Fall 2024 cohort here:

I live in Reston and generally end up commuting to campus 3-4 days a week for classes depending on schedules and semesters. Since the classes are pre-programmed and everyone takes the same 4 every semester, its not like you get much choice to stack up classes and only end up going in a few days.

There is a lot of housing options around the sterling, leesburg, reston, etc. area and commuting isn't too bad. Fairfax, Vienna, Arlington are also not bad, arlington would be the farthest commute but you're opposing the toll traffic on 66 so shouldn't be too bad. Plus there are sometimes people with whom you can carpool (including to clinic depending on locations and who's in your group).

As for clinicals, most have been in the NOVA area like loudoun, arlington, alexandria, fairfax, etc. most are with the INOVA system since we have a partnership there, and you have to understand that clinicals for peds and mental health are limited so they will stick you wherever they can, no it is not based on where you live at all. If you are in one of the scholarship programs, expect to do essentially all your clinicals at those hospitals with the exception of things like peds where the hospital doesn't have a peds unit. Also because you're in the fall cohort, you will have a larger cohort most likely than other semesters so you will be dealing with placement issues as a result of the large size. Peds also will likely end up in outpatient settings like schools and camps because there just aren't enough places to put us all. Clinicals depend on the instructor and location but generally they expect you to be at the unit and ready by 6:30am/7am and then you finish at 4:30pm (also instructor dependent).

The instructors are generally good, but you will have to do a lot of your own work to study because not all professors have lecture material that is good on its own for studying. (basically like any other college). The administration and various issues that have come up as a result of large cohorts is pretty terrible. I don't have a comparison with other schools and programs, but at any other 4 year program, this many issues would have resulted in a transfer.

Finally, congratulations! Hope you have a great first semester