Best place to live/work?

[jooney89]

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Hi, I'm a 3rd year DPT student who has only a few months til graduation! I've been contemplating about where to live/work for many months so I've done numerous google searches but I think it's time to listen to what actual current/previous residents had to say.

Here's what I like:

• Suburban/Urban: I grew up in this environment so that's where I'm most comfortable with. And I'm guessing these types of places will have more job opportunities.
• Low cost of living: I know, it'll be impossible have a low cost of living in a metro city but compared to other cities, are there ones that have lowER cost of living?
• Numerous job opportunities for inpatient rehab/outpatient ortho: I'm not looking for homehealth as of right now.
• East coast: I just want to stay relatively close to my family.

So any recommendation as to which CITIES I should live/work in? And can you give me some pros/cons about that city I should know about? Thanks in advance!

 

[NewTestament]

I'm a 3rd-year DPT student as well, and I've already begun to search for jobs. I'm always wondering where I will be three or four months from now. We live in a big country with many opportunities for PT's and health care workers.

Suburban/urban: the advantages are obvious. These areas offer more entertainment, more services, more shopping, more restaurants, more diversity and an overall higher quality of life. Disadvantages include traffic, crime, cost of living, and more competition for jobs. You're going to make less and pay more in these areas.

The areas that best meet your criteria are probably the Southeast, especially North Carolina and Florida. There are tons of jobs here in Florida in all settings. North Carolina also has abundant opportunities. The COL in both states is reasonable, even in large metro areas. Have you looked into the Research Triangle, Charlotte, Jacksonville, or Tampa?

If I were you, and I know you're not going to like this, but go where the best opportunity is. Forget lifestyle for a couple years, move to a rural area or a small city where no one wants to live, make a lot of money, and treat as many patients as possible. You're probably 30-years-old. You don't need to live your best life now.

 

[jblil]

North Carolina also has abundant opportunities.

Folks in last year's class who wanted jobs in the Raleigh or Charlotte areas were sorely disappointed. Saturation is very real there. But according to recruiters I've talked to, there are still a lot of opportunities in rural areas of NC.

 

[NewTestament]

Folks in last year's class who wanted jobs in the Raleigh or Charlotte areas were sorely disappointed. Saturation is very real there. But according to recruiters I've talked to, there are still a lot of opportunities in rural areas of NC.

There are real opportunities in rural areas everywhere! I just know quite a few of my classmates moved to NC and found good work. But I also know one guy who moved to Raleigh and took a job for $58k. That's pathetic. I only mentioned Raleigh and Charlotte because they have a decent COL, they're nice places to live, and they're on the east coast.

That's why new grads should be willing to live anywhere and should look beyond popular metro areas. Go where the money and the jobs are. Learn to entertain yourself for a couple years.

 

[jooney89]

Have you looked into the Research Triangle, Charlotte, Jacksonville, or Tampa?

I actually looked into Jacksonville and it is in fact one of the places I am liking. I will look into other places you mentioned as well.

I appreciate your input about living in rural areas. I'll look into that too. Thanks!