Anyone familiar with the Indianapolis area?

Hey all-

As promised, I'm starting my annoying residency search questions...while DH is just starting to look at programs, my job is to research the areas for school districts and houses and such. (Yes, we're terrible overplanning control freaks...you should have seen us applying to med school...) Indy is on the list, but I know NOTHING about it--does anyone know what the nicer suburbs are or what are the better school districts? We desperately want to buy a house, but we have to consider the school district since DS will start kindergarten during PGY-3. Any info is greatly appreciated (I make a mean Excel spreadsheet comparing all of these various factors.

[mommax3]

I grew up an hour away from Indpls, went to college there, and spent four years there while DH went to med school. We are headed back there at the end of May (actually we will live in Hendricks County, straight west, in Avon) and we are excited. I think it is a fun city......many of the advantages of a big city without too many of the headaches. The Children's Museum is AWESOME....the best one I have ever visited and I have been to a few at this point! I would avoid the Indianapolis Public Schools if I were you. The different township school systems have fairly good reputations, although they are all large systems. There are two other people here who currently live around Indy....hopefully they will weigh in. I haven't lived there for 8 years, but I will be happy to give you my impressions of certain areas.....just let me know where you are looking. PM me if you want.

Sally

While I have nothing useful to add to the info search on Indy, I would LOVE to copy your spreadsheet for our use in determining where to live next year!

I'm only partly joking ..... okay - not joking ..... would you share??

While I have nothing useful to add to the info search on Indy, I would LOVE to copy your spreadsheet for our use in determining where to live next year!

I'm only partly joking ..... okay - not joking ..... would you share??

I second that! I am currently doing the same. It is my job to search the communities, for mortgages, for possible homes, and research the schools at our first choice. We are fiarly certain we will end up at #1, but I am doing research on the top 5 (just in case).

I don't know anything about Indianapolis. Sorry!

Don't know anything about Indy, but these websites have been helpful as a starting point:
http://www.greatplaces.net
http://www.greatschools.net

Spreadsheets! A woman after my own heart. Another good thing to keep track of is reaction post-interview. We found that after a few interviews the distinct differences between programs start to seem muddled. Making a list of important aspects of each program really helped (even better in a spreadsheet ).

Thanks guys! Keep it coming-I am an info junkie.

OK, spreadsheets-I have limited knowledge about Excel, but enough to make organized and useful sheets chock full of info. I just made one with initial info about residency programs--salary, patient load, perks, meal plan--basically any of the standard things that are on the program websites so that we'd have an "at a glance" when we look at each other and say, Which place had free parking? Who's washing your lab coats, me or the hospital? (that type of thing) Next I'll start on one for the lifestyle stuff--you just pick what info will be useful, make columns for each program/city/whatever, and then hunt down the info. But I like the suggestion about post-interview reaction--I'm sure that will really switch things around, both with how DH reacts to the program and how I react to the city. I don't have a spreadsheet made up for the moving stuff (this is new project of the week) but I'll let you guys know how it develops--

I just found a useful site: Monstermoving.com which is where I'll probably get at least part of the info because they have a cool city comparison where I discovered that what I thought was going to be our second choice city has a CRAZY cost of living, so we're taking that into consideration. But it will tell you the average taxes, cost of living, cost of average 2000 sq. ft home, etc. It's at least a starting point.

Most people think that DH and I are nuts, but this is my way of coping with the lack of control I have in the situation. As DH says, as long as I *feel* as if I'm organizing the insanity, it makes me feel more in control and not so helpless and along for the ride. My project tonight was auditing our household budget and sitting DH down to tell him that he needed to tighten things up this next year or he's going to lose his car during residency. I think it worked!

[Phoebe]

Hi! I moved to north of Indy 18 months ago. I really like it here. Sorry I can't add much information about housing and school districts. I was told to avoid Indy Public Schools and look for something outside of the Interstate 465 belt. Our community has one of the best school districts, but it is growing like crazy and becoming overcrowded. My kids are of school age yet, so I haven't done much research into school districts other than our own. The guy who invented Lasik eye surgery lives 1/2 away from me and the man who invented voice mail lives close by too I am told. My house looks nothing like theirs!

I can ask around for you. We really like the Indianapolis area and can see raising our family here long-term. If your DH will be doing his residency with IU, it is most likely that you will need to be closer to downtown. My husband doesn't work for the Clarian system which comprises the IU hospitals. We live about 30 minutes from downtown. I would recommend Indianapolis for sure.

I will be happy to answer any questions.

Jennifer