Perfect School VS. Perfect Climate ???

[banannie]

Hi, this is my first post, so forgive me if this is a silly question, or if this has been discussed many times before.
I'm starting the process of applying to med schools, and I'm trying to narrow down my list. So far, I have one major dilemma: it seems that all the schools I really like in terms of curriculum, values, etc. are in really cold climates, while the schools that are in nicer climates don't seem to suit me as well. I've lived in Boston for 5 winters, and I've noticed my mood (and grades) decline when the weather's poor. I'm so tired of this cold wind!
So what do you think? Can nice weather make a non-ideal school seem better? Or will a warm student body keep away the winter chill? <img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" /> Or should I not worry about this at all, since I'll likely be stuck inside studying all the time?
Anyway, I realize that in the end I'll have to figure this out on my own, but I'd be interested to know what you all think, and how much climate factored into your decisions.

Thanks! I've been going through the posts on this board for the past week, and I've really enjoyed reading everything you've written.

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[THE instiGATOR]

Climate is something that should be factored in AFTER all your cards are on the table (after you have your acceptances). Apply to a broad range of schools. You never know, you may only get one acceptance.

I favor very warm climates, though. Good thing I'm going to a coastal med school in the south. <img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" />

 

[THE instiGATOR]

I can't believe I just used this graemlin: <img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" />

<img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

<img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" />

 

[vyc]

i agree, in part, with bubba.

it really depends on how much the weather affects you. it doesn't bother some people as much as it does others.

personally, i have seasonal depression disorder so am i worried about spending the next 4 years in a place with god-awful weather?
yes!

when i was picking the schools i wanted to apply to, my main criterion was location. i.e. cool city.

if weather is your most important factor, then, by all means, use it to discrimate which schools to screen out, before applying. it will help save you money and time. why apply to somewhere you know you don't want to be?

 

[Blitzkrieg]

if we wanted better climate over school, then we would all be going to carib schools. Wouldnt that have an interesting effect on American healthcare? :wink:

 

[deleted4401]

I'll have to say that climate became the most important factor when deciding school ... I love warm weather, and I get sad in the winter. I hate snow, ice, sub freezing temps ... I had the spend most of my life up north. Finally, for med school, I couldn't take it, and now I'm in in New Orleans. Yeah it's muggy and overhot a lot of the time, but it is NEVER cold.

So, if it is important to you, than make it important ...

Good luck,

Simul

 

[Doctora Foxy]

Too bad most of the schools in nice climates are ultracompetitive: CA, TX, FL schools for example are really competitive (and Tulane, simul :wink: ). I've been in Boston for 4 years too and I hate the weather, but that's life. Just apply yo a broad range of schools and decide later. Bubba's right.

 

[Barton]

I just don't get all y'all folks that can't deal with weather. I love seasons. I would hate to live in a place that doesn't have winter. How do you ski or play hockey? When do you do your sledding and emergency-brake driving? How do you build your snow-forts? Come on all you northern folks! Who's with me?

 

[Scooby Doo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Elle Woods:
•My new name REALLY sucks...who else thinks I should change it back to what it was?•••••Here here!!!!

I totally agree with you that your new name SUCKS!

 

[matthew0126]

heck, i think even san francisco is too damn cold. boston or someplace in the midwest would just kill me i know. thank god for southern california

if all else are equal, obviously go to the school with better weather. or even if one is marginally better. but it'd be silly (imo) to take bummnuts state u. over harvard

 

[u2ecila]

Well, I am not in Med school yet, but I have lived in some wildly different climates in the past few years. Here's my 2 cents!

I grew up in Tennessee, and its hot and very humid in the summer and we get a little snow every winter. Nice, but a little sticky.

Moved up to Maryland for college. The weather is much less humid - my oily skin turned into dry skin! Summer highs in the 90's and a bit more snow in the winter. Decent.

Moved to Phoenix after graduation. Got there at 10 PM in the middle of July and it was 106 degrees outside!!! For the first month, the temperature stayed above 100 degrees even all through the night. It was hot. Very, very hot. My body does ok until it goes over 110. Of course, I absolutely loved having sunshine 350 days a year. Winters were absolutely wonderful, usually staying around 60-75 degrees. Next summer when it got hot again, I moved back to Maryland.

Then I got a great (ur, at least high paying) job offer in the middle of nowhere, Iowa. The company's brochure said average lows in the winter were in the upper twenties. Yeah right!! They didn't mention the freaking 50 mph wind chill that brought the temperature down to -50 degrees for weeks straight. AHHHHH! I think my blood thinned out after living in the desert. That winter was pure torture. And don't even get me started on the snow - over the course of 4 months, I forgot what grass looked like! I will NEVER live in the mid west again.

So, once again, I am back in Maryland. I think I may even move further south again for school. We'll see! In conclusion, I've tried a variety of weather climates, and I found the very hot temperature and very cold temperature just don't work for me. Funny thing is that I have run into the same coworkers across the country, and everyone seems to have a climate that works best for them. And some people adapt.

