Moving to an urban area in residency

[Elipsis]

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I've worked hard over the last few years of medical school with the intention of applying to strong academic neurology programs in major urban areas, i.e. New York, Boston, etc. because I've had a strong desire to experience an urban lifestyle for a while. I never really considered cost of living as a major detraction in the past because I expected to enter residency single, but now I have a girlfriend I'll be attempting to convince to join me and I'm beginning to think a little bit more carefully about cost of living / quality of life type issues. That said, the girlfriend also is very interested in moving to these same places. Has anyone on this forum had the experience of transitioning from a medium sized city (I'll be coming from Louisville, KY) to a much more urban location for residency? In this part of the country people talk a lot of trash about "big cities" while absolutely no one has ever lived in one 😉

 

[drzing]

Congrats on going into Neurology! I'm also applying this year and am coming from a small/mid-sized city. From all I have heard about the big city places, they are great for learning, but they do not really offer much more than a good program in a smaller city--such as a Duke or a UNC or a Louisville or a Vanderbilt. Plus you get the added bonus of trying to live off a residents salary, meaning small/not as desirable accommodations. Is your girlfriend also applying--are you couples matching?

 

[Thama]

Salaries for residents are often considerably higher in urban areas and there are often subsidized housing options to help defer the costs. For example, Partners starts at about 57K for Boston, while UNC starts at about 46K for Chapel Hill. Columbia is an example of a program offering subsidized housing for residents in Manhattan.

 

[Elipsis]

Thanks for the replies. My girlfriend works in healthcare, but is not a medical student. I'm aware of the higher salaries and subsidized housing in New York; I've heard that Cornell's housing is particularly awesome. New York would probably not be my top choice in location without these options. My impression from the residency websites is that residents new to Manhattan get at least some sort of preference for housing. Drzing, I'll also be applying to programs like the ones you mentioned to compare with the more urban programs.

 

[typhoonegator]

Boston isn't that bad as the salaries are good and there are a lot of different options for housing. None of them are that cheap, but this is a college town so there are a lot of rental options. There are a few decent Neuro programs here.

But Boston isn't a "big city". Not in the way NYC, Chicago, LA, are big cities.

It's like Prague, sans the whimsy.

 

[807crash]

In the more urban programs that I considered (and eventually matched with one), training tended to weigh more heavily on inpatient acute care then outpatient neurology. Often you had additional experiences working in county hospitals as well as VA hospitals and I really loved having that breath of exposure. And I love cities.... I admit though.... my outpatient training was lackluster during residency, and that is what most people do primarily in their Neurology careers. Keep that in mind as you go through residency, and as you decide on your direction... make sure you get enough exposure to things that your residency lacks during electives, if you can.

The city I was in was very very expensive, although still not as pricey as NYC. Remember, when people are talking about great subsidized housing at Cornell, it is a relative statement. NYC is staggeringly expensive, but when I walked into the studio apartment that I would be eligible for as a single resident at Cornell, I realized I would have to leave behind half of my belongings and live in a tiny apartment with no charm... location location location.... Definitely ok for some, but a little tight for me. If you come in as a couple, they (Cornell) would probably offer you a one bedroom... couples have it better.

Actually, you will be in a better position then most cost of living wise by living with your girlfriend. Two can live much more cheaply then one. I lived quite well as a single on my resident salary (which was not great for my pricey area), because I didn't have loan payments (MD PhD program alum). But when I saw how my married classmates lived, I felt like a frugal student.... They could afford much nicer places to live then I could, and I still paid a much higher percentage of my salary on rent.

Boston is a wonderful place to be in medicine/academia at some point in your career, and a great city to live in that is very manageable. Too bad it has gotten pricey.... but again... as a couple with your girlfriend bringing in an income, you should be fine.

I think cost of living will be less of an issue. The major issue I would think will be for your girlfriend being able to accommodate to your busy schedule and fatigue.

 

[Elipsis]

Thanks for all the responses. This has been helpful.