Find me a med school, please

[imflying]

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Any schools that fit these (admittedly strange) criteria, location-wise?

Nice climate
Outdoorsy
Not in a college town (i.e. stuff to do besides go to bars)
Don't give preference to in-state students

EDIT: climate thing really isn't that important

 

[Kid A]

Usc?

 

[imflying]

Usc?

👍 on the user name

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[wristbandMD]

To me, "nice climate" means 30-45 degrees, dark clouds at least 300 days a year, tons of rain, snow and pine trees. If you're more specific on that and if you give a few more details on what you want out of medicine (specialty/goals), I can help you narrow it down.

I hate Seattle.

 

[imflying]

To me, "nice climate" means 30-45 degrees, dark clouds at least 300 days a year, tons of rain, snow and pine trees. If you're more specific on that and if you give a few more details on what you want out of medicine (specialty/goals), I can help you narrow it down.

Well I'm in a hot, humid climate right now. Never really lived in snowy places before so I don't know if I would like it or not, but I'm sick of the humidity. Honestly. That's why I think I'd like a temperate area best, maybe USC is a good option? Or is LA pretty hot/humid too?

Specialty/goals: no real preference specialty-wise, plan on either doing academic medicine or private practice probably

Speaking of Seattle, I really liked the climate (and the pine trees too) of most of the northwestern states I've visited, but I've never been there during the winter.

 

[wristbandMD]

Well I'm in a hot, humid climate right now. Never really lived in snowy places before so I don't know if I would like it or not, but I'm sick of the humidity. Honestly. That's why I think I'd like a temperate area best, maybe USC is a good option? Or is LA pretty hot/humid too?

LA is actually quite arid, surprisingly enough. A lot of people thing that it would be humid due to all of the smog, but that isn't the case. However, be warned that in the winter there are cold days. I lived there when I was younger and it got down into the 50s during the winter. That may not be cold for a lot of the country, but after living there for a couple years it is!

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[wristbandMD]

Well I'm in a hot, humid climate right now. Never really lived in snowy places before so I don't know if I would like it or not, but I'm sick of the humidity. Honestly. That's why I think I'd like a temperate area best, maybe USC is a good option? Or is LA pretty hot/humid too?

Specialty/goals: no real preference specialty-wise, plan on either doing academic medicine or private practice probably

Speaking of Seattle, I really liked the climate (and the pine trees too) of most of the northwestern states I've visited, but I've never been there during the winter.

It's awesome in the summer. Although it is raining right now and is expected to rain into Monday. The winters vary a lot. This last winter was cold, but there wasn't much snow. The winter before we had a ton of snow, but the temperature was bearable. A few winters ago there was a TON of flooding.

It's funny that you mention college towns, actually. I remember seeing an article earlier this summer about USC wanting to build a college town. It would certainly include a lot more than bars.

As far as state preference...about 70% of students are from California.

I don't know as if I'd call it "outdoorsy".

 

[wristbandMD]

Haha, why?

As for you OP, LA is hell for a variety of reasons. It's very hot, very thick air, smoggy and generally unenjoyable. The air is so disgusting that you'll start chain-smoking because it's easier on the lungs than breathing what's outside.

I live here. 😛 It's the middle of August and it's raining right now. Ugh! I'm a California native, so I'm a bit biased I suppose. Haha.

Although LA isn't humid...the air is a bit difficult to get used to. You do eventually. The sun is so amazing, though. It soaks into your bones. 🙂 (Although, this may be a personal preference again. Haha)

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[wristbandMD]

I've lived in Sandy Eggo all my life. I'll trade you.

In a heart beat!!! Although, despite the rain, snow, and cold, I do love UW. It's one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen. Much more attractive than USC, that's for sure!

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[wristbandMD]

I wish in hindsight I would have had the foresight to transfer to U.W. instead of UCSD. I would have been able to stay with my family in Washington and establish residency rather than having to throw myself to the wolves and tell them "I know I'm out of state, but I have a lot of ties."

