1hr 15min minute commute to law school: What would you do? Forum

nitr0x99 · Post by **nitr0x99** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:34 am

Heres my situation. I live in a suburb outside of Chicago. I plan on attending DePaul or Chicago Kent. If I were to live at home during law school and commute this is what I would be dealing with

20 minute drive to the train station
1 hour and 15 minutes on the train (assuming no delays)
5-15 minute walk from train station to law school

Has anyone had an experience like this? I know it would be the responsible thing to do so I can save some money but damn its so depressing. Thats about 4 hours out of my day spent commuting total.

What do you guys think?

James Bond · Post by **James Bond** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:39 am

Honestly I couldn't do it. I'm sure I'd find myself skipping classes to sleep in. However, perhaps you could study on the train?

Pearalegal · Post by **Pearalegal** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:40 am

That is sounds like a normal DC area commute and I might be biased. If the pros outweigh the cons (and the social life hit means not a whole lot), I say it'd be fine.

najumobi · Post by **najumobi** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:40 am

nitr0x99 wrote:Heres my situation. I live in a suburb outside of Chicago. I plan on attending DePaul or Chicago Kent. If I were to live at home during law school and commute this is what I would be dealing with

20 minute drive to the train station
1 hour and 15 minutes on the train (assuming no delays)
5-15 minute walk from train station to law school

Has anyone had an experience like this? I know it would be the responsible thing to do so I can save some money but damn its so depressing. Thats about 4 hours out of my day spent commuting total.

What do you guys think?

i have never experienced this, but i think the money that would be saved by you commuting would be worth this type of commute. the bulk of the commute is time spent sitting on the train. i remember reading other people talk about commuting on train being okay since it would still give you the opportunity to read/get some work done.

Black-Blue · Post by **Black-Blue** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:40 am

If the train is too jerky to read comfortably, you can make an audio recording of your outline and just listen to that over and over on the train.

dreman510 · Post by **dreman510** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:42 am

Do it everyday in NYC...its fine-I read or sleep on the train

4910 · Post by **4910** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:45 am

sounds pretty bad, when would you study and do other activities if you spent 4 hours everyday commuting?

nitr0x99 · Post by **nitr0x99** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:47 am

I appreciate the replies. I don't know if this forum supports multi-quoting, so I'll just try to address a few issues

1.) Its hard for me to read on the train, I get nauseous. Maybe I can force myself to get used to it, I don't know.

2.) I understand that I have to buckle down and focus in law school, but social life is important to me. I lost touch with lots of my friends from high school so I don't really have any friends in my home town. I have way more friends downtown and it would be easier to meet and network with people if I live downtown

3.) I'm surprised so many people have said that this is an average commute. I actually went to an undergrad that was 80% commuters, but most of them were within 45 minutes or so. As soon as I told anyone where my suburb is, they all say "forget commuting, thats way too far"

Anyways, I don't want to sound like I already have my mind made up. I appreciate all the help and input

summerstar · Post by **summerstar** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:56 am

Hi Sweetie, I think that your motivation to go to law school will carry you through the commuting...and it's especially tough in the Chicago winters. Why don't you give it a shot and see how it works out before you get too discouraged? I'm facing a similar issue with a 1 1/2 - 2 hr. commute into Boston ( and back at 10:00 at night) for LS and I'm wondering if I can do it,too, whether I use the T part of the way or not. Forget about studying on the the train, business men you see reading the paper are half asleep { I commuted from the North Shore years ago}...forget casebook reading).

Really, apart from wasting precious time, which is at a premium in LS, the biggest drawback is just the fatigue of it. But, once you get under way, maybe it won't be so bad...and if it becomes an issue, either move into the city (thanks Mom and Dad!!!) or maybe by the following semester you'll consider transfering for unrelated reasons. Hope it all works out!

Renzo · Post by **Renzo** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:07 am

Re: 1hr 15min minute commute to law school: What would you do?

Move.

macattaq · Post by **macattaq** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:11 am

Renzo wrote:
Re: 1hr 15min minute commute to law school: What would you do?
Move.

This.

09042014 · Post by **09042014** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:15 am

nitr0x99 wrote:Heres my situation. I live in a suburb outside of Chicago. I plan on attending DePaul or Chicago Kent. If I were to live at home during law school and commute this is what I would be dealing with

20 minute drive to the train station
1 hour and 15 minutes on the train (assuming no delays)
5-15 minute walk from train station to law school

Has anyone had an experience like this? I know it would be the responsible thing to do so I can save some money but damn its so depressing. Thats about 4 hours out of my day spent commuting total.

What do you guys think?

Fuck, I'm not even commuting from Roger Park to NU next year. I can't imagine doing this.

Also what gods forsaken suburb is 20 minutes away from a metra line and still is a 1:15 away from downtown?

