Anybody else want to avoid going to med school in a “trendy” city?

[calipremed5768]

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Everybody is always talking about New York, San Francisco, LA, Chicago, Boston as awesome places to go to med school. Don’t get me wrong these are nice cities but 2000 a month for rent in a city like Cleveland, Houston, Nashville gets you an pretty nice personal apartment. 2000 a month in the former cities gets you 4 years of living with 3 roommates or something. Just food for thought I suppose.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

I applied to several schools in NYC and got interviews. After spending a few days in the city and thinking about living there I decided it wasn’t for me. I didn’t even apply to any west coast schools because I knew I wouldn’t be happy there

 

[Med Ed]

0/10.

 

[penpenclown]

I'd go to the depths of Tartarus if its med school would accept me.

 

[calipremed5768]

I know what you mean. Friends who do ibanking there complain that 110 isn’t even really enough to live alone. I can’t imagine the places med students have to stay at

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Everybody is always talking about New York, San Francisco, LA, Chicago, Boston as awesome places to go to med school. Don’t get me wrong these are nice cities but 2000 a month for rent in a city like Cleveland, Houston, Nashville gets you an pretty nice personal apartment. 2000 a month in the former cities gets you 4 years of living with 3 roommates or something. Just food for thought I suppose.

2000 a month gives me nice house with 3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms plus basement right here, and I still have an extra 500 in my pocket.

 

[calipremed5768]

True but wouldn’t that be a lot of space for one person (assuming you don’t have a family)

 

[DrStephenStrange]

True but wouldn’t that be a lot of space for one person (assuming you don’t have a family)

The secret of med school housing is "get you some roommates". At the end of the day that's only 500 dollars for rent.

 

[calipremed5768]

I don’t want roommates though. I’m actually a pretty easygoing person but the whole roommates thing doesn’t work for some reason even if it’s a friend let alone some dude from Craigslist. I applaude the people who can do it.

 

[calipremed5768]

I’m not good looking...

 

[993444]

In Cleveland for 2000 you can buy a house (yes), but you don't want that house

I read a documentary that these houses are really just to rope you in to pay property tax.

 

[calipremed5768]

Well ya I meant 2000 a month for rent not to buy a house lol

 

[Dr panda]

Well ya I meant 2000 a month for rent not to buy a house lol

I know, just saying, it is not always good to live in a cheap area (there is a reason why it is cheap)

 

[907914]

Everybody is always talking about New York, San Francisco, LA, Chicago, Boston as awesome places to go to med school. Don’t get me wrong these are nice cities but 2000 a month for rent in a city like Cleveland, Houston, Nashville gets you an pretty nice personal apartment. 2000 a month in the former cities gets you 4 years of living with 3 roommates or something. Just food for thought I suppose.

I designed my entire school list based around good elementary schools and cheap rent. Then MCAT came back, school list had to become mostly T20s, and there are just not a whole lot of T20s outside of cities. I had to cave and I have 2 Chicago schools, 1 NYC, 1 SF, 1 LA and 1 Boston. The rest are thankfully still rural or small town

 

[ciestar]

I did the rural thing for 20 years of my life. It probably helped get me interviews. I have no interest in returning. I like Philly, though. (Is that tendy? Probs not lol)

 

[differentiating]

Everybody is always talking about New York, San Francisco, LA, Chicago, Boston as awesome places to go to med school. Don’t get me wrong these are nice cities but 2000 a month for rent in a city like Cleveland, Houston, Nashville gets you an pretty nice personal apartment. 2000 a month in the former cities gets you 4 years of living with 3 roommates or something. Just food for thought I suppose.

It depends on what you prefer! For me, I personally see it as getting what I pay for - I'd much rather have an apartment in SF than a house in Houston. I prefer the weather, the culture, and the convenience of being able to walk/transit everywhere rather than drive. But (obviously) there are people who like living in the South and would feel differently.

I paid ~1500 to split a 2-bed with 1 other classmate in SF, and I was okay with that. Hoping to move back with an attending salary someday so I can rent a nice studio or 1-bed 😉

 

[907914]

Hoping to move back with an attending salary someday so I can rent a nice studio or 1-bed

 

[penpenclown]

I did the rural thing for 20 years of my life. It probably helped get me interviews. I have no interest in returning. I like Philly, though. (Is that tendy? Probs not lol)

I lived in a very rural town in high school. That was...enough for me.

