When and where do I start?

If possible, allow yourself at least two weeks before the start of classes. Finding housing, arranging for utility hookups, and unpacking consume a large amount of time.

What factors should I consider when choosing a place to live?

• Review your planned living situation: the size of the unit, its proximity to medical school and the teaching hospitals, facilities for grocery shopping, churches, banking facilities, parks, laundromats, restaurants, recreational opportunities, and so forth.
• What type of parking arrangements are available and how much do they cost?
• Will you furnish the unit or pay more rent for a furnished apartment?
• Is heat/air conditioning included in the monthly rent? If not, what was the average utility bill for the unit last year?

Do you wish to share accommodations or live alone?

For financial reasons, students are encouraged to have a roommate.  Students often post notices about roommates or housing on the bulletin board near the Security Office.  In addition, follow these guidelines for making a roommate situation work:

• Can you afford the total cost of housing? If you plan on using financial aid to pay for living expenses, your Student Budget reflects the maximum amount of financial aid you may receive per year. 
• How important is privacy and total control over your living space? Do you plan to do most of your studying at home or at school? What worked best for you as an undergraduate? Can you replicate that situation now? Even if you have a strong need for privacy you should think about making arrangements to reach out to others and to stay in touch with classmates so you wont find yourself isolated later in the year.
• Do you plan to cook for yourself? Eat out? Will you and your roommate share cooking responsibilities? If you plan to do your own cooking, a cookbook or two on "meal- preparation for one" would be a good investment. Prepared foods, take-outs or wasting staples can take a large bite out of your budget.

Once these concerns have been addressed, you and your prospective roommate should consider your respective expectations to make sure that misunderstandings are kept to a minimum.

Typical problem areas include: Where each of you prefers to study, at home or at school. What is your comfort level for noise during leisure time? While studying? What habits and expectations do you have about cooking, eating out, smoking, drinking, amount of sleep needed? How social are you? Are you happy with frequent periods of being alone or do you need someone around to feel comfortable? When problems arise, can you bring them up for discussion or are you the "repress and simmer" type? Will you share the cost of grocery shopping and therefore whats in the refrigerator or each maintain your own supplies? What about sharing other items such as books, clothes, toiletries, cars? Will parties and overnight guests to be negotiable? What type of room environment do you each want? Do either of you have any pet peeves? Are you a morning or a night person? Do you have any hobbies or interests in common or in potential conflict? How neat/messy are each of you? How competitive are each if you in terms of needing to be on top academically?

Will my financial aid money be waiting or should I bring money with me?

Because of federal financial aid constraints, it is likely your financial aid funds to be used for living expenses will not be available until after the start of classes. Bring at least enough money with you to get started on and enough to carry you through the first month. An early expense is the deposit required on rental units as well as deposits required by utility companies before service hookups will be made. You will probably wish to purchaser your textbooks too. Purchase household articles such as groceries, shower curtains, etc., rather than deferring their purchase until you can obtain and arrange to cash your financial aid check.

Speaking of financial aid check, you may wish to open a bank account near the College to cash this check and any other checks you may have.

Where can I get information about the city to which Ill be moving or the city in which I will be assigned as a campus?

The Office of Student Services can provide you with some information and up-to-date maps of the cities and surrounding areas. These will come in handy when you are looking for housing as well as simply in finding your way around the first month or two.

The local Chamber of Commerce, libraries, newspapers, telephone directories are also useful. The Housing Book and newspaper rental listings may help you gauge both the approximate cost and availability of rental unites in that city.