Okay to commute to Boston? Forum

[ashrice13]

Just wondering if anyone commuted during Law School. I'm looking to attend school in Boston but live in a town about 45mins out. My boyfriend is going to take on a larger portion of the bills to help while I'm in school so continuing to live with him is key to keeping my COL/loans down. Unfortunately, his job requires him to live within so many miles of where he works and Boston does not make that requirement. I can move closer but not by much.

Is it crazy to commute? Everything I've read makes it seem like people always live in the City where they go to law school. I'd be taking the train so I would get some reading/studying time on the ride in. I'm thinking it's possible to try it out but not sure if anyone has any experience with this.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I commuted 45 mins - 1 hr to law school. It was fine. I'd certainly have preferred to do other things with that time, but it's definitely doable, especially if you can read on the train.

[ashrice13]

I commuted 45 mins - 1 hr to law school. It was fine. I'd certainly have preferred to do other things with that time, but it's definitely doable, especially if you can read on the train.

Awesome! Thank you. It makes me feel better knowing someone else has commuted and thinks it's doable.

[rion91]

I had a few friends in BU who commuted in from Providence, New Hampshire, and northern Mass.

[ashrice13]

Perfect. Thank you!

[Goldie]

During 1L, I drove an hour each way every day. It does suck to have 10-12hrs a week that you're in a car and not studying, but it worked out just fine for me (I ended up #1 in my class). So I guess if you want to make it work, it's certainly not impossible.

[ashrice13]

It's good to know! I kind of wanted to make sure that I wasn't the only one who thought commuting would be okay! I half expected to put this up and get the typical TLS "are you stupid??" type response. I just can't take on the debt required to live in Boston...especially since the rent to live 30 minutes away drops 50%. If 1L is too hard or something I'll think about it but I feel more confident with commuting now. Thanks!

[UnicornHunter]

It's good to know! I kind of wanted to make sure that I wasn't the only one who thought commuting would be okay! I half expected to put this up and get the typical TLS "are you stupid??" type response. I just can't take on the debt required to live in Boston...especially since the rent to live 30 minutes away drops 50%. If 1L is too hard or something I'll think about it but I feel more confident with commuting now. Thanks!

This is exactly backwards though- because 1L is so important to your future in the law, better to take on the extra debt to be close then and then move further away for 2 and 3L.

I'm sure it's possible to do well with a long commute, but it strikes me as penny wise/pound foolish. Also, 1L is when most law school friendships are made. This is important, as your classmates will go on to be lawyers and can be important contacts for you down the road. If you do decide to do the long commute, make sure you figure out a way to avoid shutting yourself out.

[A. Nony Mouse]

A lot of the community thing depends on how many other people commute. If there are a bunch (which wouldn't surprise me) then it's not going to be a problem feeling connected to your class. If you're the only person in your class who does it might be more difficult.

[ashrice13]

It's good to know! I kind of wanted to make sure that I wasn't the only one who thought commuting would be okay! I half expected to put this up and get the typical TLS "are you stupid??" type response. I just can't take on the debt required to live in Boston...especially since the rent to live 30 minutes away drops 50%. If 1L is too hard or something I'll think about it but I feel more confident with commuting now. Thanks!

This is exactly backwards though- because 1L is so important to your future in the law, better to take on the extra debt to be close then and then move further away for 2 and 3L.

I'm sure it's possible to do well with a long commute, but it strikes me as penny wise/pound foolish. Also, 1L is when most law school friendships are made. This is important, as your classmates will go on to be lawyers and can be important contacts for you down the road. If you do decide to do the long commute, make sure you figure out a way to avoid shutting yourself out.

I definitely plan on moving closer either way. I just wasn't sure if I needed to be right in the city. The more I thought about it too the more I realized that depending on where in the city I live, I could have a similar commute time as if I live OUTSIDE of the city but near the right train line. I have a few places in mind that I can go to that are within my boyfriend's required milage and still right near a commuter line.

I appreciate the comment on no shutting myself out too! I definitely thought about that...the good thing is that the trains run late and I can still stay in the City for most of the day...I wouldn't have to leave until about the time I'd be head home even if I lived in the city anyway.

[ashrice13]

A lot of the community thing depends on how many other people commute. If there are a bunch (which wouldn't surprise me) then it's not going to be a problem feeling connected to your class. If you're the only person in your class who does it might be more difficult.

That's a really good point!! Thank you. Maybe I can find those stats somewhere?? I would tend to think that the commuting rate is somewhat high for Boston with it's extreme COL compared to similarly sized cities. Boston itself is pretty small...most college students live on the outskirts anyway (Brighton, Allston, etc). From there, you can go out one or two more towns and the rent rates drop dramatically...most people I know who went to Boston for undergrad commuted from just outside the city. That might be different for LS though..so definitely something for me to look into

[A. Nony Mouse]

A lot of the community thing depends on how many other people commute. If there are a bunch (which wouldn't surprise me) then it's not going to be a problem feeling connected to your class. If you're the only person in your class who does it might be more difficult.

That's a really good point!! Thank you. Maybe I can find those stats somewhere?? I would tend to think that the commuting rate is somewhat high for Boston with it's extreme COL compared to similarly sized cities. Boston itself is pretty small...most college students live on the outskirts anyway (Brighton, Allston, etc). From there, you can go out one or two more towns and the rent rates drop dramatically...most people I know who went to Boston for undergrad commuted from just outside the city. That might be different for LS though..so definitely something for me to look into

Yeah, I agree it's fairly likely in the Boston area. I don't know of anywhere those stats are collected, but I think if you ask around at your law school, you should be able to get a sense fairly quickly. Ask a 2L or 3L how many people in their class commute.