Vincent Vega · Post by **Vincent Vega** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:24 am

Harvard, Elgin, maybe NW Indiana?

nitr0x99 · Post by **nitr0x99** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:26 am

Desert Fox wrote:
nitr0x99 wrote:Heres my situation. I live in a suburb outside of Chicago. I plan on attending DePaul or Chicago Kent. If I were to live at home during law school and commute this is what I would be dealing with

20 minute drive to the train station
1 hour and 15 minutes on the train (assuming no delays)
5-15 minute walk from train station to law school

Has anyone had an experience like this? I know it would be the responsible thing to do so I can save some money but damn its so depressing. Thats about 4 hours out of my day spent commuting total.

What do you guys think?
Fuck, I'm not even commuting from Roger Park to NU next year. I can't imagine doing this.

Also what gods forsaken suburb is 20 minutes away from a metra line and still is a 1:15 away from downtown?

Gurnee

Vincent Vega · Post by **Vincent Vega** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:27 am

Ah. Well at least you have Six Flags.

Vincent Vega · Post by **Vincent Vega** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:29 am

Housing in the city isn't cheap, but at least for me it would be worth it to shell out the $12K more per year to preserve my sanity. hth

09042014 · Post by **09042014** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:31 am

nitr0x99 wrote:
Desert Fox wrote:
nitr0x99 wrote:Heres my situation. I live in a suburb outside of Chicago. I plan on attending DePaul or Chicago Kent. If I were to live at home during law school and commute this is what I would be dealing with

20 minute drive to the train station
1 hour and 15 minutes on the train (assuming no delays)
5-15 minute walk from train station to law school

Has anyone had an experience like this? I know it would be the responsible thing to do so I can save some money but damn its so depressing. Thats about 4 hours out of my day spent commuting total.

What do you guys think?
Fuck, I'm not even commuting from Roger Park to NU next year. I can't imagine doing this.

Also what gods forsaken suburb is 20 minutes away from a metra line and still is a 1:15 away from downtown?

Gurnee

Do these schools have parking? Because I94 is the most clear tollway in Chicago. You'll cut 30 minutes each way driving.

nitr0x99 · Post by **nitr0x99** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:21 am

Desert Fox wrote:
nitr0x99 wrote:
Desert Fox wrote:
nitr0x99 wrote:Heres my situation. I live in a suburb outside of Chicago. I plan on attending DePaul or Chicago Kent. If I were to live at home during law school and commute this is what I would be dealing with

20 minute drive to the train station
1 hour and 15 minutes on the train (assuming no delays)
5-15 minute walk from train station to law school

Has anyone had an experience like this? I know it would be the responsible thing to do so I can save some money but damn its so depressing. Thats about 4 hours out of my day spent commuting total.

What do you guys think?
Fuck, I'm not even commuting from Roger Park to NU next year. I can't imagine doing this.

Also what gods forsaken suburb is 20 minutes away from a metra line and still is a 1:15 away from downtown?

Gurnee
Do these schools have parking? Because I94 is the most clear tollway in Chicago. You'll cut 30 minutes each way driving.

It takes my mom about 30 minutes just to get from Gurnee to Vernon Hills with rush hour in morning. Thats less than a quarter of the way to downtown. Things may have improved with the construction being complete on 94 but I don't know.

And lol @ atleast we have six flags. It was cool having a place that would hire me when I was a 16 year old punk with no experience. As a 22 year old, six flags = not so cool.

Kohinoor · Post by **Kohinoor** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:26 am

Get up off my feet and stop making tired excuses.

MTal · Post by **MTal** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:30 am

If you're at a school where grades matter, then it doesn't matter what you decide.

Danteshek · Post by **Danteshek** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:47 am

If you don't set up your life to help you succeed, your grades will suffer. How much are good grades worth to you? Probably more than the few thousand you'll save on rent.

Bruin2009 · Post by **Bruin2009** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:52 am

i have done the four hour commuting each day for undergrad... DO NOT DO IT! u will miss classes and finals (at least parts of your finals)

fl0w · Post by **fl0w** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:12 am

my opinion is that doin this would be

stupid.

get an apartment in the city. it's not THAT much money to pay rent.

Vincent Vega · Post by **Vincent Vega** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:14 am

MTal wrote:If you're at a school where grades matter, then it doesn't matter what you decide.

Grades matter at every school, even HYS, and even if it's not an A-B-C system.

Why do you continue to post on TLS if you are not a law student and have no desire to pursue a career in law?

mac.empress · Post by **mac.empress** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:18 am

Kohinoor wrote:Get up off my feet and stop making tired excuses.

Cuz girl I know if my mother could do it, baby you can do it.

Seriously though, my commute is about as long. It mentally and physically draining to have to travel so far so often. But it is doable. See if moving closer to school is an option though.