This 2015 Ford Transit Van Is a Minimalist Dorm on Wheels for a Medical School Student

Ethan Liebross, a medical school student from New Jersey, is one of those students who decided to trade dorm life for van life. He is attending UCLA Medical School, which is located in the pricey Westwood neighborhood of LA, where most of his classmates are paying between $1,600 and $1,800 a month to rent a studio.

When he started college, he didn't want to take out more loans, so he was enticed into this lifestyle to save money. He is now completing college from a beautifully converted 2015 Ford Transit. The young man previously lived and traveled the country in a converted Ford Transit Connect for about a year, but it was much more compact, and he felt like he was roughing it out, so right before starting medical school, he sold it and bought another Transit van. He then spent two full months working on converting it into the cozy camper he now uses as his dorm on wheels.

With no previous experience and some help from his father, Ethan has managed to create a minimalist yet practical mobile living space that allows him to live off-grid in the middle of the city. Within the compact interior of the Transit van, he built a functional kitchen, seating space, and a comfortable rear bed. To make it feel like a real abode, he included details you normally find in a modern home, including a custom-cut memory foam mattress, a gas range, butcher block countertops, and a stainless steel sink with a pressure washer.

The only thing that's missing inside this van is a proper bathroom, with shower and toilet. However, Ethan doesn't mind that, as he confessed he enjoys the simple life he gets to live in his mobile home, and he likes challenging himself to find water or a place to shower. With his humble attitude and life philosophy, he seems to be the perfect advocate for the minimalist lifestyle.

Besides the financial benefits of living in a van, the student also hopes that this lifestyle will help make him become a more compassionate doctor. "I have dreams of becoming a really, really amazing physician, someone who listens, understands, and really cares, and this act of living in a van, I believe, is helping me grow into that very person I so deeply aspire to become," he says.

For the interior of his mobile dorm, Ethan chose a simple layout with no separation between the cab and the living space, a central kitchen followed by two seats, and a rear bedroom. At the front, the passenger seat swivels around to provide extra seating space when he has friends over.

The galley kitchen occupies a great portion of the available floor space and features custom-made cabinetry with large drawers, a pantry, water storage, and upper cupboards. There is enough storage space for food, cutlery, crockery, and cooking essentials for one person while also helping to keep everything organized and clutter-free. Functionality is ensured by a two-burner gas cooktop, an under-counter fridge, and a large sink, with plenty of space to add other electric countertop appliances.

All the cabinets are white with black hardware, which gives the interior a bright and open feel, and details like the butcher block counters and the green tile backsplash add a touch of elegance to the space.

The rear of the van is where the sleeping quarters are. Located at window level and with built-in alcoves, the transverse bed makes optimum use of the full width of the vehicle, creating a great feeling of space. It is equipped with a comfy foam mattress and is built on a raised platform with integrated drawers that act as his wardrobe. Practical overhead cupboards provide even more storage space, while the two sliding side windows and the back door windows ensure there is plenty of natural light in the sleeping area.

Between the kitchen and the bedroom areas, there are two small built-in benches that create a nice dining spot together with a table that slides out from under the bed.

Underneath the bed is the garage area accessible from the back of the van, which houses the electrical system components and Ethan's bike, his main transportation means.

This converted 2015 Ford Transit might not be the most sophisticated and fancy camper van out there, but it is a great option for Ethan, who plans on using it as a temporary housing solution for his four years of school. With an investment of just $14,000, he can basically live all of his student life on one year's rent.