Relocation Tips for MS0

[FactorX]

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As an MS0, I am about to move from one coast to another coast in early June to start my program. This will be the first time I leave all my family and friends in a big city behind to relocate to a small city that has a completely different culture, so I am quite anxious. Hence, I am asking if anyone experienced with moving can give me some tips ?

Here are some topics I am looking for tips/suggestions on:
1. find new roommate ? (I figured I could use the matching function, but this is probably still the most daunting task since I will have not met that person once in real life until I actually move in 😱)
2. find new housing after having a roommate ?
3. actual moving (shipping vs driving) ?
4. any necessary changes ? (such as car license plate, driver license, car insurance, registration, etc ?)
5. any other tips/suggestions ?

Thank you very much !

 

[askamsky51]

To piggy-back on this thread. What is a good/reasonable amount to pay in rent alone? I know it all depends on how much debt you want to be in, but also how much aid you get. Is $800/month reasonable?

 

[Ravizzle]

To piggy-back on this thread. What is a good/reasonable amount to pay in rent alone? I know it all depends on how much debt you want to be in, but also how much aid you get. Is $800/month reasonable?

Depends on location.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

 

[BABSstudent]

To piggy-back on this thread. What is a good/reasonable amount to pay in rent alone? I know it all depends on how much debt you want to be in, but also how much aid you get. Is $800/month reasonable?

Pretty much depends on the location. If I were to pay $800 a month I would be living in a freaking mansion. My two bedroom apartment cost $500 a month but that same place in New York would probably cost over a grand.

I suggest checking out zillow and craigslist for the neighborhood that you are going to be moving into to get an idea of the average rent.

 

[step213]

Pretty much depends on the location. If I were to pay $800 a month I would be living in a freaking mansion. My two bedroom apartment cost $500 a month but that same place in New York would probably cost over a grand.

I suggest checking out zillow and craigslist for the neighborhood that you are going to be moving into to get an idea of the average rent.

A 2 bedroom place in NY would probably be closer to 3 grand

 

[sinombre]

Pretty much depends on the location. If I were to pay $800 a month I would be living in a freaking mansion. My two bedroom apartment cost $500 a month but that same place in New York would probably cost over a grand.

I suggest checking out zillow and craigslist for the neighborhood that you are going to be moving into to get an idea of the average rent.

Actually, a two bedroom apartment would probably be closer to 2 or 3.

But yeah, how much you pay in rent totally depends on location. The cheapest way to go is usually to find a house to rent with several room mates.

 

[red doctober]

A 2 bedroom place in NY would probably be closer to 3 grand

Cheapest 2BR in the Village at least $3K; in the Upper East Side above 86th St, a little more than $2K. These are very, very small places with kitchens that you can't really call true kitchens.

As an MS0, I am about to move from one coast to another coast in early June to start my program. This will be the first time I leave all my family and friends in a big city behind to relocate to a small city that has a completely different culture, so I am quite anxious. Hence, I am asking if anyone experienced with moving can give me some tips ?

Here are some topics I am looking for tips/suggestions on:
1. find new roommate ? (I figured I could use the matching function, but this is probably still the most daunting task since I will have not met that person once in real life until I actually move in 😱)
2. find new housing after having a roommate ?
3. actual moving (shipping vs driving) ?
4. any necessary changes ? (such as car license plate, driver license, car insurance, registration, etc ?)
5. any other tips/suggestions ?

Thank you very much !

Small town rent? I imagine sharing a 2BR apartment in a city like Ann Arbor or Chapel Hill would be like $400/mo for you.

1. Second look is a great time to meet possible new roommates and to actually plan it out. Most med school entering classes have fb groups that people post roommate requests.

2. I don't really understand this question.

3. This depends on how far away it is and if you intend to have a car there. You could UHaul your stuff there or get a professional moving service to do it (might be expensive though.)

4. You're MD/PhD right? You'll be in the new state long enough for it to become eventually required or a huge hassle to keep your home state's stuff. You can probably wait until your license/registration expires though. Some MD/PhD programs at state schools like it if you become a resident of that state to reduce the tuition they will be covering for you.

