1. The residents in NY (and UMDNJ-Newark) seemed to be more comfortable as doctors and more skilled as surgeons than the residents in NJ and Philadelphia area programs. My impression was that they have more responsibility, autonomy and confidence. One exception was Cornell, where I felt there was very little autonomy, and they still seemed like "doctors in training".
There may be a cockiness to some of the people you met in New York, but the autonomy isn't as great as you imply. This is a plain fact. While most programs' Chief Residents carry their own services (mine included), only a handful of these Chief Residents have any real autonomy in the OR. And even that's limited to run of the mill, bread-and-butter cases. The most complex thing I've ever done without an attending scrubbed in the room with me was a bowel resection.
I can't imagine my program (or any other) in New York ever letting a Chief do a Whipple on his own, at least not today. When I was a third-year med student (in New York), interestingly, my Chief Resident did a Whipple. It took him somewhere around 9 to 10 hours, but it got done.
2. There is much more scut work in NYC. The NJ and Philadelphia programs had a cushier (?) vibe.
There certainly is more scut.
3. The NYC surgeons are very well connected. Maybe this helps with finding a good lab for research, getting a fellowship, etc... not really sure.
Unless you're at one of the larger academic programs in New York City (Cornell, Columbia, Sinai, and NYU), the connections are generally more regional. The only significant number of "national-level" facutly members are at those four institutions.
4. The patient population in NY is extremely diverse. I think it is important (and fun) to take care of the richest of the rich, the poorest of the poor, refugees, people who do not speak English, people with religious beliefs different than my own, and people with diverse lifestyles. NY scored points in this category as well.
That depends on which program you're talking about. Not all the programs here in New York have an associated county or VA hospital.
5. The NY residents were very friendly, down to earth, motivated, and proud of their programs.
I find this to be true, but true in general for most General Surgery residents in the country.
6. The didactics are better in the NYC programs. Even the community programs seemed to be more academic than the NJ and Philly university-based programs I visited. (Since I gave a negative comment about Cornell earlier, I will say that they impressed me the most academically-- enough for me to rank them #1, but I didn't match there.)
I agree with your assessment of Cornell.
7. My goal is to be a technically awesome surgeon and not have any doors closed regarding fellowship. Most of the NY programs seemed to offer that.
Most New York area General Surgery residents end up doing their fellowships in other New York area institutions or they remain with their home institution.
8. There is ALWAYS something to do in Manhattan. While I don't expect to have much free time, it's nice to know that when I have a little, I won't be wasting it.
Yes, that's true. If you want Japanese food at 3AM, you can get it. I don't know why you would subject your stomach to that at 3AM, but by golly, it's there for the taking.