The Complete Post-Match Checklist

You matched. The euphoria is real — you have worked toward this moment for a decade. Take a few days to feel it. Then open this checklist, because between now and July 1st there is a substantial list of administrative, financial, logistical, and personal tasks to complete. Miss any of them and your first weeks of residency become unnecessarily stressful, expensive, or both.

This guide is organized chronologically. Work through it in order, and by June 30th you will have every piece in place.

Match Week (Mid-March): Celebrate and Connect

Celebrate

This is not optional. You earned this. Call your parents. Hug your partner. Take your friends to dinner. Post the envelope-opening photo if that is your thing. You have been grinding since college organic chemistry — possibly longer — and you deserve 48-72 hours of unqualified joy before the logistics begin.

Connect with Your Co-Residents

Your co-residents are about to become the most important people in your professional life. Start building those relationships now.

• Join the program group chat. Your program will set one up (WhatsApp, GroupMe, Signal, iMessage) — or your future chief residents will. If nobody has by the end of Match Week, email your program coordinator and ask.
• Introduce yourself. First name, where you are coming from, whether you are looking for a roommate. Keep it warm and brief.
• Ask current residents: Where do you live? What do you wish you had done differently before starting? Any tips for the transition? Upper-level residents love giving this advice — they remember how overwhelming this period was.
• Identify your chief residents. They are your best resource for practical, program-specific questions: What EMR does the hospital use? Which orientation sessions are mandatory? Is there a GSI window for disability insurance?

Contact Your Program Coordinator

Your program coordinator is the administrative backbone of your residency. They manage onboarding paperwork, credentialing, orientation logistics, and benefits enrollment. Send a brief introductory email expressing your excitement and asking:

• When will onboarding paperwork be sent?
• What is the orientation schedule?
• Are there any time-sensitive tasks (background check, drug screen, immunization deadlines)?
• Does the program have a housing assistance or guarantor program?

Notify Your Medical School

• Confirm your graduation timeline and ensure your dean's office will send your final transcript and MSPE to your residency program on schedule
• Verify your diploma will be issued before your residency start date — some programs require proof of degree conferral before you can begin

Within 2 Weeks of Match (Late March)

Background Check and Drug Screen

Most programs initiate these immediately after Match. Respond to requests promptly — delays here can delay your start date.

• Background check: Criminal history, identity verification, sometimes credit check. If you have anything on your record (even a dismissed charge), disclose it proactively to your program rather than waiting for them to find it.
• Drug screen: Urine drug screen at a designated lab. Standard panel (amphetamines, opioids, THC, etc.). If you take a prescription medication that could trigger a positive result (Adderall, certain pain medications), bring documentation from your prescriber to the testing site.

Immunizations and Titers

Hospitals require proof of immunity to certain diseases. Your medical school should have your records, but verify and address any gaps now — some titers take weeks to process and boosters require multiple doses.

Request your immunization records from your medical school and your childhood pediatrician's office. Having everything in one document saves hours of searching later.

BLS/ACLS/PALS Certification

Most programs require current certifications before your start date:

Some programs arrange group certification sessions during orientation — check with your coordinator before paying for an outside course. If your existing certification expires before July 1, renew it now.

Apply for Your Training License

• Contact your state medical board (or your program coordinator, who will guide you through the process)
• Processing takes 8-16 weeks, so early application is essential
• Required documents typically include: medical school transcript, USMLE/COMLEX scores, photo ID, application fee ($200-$600 depending on state), proof of graduation (or expected graduation date)
• Most states issue a training permit or limited license for residents — this allows you to practice under supervision but may not permit independent moonlighting until you pass Step 3 and obtain a full license

April-May: Financial Foundation

This is the period when you set up the financial infrastructure that will serve you for the next 3-7 years of training. Every task here has a dedicated guide on MedFin — what follows is the action item and the essential context.

File Your Taxes (Even with $0 Income)

If you were a full-time student in the prior tax year with no income, file a tax return anyway. Here is why:

• Your most recent tax return is used to calculate IDR payments. A return showing $0 income means your initial IDR payment is $0/month — and those $0 payments count toward PSLF.
• If you do not file, your servicer may use alternative income documentation that could result in higher payments
• Filing is free using IRS Free File if your income was below $84,000

Apply for Income-Driven Repayment (IDR)

• Log into StudentAid.gov and apply for RAP or IBR
• If your most recent tax return shows $0 income (student year), your initial payment will be $0
• Do NOT accept forbearance — interest accrues and months do not count toward PSLF
• If you have FFEL or Perkins loans, start a Direct Consolidation Loan application (takes 30-60 days)

Consolidate Loans If Needed

If you have any non-Direct federal loans (FFEL, Perkins), consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to make them PSLF-eligible. Important: only consolidate the non-Direct loans. Do not consolidate existing Direct Loans unless you have a specific reason — it resets your payment counter.

