Partner's path, BWH or MGH?

[heartsounds]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Not trying to sound like a jerk by asking this question, but would anyone mind sharing their thoughts on the two Partner's programs? Which one do you like and why? BWH seems like it has a better lifestyle...

 

[yaah]

Have you tried the search function? There are numerous threads on these programs.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Have you tried the search function? There are numerous threads on these programs.

second that. i won't go into many details but when i interviewed, i liked both. i ranked them #1 and #2.

 

[Mindy]

Ranked em 1 and 2 as well...can't go wrong (but I am very very biased).

Mindy

 

[pathstudent]

I interviewed at both and didn't put either on my rank list.

I was considering them until I was interviewing in NYC. I went out drinking and was chatting with the bartender and told her I really liked Boston and felt like it was "kind of like NY", and she said "yeah, it's like NY....for *******". Once I heard that I dropped all Boston programs off my list.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I interviewed at both and didn't put either on my rank list.

I was considering them until I was interviewing in NYC. I went out drinking and was chatting with the bartender and told her I really liked Boston and felt like it was "kind of like NY", and she said "yeah, it's like NY....for *******". Once I heard that I dropped all Boston programs off my list.

Haha...that's hilarious. Admittedly, I am a ***** so I didn't rank a NY program very high 🙂

 

[yaah]

I ranked them #2 and #10.

Boston is not like NYC at all. NYC is more elitist, more expensive, more full of itself, more crowded, basically more everything except for classy, historical, and interesting.

 

[LADoc00]

I did rotations at both, only seriously considered one of the two programs. It really depends on your goals IMO. Also depends on where you have buddies, for me only 1 Boston program had people from my med school marticulate there. "lifestyle" is less important if you have lots of friends already at a program. I did not consider NYC, really didnt need to tbh. Boston-Hopkins-Bay Area was enough for me.

 

[deleted57552]

Not trying to sound like a jerk by asking this question, but would anyone mind sharing their thoughts on the two Partner's programs? Which one do you like and why? BWH seems like it has a better lifestyle...

I heard both are good.

 

[pathstudent]

I ranked them #2 and #10.

Boston is not like NYC at all. NYC is more elitist, more expensive, more full of itself, more crowded, basically more everything except for classy, historical, and interesting.

Judging by that avatar there of yours, I think we know where you stand in the NYC:Boston rivalry.

There is nothing that really compares to it. SF versus LA sort of does. However it is not quite the same. While every SF transplant or SF native hates and disparages LA, people in LA just think of SF as a nice place to go visit, albeit a little cold. NYers on the other hand seem to genuinely dislike Boston. Moreover, SF's dislike of LA doesn't really count as LA is the city that all of America is supposed to hate.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

Moreover, SF's dislike of LA doesn't really count as LA is the city that all of America is supposed to hate.

Really? I always thought that SF was because of the amount of ranting about the liberal, secular, non-god fearing lifestyle of its citizens. That's interesting, having lived just a few hours from LA, I never really thought people had a lot of disdain for it (although urban sprawl= misery for me).

 

[Neddy]

Not trying to sound like a jerk by asking this question, but would anyone mind sharing their thoughts on the two Partner's programs? Which one do you like and why? BWH seems like it has a better lifestyle...

Well I like the one I'm at (MGH), but I ranked them #1 and #2 as well. I think the two programs tended to attract different kinds of applicants in the past, but this is less so now. The work hours rules and increased PA support have trimmed the workload at MGH a lot in the past few years, but it is still a busy place - so is the Brigham. There are big differences in how surg path is structured in the two programs, so that is something you should consider in comparing them.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions about MGH.

 

[djmd]

I interviewed at both and didn't put either on my rank list.

I was considering them until I was interviewing in NYC. I went out drinking and was chatting with the bartender and told her I really liked Boston and felt like it was "kind of like NY", and she said "yeah, it's like NY....for *******". Once I heard that I dropped all Boston programs off my list.

Thank god your Bartender steered you away from strong pathology programs... Would you have listened to her if he was a he?

NYC is just jealous of the fact that Boston manages to do what NYC does with way less people and crime...

 

[LADoc00]

Judging by that avatar there of yours, I think we know where you stand in the NYC:Boston rivalry.

There is nothing that really compares to it. SF versus LA sort of does. However it is not quite the same. While every SF transplant or SF native hates and disparages LA, people in LA just think of SF as a nice place to go visit, albeit a little cold. NYers on the other hand seem to genuinely dislike Boston. Moreover, SF's dislike of LA doesn't really count as LA is the city that all of America is supposed to hate.

No idea where you got that. By far more people hate residents of SF nationwide and even statewide. Reasoning being is that SF residents have adopted a self-righteousness once reserved for Manhattan.

Youve obviously never lived in LA. It really is a giant morass of very distinct neighborhoods from Duarte to Brentwood, they are totally different. LA itself is very tribalized, probably moreso than any metro area in the US.

Almost all of the people from NorCal who claim to hate LA have never spent more than a 3-day weekend there. They have no idea what they even "hate" about the city/county.

 

[pathstudent]

No idea where you got that. By far more people hate residents of SF nationwide and even statewide. Reasoning being is that SF residents have adopted a self-righteousness once reserved for Manhattan.

Youve obviously never lived in LA. It really is a giant morass of very distinct neighborhoods from Duarte to Brentwood, they are totally different. LA itself is very tribalized, probably moreso than any metro area in the US.

Almost all of the people from NorCal who claim to hate LA have never spent more than a 3-day weekend there. They have no idea what they even "hate" about the city/county.

