Should I try to match around current location due to wife's job?

[Thruster]

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Hi Guys,

So I am a 3rd year student and we currently live in a suburban location about 2 hrs away from a big city. The wife has a job with great benefits, but she really wants me to try and match in/around a big city (since we're young and probably won't be able to enjoy living in a city later on when we have kids, etc).
However, if we do that she will most likely have to quit her job and lose about 100k in stock options that will mature during my intern year. Is that amount worth it to try and match within commuting distance of her work? (couple good programs in IM and Psych that I am seriously considering).
I'm sure an additional 100k is not a lot in the greater scheme of things, but being in about 265k of debt after graduation makes that sum very attractive.

 

[jdh71]

Hi Guys,

So I am a 3rd year student and we currently live in a suburban location about 2 hrs away from a big city. The wife has a job with great benefits, but she really wants me to try and match in/around a big city (since we're young and probably won't be able to enjoy living in a city later on when we have kids, etc).
However, if we do that she will most likely have to quit her job and lose about 100k in stock options that will mature during my intern year. Is that amount worth it to try and match within commuting distance of her work? (couple good programs in IM and Psych that I am seriously considering).
I'm sure an additional 100k is not a lot in the greater scheme of things, but being in about 265k of debt after graduation makes that sum very attractive.

Something you could do . . . Try to match to the closest big city. And you can move to a spot between her work and yours or you can find a cheap place to live there. See each when you can, and decide about quitting that job/changing jobs/keeping things the same after those stock options mature after your intern year. I think 100k is worth a little discomfort, but that's MHO. Which city we talking about here? Go ahead an PM me if you want.

 

[DrVanNostran]

Something you could do . . . Try to match to the closest big city. And you can move to a spot between her work and yours or you can find a cheap place to live there. See each when you can, and decide about quitting that job/changing jobs/keeping things the same after those stock options mature after your intern year. I think 100k is worth a little discomfort, but that's MHO. Which city we talking about here? Go ahead an PM me if you want.

I agree with JDH, living in between both jobs may work out for you. Also, does her company have branches or divisions in which she can transfer? If she does, an polite email to PDs in those cities may work in your favor. Having two incomes will make residency much nicer.

 

[ljpm8224]

However, if we do that she will most likely have to quit her job and lose about 100k in stock options that will mature during my intern year. Is that amount worth it to try and match within commuting distance of her work? (couple good programs in IM and Psych that I am seriously considering).
I'm sure an additional 100k is not a lot in the greater scheme of things, but being in about 265k of debt after graduation makes that sum very attractive.

could she exercise her options early for a % fee? (I've done this before, for a small haircut).

 

[Thruster]

they don't have any other branches anywhere near where we would like to be. I'm not sure if she can sell early before they vest for a penalty, but will look into it. There are probably 3 IM and 2 psych programs near our house where I would be competitive and would have great fellowship opportunities. We would also be able to save and live very comfortably near our current location vs. in/around the city.

 

[Raryn]

they don't have any other branches anywhere near where we would like to be. I'm not sure if she can sell early before they vest for a penalty, but will look into it. There are probably 3 IM and 2 psych programs near our house where I would be competitive and would have great fellowship opportunities. We would also be able to save and live very comfortably near our current location vs. in/around the city.

Could you live in separate places for the 6 months or whatever in between the beginning of intern year and when her stock options vest? $100,000 is a big chunk of change that would be worth a short separation IMO, especially if she'd be able to visit pretty regularly. (unless there's kids in the equation, that makes things complicated)

 

[hematopoiesis]

Could you live in separate places for the 6 months or whatever in between the beginning of intern year and when her stock options vest? $100,000 is a big chunk of change that would be worth a short separation IMO, especially if she'd be able to visit pretty regularly. (unless there's kids in the equation, that makes things complicated)

I would second this. If your home program is not appealing to you and you really think you want to go elsewhere (or she does) then a short separation might be in order. At the beginning of your intern year you're gonna be busy as $#17 anyway and you won't see her as much as you would like anyway... $100K is nothing to sneeze at. You guys would be insane to throw it away, IMHO.

 

[Apollyon]

I would second this. If your home program is not appealing to you and you really think you want to go elsewhere (or she does) then a short separation might be in order. At the beginning of your intern year you're gonna be busy as $#17 anyway and you won't see her as much as you would like anyway... $100K is nothing to sneeze at. You guys would be insane to throw it away, IMHO.

Yeah, third that. $100K is something, especially starting out. 6 months apart suxx, but it can be done.