Buy Disability Insurance

This is the most time-sensitive financial task after IDR enrollment:

• Ask your GME office about Guaranteed Standard Issue (GSI) windows — typically during orientation in June/July
• Contact an independent broker and get quotes from Guardian, MassMutual, and The Standard
• Target policy: $5,000/month benefit, own-occupation, with Future Purchase Option (FPO) and COLA riders
• Expected cost: $100-$175/month
• Why now: You are the youngest and healthiest you will ever be. Premiums are locked at your purchase age. A health diagnosis between now and attending-hood could make you uninsurable.

See the Disability Insurance guide for the complete breakdown.

Find Housing

• Review the NYC Housing Guide for neighborhood details, the 40x rule, and roommate strategies
• Start actively searching in May for June move-in
• Budget for move-in costs: first month + security deposit = $3,600-$5,000 minimum
• Contact Housing@NYULangone.org about the guarantor program if needed

DEA Registration

• Apply for a DEA number at deadiversion.usdoj.gov
• Required before you can prescribe controlled substances
• Fee: ~$888 for a 3-year registration (some programs reimburse this — ask)
• Processing takes 4-6 weeks — apply in May to have it by July

Open a Roth IRA

• Open at Fidelity, Vanguard, or Schwab — all offer zero-fee Roth IRAs with no minimum balance
• Set up automatic monthly contributions of $625/month to max out the $7,500 annual limit
• Invest in a target-date retirement fund (e.g., Vanguard Target Retirement 2065) — one fund, done
• See the Roth IRA guide for complete details

June: Move and Set Up Your Life

Move 1 Week Early

Do not move on June 30th. Arrive at least 7-10 days before orientation to:

• Unpack and make your apartment livable (you will not have time once residency starts)
• Learn your commute during rush hour — try it twice, on different days
• Locate the nearest grocery store, pharmacy, laundromat, and urgent care
• Set up your kitchen with basic cookware and staples — meal prep starts now
• Explore your neighborhood on foot — find the coffee shop, the park, the good takeout spot

Set Up Utilities and Services

• Electricity and gas: Contact Con Edison (NYC) or your local utility company. Schedule activation for your move-in date.
• Internet: Schedule installation early. NYC ISPs (Spectrum, Fios, Optimum) can take 1-2 weeks for installation appointments.
• Renter's insurance: $12-$20/month through Lemonade, State Farm, or your preferred insurer. Covers theft, fire, water damage, and personal liability. Required by most NYC landlords.

Tour the Hospital

Most programs include a hospital tour during orientation. Go on your own beforehand if possible:

• Find the ED, ICU(s), call rooms, cafeteria, resident lounge, and your primary workroom
• Locate supply rooms, medication dispensing machines (Pyxis/Omnicell), and code cart locations on your primary unit
• Figure out parking, bike storage, or the best subway exit for your entrance
• Download the hospital's EMR mobile app and practice logging in

Enroll in Benefits

Orientation includes a benefits enrollment window. Decisions to make:

• Health insurance: Compare PPO vs. HDHP. The HDHP unlocks an HSA (triple-tax-advantaged) but has higher out-of-pocket costs. If you are generally healthy, the HDHP + HSA is often the better financial choice.
• 403(b) retirement plan: Enroll at minimum to capture the employer match. Decide pre-tax vs. Roth contributions based on your PSLF strategy (pre-tax if pursuing PSLF, Roth if not).
• HSA: If you chose the HDHP, set up your HSA and begin contributions. $4,400/year individual limit (2026). Invest in index funds.
• Life insurance: Group term life through your employer is cheap ($5-$10/month for $100,000-$200,000). Worth it if you have a spouse, children, or anyone who depends on your income.
• FSA (Flexible Spending Account): If not using an HSA, consider a healthcare FSA for predictable medical expenses. Use-it-or-lose-it rules apply.