Anyway, that's my experience. I'm only applying to schools in warm places and Harvard (I will manage in Boston if by some miracle I got it).


good luck,
alice

 

[TommyGunn04]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Scooby Doo:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by Elle Woods:
•My new name REALLY sucks...who else thinks I should change it back to what it was?•••••Here here!!!!

I totally agree with you that your new name SUCKS!•••••haha! Soobs...talk about putting words into people's mouths! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> I must admit, her previous nickname VERY accurately described her...you're HOT STUFF doctora!

 

[deva]

banannie, I disagree with Bubba; I think you should use location in deciding which schools you want to apply to. I definitely selected my schools this way - only applied to ones in east coast cities. This will save you a lot of money in application costs, travelling expenses, etc. If you know you wouldn't be happy at a school (because it is in a bad climate, location, whatever), there is no point in applying to it.

 

[Cough]

Ha! I feel that! As far as I'm concerned, this is really the only important question when picking med schools to apply to.

I've been in Boston for 5 winters also, and I love this city, but I just want to get the heck out of here. Take the last 2 weeks for instance. Mother nature sends one week of nice weather, giving everyone much more motivation and energy. Hot girls, and guys I suppose, started breaking out the tank tops. I fell for it, hook line and sinker. Then what happens? It immediately goes back to freezing winds, completely grey skies, and hail! Hail! I'm sick of it here.

And since you've been in Boston for 5 years, I'm assuming you went to college here, and I'll further assume, banannie, that you went to a good school and are pretty darn smart. Most people in Boston are, right? Or at least most think they are...ha ha. So do yourself a favor and pass up on Harvard med or whatever, and go somewhere you can enjoy yourself. Maybe some people don't care about the weather, but obviously some people do a great deal. Not only is it not as fun here, but personally I'm much less productive between the months of October and May.

As for me, I'm going to try to go to California. Southern California. North Carolina has a great climate too, but I have to tell you, it's a really boring place. I know plenty of people at Duke Law, Med, and undergrad who just wanna get the heck out...Despite the phenomenal school, the quality of life issues still matter enough to some picky individuals to really sour their experiences.

Obviously school is going to be a lot of work, but that's relative. Some people get things done a heck of a lot faster than others, or just need to study much less. You know how it is. In those instances, I want to be able to ride bikes, go to the beach, or do anything to stay active. It's so much easier to study, and especially to retain the information, when you can stay active and in shape. I'm not going to quote journals here, but this has certainly been addressed in some medical studies. I know some of the editors at the New England Journal of Medicine, or the "Journal" for those in the know, who wrote some editorials about this topic. Now, that' not actually true, but do you see how I made myself sound more important there? That's how it's done, banannie.

And as for picking schools based on geography and not reputation, two things: 1) there are some magical schools out there that can offer both, and 2) if you're really good, as you clearly are since you're in Boston, nobody's going to give a darn where you went to med school. I work at Mass General, and some faculty have the Harvard-Harvard-Harvard lineage going for them. But trust me, almost always these people are where they are because, well, they rule. Not because of the school they went to. And plenty of other very successful faculty here went to schools you'd never think of, or at least you wouldn't think of first. Yet somehow, they've managed to pull themselves out of the gutter and scrape together a living.

Alright, that's my piece. And it's especially relevant since we're in for another couple weeks of crud before the sun comes out again. So, you want to get together sometime and talk about the weather? Ha ha, I'm kidding. God that's creepy.

Best wishes,
General

 

[Michelys]

HA! I go to Miami now and I'm going to Rochester next year! Ima freeze fo' sheezy! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

 

[Pinki]

They say it's where you are with yourself, and not where you are, that matters. However...I moved to Phoenix from blustery, blistery, blah Cincinnati last year. Lost 20 pounds in 6 months without dieting! Never been happier! Who needs hockey when you can rock climb, swim, hike EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR!!!

All I know is that I tossed my ice scraper in the Ohio as I U-hauled it out of town, and never looked back...until now.

Fact of the situation is I'll probably apply to skools in the northeast/midwest, simply because that's where most of the schools are. I'll shoot for southern comfort...but my aim is to get into medical school.

 

[lola]

Climate is very important to me. Although I plan to apply to schools all over the country, weather will play a role in choosing between schools if I'm accepted to more than one. I grew up in California so have been spoiled! I spent 5 years on the east coast and 1 year in England. Although the experiences were great, I definitely missed the sunshine and warm weather. I would recommend living in a different climate for those of you who have never lived anywhere with snow. However, I feel like I've done that and didn't enjoy the weather all that much. So...hopefully I'll get in somewhere warm!

 

[JJ4]

Aww c'mon folks -- cold weather is character building

I'm going to Mayo for 7 yrs. :wink: