Going from urban/suburban life to rural?

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I've lived in metropolitan areas my whole life, and have never experienced life in a rural area. I am now wondering if I should apply to rural schools like KCOM and LMU. They sound like good schools, but I'm not sure if I would be happy living in a rural area.

Has anyone here had experience going to school in a rural area after living in a metropolitan area, and how did it work out for you?

you have to drive farther out for restaurants and concerts. but your stress level goes down. cheaper housing, less traffic, friendlier people. clean air.
i think that a big obstacle for newcomers is in the mindset - and it's usually about either politics or religion.
lmu is only an hour from knoxville btw. i personally like lmu a lot. awesome scenery.

I live in the Des Moines metro currently and will be going to KCOM. Kirksville is a small town, but it is similar to the size of the town in which I did my undergrad. Really, I don't think it will be too much of an issue, you are there to go to school anyway...

The only thing that's going to bother me is the bugs.

I don't know about you but I live in a suburban area outside a very major city. It takes 15 minutes to get to a starbucks/pizza place/CVS/booze store/fast food/ect. If I want to go to a mall or somewhere nice, looking at a 45 minute to 1 hour commute minimum in either direction. It's a heavily populated area but I've been to rural areas with more to do with signifcantly less commute time. 15 minute commute really becomes down the street after awhile, you'll get used to it.

EDIT: I'm on the northeast coast, never been to middle america or too far south on the east coat. It very well may be a different world there.

Originally Posted by azide10

I don't know about you but I live in a suburban area outside a very major city. It takes 15 minutes to get to a starbucks/pizza place/CVS/booze store/fast food/ect. If I want to go to a mall or somewhere nice, looking at a 45 minute to 1 hour commute minimum in either direction. It's a heavily populated area but I've been to rural areas with more to do with signifcantly less commute time. 15 minute commute really becomes down the street after awhile, you'll get used to it.

EDIT: I'm on the northeast coast, never been to middle america or too far south on the east coat. It very well may be a different world there.

Ha exactly, a trip to wal-mart in undergrad was just down the street heading to the south part of town and it became a "long trip". Which is funny, because there is a wal-mart/target close to where I live and it is 15 mins to get there, double the time it took when I lived in small town.

Originally Posted by MedPR

The only thing that's going to bother me is the bugs.

HUH???

Originally Posted by dntke1518

Ha exactly, a trip to wal-mart in undergrad was just down the street heading to the south part of town and it became a "long trip". Which is funny, because there is a wal-mart/target close to where I live and it is 15 mins to get there, double the time it took when I lived in small town.

It is weird, my husband and I lived in a pretty distant "suburb" of Minneapolis, it used to take us 45mi/50mns to get to work one way each day... Now we live in Denver, it still takes 45mns, but it's only 15miles. You can bike the same 15mi in the same time or less, it's all relative, and once the standard changes you'll adjust. Just remember, if you can't buy it on Amazon (as a student you should have a free prime account, or discounted), you probably don't need it

Originally Posted by SBB2016

HUH???



It is weird, my husband and I lived in a pretty distant "suburb" of Minneapolis, it used to take us 45mi/50mns to get to work one way each day... Now we live in Denver, it still takes 45mns, but it's only 15miles. You can bike the same 15mi in the same time or less, it's all relative, and once the standard changes you'll adjust. Just remember, if you can't buy it on Amazon (as a student you should have a free prime account, or discounted), you probably don't need it

I live in the city. No bugs. I hate bugs. Also free prime accounts only last 1 year.

I grew up in a city until I entered kindergarten and then moved to a rural area. It's probably not that relevant since I hardly remember it. I like the rural area though. It's not as bad as some people say it is. I can get to anywhere I want to go (including a large city) in under 30 mins. I'm living a step down from the suburbs, but a step above living on the prairie.

It's important not to discount the reduced cost of living in a rural area, especially for a med student who's not really going to have a lot of free time to enjoy any amenities the place the live in has to offer...

