At what point do you commit yourself to a city?

[NyQuil]

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I ask this because I am beginning to think about applying to residencies. I noticed that some cities don't like to take residents from med students that are not native to that city (ie: Chicago). I also noticed that NYC (where I am from) fellowships aren't filled with very many people from outside of NYC. This makes sense, as these things largely depend on who you know and what you did where.

I am now beginning to think about where I'd like to apply for residency, and I am considering spending time away from NYC for at least a little while if only for the experience. So at what point am I largely committed to a city? When does it become increasingly difficult to find employment/further education outside of the city that you are currently staying?

 

[username456789]

I don't have a great answer to your specific question, but I will say that I'd absolutely recommend getting away from NYC for a few years if that's what you primarily know. The medical students I've met at NYC institutions (or who moved to my city for residency after spending most of their schooling in NYC previously) are just so paradoxically sheltered. It's strange how one of the biggest cities in the world causes you to develop such a closed minded, myopic view of the world.

I don't mean this to sound harsh towards NYC students, and I realize I'm painting with broad strokes; however, it was eye-opening to see how students operated as if NYC was the only place that ever existed on Earth.

 

[Shnurek]

As a maybe less myopic NYC person I totally agree. Most NYC people are a§§holes and any place that's not NYC/Vegas/Miami/California is "the middle of nowhere".

 

[2012mdc]

As a maybe less myopic NYC person I totally agree. Most NYC people are a§§holes and any place that's not NYC/Vegas/Miami/California is "the middle of nowhere".

But that's how most people who have only lived in those cities (plus Chicago) feel, at least in my experience.

I have noticed this recently when speaking to some of my non med school friends about the interviews I have. Those who have never lived outside of those cities act like a city like Dallas is absolutely terrible

 

[NickNaylor]

But that's how most people who have only lived in those cities (plus Chicago) feel, at least in my experience.

I have noticed this recently when speaking to some of my non med school friends about the interviews I have. Those who have never lived outside of those cities act like a city like Dallas is absolutely terrible

As someone from Dallas, it's a great city. It probably gets a bad rap because it's not as developed as most other large cities. It's more like a gigantic suburb rather than a true urban center.

 

[45408]

As a maybe less myopic NYC person I totally agree. Most NYC people are a§§holes and any place that's not NYC/Vegas/Miami/California is "the middle of nowhere".

For the record, the middle of nowhere is cheap, has low crime, nice people, and it's not like you're going to have much time to do anything else outside of residency anyway. I'd consider it 😉

 

[2012mdc]

As someone from Dallas, it's a great city. It probably gets a bad rap because it's not as developed as most other large cities. It's more like a gigantic suburb rather than a true urban center.

I mean Southern California is the same way. Coastal people just knock stuff without having even been there and I used Dallas as an example because Texas gets a bad rap.

I've spent significant time in Kentucky and Georgia so I guess I'm more open than a lot of Cali born and raised people are.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Here's another vote for middle-of-nowhere residency. You even make more money (on paper and in real terms).

Anyway, I don't think you have to commit to a city until you submit your rank list. Programs are going to prefer applicants who live/have lived in the area since they're more likely to stick around, but I doubt that bias is so severe that you can't break through it if you present a decent case for "Why here?"