Finding Accommodation for Electives

Congratulations on getting that elective acceptance letter after months of applications and running in and out of offices to get your paper work in order! But, hold on! You still have to look for accommodation during your elective. Although this may seem like a daunting task, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind.

Things to keep in mind when deciding on accomodation

Location

Remember, in order to make the most of the elective time you have, you need to be able to spend more time at the hospital. So, if it is possible, financially and logistically, try to choose a place closer to the hospital. This is also very important if your rotation requires you to be on call and travel to the hospital at odd hours.

Safety

This is often a huge factor you need to consider when choosing accommodation during electives. Although, safety is quite variable depending on the neighborhood your hospital is located in, it is always better to find out more about this aspect and select your accommodation accordingly. Do not hesitate to reach out to people you know in the city and even the elective coordinator to find out which neighborhoods to avoid.

Although the US is a developed first world country, there are always pockets of bad neighborhoods that you should be aware of. There have been instances where people doing electives have faced safety concerns.

Cost

This is a major factor (especially for IMGs) and is often a trade off with the location and safety aspects. Meaning, locations closer to the hospital and safer neighborhoods are going to cost you more. This is a major expense to consider when you are calculating the total cost of the elective ( Read our article on How much do Clinical Electives Cost? )

Keep in mind though, if you aren’t on a tight budget, it will be a good idea to spend on a good accommodation as you will have the peace of mind being in a safe locality in a foreign land.

Split the cost if possible!

When you get that acceptance letter, reach out on facebook groups or other forums. You will be surprised at how many people are in the same boat as you. Not only will it bring down the cost of accommodation during your elective but you will also have an additional safety net.

Inspect before paying

If you have friends or relatives in the area, have them go and check out the place before you make a payment. Do not always rely on the pictures and information put up on the website by the advertiser.

How do I find accommodation during electives?

The above points gave a brief overview of the factors to consider while looking for places to stay during electives. Here are a few ways to help you find these accommodations!

Talk to Friends/ Family

This is probably the best way to find an accommodation for your elective. Talk to your friends and relatives who live in and around the city where your elective is. They will have an idea of places to stay and will guide you about the safety and other logistical issues.

Ask if is is possible for you to stay with them as a paying guest. Often times you may have a friend living with a few other flatmates, ask if anyone will be out of town and is willing to sublet their apartment to you for a month.

Talk to the elective coordinator

Most often, the elective program will either have a formal accommodation or a list of places that you can try out. These places are generally in the vicinity of the hospital. If it fits your budget, these are good options.

AirBNB

This is probably your best bet after the above two options. The listings on the app are verified and you will have full support from AirBNB in case you run into any troubles.

You can set filters for the place, price range, etc. Remember to read the reviews before. Also, whenever possible look for “superhost” while making a reservation as these hosts are more experienced.

IMPORTANT : Do NOT make reservations outside of AirBNB.

Use this link to get $40 off on your first booking through AirBNB. Check out AirBNBs – Click Here.

Third Party Websites

These are websites like Sulekha, Craigslist, etc. A word of caution, be careful and extremely mindful when booking through these websites. A common fraud is when the advertiser tells you that they are out of town and will not be able to meet you/ show you the house. Do NOT pay money without being sure of the person. Also, always ask for an official contract stating that they are renting out the room to you along with the dates and the amount paid.

Find more articles on USMLE and Electives.

This article has been written by Dr. Rohit Nathani who is a medical graduate from Seth GS Medical College. Ask your questions in the comments section below.

To submit your article, go to the Contribute page.