Oh, that's a bummer! Are you interested in practicing in rural areas of wwami?

 

[lm1120]

ucsf

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[wristbandMD]

Yeah, exclusively. I have family and property up there, and my sole medical goals are, in order, being thrown out into the backwoods of Washington (or Alaska) and being the doctor for miles around, or setting up a family practice somewhere as a backup. Link to a post where I explain it

Currently I'm shadowing out on the Indian reservation, learning the ropes. Isn't Indian health pretty big up there?

Oh wow, if it wasn't so cold up here I would wholeheartedly endorse your plan 😛 Haha. You sound like a great fit for UW!

Indian health is definitely an issue. Not as much where I'm from (Issaquah, about 30 minutes from Seattle), though. Yakima (South central WA), Okanogan (North East WA), and part of the lower coast have the biggest reservations. There are a number of smaller ones scattered along the Sound, though.

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[wristbandMD]

Wow, really? You mean that? Do you think the adcom will like me? Maybe I should start researching the different reservations out there.

I'm not worried about the cold. I was in Wyoming the other day on family business and it was 45 in the evening with wind and I was outside in a wifebeater.

You're crazy. Although, I worked up at the Pass (Snoqualmie Pass, about an hour to an hour and a half from Seattle depending on how fast you drive) and can officially go out into freezing temperatures in shorts and a T-shirt. Ha. I suppose I'm slowly becoming acclimated. 😛

And YES! UW is the only school in the wwami region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) and give preference to students who are from these states. If you're from Wyoming, I think you're fine. Wwami applicants are charged in state tuition and are guaranteed a reduced rate assuming they go into rural medicine. UW prefers students who want to go into family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics and especially prefers students who plan on practicing in rural areas of any wwami state. In fact, I'm pretty sure UW is rating number one in primary care. (That could be outdated info, though. It's as of 2007.)

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[wristbandMD]

I'm from California. The family is all through the entire northwest, mostly in Wyoming and Washington. That's the problem. I do want to live and work in Washington though.

It's still #1 in family and rural med, and #8 in IM.

Ahh, I see. I'm sure that your desire to work in Washington will help you a lot in the admissions process. Like I said, they love applicants who want to work in rural Wwami areas.

 

[amakhosidlo]

Any schools that fit these (admittedly strange) criteria, location-wise?

Nice climate
Outdoorsy
Not in a college town (i.e. stuff to do besides go to bars)
Don't give preference to in-state students

EDIT: climate thing really isn't that important

The school you're describing is OHSU. (Some IS/OOS bias, but WAYYYYY less than UW)

I was just down in Portland this past weekend, wine tasting in the Willamette valley. Really, just a great town. Almost makes me sad they passed up my app...

 

[Hoody]

CU in Colorado....though I think they give instate and/or nontrad prefrence.

 

[Mediocrates]

St. George's?

 

[gravitywave]

UVM, of course!

caveats: yes, Burlington is a college town. but there's plenty more to do around here than just drink. There's a lake, mountains, arts, agriculture... and i do believe Burlington has been rated one of the most 'outdoorsyist' communities in America several years running now by Outdoors magazine or Sierra Club or someone like that.

there is an instate bias but Vermonters are only 26% of this year's class, so it's not a huge issue. OOS tuition and fees is 51k+ though....

 

[FlowRate]

LA is actually quite arid, surprisingly enough. A lot of people thing that it would be humid due to all of the smog, but that isn't the case. However, be warned that in the winter there are cold days. I lived there when I was younger and it got down into the 50s during the winter. That may not be cold for a lot of the country, but after living there for a couple years it is!

At my school, you can always tell people from the other end of my state because they're the ones all bundled up when it's about this cold, while we're still walking around in tee shirts. It got down to -14F this last winter. Was awesome.

 

[FlowRate]

CU in Colorado....though I think they give instate and/or nontrad prefrence.

(50% IS, 75% nontrad)

 

[azzarah]

Hopkins. Great med school. I loved it there.