how do u find a place to live if the school doesnt offer housing?

[Ramoray]

---

Members do not see this ad.

hey all, how are all you going about finding housing if your school doesnt offer housing? I mean ill def need a roomate but i think it would be nice to have someone in my class or another med student considering how well have to study etc.. im just a bit confused, in areas like D.C for example how you konw where you are going to live etc?

 

[mws99]

I think most schools have a housing office, so they can tell you the best places to live and they will help match you up with another MS-1 to be roomates.

 

[Ramoray]

thanks mws, that is reassuing, espeically when being totally unfamiliar with a city it concerned me how all this works, especially if you get a late acceptance in spring or over summer, yikes! ok thanks!

 

[Kovox]

Most schools have housing offices or a website where MS-1 posts if they need a roomate. The poopy thing is that the schools that I was accepted too advised that I start looking for housing in March / April since the better spots are taken up quickly.

Hey, are you going to live alone or share an apt? I am still debating about that, rent would probalby be cheaper sharing a place, shrug but there's more privacy alone.

 

[doepug]

Everyone has their own preferences, but I loved living alone off-campus during med school.

There are times when you'll have weird hours, weird study habits, and there will be times when you'll want to be a slob. It can be tough to deal with roommate issues when there are more important responsibilities for you as a med student.

If $$ is your concern, you will be compensated by your improved grades and your future income will cover any loans you incur. If meeting people is your concern, you'll know your class very, very well pretty dang soon. Don't worry about that.

Live on your own if you can; I don't think you'd regret it.

doepug
MS III, Johns Hopkins

 

[UCLAMAN]

Doepug,

I like the idea of living alone through med school. I'm sure it will cost more. I wouldn't be worried about having to pay my loans back. But how exactly do the loans for med school work? I was fortunate enough to have my undergrad financed partly through scholarships and my parents so I have no clue about student loans. How big of a loan can one pull out? Are the loans tailored to the lifestyle you want to live(within reason)? Or are you approved for a certain amount and then tailor your lifestyle to that amount? Wouldn't that setup possibly prevent one from financially being able to live alone? 😕

 

[paean]

You have to tailor you lifestyle to the amount they cap your loans at. Many schools will give you an increase for rent if you can show you pay more than they budget, but that increase is also capped (UCSF increases are up to 200/mo). It really depends on the rental market and the budget set by the school whether you will be able to afford to live alone or not. There are people who do in San Francisco, but most don't, because it is expensive. Most who do are living off of savings or their parents, to supplement or completely replace the need for loans.

 

[UCLAMAN]

So the max size of the loan is based on the projected student budget that the school creates for that year?

 

[doepug]

Originally posted by UCLAMAN
So the max size of the loan is based on the projected student budget that the school creates for that year?

You got it. For me, it's on the order of $48,000/year.

If you're going to take out loans, do it this fall! Federal interest rates are 3.46% and probably aren't going to go down any more. If you're going to need loans of any kind during medical school, get money soon before the rates double.

 

[Woots32]

Originally posted by doepug
If you're going to take out loans, do it this fall! Federal interest rates are 3.46% and probably aren't going to go down any more. If you're going to need loans of any kind during medical school, get money soon before the rates double.

You can do this, even if you don't know for sure what school you're going to?

 

[Green912]

Here's an online rental guide.
http://www.rentalguideapartments.com/

 

[doepug]

Originally posted by Woots32
You can do this, even if you don't know for sure what school you're going to?

No. Once you settle on a school and iron out your financial situation, decide if you'll need loans over the next four years. If you will, ask your med school's financial aid office how to go about applying for an unsubsidized Stafford loan. Then, take out more money than you need. 3.46% interest is on par with inflation and is essentially free money.

Good luck,
doepug

 

[Woots32]

Originally posted by Green912
Here's an online rental guide.
http://www.rentalguideapartments.com/

Here's a website called People with Pets that has (limited) links to pet-friendly apartments across the country. 😀

 

[Mutterkuchen]

Originally posted by doepug
No. Once you settle on a school and iron out your financial situation, decide if you'll need loans over the next four years. If you will, ask your med school's financial aid office how to go about applying for an unsubsidized Stafford loan. Then, take out more money than you need. 3.46% interest is on par with inflation and is essentially free money.

Good luck,
doepug

I don't think that this is good advice. Sure an unsubsidized Stafford loan has a low interest rate now, but it is variable. Every summer the rate is review and modified. Doepug is right that it is at an all-time low, but do not get more money than you need. The interest rate on the loans that you get now will change. It is not free money, and the rate could double by your M4 year.

My advice is to borrow only what you need to live and to solicit the professional advice of financial aid department at the school you wish to attend.

 

[doepug]

JBJ, my interest rate is fixed at 3.46 - can't ever go up or down. This is how all of the unsubsidized loans work at my institution, unless one decides to consolidate (one time only). My interest rate is engraved in stone, and I thought this would apply to others as well.

doepug

 

[Mutterkuchen]

Originally posted by doepug
JBJ, my interest rate is fixed at 3.46 - can't ever go up or down. This is how all of the unsubsidized loans work at my institution, unless one decides to consolidate (one time only). My interest rate is engraved in stone, and I thought this would apply to others as well.

doepug

This surprises me as I thought that the federal guidelines were applied uniformly.

Anyway, to anyone who cares, make sure you consult carefully with your financial aid person before your take out loans. What you do now can have big implications for your future.

Sorry to hijack this thread.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by doepug
No. Once you settle on a school and iron out your financial situation, decide if you'll need loans over the next four years. If you will, ask your med school's financial aid office how to go about applying for an unsubsidized Stafford loan. Then, take out more money than you need. 3.46% interest is on par with inflation and is essentially free money.

Good luck,
doepug

How much more is one allowed to take out? And so is the interest rate fixed or not? Hmm...guess I should search for myself online. 🙂

 

[paean]

Check out the postings and answers in the Financial Aid forum. All these issues have been discussed there.