Starting a new graduate program isn't just a change in career and a new academic challenge - it can also result in a total lifestyle change.
Some tips for moving to a program across the country:
1. Price shop for shipping large loads of stuff out. If you're considering shipping your car and driving out - check out several companies before settling on one - we found a large difference between different companies offering to ship either large loads of stuff or your car. If you do ship your car (usually via rail, for those who are curious - but there are services of people who will drive your car to your new location that are more expensive), make sure to fill up your car with stuff you'd like to ship out anyway. This seems obvious, but in the crunch of preparing for grad school you might forget stuff like this. Don't disregard the obvious, sometimes the US Postal Service offers the best deals for shipping.
2. Scout out entire neighborhoods on craigslist and by reading a local newspaper online. You don't want to move into a place that it too terrifying or filled with crime - even on that grad school budget. Make sure to ask more advanced graduate students where people in your program live and try to get acquainted with those areas as best you can.
3. Spend a fair amount of time looking at maps. My first couple of weeks in graduate school - life was a blur because I was totally unfamiliar with the area. In retrospect, I wish I had spent a little less time reading and re-reading my department's website and a little more time reading about my new surroundings. I also wish I had simply spent a couple of hours studying a map of the new region and state.
4. Think about your schedule for the first couple of days. Are you going to go to Ikea? Pier 1? Target? Where are these places located? Can you print off some maps in advance? Will you be setting up internet and phone service in your new apartment? Can you call ahead to arrange an appointment? Are you changing your drivers license? How will you get to the DMV? Be prepared because, as we mention above, those first couple of days will inevitably be a whirlwind.
Next time, we'll look at some ideas for moving to a new city near where you already live to start a graduate program.
