Location, location, location

[jeff2005]

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I am finding that I am more interested in lesser known programs in warm, less populated places than big names in cold crowded places. If I rank MUSC over MGH, Wash U etc. will I regret it in the long run? LaDOC would say "YES!!" and he would probably throw in "you idiot" too. Any other opinions?

 

[RyMcQ]

I am finding that I am more interested in lesser known programs in warm, less populated places than big names in cold crowded places. If I rank MUSC over MGH, Wash U etc. will I regret it in the long run? LaDOC would say "YES!!" and he would probably throw in "you idiot" too. Any other opinions?

I often laugh at all the anxiety on this board about getting into a residency at Mass General or other "elite" programs. Did MGH fill last year?

There are plenty of excellent programs out there. Depending on your access to attendings, you might have a better experience at a less prestigious institution. The most important questions to ask have to do with the number of specimens at the institution (variety) and the number of cases that you will get to personally work up. Will you have the ability to pick immunohistochemical panels? How much autonomy in the work up will you have?

On the other hand, are there programs that suck? Yes, and it shouldn't be too hard to spot them.

This is the perspective of someone who never wanted to be in academics, so maybe you will need the big name programs to buff up your CV.

 

[garfield]

In general, if you're planning on academics or a prestigious fellowship or something, than more well-known places are more helpful. Otherwise, basically boils down to getting good training. Some well-known places are not as they seem... you might rarely or never get to see or work with the well-known people because they have more interest in their research or publications to teach and their fellows do all the scut work. You may not get to see the bread and butter cases that are encountered in private practice.

Like RyMcQ said, there's plenty of excellent programs. Path residency generally has time for a life, so location is a big factor when you rank. Look for cities that you would be happy living in.

 

[QuietSylph]

I am finding that I am more interested in lesser known programs in warm, less populated places than big names in cold crowded places. If I rank MUSC over MGH, Wash U etc. will I regret it in the long run? LaDOC would say "YES!!" and he would probably throw in "you idiot" too. Any other opinions?

Same here, I'm swooning over the prospect of "warm, less populated places." With November around the corner, heat sounds wonderful right now. 😍

 

[stormjen]

Location is going to be just as important to me as quality of the program. That's because my husband is going to be affected by the decision, and because quality of life is very important to me. But rather than "small and in a warm location", it's "smallish and in a cold location". I am a total northerner at heart and love the changing seasons. Heat and humidity make me slothful. The quality of the program is really important of course, so ideally I'll have a high quality program in a pleasant location. My ideal program might be Dartmouth in New Hampshire, or Minnesota. Buuurrr!

 

[jeff2005]

Location is going to be just as important to me as quality of the program. That's because my husband is going to be affected by the decision, and because quality of life is very important to me. But rather than "small and in a warm location", it's "smallish and in a cold location". I am a total northern at heart and love the changing seasons. Heat and humidity make me slothful. The quality of the program is really important of course, so ideally I'll have a high quality program in a pleasing location. My ideal program might be Dartmouth in New Hampshire, or Minnesota. Buuurrr!

I love the change of seasons too but long winters get me down. I start eating lots of chocolate, not exercising, and come spring I have a large spare tire. I also physically cannot tolerate the cold. I feel like I'm going to pass out even when I'm well dressed. BUT, even with that being said, I'm seriously considering Iowa. Go figure.

 

[yaah]

If you like winter I hope you interview at Dartmouth then, because it can be quite pretty. The hospital is in a great, beautiful spot just outside the town.

And whether Iowa is cold or not, well, if you interview there on a day like I did, perhaps it will convince you. I left Chicago around 2pm, it was raining and in the 60s (this was late november). As soon as I crossed the Iowa-Illinois border it started snowing. I stopped for gas just inside the border and it was in the 20s with blowing snow. I said to myself then, "I am going to like this place" because that kind of weather frankly appeals to me.

 

[stormjen]

I hope I get to interview at Dartmouth, too! Still no interview invite from them, but I'm going to get assertive and call them this week to see if they can "squeeze me in".

 

[deschutes]

And whether Iowa is cold or not, well, if you interview there on a day like I did, perhaps it will convince you. As soon as I crossed the Iowa-Illinois border it started snowing.

I'm going mid-November - maybe warm enough for a skirt? 😉 Is Iowa generally thought of as one of the colder places to be? I do mean that non-facetiously, so a "yes" or "no" answer would be great. Is there anywhere in the US that it might get to minus 20's or 30's (F)?

In my experience, snow is not a great measure of cold. There are places where it gets "too-cold-to-snow"! For winter, I love falling snow interspersed with crisp clear sunny days.

 

[yaah]

I'm going mid-November - maybe warm enough for a skirt? 😉 Is Iowa generally thought of as one of the colder places to be? I do mean that non-facetiously, so a "yes" or "no" answer would be great. Is there anywhere in the US that it might get to minus 20's or 30's (F)?

In my experience, snow is not a great measure of cold. There are places where it gets "too-cold-to-snow"! For winter, I love falling snow interspersed with crisp clear sunny days.

