Match Day is quickly approaching…March 20th will be here before you know it! Are you ready to be placed in your residency program? And are you ready to move, likely to a different city or state, this summer? The prospect of starting your life after medical school can be both exciting and intimidating. We’re here to make the process a little bit easier. Here are a few tips to make your residency relocation as painless as possible.
- Start looking for housing as soon as possible.
If you’re moving to a large city, such as Seattle or Chicago, start searching for a place to live immediately. Larger cities are more competitive because of high prices and limited housing. Find something that fits into your budget. Remember…it’s not your forever home. It’s just a place to rest when you’re not on-call or taking care of patients. If you match near Madison, WI, we can help you out with this! Whether you want a home near University Hospital, a UW Health Clinic, SSM Health, or UnityPoint Health, we’ll help you find a great location with a reasonable commute. - Give yourself plenty of time to move.
Preparing to move for your residency will probably take longer than expected. Plan to begin your move about a month before your residency start date. And make sure you plan your relocation about a week before your residency start date. This way, you’ll have ample time to unpack, set up your apartment, go to the DMV, grocery shop, and take care of any odds and ends before your residency program begins. - Declutter your belongings.
Minimalism is trending right now, and for good reason. Having less stuff allows you to focus more on what’s important…like your career, your hobbies, and your friends/family. Donate clothes that no longer fit your body or your style, toss out any preclinical textbooks and notes you won’t need to reference again, sell any furniture that won’t fit in your new place, and only keep the important stuff. Selling things you no longer need is also a great way to earn a little extra cash. - Prepare for something to go wrong.
Pack a suitcase or a weekend bag with a few outfits, toiletries, medications, and anything else you might need. This way, no matter what happens during your residency relocation, you’ll have the essentials for training. That’s what’s most important, after all! - Take a deep breath, and prepare for your next career step!
No matter what happens during your move, remind yourself of the very reason you’re relocating your life to another city: to help patients in their most vulnerable state. Medical school, hundreds of hours of studying, countless rotations, and even more interviews have led to this point. Revel in your accomplishments. You got this!