I lived in rural areas most of my life. I assume you're going to be living on campus or nearby campus so there should be stores/restaurants nearby.

I don't see there really being much difference in your current lifestyle unless you're going to be living away from campus. You probably weren't going to be hitting up the clubs anymore anyways as a med student.

I will suggest you look for hiking/public lakes nearby, one of the great things about rural areas is you can go fishing whenever you want. And generally the people are really nice, where I live I just leave the boat on the lake so I don't have to haul it everytime I go. No one's stolen it in the 5+ years I've had it there.

EDIT: lol @ bugs. I will say you do have to watch out at night, that's when scorpions come out. **** gets real.

Originally Posted by MedPR

I live in the city. No bugs. I hate bugs. Also free prime accounts only last 1 year.

Last time I checked cities have plenty of bugs... generally called roaches... not to mention, the entire world is covered with bugs, not really sure how you've decided they don't exist in a city, just in a rural area...

Amazon prime, first year free, every other year 35$, hence discounted...

Originally Posted by SBB2016

Last time I checked cities have plenty of bugs... generally called roaches... not to mention, the entire world is covered with bugs, not really sure how you've decided they don't exist in a city, just in a rural area...

Amazon prime, first year free, every other year 35$, hence discounted...

You don't have as many bugs buzzing around you in most cities, and roaches are only really a problem if you're a slob.

There's a lot of geographical variation in bugs, so if you want to avoid them you should try to stick to cooler, drier climates.

Originally Posted by SBB2016

Last time I checked cities have plenty of bugs... generally called roaches... not to mention, the entire world is covered with bugs, not really sure how you've decided they don't exist in a city, just in a rural area...

Amazon prime, first year free, every other year 35$, hence discounted...

I assume you live in a rural environment.. Either that or you don't clean very often.

Originally Posted by johnnydrama

You don't have as many bugs buzzing around you in most cities, and roaches are only really a problem if you're a slob.

There's a lot of geographical variation in bugs, so if you want to avoid them you should try to stick to cooler, drier climates.

+1. Bugs in the city are pretty limited. I've been living in the city almost 6 years now and I have never had a roach, spider, or anything besides a few gnats in my apartment. Plus, the amount of flying insects outside is pretty minimal. I've visited a family friend in Warrensburg, MO (suburb/rural just outside KC, MO) and couldn't stand outside at night for 10 seconds without hearing or feeling something fly by my head

I'm sure I'll get used to it though. Except for spiders, I'm not really scared of bugs, I just don't like them.

Dude...go rural and never look back. City life is ridiculous.

One person mentioned it above...stress level.

Bugs? Well, you better not come to the east (north or south); we're freakin bug central

Originally Posted by Wolverines83

Dude...go rural and never look back. City life is ridiculous.

One person mentioned it above...stress level.

Bugs? Well, you better not come to the east (north or south); we're freakin bug central

Meh, you were just weak.



Puny rural person - couldn't cut it in the city.

Originally Posted by Wolverines83

Dude...go rural and never look back. City life is ridiculous.

One person mentioned it above...stress level.

Bugs? Well, you better not come to the east (north or south); we're freakin bug central

I went from rural to city and I haven't noticed any additional stress due to the city.

Originally Posted by MedPR

I assume you live in a rural environment.. Either that or you don't clean very often.



+1. Bugs in the city are pretty limited. I've been living in the city almost 6 years now and I have never had a roach, spider, or anything besides a few gnats in my apartment. Plus, the amount of flying insects outside is pretty minimal. I've visited a family friend in Warrensburg, MO (suburb/rural just outside KC, MO) and couldn't stand outside at night for 10 seconds without hearing or feeling something fly by my head

I'm sure I'll get used to it though. Except for spiders, I'm not really scared of bugs, I just don't like them.

Fwiw, I would be pretty sad to never see butterflies again... you just trade bugs for smog... wooooohooooo

I don't think suburbs are 'rural' and I've never had a roach in any building I've ever lived in or even near. Having roaches in MN is like having leprosy... it is extremely rare and if you do, people tend to avoid you...

Either way, I can't fathom living where there is nothing besides people. Animals are interesting and I like having MY OWN hot tub instead of one that other people touch... I like having my own deck and patio, my own house/driveway/yard/etc... And I much prefer not to have shared walls. So, if you live in a big city, and you have no bugs, it can only be because you live in a gigantic building with no grass/trees nearby... no thanks... not in a million years...

Originally Posted by SBB2016

Fwiw, I would be pretty sad to never see butterflies again... you just trade bugs for smog... wooooohooooo

I don't think suburbs are 'rural' and I've never had a roach in any building I've ever lived in or even near. Having roaches in MN is like having leprosy... it is extremely rare and if you do, people tend to avoid you...

Either way, I can't fathom living where there is nothing besides people. Animals are interesting and I like having MY OWN hot tub instead of one that other people touch... I like having my own deck and patio, my own house/driveway/yard/etc... And I much prefer not to have shared walls. So, if you live in a big city, and you have no bugs, it can only be because you live in a gigantic building with no grass/trees nearby... no thanks... not in a million years...

Oh I don't mind butterflies. I'm talking about nasty things resembling these: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wmg1dbdFze...+Long+Legs.jpg

I do live in a decent size building, but I do have lots of grass and trees nearby. Nearby as in directly in front of and behind my building. I also live across the street from a very well gardened university, a mile from 1371 acre park, 3 miles from the Missouri river, and within 5 miles of everything anyone could ever need (groceries, mall, hiking trails, biking trails, golf course, etc).

Interesting this thread and people's fears of the unknown. I grew up SUPER rural to the point that I stepped into my first Wal-Mart when I was 32 years old!!!

I had never driven on an Interstate freeway until that age either. Hahaha. You all will be fine.

i found alote of LMU-ers from big cities

Originally Posted by cabinbuilder

Interesting this thread and people's fears of the unknown. I grew up SUPER rural to the point that I stepped into my first Wal-Mart when I was 32 years old!!!

I had never driven on an Interstate freeway until that age either. Hahaha. You all will be fine.

That baffles me.

Originally Posted by MedPR

Oh I don't mind butterflies. I'm talking about nasty things resembling these: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wmg1dbdFze...+Long+Legs.jpg

I do live in a decent size building, but I do have lots of grass and trees nearby. Nearby as in directly in front of and behind my building. I also live across the street from a very well gardened university, a mile from 1371 acre park, 3 miles from the Missouri river, and within 5 miles of everything anyone could ever need (groceries, mall, hiking trails, biking trails, golf course, etc).

Those are crane flies... they don't bite, they don't sting, they are harmless and just fly around and do their thing... big deal... http://www.extension.iastate.edu/new...JuneBeetle.jpg these by contrast seemingly have no ability to control their direction and fly into everything... SUPER annoying, but are only around for about a month... http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/insec...tag-beetle.jpg or these guys who can give a nasty pinch if you mess with them... Bah... no matter, I grew up with a biology teacher for a father. I caught frogs, snakes, etc...

Originally Posted by dntke1518

That baffles me.

One hint: Alaska...

I've lived in major cities my entire life and I just can't deal with rural areas. I have family in Mississippi and it's great to visit them, but it's just wayyyy too slow-paced, too many bugs, and people are too nice (sounds crazy but I'm just not accustomed to that). I'm more of a new York city person. That being said, med school is tough to get into so sometimes you've gotta do what you gotta do, but I personally only applied to schools in or near metropolitan cities. I would be miserable anywhere else.

