Accepted new grad offer to Houston Methodist in TMC! Houston tips, anyone?

Nurses New Nurse

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I'm so excited that I was offered and I accepted a new grad nurse offer for Houston Methodist hospital at TMC! I can't wait to begin in February 2016.

I'm not from Houston so I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions/tips about living there? Here are some specific questions I have:

1) Living - I see online a lot of the apartments near medical center run $1200-2000/month (or more!), which is significantly more expensive than what I'm used to in Southern Utah. Are these areas safe and worth the money to be close enough to walk to work? Are they truly "lux" apartments? (I'm looking at Elan, Lincoln Center, the Marquis, etc.).

Another question would be - how is the light rail/bus system? Is it efficient? If I can save significantly on an apartment by commuting 30-45 minutes to work and back each day, maybe it's worth it. Any areas of town I should look into that are safe and perhaps more affordable?

2) Flooding - how serious is this or is the media blowing it out of proprortion? Is there anything I should be aware of as I'm looking for a place other than ask about flooding?

Thanks in advance for info! I can't wait to begin my nursing journey at TMC and with Houston Methodist!

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I'm interested in following this thread. Looking forward to reading the replies.

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Me too

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to New Grad Job Forum

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Congrats!

$1200-1800 will definitely be your price rage, but can be higher or lower depending on your amenities, lease term, and how many bedrooms you want. There are definitely more "cheaper" options in the Med Center than the places you listed.

I can't comment too much on the metro but I know that this is definitely something you should look into if it will work out for you. Parking in the Med Center is crazy expensive & cutting out that expense could save you huge. Other places to look into if you have a car: Midtown, Montrose, The Heights.

Never had a problem with floods. The only thing is sometimes the udergroud apartment garages can flood if we get an extreme amount of rain.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Howdy! Congrats on your acceptance to one of the most sought-after & prestigious residencies in the country.

Houston is not as user-friendly as other cities, that's for sure. We do experience more dramatic types of weather - including rains of the monsoon variety & TMC is a flood prone area. If you live here, you'll quickly become aware of all types of alternative routes to avoid encountering flooded roads. Take a look at this site- the Harris County Flood Control District. It has all the info you need to avoid choosing an apartment in a problem area. There are lots of transportation options for the TMC, including vanpools, carpools, etc. There's even a dedicated bus line from The Woodlands (north of Houston). Be sure to subscribe to TMC News - and take advantage of the TMC web site for any info you need about the area.

PP has suggested some good options for apartments, but they are all oretty upscale these days. For some reason, apt rates have skyrocketed & don't seem to becoming down anytime soon. You may also want to check out the 288 corridor - direct route from TMC to Pearland. It's very popular with TMC workers & there are a wide variety of housing options. IMO, the worst commutes right now (avoid avoid avoid) are 290 & I45 South- due to never-ending construction.

Houston will certainly be a change of pace for you, but I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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