Unless any med schools with a rural focus are reading this. I love rural life!!! Pls admit.

 

[sadpremed121]

Having lived in nyc chicago La philly Houston, I can’t imagine living anywhere except nyc. That’s just me tho. A lot of people don’t like the city life.

 

[PA_dud3]

I couldn't stand living in a city like Charlotte, let alone places like NYC. Don't get me wrong, I love visiting the city and shopping, dining, etc. But I would much rather live/learn/work in a rural area. A lot of very good schools on my list with a rural focus and location, which is something I'm drawn to.

 

[differentiating]

@MemeLord (since quoting you isn't working)

I'm being flippant, but I am serious about wanting to live in SF long-term! My goals are less "own my own home" and more "have my own bathroom someday", though, so it's not as financially infeasible as it may seem.

 

[calipremed5768]

I mean I like it too and someday if I get a high paying job I would probably move there it’s just unappealing to be a student in a city dominated by high finance

 

[sadpremed121]

I couldn't stand living in a city like Charlotte, let alone places like NYC. Don't get me wrong, I love visiting the city and shopping, dining, etc. But I would much rather live/learn/work in a rural area. A lot of very good schools on my list with a rural focus and location, which is something I'm drawn to.

But there’s no good pizza!

 

[calipremed5768]

Obviously this opinion doesn’t apply to people with family money etc.

 

[ciestar]

I couldn't stand living in a city like Charlotte, let alone places like NYC. Don't get me wrong, I love visiting the city and shopping, dining, etc. But I would much rather live/learn/work in a rural area. A lot of very good schools on my list with a rural focus and location, which is something I'm drawn to.

I was not impressed by Charlotte at all

 

[ciestar]

Obviously this opinion doesn’t apply to people with family money etc.

My opinions are based on visiting places lol
And attending med school. We’ve lived here a long time though.

 

[PA_dud3]

I was not impressed by Charlotte at all

It's sort of depressing everywhere but uptown. Uptown is alright for a while for people like me with little exposure to that sort of thing. If you've seen the likes of NYC etc. It would truly be nothing spectacular.

 

[ciestar]

It's sort of depressing everywhere but uptown. Uptown is alright for a while for people like me with little exposure to that sort of thing. If you've seen the likes of NYC etc. It would truly be nothing spectacular.

Yeah, i can see that. Ive seen many of the US’s major cities. LA sucks so much more than NYC though

 

[Gilakend]

I grew up very rural and going to med school in a small city. I feel like it’s good to experience something new.

I didn’t apply to any schools in NYC or Cali since they both seem dreadful to live there. So I don’t think you’re alone in that regard. However, obviously, many people disagree.

 

[ciestar]

I grew up very rural and going to med school in a small city. I feel like it’s good to experience something new.

I didn’t apply to any schools in NYC or Cali since they both seem dreadful to live there. So I don’t think you’re alone in that regard. However, obviously, many people disagree.

I feel like it gave me perspectives and experiences people really need. My thoughts on the world greatly differ from those back home where diversity does not exist. I have rotations in an inner city hospital. It humbles you but also opens you to all kinds of people way different from yourself

 

[Neuronom]

Going to a nyc school this fall, looking for off campus apartments...yeah it's rough.
Wouldn't want to raise a family here, but the opportunities to grow are endless - which, for me, is what this whole experience is about.

4 years...then residency by the beach? 😎

 

[ElloMellowYellow]

This also depends on how much you're willing to commute. I have a 1450/month 1 bedroom outside of Boston. I could drive into Boston in 40 minutes or do a combination of bus/drive for 1 hr.

Same with NYC. Live solo in queens for about 1500, bus it in for 1 hr.

I'm assuming other big cities are like this. In my opinion this is the best living situation. Living far enough to be quiet, but close enough to go to the city easily.

 

[faerie62]

Not a fan of those "trendy" cities either. I like being able to drive places without ridiculous traffic and having a decent apartment without paying a fortune. But cities do have their perks, concerts, restaurants, clubs, etc.

 

[907914]

This also depends on how much you're willing to commute. I have a 1450/month 1 bedroom outside of Boston. I could drive into Boston in 40 minutes or do a combination of bus/drive for 1 hr.

