Preparing for Medical School – Housing & Moving

So your S.O. got into medical school. Congratulations! The journey is only just beginning. Now the first thing that you’re going to want to do is research and get your life somewhat ready. Chances are is that you and your S.O. are going to have to move for them to attend school. We knew back in March/April of 2015 where we were headed for the next four years. That gave us plenty of time try and come up with a game plan. Thankfully the school helped us with some of the research as they provided living accommodations near the school. We started with those, but then branched out and looked at surrounding areas as well. It was important for us to find something close to the school so that Geoff could bike if he wanted too.

Important Things to Consider (When Choosing a Place To Live)
1. Cost per month (rent and all – utilities, internet/cable, garbage, etc.)
2. Distance from the school
3. Distance from your place of work (if you’re choosing to work)
4. Distance from amenities
5. Neighborhood (safe, good school district if you have kids)

Not everyone’s top 5 things to consider will be the same, yours might be totally different. We ended up finding an apartment that was just about a miles or so away from the school Geoff would be attending. Thankfully the front office staff was able to help us secure a two bedroom, one bath unit on the first floor until we were able come down. We weren’t officially moving in till July, but thankfully we chose to make a weekend trip in June to Las Vegas so we could scope out the area. The apartment was the perfect first place to live. Close to the school, tucked away from busy streets, close to the freeways, close to amenities (some within walking distance)…nice grounds, etc.

The most bittersweet thing was packing up our childhood homes and officially moving out. I mean, we ‘moved out’ for college, but you always came back for breaks and such. We were moving moving out. Like, our bedrooms turned into guest rooms moving out. Anyways, strategically we have to figure out what was coming from each respective home and how we were going to load the U-Haul/Penske truck. Thankfully everything fit. Not to mention we were bringing both our cars down….so one of us had to drive a car and the other drove the Penske with trailer in tow. Guess who had to drive the Penske? Geoff. I followed behind in my car.

Driving away from our parents house’s was emotional. Everyone was crying or trying not to cry. No one wanted to say ‘goodbye’. I remember crying for the first few minutes driving away. I was leaving my entire life (up until that point) behind. I was leaving the comfort & familiarity of my hometown, my family, my friends….who wouldn’t be scared about what was ahead? The only thing that made moving better and that kept the fear of the unknown at bay was Geoff. I wasn’t going on this adventure alone, he was going to be there too and we were going to do this together. ❤

xoxo

Living In A State of Uncertainty

Geoff will graduate from his medical school in May of this year – 2019. Let that sink in for a minute. I will be D O N E with the medical school part of this journey in just a little over 5 months. Craziness. The next part, if you know anything or nothing about the process of becoming a doctor, is residency. Residency – in the simplest of terms – is where one goes to further learn their specialty and practice their specialty under the watchful eyes of attending physicians.

It feels like all of fourth year has been this fluid state of uncertainty. Not knowing exactly where your S.O. (and you for that matter) will go for the next part of his training can be quite anxiety riding if you ask me. But trust in the process that is The Match and everything will work out they say. So…you’re telling me that Geoff and I will be putting our lives in the hands of an algorithm. Coolness. The EASIEST way to explain The Match is with the YouTube video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvgfgGmemdA

Source: National Resident Matching Program YouTube Channel

What is even more nuts is that Geoff and I will find out where we are headed in March 2019! That’s roughly only two and a half months away from today – January 4th. Everyone always asks us where we would like to end up, where our #1 choice is. Our answer? Home – Washington State. However, should that not be the case, we’re blessed to have several other great options available. Rest assured that I will share with all of you where we are going upon finding out and that I will continue to share our journey through life in residency!

xoxo

So your S.O. has decided to go to Medical School…

I remember this conversation like it was the other day. Geoff told me that he wanted to become a doctor and go to medical school. All I could think (or say for that matter) was ‘Okay’. In my mind it was a WHOLE different story. I started thinking about all the life changes, the sacrifices, and the unknown. My father was an Internal Medicine physician with a very successful practice. Geoff’s father is currently a practicing Anesthesiologist. Both have shared their experience, advice, and insight into the whole process. My mother-in-law supported Geoff’s father through medical school – so I leaned on her for advice and support. Did I really know what I was getting into? I said I knew…but did I REALLY?

If I could give you any advice this is it – run for the hills! Just kidding, don’t do that. But in all seriousness though, be prepared for a significant change. A change that will shape not just you and your significant other (S.O.) as individuals, but as a couple. It sounds so obvious, and you may roll your eyes, but trust me…when you look back on who you both were at the beginning of the journey and at the end of the journey, you won’t be the same. And that’s okay.

Be prepared to be “essentially single” most of the time. Be prepared for your S.O. to be physically present, but mentally absent (at times). Be prepared to have to plug in when they need you, even though it feels like ages that you’ve had too. Be prepared to to do almost everything. Cooking, cleaning, taking care of the pets, of the kids, the bills, the rent, and them! It will be a lot to handle, but you got this.

Make sure that you and your S.O. talk about medical school, the journey, wants & needs for the other person, wants & needs as a couple, and really make sure you’re on the same page. Medical school will take a lot of effort on both sides and you don’t want to leave things unsaid. You have a long and tough 4-years ahead. It is not going to be easy, but it will be worth it. To see your S.O. pursue their passion is really exciting. To see them grasp a concept or to see their eyes light up when they talk about what they want to do is inspiring. You will then know that the long days and nights were 100% worth it.

xoxo