Gosh maybe I am not hearing what other people hear, but I always get the picture that NY and SF are beloved cities while you always hear people say “it will be as bad as LA here” when talking about traffic and smog. You always hear people say that “LA isn’t a real city” or say it is “one big suburb” that it is the place of fake people and fake boobs and fake blond hair and fake smiles. La La Land. Fake Disney Architecture. “Nothing but strip malls”. No Character. I don’t believe any of those things, or at least I believe the reality is much more complex and mixed.

Every one I have ever met always talks about how much they love NY and love SF after visiting. They are beloved cities. While LA is the evil anti-city.

 

[Trenchcoat]

NYC is just jealous of the fact that Boston manages to do what NYC does with way less people and crime...

Boston had 66 Homicides in 2007. Source

According to Wikipedia, Boston has 590,763 residents.

590,763 / 66 = 8,951 people per murder

NYC had 494 Homicides in 2007. Source + 2 new years eve not included in this number.

According to Wikipedia, New York Has 8,214,426 residents.

8,214,426 / 494 = 16,628 people per murder

You're more likely to be murdered in Boston by a factor of 1.85.

 

[djmd]

Boston had 66 Homicides in 2007. Source

According to Wikipedia, Boston has 590,763 residents.

590,763 / 66 = 8,951 people per murder

NYC had 494 Homicides in 2007. Source + 2 new years eve not included in this number.

According to Wikipedia, New York Has 8,214,426 residents.

8,214,426 / 494 = 16,628 people per murder

You're more likely to be murdered in Boston by a factor of 1.85.

That just shows how the city of Boston does not house a significant portion of the population that lives in metropolitan area... NYC metro = 18 Mil, Boston Metro = 4 Mil

Yes, the city of Boston proper has some areas that I wouldn't want to spend any time...

 

[yaah]

You're more likely to be murdered in Boston by a factor of 1.85.

Did you control for significant factors in your analysis? Like how many of the murders were justified? 😉 (Obviously murder is never justified, stated simply for those without any sense of humor or ability to appropriately weight things, or those who like to take offense at everything).

This thread is officially silly.

 

[djmd]

Did you control for significant factors in your analysis? Like how many of the murders were justified? 😉 (Obviously murder is never justified, stated simply for those without any sense of humor or ability to appropriately weight things, or those who like to take offense at everything).

This thread is officially silly.

Of course it is... Boston knows NYC has issues with anyone rivaling them...
(and Boston knows they are better)
I'm just fanning the flames...

 

[mlw03]

all these city vs. city threads are silly. you guys can debate coasts until you're blue in the face. i'm heading to "flyover country" (aka anything between NYC and LA).

with the cost of living as high as they are in NYC and Boston, the only way i'd genuinely want to go there for residency would be with a salary of about 70K. obviously i'm in the minority, as the harvard programs don't usually struggle to fill with excellent applicants, but in my opinion it's just not worth the sacrafice to deal with the big-city hassles of expense, traffic, lack of green space, and other stuff that's important to me.

 

[yaah]

You're not in the minority at all. I agree with you. I have a very comfortable 1600 square foot 2 bed/2 bath home with garage, paying approximately what would get me a 10x10 foot dank room with a single light in it in Boston. I don't have to worry about parking or other city garbage. Lots of people who have come through on interviews say this also. I didn't want to live in a big city for residency, although I did think about it. It's all in what your priorities are. For some it doesn't matter anyway, as they like the midwest programs better (this was true for me too).

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Of course it is... Boston knows NYC has issues with anyone rivaling them...
(and Boston knows they are better)
I'm just fanning the flames...

Oh dude, I am NOT touching this one with an 8 foot pole...

...plus the word "rival" implies that there is a stiff competition to begin with...just kidding just kidding...

 

[docbiohazard]

with the cost of living as high as they are in NYC and Boston, the only way i'd genuinely want to go there for residency would be with a salary of about 70K. obviously i'm in the minority, as the harvard programs don't usually struggle to fill with excellent applicants, but in my opinion it's just not worth the sacrafice to deal with the big-city hassles of expense, traffic, lack of green space, and other stuff that's important to me.

I will say I was pleasantly surprised with the location of BWH & BID in the Brookline area. Certainly, it's a pricey area to live in, but you have a nice area with terrific schools (obviously not important to many of you, but important to someone with kids), etc, and it's all essentially within walking distance to the medical center. This contrasts greatly with some of the other medical centers (Hopkins springs to mind) located in the middle of an area you most certainly wouldn't want to live in, necessitating at least some communting. Personally, as a town, I really dug Boston. High housing costs, for sure, but IMHO you're getting some tangible benefits from it in some locations. Terrible traffic but good mass transit, and some nice green space.
Emory has the Morningside neighborhood, for instance.

Coming from Texas, where our housing costs are ridiculously cheap (i paid <$100/sqft for a nice, newly remodeled 4/2/2 w/ brand new everything), moving anywhere is a tough mental exercise.

BH

 

[Tiki]

I'm with you, mlw. Originally, I was all gung ho for Boston, but as I've gone on interviews and actually seen the areas I'd be living in, I've changed my mind. Now 3 out of my top 4 are in the southeast. I'm tired of being poor all of the time.

 

[LADoc00]

I'm with you, mlw. Originally, I was all gung ho for Boston, but as I've gone on interviews and actually seen the areas I'd be living in, I've changed my mind. Now 3 out of my top 4 are in the southeast. I'm tired of being poor all of the time.

smart move.

 

[docbiohazard]

LA, you've extolled the virtues of training someplace with a lower cost of living vs training someplace big name with a higher cost of livign before... yet you've also advocated for closing all but a very short list of high powered training programs... so, they seem to kind of conflict with each other. If one is interested in academics, does the power of the brand (ie. the Brigham) outweigh the cost of living in Brookline?