5. Depending on the location, you might want to think about purchasing a house after your first year, but you have some time to think about that.

 

[penguinism]

As an MS0, I am about to move from one coast to another coast in early June to start my program. This will be the first time I leave all my family and friends in a big city behind to relocate to a small city that has a completely different culture, so I am quite anxious. Hence, I am asking if anyone experienced with moving can give me some tips ?

Here are some topics I am looking for tips/suggestions on:
1. find new roommate ? (I figured I could use the matching function, but this is probably still the most daunting task since I will have not met that person once in real life until I actually move in 😱)
2. find new housing after having a roommate ?
3. actual moving (shipping vs driving) ?
4. any necessary changes ? (such as car license plate, driver license, car insurance, registration, etc ?)
5. any other tips/suggestions ?

Thank you very much !

Does your med school offer housing to incoming students? If so, that might be your best bet for the first year. Otherwise, assuming that you're on your own, here are my suggestions:

1. Check the Facebook group for incoming students. There will likely be other students looking for roommates, and start up a conversation with them. Find out who you're compatible with (clean/messy, morning person/night owl, quiet/noisy, likes the temperature warm/cold, etc.). You likely won't meet them until you get there (unless you attend Second Look, which is another great way to find roommates), but if you ask the right questions beforehand then you should be okay.

2. Check local listings, Craisglist, any university-specific housing site, etc. You might end up finding a place for 3 people, in which case you'll need a second roommate. If possible, take a trip out to the med school to visit apartments IN PERSON! People can make really convincing advertisements, but you won't know for sure unless you actually meet the landlord and explore the place yourself. If you find a roommate who lives closer to the school, make him or her go instead. 😛

3. Depends on how far you're going and how much stuff you're bringing. Do you already have furniture at home that would make taking a moving truck/UHaul worth it, or are you planning to buy everything once you're there? Shipping can be expensive, but driving it all yourself can also be a huge hassle. Will you have help loading/unloading stuff?

4. Usually state-specific. If you're planning to keep your car at med school, you will probably have to re-register it to the new state (but some people avoid doing this for a long time).

5. Keep an open mind and be ready to meet new friends. It might be tough at first, but many people will be in the same boat as you!

 

[FactorX]

Thanks guys for the tips. So, is it typical that we find roommate first and then that roommate and I together search for an apartment ? What if we are both from out of state ? Do you think it is wiser to join the current students, ie seeking out the current students who are renting out bedrooms, to make the transition easier ? I still prefer finding a roommate who is also a first year student like me, as it may be easier to form social circle between the first years as opposed to the older students who may already have established friend circles.

Does your med school offer housing to incoming students? If so, that might be your best bet for the first year. Otherwise, assuming that you're on your own, here are my suggestions:

1. Check the Facebook group for incoming students. There will likely be other students looking for roommates, and start up a conversation with them. Find out who you're compatible with (clean/messy, morning person/night owl, quiet/noisy, likes the temperature warm/cold, etc.). You likely won't meet them until you get there (unless you attend Second Look, which is another great way to find roommates), but if you ask the right questions beforehand then you should be okay.

2. Check local listings, Craisglist, any university-specific housing site, etc. You might end up finding a place for 3 people, in which case you'll need a second roommate. If possible, take a trip out to the med school to visit apartments IN PERSON! People can make really convincing advertisements, but you won't know for sure unless you actually meet the landlord and explore the place yourself. If you find a roommate who lives closer to the school, make him or her go instead. 😛

3. Depends on how far you're going and how much stuff you're bringing. Do you already have furniture at home that would make taking a moving truck/UHaul worth it, or are you planning to buy everything once you're there? Shipping can be expensive, but driving it all yourself can also be a huge hassle. Will you have help loading/unloading stuff?

4. Usually state-specific. If you're planning to keep your car at med school, you will probably have to re-register it to the new state (but some people avoid doing this for a long time).

