My husband is entering medical school in the fall. It was very important for us to choose a school that appears to value family units, as well as be condusive to family schedules. We believe that we have found this in the University of North Dakota. I realize it is difficult for most students to get in there because of state residency requirements, but here are a few of the reasons for our choice. First of all, the school is located in Grand Forks, ND (approx. 50000 people). It is not congested, it takes 5 minutes to travel everywhere in the town, and there is cheap, affordable housing available very near the school. The program is a pass/fail program, with a schedule for the first two years that has afternoons free, and several patient centered learning workshops. Additionally, the interview was so pleasent. The people there have been so friendly, and accomodating, as compared to the larger schools he also applied to. He had several successful applications, and although the other schools had much better reputations, they were in big cities, living expenses were huge, and the schedules were quite rigorous. There are other programs like North Dakota's available. For families, these seem to be great options. They allow for flexibility, and yet still provide excellent educations.
The only drawback we found is job opportunities for myself. I am an engineer, and was concerned about whether I could secure a job. But, once I began applying, I found it much easier than I expected. I have already secured a job, which has been a great stress reliever. Additionally, the small town atmosphere seems to be more family friendly in its own right. We are expecting a child in the early fall, and my future employer has been very open and flexible, something I believe would not be the case in a larger, more competitive city.
Just a little food for thought. We have been encouraged by this turn of events. My husband has wanted to be a doctor ever since I met him, and I never wanted to take that dream away. Afterall, it is securing my future, too. There are family friendly environments out there. You just have to know what to look for!