The Debate

Okay, so husband is only a 3/year med student, but we are already discussing residency programs. I know we have a year before we even have decide on what programs to apply to. Call me a worry wart but I just like to plan ahead. Maybe it is because we have three sons two which will be in school by the time my hubby is done.
So, here is our problem: We live in Portland Oregon near family. The problem is that the residency programs don't pay the best and it costs a lot to live in Portland. I love living near family, but family does not pay the bills. I am being torn do I become the bad daughter-in-law and try and convince my hubby to look at programs outside of Portland, or should I just suck it up and stay grounded here? I love Portland, I just don't like the price of housing here. Any advise out there?

[poky]

Unless he's going into family or internal med (there's one program at either emmanual or st. vincent's that's one of those), there's only ONE residency program in Portland for each specialty. You'd be doing him a huge disservice if you encouraged him to ONLY apply in Portland, unless he doesn't mind re-applying and trying to find something else to do with himself for a year or two until he DOES get in. He DEFINITELY should be applying other places.

[SoonerTexan]

You could always rank the Portland programs the highest (or say you did--family will never know) and you've done your "due diligence" in trying to stay without hurting his chance of matching

[Michele]

Being near family (if you are into your family) could make the residency years easier to bear...even if it means living very frugally, getting a job.

That said, the match is a crapshoot. We matched at #9 out of 12.

[MarissaNicole]

Before you start worrying about where to apply you need to know what specialty, that will greatly affect where you apply, how many programs you apply to, and what your odds are of matching at your top choice. Does your DH know what he wants to do yet? And are you familiar with how "match" works?

[Pollyanna]

Yes, to what everyone said. Dh applied to 4 programs and ranked our home program first. He seriously considered a suicide match and in hindsight that would have been fine for us. We have been very lucky to have been able to do medical school and training in our home town, it has been much easier on many levels. At the same time, while being here has worked for training, we are discovering that it might not work for "the job". You just never know where life will take you, it is easiest to keep all your options open. Good luck!

[MissCrabette]

I would encourage you and your husband to keep an open mind and not be fixated on a geographic area. If it turns out you like Portland the best, rank it at the top. Having family nearby is great, but, like you said, family doesn't pay the bills.

I'd say you actually have less than a year to decide. We're already over a month into the match season. If he plans on doing a competitive residency, he might need to set up away rotations at places he's interested in well in advance. If he wants to go into a residency that's not very competitive, he'll have to wade through a multitude of programs to pick the ones he'd like to apply to.

Thanks guys. Well dh is going into primary care. He is a NHSC Scholar these are the choice FP, IM, OB or Peds. I am not sure how the match thing works but we have to do some research too. I did I say i was a planner. I just want my kids to go to a good school and be in a nice family city/town.

What speciality is your hubby doing? If you don't mind me asking.

[MissCrabette]

He's going into Internal Medicine and we had to look at over 400 programs. Your situation is probably different, as I'm sure he has an advisor to rely on for some advice on what programs he should apply to, but my husband went to medical school in the Caribbean and we had to do all the legwork ourselves.

[Malpka]

If I wasn't five glasses in I wouldn't say this. But- you are trying to plan things you don't have control over. Try to block it out. Don't think about it. Wait 'til interview/match time. the money sitch comes down to poor or slightly less poor. Don't sweat it. You'll come out the other side one way or the other. I miss the time we were away from family. But? It was a really neat thing to be out on our own and only have each other. It will all work out.

[MarissaNicole]

Here is a post I wrote last year on how match works, granted we were applying to a competitive specialty and had to apply to over 40 programs.

http://marriedtoamedicalstudent.blog...rosurgery.html

I too am a big planner and was trying to figure out our future a lot earlier than DH would have cared to, but then again I'm glad I researched and was active in the process because I didn't want to leave it all up to DH and end up resentful.

[diggitydot]

Spreadsheets are your friend. Weigh the criteria and make a big ass spreadsheet. You'll find a ton of clarity.

We're from the PDX area, too. COL and limited residencies made our decision really easy. DH also has a health services scholarship, too. We ended up at a VERY family friendly residency in the Midwest and we've never second-guessed it.

He'll match wherever he matches. The only thing you have control over is the pool of cities/programs that he may match to. That's it. Make a list you can live with and let the Match Gods do what they will.

[medpedspouse]

Unless you scramble. Then, you go wherever there is a spot.. Don't want to be the voice of gloom, but it is something that could happen (ever year we have 2 or 3) and I wouldn't want anyone getting blind sighted. BTW - the med student affairs staff go over this with the class...they can also help with finding a spot if this happens.