5. Keep an open mind and be ready to meet new friends. It might be tough at first, but many people will be in the same boat as you!

Unfortunately, my school doesn't offer housing, so I'm on my own. I don't have a lot of stuff so mostly likely I will just either drive or pack stuff into the car and ship it. Any tips on avoiding scams for this kind of service ?

Small town rent? I imagine sharing a 2BR apartment in a city like Ann Arbor or Chapel Hill would be like $400/mo for you.

1. Second look is a great time to meet possible new roommates and to actually plan it out. Most med school entering classes have fb groups that people post roommate requests.

2. I don't really understand this question.

3. This depends on how far away it is and if you intend to have a car there. You could UHaul your stuff there or get a professional moving service to do it (might be expensive though.)

4. You're MD/PhD right? You'll be in the new state long enough for it to become eventually required or a huge hassle to keep your home state's stuff. You can probably wait until your license/registration expires though. Some MD/PhD programs at state schools like it if you become a resident of that state to reduce the tuition they will be covering for you.

5. Depending on the location, you might want to think about purchasing a house after your first year, but you have some time to think about that.

Yep, I'm MD/PhD. Sorry for my naivette but can you elaborate more on what hassle I may have with my home state if I don't change my residency ?

 

[survivordo]

You should try to do whatever you can to connect with other incoming students as these will theoretically be much more reliable people than someone you will find on craigslist and at the very least will be in the same situation as you. I am sure your class will setup a facebook group, e-mail list or something along those lines and I am sure that you will soon be receiving messages from classmates looking for roomates. Give it time, it will come! As far as finding housing, asking your school/current students is your best bet. They will know where the good places to live are.

Survivor DO

 

[red doctober]

The process of finding a place would probably be less stressful if you were to just move in with a current student, but you're right about that person already having a social circle. If it were me, I would rather room with a fellow incoming student, but that's just me.

Some apartments come furnished with the basics (bed, couch, table, desk, etc,) so it might be cheaper to actually buy the additional stuff (utensils, cookware, etc.) there and to just bring your clothes and smaller stuff. Consider this when apartment hunting. Also, if you room with someone from the area, that person might be able to bring a bunch of furniture and other stuff. As per tips on avoiding scams, just do your research and compare different companies. Also, look for reviews if possible.

The hassle in maintaining your current residency is proving that you still qualify for it. This depends on your state's laws, but because you will be living outside of the state, voting outside of the state, not being a dependent of your parents in the state, and not paying taxes in the state, it will be very difficult to maintain your current residency.

 

[penguinism]

Thanks guys for the tips. So, is it typical that we find roommate first and then that roommate and I together search for an apartment ? What if we are both from out of state ? Do you think it is wiser to join the current students, ie seeking out the current students who are renting out bedrooms, to make the transition easier ? I still prefer finding a roommate who is also a first year student like me, as it may be easier to form social circle between the first years as opposed to the older students who may already have established friend circles.

Unfortunately, my school doesn't offer housing, so I'm on my own. I don't have a lot of stuff so mostly likely I will just either drive or pack stuff into the car and ship it. Any tips on avoiding scams for this kind of service ?

I recommend living with another first year, as you'll share the same exam schedule and can make new friends together. You can either choose to apartment search on your own and then find a roommate (people will definitely be looking for roommates throughout the spring), or you can team up with someone else first. There's no one right way to do it.

If you plan on driving far, you should have someone to drive with you. It's a long trip from coast to coast and you'll want to trade off! As for shipping, you need to do a ton of research on companies before you choose one.

 

[alpinism]

As an MS0, I am about to move from one coast to another coast in early June to start my program. This will be the first time I leave all my family and friends in a big city behind to relocate to a small city that has a completely different culture, so I am quite anxious. Hence, I am asking if anyone experienced with moving can give me some tips ?