Originally Posted by SBB2016

Those are crane flies... they don't bite, they don't sting, they are harmless and just fly around and do their thing... big deal... http://www.extension.iastate.edu/new...JuneBeetle.jpg these by contrast seemingly have no ability to control their direction and fly into everything... SUPER annoying, but are only around for about a month... http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/insec...tag-beetle.jpg or these guys who can give a nasty pinch if you mess with them... Bah... no matter, I grew up with a biology teacher for a father. I caught frogs, snakes, etc...



One hint: Alaska...

For the most part I don't like things flying around or being able to jump or move quickly in an unpredictable way (spiders, mainly). So things like beetles, snakes, scorpions, etc don't bother me even if they are more "dangerous" than the harmless flying things. I'd rather go into a classroom with a cobra in it than a spider as big or bigger than an ipod.

Originally Posted by SBB2016

One hint: Alaska...

makes sense

Originally Posted by weezynation

I've lived in major cities my entire life and I just can't deal with rural areas. I have family in Mississippi and it's great to visit them, but it's just wayyyy too slow-paced, too many bugs, and people are too nice (sounds crazy but I'm just not accustomed to that). I'm more of a new York city person. That being said, med school is tough to get into so sometimes you've gotta do what you gotta do, but I personally only applied to schools in or near metropolitan cities. I would be miserable anywhere else.

That's so funny... I did exactly the opposite. I didn't apply to any schools in CA or NYC (and similar areas)

Originally Posted by MedPR

For the most part I don't like things flying around or being able to jump or move quickly in an unpredictable way (spiders, mainly). So things like beetles, snakes, scorpions, etc don't bother me even if they are more "dangerous" than the harmless flying things. I'd rather go into a classroom with a cobra in it than a spider as big or bigger than an ipod.

I'd go in the room with the cobra and the spider and I'd probably try to play with both of them... assuming I had some sort of protective equipment so they couldn't kill me...

To each their own I guess!! That's why I want to do rural med!

Originally Posted by SBB2016

That's so funny... I did exactly the opposite. I didn't apply to any schools in CA or NYC (and similar areas)



I'd go in the room with the cobra and the spider and I'd probably try to play with both of them... assuming I had some sort of protective equipment so they couldn't kill me...

To each their own I guess!! That's why I want to do rural med!

Well if I end up at a rural school I hope I can get used to the spiders

Originally Posted by JeetKuneDo

My only gripe with rural is diversity. Not too many Asian people away from major cities.

Are you being serious? Like how inner-city = blacks and suburbs = whites?

Originally Posted by MedPR

Are you being serious? Like how inner-city = blacks and suburbs = whites?

Yes to the first, no to the second.

Would you fault a black person for saying they didn't want to go to school in rural Alabama? I wouldn't...

JKD, I would just say that some areas are better than others, and some places rural would be fine, some places maybe not so fine, but I think most of the DO school areas you would be okay... remember, you're interacting with your student body, and it will have diversity...

Originally Posted by SBB2016

Would you fault a black person for saying they didn't want to go to school in rural Alabama? I wouldn't...

I wouldn't fault any person for saying they didn't want to go to school in rural Alabama.

*shudder*

Originally Posted by SBB2016

Would you fault a black person for saying they didn't want to go to school in rural Alabama? I wouldn't...

JKD, I would just say that some areas are better than others, and some places rural would be fine, some places maybe not so fine, but I think most of the DO school areas you would be okay... remember, you're interacting with your student body, and it will have diversity...

A bit of an extreme example, but I agree.

Originally Posted by johnnydrama

I wouldn't fault any person for saying they didn't want to go to school in rural Alabama.

*shudder*

Well I'm from the North, so for me that's true, but for others it isn't

Originally Posted by MedPR

A bit of an extreme example, but I agree.

Just saying, I don't hold it against a person to not want to be the 'only' XYZ person in the school or area...

Originally Posted by oms2

you have to drive farther out for restaurants and concerts. but your stress level goes down. cheaper housing, less traffic, friendlier people. clean air.
i think that a big obstacle for newcomers is in the mindset - and it's usually about either politics or religion.
lmu is only an hour from knoxville btw. i personally like lmu a lot. awesome scenery.

