Moving to a new place...any regrets?

[Clair de Lune]

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For those of you who have moved for residency, to a place where you knew absolutely no one, I'd be interested to hear how things have been going for you. Is the fun & excitement of moving to a new place worth leaving behind friends, family, and a significant other? Or are you too busy during residency for a move to be "fun"? I would love some opinions from any of you if you have time 🙂 Thanks!

 

[Stillorgan]

Don't fear moving on. It's a good thing. That's how you grow and learn. 🙂

 

[Gauss]

moving is never fun unless you got a load of money to pay people to do it for you

 

[turtle md]

Moving is fine if you can bring your significant other with you. You can make new friends, talk to your family on the phone and visit occasionally, but you can't sleep with someone else (usually 😀 ). This is coming from a guy who has moved alot, including for residency.

 

[shattoura]

For those of you who have moved for residency, to a place where you knew absolutely no one, I'd be interested to hear how things have been going for you. Is the fun & excitement of moving to a new place worth leaving behind friends, family, and a significant other? Or are you too busy during residency for a move to be "fun"? I would love some opinions from any of you if you have time 🙂 Thanks!

Hi Clair de Lune;

I moved for my internship and will be moving again for the rest of residency (I'm doing prelim medicine). I moved alone and didn't know a soul in the new city but moved for a good prelim program.

I am actually very family oriented which is somewhat of a strain b/c you miss family a lot. But if you make friends fast you shouldn't have a problem. Residency tends to bring people together b/c you are all strained and going through the same thing.

One good thing about a new city away from all those you know is reduced social responsibilities. If I was close to home I would be expected to attend various social functions and, with internship schedule, you often cannot. If you go away for residency, enjoy it. Think of it as your chance to learn how to be more independent and adventurous. Discovering all the aspects of my new city on those precious days off is really fun and gives you a sense of accomplishment.

However, make sure you choose a program with weekends off that are frequent enough for you to fly home and see your loved ones (electives and clinics are usually when you have free weekends). And always ask about sick call. Although some programs claim endless free weekends during appropriate rotations, sometimes you are on sick call (backup for any sick resident) on those weekends so be careful.

Be adventurous and don't be afraid to move to a brand new place.

 

[Zolpidem25]

Hi Clair de Lune;

I moved for my internship and will be moving again for the rest of residency (I'm doing prelim medicine). I moved alone and didn't know a soul in the new city but moved for a good prelim program.

I am actually very family oriented which is somewhat of a strain b/c you miss family a lot. But if you make friends fast you shouldn't have a problem. Residency tends to bring people together b/c you are all strained and going through the same thing.

One good thing about a new city away from all those you know is reduced social responsibilities. If I was close to home I would be expected to attend various social functions and, with internship schedule, you often cannot. If you go away for residency, enjoy it. Think of it as your chance to learn how to be more independent and adventurous. Discovering all the aspects of my new city on those precious days off is really fun and gives you a sense of accomplishment.

However, make sure you choose a program with weekends off that are frequent enough for you to fly home and see your loved ones (electives and clinics are usually when you have free weekends). And always ask about sick call. Although some programs claim endless free weekends during appropriate rotations, sometimes you are on sick call (backup for any sick resident) on those weekends so be careful.

Be adventurous and don't be afraid to move to a brand new place.

Shattoura,

that's a great post, thanks.... you are able to put some of my scattered thoughts on this issue into clear, concise words.... 👍

 

[Blade28]

Moving is fun!

 

[CTKN2]

i also wanted to add that my advisor has told me that it's good to experience how other hospitals are run. it brings fresh perspective to how you would like to eventually practice medicine.

also, if you are considering a program that is far from home, ask the residents at that particular program whether they get together/hang out a lot...whether it's a big program or small program, you'll be able to get an idea of how who you'll be able to hang out with and who you might be able to explore you're new environment with...

hope this helps and good luck! 🙂

 

[klmr]

I moved halfway across the country with my husband of 2 months to a city where we didn't know a soul...and we are loving it! The only hard part is neither of us has ever been so far from our families, but siblings and parents have already all visited and we will even have 5 days around the holidays to fly home for a while. We are enjoying exploring a new city and doing new things.
Anyone that tells you it doesn't matter where you live for residency because of your schedule is lying. I am in a relatively demanding field and even when working (of course only very slightly) over 80 hours weekly, we still go out and do things. What fun would a day off be if there was nothing to do but sit home?
I strongly encourage you to move...never again will you have such an easy opportunity to move anywhere you wish!

i also wanted to add that my advisor has told me that it's good to experience how other hospitals are run. it brings fresh perspective to how you would like to eventually practice medicine.

also, if you are considering a program that is far from home, ask the residents at that particular program whether they get together/hang out a lot...whether it's a big program or small program, you'll be able to get an idea of how who you'll be able to hang out with and who you might be able to explore you're new environment with...

hope this helps and good luck! 🙂

 

[elle belle]

Sorry if I get too personal. I don't think moving away would be too bad; however, if I had to leave my significant other I don't think I would make it. I think it is hard to move away from family which I have, but I couldn't leave my S.O. Is there some reason your S.O. couldn't go with you (is he/she in the medical field too, current job, other reasons?) Just trying to make sense of it. Is there no programs where you could be close to your S.O.? Good luck.

 

[Clair de Lune]

Hey Elle! Well the SO has an amazing job here (basically his dream job with great $$$ coming in) so for him, moving away from it would be silly. And, like you, I don't know if I would make it through without him. For me, I can do the residency I want here, but it's competitive, and I am praying that is what I get. However, the NRMP is ultimately going to make that decision for me so I am preparing for worst case scenario. Whoever said 4th year was a breeze was wrong...this is by far the most stressed I've been since med school started.

But as everyone keeps telling me, everything works out the way it is supposed to. I just hope they are right!!

 

[elle belle]

Hi Clair,
WOW, you are being put in a very hard situation, huh? Have you interviewed at the program close to home yet? If so, did you get a good vibe from the residents &/or faculty? I know that sounds dumb, but I think it helps a lot. I know you are never certain, but sometimes you just have a gut feeling about things. Do you know any of the residents or faculty enough to ask what they think? Like other people have told you, everything works out for a reason. If you want this program (I am assuming it is your home program), maybe you can stop by every now & then until the rank list goes in. It would possibly show them that you want to be there, especially if you say it is competitive! Are there any other programs fairly close to home within 2 hrs - that isn't too far.

Hope it works out!

 

[Clair de Lune]

I got an interview with the dept (they don't start interviewing til later in the season) within 3 days of submitting my application, so that's a good sign I think. I start my official rotation w/ them on Monday and my interview is at the end of the rotation.

Needless to say I'll be doing this rotation as though my life depended on it! I have a pretty good feeling about everything thus far, but I just hate not knowing...it's the worst.

Thanks for your kind words Elle!

 

[Methyldopa]

What fun would a day off be if there was nothing to do but sit home?

That's a great point! Doing your residency in a cool city is definitely the way to go.

 

[elle belle]

I got an interview with the dept (they don't start interviewing til later in the season) within 3 days of submitting my application, so that's a good sign I think. I start my official rotation w/ them on Monday and my interview is at the end of the rotation.

Needless to say I'll be doing this rotation as though my life depended on it! I have a pretty good feeling about everything thus far, but I just hate not knowing...it's the worst.

Thanks for your kind words Elle!

Good Luck, I hope everything works out the way you would like!

 

[turtle md]

That's a great point! Doing your residency in a cool city is definitely the way to go.

For those who do not like the city as much, let me remind that there is a lot to do for anyone who lives out of a city as well. Nature offers a variety of entertainment options 😀 .