Here are some topics I am looking for tips/suggestions on:
1. find new roommate ? (I figured I could use the matching function, but this is probably still the most daunting task since I will have not met that person once in real life until I actually move in 😱)

If you want to live w other med students: FB group, Google group, Med students website, email current med students to ask if anyone needs a roommate next year (also ask about the best places to live and where to stay away from), attend 2nd look.
Don't want to live w other med students: check out the university housing website and look for other professional students (law, pharm, vet) or grad students looking for roommates.

2. find new housing after having a roommate ?

Email current med students or ask the admissions dept.

3. actual moving (shipping vs driving) ?

Depends on location.

4. any necessary changes ? (such as car license plate, driver license, car insurance, registration, etc ?)

Totally up to you.

5. any other tips/suggestions ?

I'd personally suggest moving at least 2wks prior to orientation just to give yourself time to settle in and get acclimated. Make sure to get a nice large desk w a comfortable chair for your room (since that's where you'll be spending most of your time). Have your own washer/dryer (great for washing scrubs, white coat, etc.. regularly and saves time when you need to study for exams). Live as close to the school as possible. It saves a lot of time/gas/money and makes it easier going back and forth between afternoon labs/PBL sessons, interest group meetings/events, nightime electives, library study groups, perceptor visits, etc... It also helps a ton during clincials when you can sleep in till 5:30am for surgery rotations starting at 6am (or earlier).

Thank you very much !

Good luck this summer!

 

[mvenus929]

Here are some topics I am looking for tips/suggestions on:
1. find new roommate ?
2. find new housing after having a roommate ?
3. actual moving (shipping vs driving) ?
4. any necessary changes ? (such as car license plate, driver license, car insurance, registration, etc ?)
5. any other tips/suggestions ?

1. I didn't meet my first year roommates before I moved in either. Both of them were MD/PhD students (one first year, one second year) and started in June, while I came out at the end of July. I found them on an off-campus housing site the university put together, I think. We exchanged e-mails, established some ground rules, and figured it would work out. I'm still friends with both of them. Check on facebook, check with the admissions office, etc. It shouldn't be that difficult to find people who are also looking for roommates.

2. Honestly, if you're moving from across the country, it might be easier to find a roommate that already has housing, so you don't have to worry about looking for a place as well.

3. Depends on how much stuff you want to bring. I moved cross-country and just packed up my SUV and one of those roof bags and drove out over three days. I won't be able to do that now for residency, because I have so much more stuff now, but I had a budget coming out for furniture and just got a full bedroom set at IKEA once I arrived in my place.

4. Check with the laws of your state. I know mine doesn't allow OOS students to get IS status, but I think the MD/PhDs file taxes in this state and thus are considered residents. You have some grace period once you arrive, so just head down to the DMV when you get the chance to get everything switched over.

To piggy-back on this thread. What is a good/reasonable amount to pay in rent alone? I know it all depends on how much debt you want to be in, but also how much aid you get. Is $800/month reasonable?

Depends entirely on where you live. You can share an apartment in Denver for under $400 per person, but the town I'm living in, you're lucky to find someplace under $500 sharing with 1-2 other people. However, $800 a month for rent here would be on the more expensive side... unless it was a 1 bedroom. Still, I don't think financial aid would cover it.

 

[FactorX]

Thank you everyone for spending time giving me very helpful comments.

The process of finding a place would probably be less stressful if you were to just move in with a current student, but you're right about that person already having a social circle. If it were me, I would rather room with a fellow incoming student, but that's just me.

1. I didn't meet my first year roommates before I moved in either. Both of them were MD/PhD students (one first year, one second year) and started in June, while I came out at the end of July. I found them on an off-campus housing site the university put together, I think. We exchanged e-mails, established some ground rules, and figured it would work out. I'm still friends with both of them. Check on facebook, check with the admissions office, etc. It shouldn't be that difficult to find people who are also looking for roommates.

I have an impression that it is kinda harder for MD/PhD first-year students to find a roommate who wants to move in at the same time, since they start early in June while the MD students tend to move in at the end of July or beginning of August, unless I can room with my fellow MD/PhD.