Submit Your First PSLF Employment Certification Form (ECF)

• Download the PSLF Form from StudentAid.gov
• Have your GME office or HR complete the employer certification section (Section 2)
• Submit to MOHELA (the exclusive PSLF servicer) via their upload portal, fax, or mail
• Do this in your first month. It triggers your loan transfer to MOHELA (if not already there) and starts your PSLF payment tracker. Every month you delay is a month of potential tracking confusion.

Set Up Your Budget

• Choose your tool: YNAB ($15/month), Monarch ($15/month), Empower (free), or a Google Sheet (free)
• Link your bank accounts and credit cards (if using YNAB or Monarch)
• Set up budget categories matching the line-by-line budget in the Budgeting & Taxes guide
• Track spending from Day 1 — the habit matters more than the tool

Administrative Details: The Boring Stuff That Matters

Change Your Address

• USPS mail forwarding (usps.com) — $1.10 online
• Driver's license (most states require update within 30-60 days of moving)
• Bank accounts and credit cards
• Student loan servicer
• IRS (Form 8822 or update when you file next)
• Voter registration (vote.org)

Transfer Prescriptions

• Call your pharmacy and transfer prescriptions to a pharmacy near your new address
• Identify a 24-hour pharmacy near your hospital (CVS, Walgreens, Duane Reade in NYC) — you will need it when you realize at 11pm that you are out of a medication

Find a PCP and Dentist

• You are about to have health insurance for the first time in a while (or with a new plan). Use it.
• Establish care with a primary care physician — you are not immune to the diseases you treat
• Schedule a dental cleaning — it has probably been a while

Will and Advance Directive

• You are now a licensed physician. You understand better than most people why advance directives matter.
• A basic will and advance directive can be prepared online for $50-$150 (Nolo, Trust & Will, LegalZoom) or through your state bar association
• Designate healthcare power of attorney and financial power of attorney
• This is especially important if you have a partner, spouse, children, or significant assets (including a large student loan balance that affects a spouse)

What NOT to Do

Don't Study

You just finished four years of medical school, passed Step 1 and Step 2 CK, and possibly took Step 3. You will learn what you need to know on the job — that is literally the point of residency. Use the pre-residency months to set up your life, rest, spend time with family and friends, and prepare logistically. Pre-studying for intern year is like pre-studying for parenthood: the real thing will be nothing like what you imagined.

Don't Make Major Purchases

No new car. No luxury apartment furniture. No expensive vacation funded by credit card. Your financial picture is about to undergo a fundamental shift — new income, new expenses (rent, insurance premiums, loan payments), new city, new cost of living. You need 2-3 months of actual paychecks and real expenses before you know what you can truly afford.

The residents who buy a $45,000 car in April on the strength of their future salary are the residents drowning in payments by October.

Don't Refinance Student Loans (If Considering PSLF)

Refinancing converts federal loans into private loans, permanently eliminating PSLF eligibility, IDR access, and all federal borrower protections. If there is any chance you will pursue PSLF — and if you are training at a nonprofit hospital, that chance is significant — do not refinance during the transition period. Make this decision deliberately after you understand your full financial picture, not impulsively based on a refinancing advertisement.

Don't Sign Up for Everything

Financial advisors, insurance salespeople, and investment firms will target you aggressively during this transition. You are a future high earner, and they know your exact income trajectory. You will receive emails, mailers, orientation booth pitches, and "complimentary financial planning" offers.

Say no to everything except:

1. 1.Disability insurance (buy during GSI window)
2. 2.Employer 403(b) match (enroll during benefits window)
3. 3.Roth IRA (open yourself at Fidelity/Vanguard/Schwab)

Everything else — whole life insurance, loaded mutual funds, financial advisory services with 1%+ AUM fees, annuities — can wait until you are an attending and can evaluate them with a clear head and a larger income. The cost of saying "yes" to the wrong product now is far greater than the cost of waiting.

The Bottom Line

The three months between Match Day and July 1st are your last stretch of truly flexible time for years. Use them wisely. The administrative tasks — licensing, credentialing, loan enrollment, insurance, housing — are not glamorous. But getting them right saves you thousands of dollars and dozens of hours of stress during intern year, when you will have neither money nor time to spare. Work through this checklist in order, check each box, and walk into orientation on July 1st knowing that every logistical piece is in place — so you can focus entirely on becoming a doctor.