I can agree with most of this. I grew up in the suburbs of Southern California. I moved to a small town for undergrad, and I fell in love with it. It's not nearly as backwards as people here assume. Yes, we have high speed Internet. Yes, we have restaurants (even Thai food.). If nightlife is your thing, you might feel more restricted.

Originally Posted by MedPR

I assume you live in a rural environment.. Either that or you don't clean very often.



+1. Bugs in the city are pretty limited. I've been living in the city almost 6 years now and I have never had a roach, spider, or anything besides a few gnats in my apartment. Plus, the amount of flying insects outside is pretty minimal. I've visited a family friend in Warrensburg, MO (suburb/rural just outside KC, MO) and couldn't stand outside at night for 10 seconds without hearing or feeling something fly by my head

I'm sure I'll get used to it though. Except for spiders, I'm not really scared of bugs, I just don't like them.

Honestly, the bugs here in the rural northwest/mountain west aren't bad. My wife's family in Phoenix (6th largest city in the US) are currently dealing with a major scorpion infestation.

I'm a rural kinda guy trapped in the city as well right now. I enjoy owning my own house, having a yard for my dog and still being close to everything, but take that same house and put it in the mountains and I'd be in heaven. Bugs are interesting to me, wildlife is even more interesting and I enjoy watching animals and marine life alike. I'm also getting ready to head out on a backpacking trip, have a genuine interest in rural medicine, and spend a lot of time in the outdoors.

I know for some going from the city to a rural environment is a huge change or a new adventure, but in the long run you might find that you really like the rural areas.

This has gotten to be quite a bit about bugs... lol. The main issue for people I would think would be that there is not as much to do in rural settings, and it is a smaller community where lots of people know eachother. I guess the reason I'm not worried about it is that I will be going to school and that should take a decent amount of time.

Have fun on your backpacking trip COMedic

i think lmu is probably the most rural in terms of distance away from a city of >5,000. even at lmu you can find multiple chinese/mexican restaurants a short drive down the highway in lafollette, or better yet, in minutes across the border in middlesboro ky.

Originally Posted by dntke1518

This has gotten to be quite a bit about bugs... lol. The main issue for people I would think would be that there is not as much to do in rural settings, and it is a smaller community where lots of people know eachother. I guess the reason I'm not worried about it is that I will be going to school and that should take a decent amount of time.

Have fun on your backpacking trip COMedic

Thanks dntlke, I'm definitely looking forward to escaping the heat this weekend. Rural life is an adjustment, but school will help and for some it will become something that they may discover grows quite fast on them.

Originally Posted by oms2

i think lmu is probably the most rural in terms of distance away from a city of >5,000. even at lmu you can find multiple chinese/mexican restaurants a short drive down the highway in lafollette, or better yet, in minutes across the border in middlesboro ky.

I was in the area and heard / noticed the same thing. Which town in KY or VA do people go to to escape? I stayed in TN for the few days I was there because the surrounding towns in KY/VA were just as rural...

I think the "less to do" in a rural area depends on what you do. If you shop/club in your spare time, yeah a rural area will have less to do. If you want to go mountain biking, hiking, etc, your rural area may have plenty to do.

Originally Posted by SBB2016

I think the "less to do" in a rural area depends on what you do. If you shop/club in your spare time, yeah a rural area will have less to do. If you want to go mountain biking, hiking, etc, your rural area may have plenty to do.

It does matter what you do.

If you do people, stick to the cities.

If you do farm animals, stay in the rural areas.

Originally Posted by physcigirl27

I was in the area and heard / noticed the same thing. Which town in KY or VA do people go to to escape? I stayed in TN for the few days I was there because the surrounding towns in KY/VA were just as rural...

i suspect they drive to knoxville, lexington, nashville. not a bad drive to nashville actually. (i don't go to lmu but i've seen it, and i'm familiar with tenn & ky)