Same with NYC. Live solo in queens for about 1500, bus it in for 1 hr.

I'm assuming other big cities are like this. In my opinion this is the best living situation. Living far enough to be quiet, but close enough to go to the city easily.

An hour commute each direction is 2 hours a day, 10 hours a week, and 500 hours of lost productivity every year. It may just be that I am approaching from the lens of a father, but when time for socializing and hobbies is already so limited in medical school, 500 hours in a year sounds like far too much wasted time. I don’t like that I have to drive even 20 minutes to work, and I only do that 3 days a week...

 

[deleted903608]

I'm from a rural area and really didn't think I would like med school in NYC, but I love it. My rent is absurdly cheap because it's subsidized by the school (I pay < $450 a month and share a 3 bedroom apartment with full kitchen, living room, and bathroom with 2 other med students). Also its a 30 second walk to the gym or classes. NYC is also great for networking especially for competitive specialties (great since I surprisingly discovered a love of plastics in my first year). I could honestly see myself staying for residency now. That said, long term I definitely want to be somewhere more rural - once I'm an attending and can afford the horse farm I've always dreamed of.

 

[deleted962973]

I'm from a rural area and really didn't think I would like med school in NYC, but I love it. My rent is absurdly cheap because it's subsidized by the school (I pay < $450 a month and share a 3 bedroom apartment with full kitchen, living room, and bathroom with 2 other med students). Also its a 30 second walk to the gym or classes. NYC is also great for networking especially for competitive specialties (great since I surprisingly discovered a love of plastics in my first year). I could honestly see myself staying for residency now. That said, long term I definitely want to be somewhere more rural - once I'm an attending and can afford the horse farm I've always dreamed of.

Whoa mind sharing what school this is, or whether it’s one of the Manhattan schools? $450/month for NYC is insane.

 

[deleted903608]

Whoa mind sharing what school this is, or whether it’s one of the Manhattan schools? $450/month for NYC is insane.

Einstein, so not Manhattan. Still insanely cheap for the area though.

 

[Neuronom]

This also depends on how much you're willing to commute. I have a 1450/month 1 bedroom outside of Boston. I could drive into Boston in 40 minutes or do a combination of bus/drive for 1 hr.

Same with NYC. Live solo in queens for about 1500, bus it in for 1 hr.

I'm assuming other big cities are like this. In my opinion this is the best living situation. Living far enough to be quiet, but close enough to go to the city easily.

An hour commute each direction is 2 hours a day, 10 hours a week, and 500 hours of lost productivity every year. It may just be that I am approaching from the lens of a father, but when time for socializing and hobbies is already so limited in medical school, 500 hours in a year sounds like far too much wasted time. I don’t like that I have to drive even 20 minutes to work, and I only do that 3 days a week...

Long commutes could turn into opportunities to catch up on reading, Anki, or cat videos on youtube... But usually the reason you can't live in the heavily subsidized school apartments is due to family. I don't want my partner making that commute as well - at odd hours and every day.

Run home to shower/eat/change for the gym, a couple more hours of sleep, or see your friends for coffee at a moments notice. How much are you willing to pay for convenience? Especially when costs are relative to other debt.

 

[deleted903608]

But usually the reason you can't live in the heavily subsidized school apartments is due to family. I don't want my partner making that commute as well - at odd hours and every day.

I'm not sure about other schools with subsidized housing, but mine houses domestic partners/spouses and children for the same subsidized rent. Married couples usually get studio apartments and if there are kids usually a 2 or 3 bedroom.

 

[Neuronom]

I'm not sure about other schools with subsidized housing, but mine houses domestic partners/spouses and children for the same subsidized rent. Married couples usually get studio apartments and if there are kids usually a 2 or 3 bedroom.

Sorry, I used the term family loosely. Unmarried couples run into bind.

Edit: that's why I said partner

 

[deleted903608]

Sorry, I used the term family loosely. Unmarried couples run into bind.

Edit: that's why I said partner

And that's why I included "domestic partner" - our housing office has its own way of defining this but if you're unmarried they allow a partner to live on campus with documentation of things like previous cohabitation and shared finances or a legally declared domestic partnership. This policy is the result of a gay couple trying to live in housing before gay marriage was legal in NY, and it has stayed.

Again, this probably varied widely by school but at least at mine unmarried couples can live together in subsidized housing.