You are right about cold not necessarily being equivalent to snow.

Coldest places in US are the northern plains - Dakotas, Montana. Minnesota can get very cold - in college one year we had a month (either jan or feb) where I don't believe the temperature got above 10 (F) the entire month. And it was occasionally down to -20s and -30s. Coldest day was -40 I believe. I miss it a lot, although once it gets below -10 you start to feel it!

So thus, U of Minnesota and Mayo are probably on average colder than Iowa, but Iowa is certainly cold.

 

[deschutes]

Minnesota can get very cold - in college one year we had a month (either jan or feb) where I don't believe the temperature got above 10 (F) the entire month. And it was occasionally down to -20s and -30s. Coldest day was -40 I believe. I miss it a lot, although once it gets below -10 you start to feel it!

Sounds just like home. 😀
I see why there are Canadians in Minnesota. I bet they even clear the roads well!

Hey look, -40 F = -40 C!
I have a love-hate relationship with the couple of weeks in Jan/Feb when it's that cold. It basically entails running around from one warm spot to another.

Whether it's 40 above or below, it seems like sun makes all the difference in the world.

 

[QuietSylph]

I miss it a lot, although once it gets below -10 you start to feel it!

Yikes... -10 is your cutoff? I start to really feel the cold once it gets to be about 20 degrees. 10 degrees makes me quite irritable if I'm exposed to it for long. Forget anything lower. Now, I agree that snow is pretty, but to me that's like saying internal medicine is interesting. Both may be true in theory, but I still strenuously avoid the reality. 😀

Top 10 Reasons to Love Cold Winters

10. Feeling the icy wet dampness relentlessly seep through every crack and poorly sealed window into my house, where it lingers for months
9. Wearing so much thick clothing and winter gear that I'm about as attractive and nimble as the Michelin Man
8. Needing an extra 20-30 minutes in the morning to scrape snow and ice off the car
7. Family and friends that howl with laughter when I suggest they leave California to visit me for a change at Christmas
6. A water heater that struggles mightily to heat the water to lukewarm, much less hot
5. Realizing I have absolutely no feeling in my face any time I have to spend 10 minutes outdoors
4. Having to drive when the roads are icy or when it's heavily snowing -- it's so fun to fishtail or even plow into a snowbank!
3. Watching my skin transform from "lightly tanned" to "hideous fluorescent bulb white," and my hair transform from blonde to dark, dingy brown
2. Heating bills that rival my rent payment
1. Carefully stepping out of the car at 6am, only to begin wildly pinwheeling my arms and sliding around (and often ultimately falling) because of the thick layer of ice hiding underneath the snow... after all, it's so professional to wear cold, wet, dirty clothes to work

 

[yaah]

Well, I start to feel the cold about 20 above, but it doesn't really bother me a ton until it gets to 0 or -10. Unless it's real windy. Once the temp gets above 65 I start to get frustrated and irritated!

And no, I do not have hyperthyroidism. My TSH (they did check!) was around 1.5-2.

 

[beary]

I'm going mid-November - maybe warm enough for a skirt? 😉 Is Iowa generally thought of as one of the colder places to be? I do mean that non-facetiously, so a "yes" or "no" answer would be great. Is there anywhere in the US that it might get to minus 20's or 30's (F)?

In my experience, snow is not a great measure of cold. There are places where it gets "too-cold-to-snow"! For winter, I love falling snow interspersed with crisp clear sunny days.

I have to put in a plug for Iowa City as a great place to live. Yes, the winters can definitely have cold snaps with a few days around -20. But it pretty much fits your idea of the perfect winter with lots of sunny days and not too much snow. Gorgeous spring and fall though, and you get the heat and humidity in the summer to round it out. Seriously, I have been here for several years (in the MSTP) and I am definitely considering staying here for path residency.

 

[deschutes]

beary, it sounds perfect!
I wonder what the annual temp variation is. Calgary does -35 to +35 C (i.e. -31 to 95 F).
Now, convince me that I in my singledom wish to spend the next 4 years of my life in university town of 60,000 mostly-marrieds!

Sylph why does your hair change colour??

I don't drive. Maybe I will start to hate the winters when I do.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Speaking about hair, one good thing about cold weather is that I don't have to use hair spray, gel, or mousse to maintain my parted hair. Just wet it, comb it, walk from the parking lot to school, and by the time I get there, my hair is completely frozen in the right position. Then it's set for the rest of the day. 😀

 

[QuietSylph]

Sylph why does your hair change colour??

Because it doesn't get to see the sun for a solid 6, maybe 7 months. 🙁

 

[deschutes]

Because it doesn't get to see the sun for a solid 6, maybe 7 months. 🙁

You must be a chameleon! 😉 Or I must be rather insular. I've never seen hair change colour that quickly - assuming you are not referring to salon highlights or colouring.

 

[Pookies]

San Antonio is a nice city. The weather is nice most of the year, but can get hot in the summer. The hospital is located in the suburbs and the program is solid. I will need to move north for my wife's education, but I suggest you give San Antonio a look if you are wanting a warmer climate.