I grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, but was always drawn to the city itself. When I enrolled in Temple Law, I was excited to throw myself entirely into city life. I thought that during my time at Temple Law, it was essential for me to live in the geographic boundaries of Philadelphia. However, I quickly realized that this was not the case. Living in the suburbs as a Temple Law student is actually a very real possibility.
We all know that law school can be expensive, and for me, living in the suburbs was a way to offset some of that expense. Luckily for me, my parents still live in the same suburb where I grew up and were willing to have me move back home after years of living on my own.
As a current third-year law student, I commute to Temple Law every day using Septa’s Regional Rail System. The Regional Rail has trains that run from Philadelphia to the western suburbs, northern suburbs, and even New Jersey. I take the Paoli-Thorndale Line from the western suburbs to the Temple University train station stop most mornings. The train ride itself takes less than thirty minutes. The Temple University train station is about a ten-minute walk from the law school and is located on the back side of the University campus at N. 10th Street & W. Berks Street. The path from the train station to Temple Law is entirely through Temple’s campus, so you can stop and pick up a coffee or a bite to eat on your way to class.
Temple University Train Station. Photo by Alexandra McNulty LAW ’19
On days when I have a practicum in center city or the weather is poor, I opt to get off at Suburban Station instead of the Temple University stop. Suburban Station is located at City Hall and connects to the Broad Street Line subway (BSL). Taking the BSL to Cecil B. Moore station is a great option for days when you want to stay out of the cold or rain because the stop is about a one minute walk to the law school.
Although public transportation comes with its fair share of delays, it also comes with some perks. I love taking the train because I can listen to podcasts or catch up on some last-minute reading for class while commuting. The train also gets me home quicker than the highway would. Driving in and out of the city every day can be stressful, especially because of the traffic that afflicts Philadelphia around rush hour.
Although living in the suburbs isn’t for everyone, it is an option for Temple Law students. If you’re new to Philadelphia, I encourage you to add the suburbs to your list of potential areas to explore!
Suburban Fast Facts – The Best Place For:
- Grocery Shopping: Trader Joe’s in Wynnewood
- Coffee: La Colombe in Bryn Mawr
- Drinks: Tired Hands Brewing in Ardmore
- Dinner: Xolo Tacos in Bryn Mawr
- Dessert: Scoops Ice Cream in Conshohocken
- Studying: Volo Coffeehouse in Manayunk
- Fresh Air: Rolling Hill Park in Gladwyne
Editor’s Note: Since Philadelphia is known as a city of neighborhoods, we asked Temple Law students, faculty, and staff to talk about what they love, hate, and can’t live without in their neighborhood. See every neighborhood covered so far.
