!

I am soon to start a PhD at Case Western. All my advisers and fellow grad students see it as absolutely essential that I live within 10-15 minutes. However, I'm used to commuting 45 minutes each way to my undergrad university, driving 30-40 minutes to work, etc, so I'm a little baffled by this.

No one can really give me a compelling reason why I should live close, besides bonding with fellow students, social life, and so on. However, I'm a little older and have a family, so I'm not too concerned about the graduate "experience." I'd rather live 30-40 minutes out where the rent is cheaper and I like the area more, but every grad student I've talked to thinks this is insane.

I want to make a wise decision and give myself the best chance of success in this program. However, I must also balance financial and familial concerns. Any input from past or present grad students would be immensely appreciated.

Thanks!

Which PhD program? I know when I got my first physics PhD I spent all my time working, studying, or on my research. A 45 minute commute would have been a great diversion.

[kpl1228]

Originally Posted by AngelaMaribona

Hey Everyone!

I am soon to start a PhD at Case Western. All my advisers and fellow grad students see it as absolutely essential that I live within 10-15 minutes. However, I'm used to commuting 45 minutes each way to my undergrad university, driving 30-40 minutes to work, etc, so I'm a little baffled by this.

No one can really give me a compelling reason why I should live close, besides bonding with fellow students, social life, and so on. However, I'm a little older and have a family, so I'm not too concerned about the graduate "experience." I'd rather live 30-40 minutes out where the rent is cheaper and I like the area more, but every grad student I've talked to thinks this is insane.

I want to make a wise decision and give myself the best chance of success in this program. However, I must also balance financial and familial concerns. Any input from past or present grad students would be immensely appreciated.

Thanks!

Are you from the area, or moving from outside of it? If you are not local and entrenched in a long-time home with family responsibilities, then by all means live as close as possible.
The commute can matter. It was a big reason my Ph.D. dream died midstream. Not the only reason certainly, but I would have done much much better if I was 5-10 minutes from campus as opposed to 50 minutes away like I was. I was older and had a family too, like you, hence the reason for me not moving closer. However, the advisors and grad students advising you are onto something for sure. I'm the cautionary tale and I agree with them.
It can be done (longer commute), and I've seen folks pull it off, but just because you can do it doesn't mean it's to be done.