How much did you spend on the match?

[SteadyEddy]

---

Members don't see this ad.

The other day, I got into an argument with a colleague of mine that said I was FOS when I mentioned that I spent more than $5,000 on the match (hotel, plane, food, rental car). Am I already disconnected as a 3rd year surgery resident, or are my recollections true as blue. Thanks for your responses in advance.
The Steady One

 

[Pilot Doc]

The driving factor for interview spending will be airfare and to a lesser extent hotels. At $300/ticket for good deals and $600/ticket for late/last minute flights, you could certainly rack up the $$$

I think you could pretty easily spend well under $1000 for the whole process if you only applied within driving distance, just depends on your priorities.

 

[maxheadroom]

I don't think I hit $5K back when I did the dance (five years ago), but $3K might not be too far off. Flights to places like Rochester, NY don't come cheap. Best part is, I'm looking at doing it all again for fellowship interviews this winter!! Yippee!! At least I'll only be visiting a few places instead the twelve that I did for residency.

 

[Blade28]

It was a lot. Lots of flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. Probably around $3-4k.

 

[plastikosmd]

closer to 10k here, some flights were 1000, ie fly east coast to west coast then to south..then back home

 

[jbish]

Yeah, I never actually did an exact tally (just kept putting flights/hotel/cars on whatever credit card wasn't full)....and spent money in two currencies...but it was definitely thousands of dollars. Even the ones I drove to...I'd end up spending 200$ on the rental car, then gas, then food, then hotel. And I had to buy a new suit b/c my weight was fluctuating so that was a couple hundred. And I don't think I ever found a flight for less than 400$....I interviewed at 14 places so that's definitely 5000$+ at the end of the day. I guess I'll find out the real numbers later when doing my 2007 taxes.

 

[Pilot Doc]

I interviewed at 14 places so that's definitely 5000$+ at the end of the day. I guess I'll find out the real numbers later when doing my 2007 taxes.

Canada might be different, but residency interview expenses aren't deductible on US federal taxes.

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

Are you sure about residency expenses not being tax deductible in the States?


My CPA felt that residency interviews count as "looking for a new job" and therefore all expenses are deductible. I tallied all of mine up and I think with the application fee I spent almost $9,000

 

[DrDawg]

I went on 13 interviews, and only had to fly to two. I drove from Chicago to New England to Virginia and back. All in all I think 5k is easy. I had two suits and a separate sports coat for those night before socials. Because mine was a road trip I stayed in hotels most nights over a 3-4wk period but did have the opertunity to stay with friends and enjoy some of the places I went travelled to. For those of you about to start the process I strongly recommend the TRAVEL & RELOCATION LOAN. I paid my credit cards off at the beginning and save the rest for interviews, and ultimately my residency relocation. $5K is probably a good jumping off point. Budget more if you are interviewing in a less concentrated area or at more programs. Memberships in such things as AMA or AAA can save you money on travel and lodging and may also be a smart investment

 

[DrDawg]

I believe I was told that residency interview expenses were not tax deductiable, but your relocation expenses are. Most likely you will get most of you taxes back anyway because you can claim your last trimester tuition as well, and only have 1/2 year of income

 

[Winged Scapula]

Are you sure about residency expenses not being tax deductible in the States?


My CPA felt that residency interviews count as "looking for a new job" and therefore all expenses are deductible. I tallied all of mine up and I think with the application fee I spent almost $9,000

From many previous discussions here, I believe the reason you cannot deduct it is because you aren't going from 1 job to another. Leaving medical school for residency isn't "looking for a new job". Some others state that since residency is classified as education it doesn't count as a job, but I believe most of those who seem to be knowledgeable about it, say it does...but that only the actual moving expenses are deductible..not the application ones.