Programs in West, Southeast, and NYC

[babycatcher]

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Hi all - first of all, congrats to everyone for kicking ass in the match! It's been inspiring and incredibly helpful to read about your experiences and I know it will help me a great deal as I start the process myself. Maybe one of you will be my junior resident when I'm an intern next year 😛

I am looking at programs in NYC mainly, but have recently opened my mind to the temptation of beautiful weather for four years on the west coast (specifically CA and Seattle) and the southeast (NC, FL, GA). My concern about the latter is the diversity and overall culture in that part of the country. I've been raised in the Northeast with a good level of comfort as an Asian-American, and at the risk of sounding ignorant/snobby, I really don't know what the rest of the country is like beyond the stereotypes we are all familiar with! If anyone can enlighten me and offer insight into specific programs in these regions of the country, I would greatly appreciate it.

N.B. I have to be realistic about my candidacy; I posted a thread a few weeks ago looking for words of wisdom regarding my failed first attempt at Step 2 CK. I'm retaking it at the end of April...

 

[nkow]

you'd be suprised. There are probably as many asian-americans on the west coast (i.e. LA) or down in my neck of the woods, Atlanta, as there are up in NYC. There has been a recent mass exodus of asian-americans in the north east to the south because cost of living is getting too high up in the north east. With that in mind, i return to the northeast for residency...sigh. The south is great. Northern by birth, southern by choice!

 

[vegetables]

Hey babycatcher, take this from one NYer to another:

So I by choice am avoiding NY most likely for the remainder of my life b/c I have tired of the "NY and all its culture is everything, and the rest of the world is second rate" mentality that a good portion of NYers have (hey including some of my family). What cracks me up is that many of these people w/ this sentiment have not actually ever lived outside of NY for any significant time period!! It sounds like you are in that boat in that you've been in NY all your life, and understandably given the NY environment, worry there may not be as much culture or diversity elsewhere. I am here to tell you there absolutely is, and I believe even better!!

I lived in NY till 18, went to college in MD and now med school in New Orleans, headed to Oregon for residency - and have traveled a lot in btwn - and let me tell you I feel I'll be a better doc for having been exposed to the different ways of life in this country in that I'll be more sensitive to different patient backgrounds. Yes some of the stereotypes are real, but you'd be amazed at how much more there is to a stereotype and how there are a lot more to most people and places. So I encourage anyone, if it's possible for them, to see what's out there.

As for diversity and culture - well I must say New Orleans has NY beat on diversity, food, music, bars, nightlife, entertainment and pretty much everything else IMO in that more things are open later and are more affordable and less snotty!! I certainly didn't believe this would be the case at first, but I was quickly convinced, and I am sure this holds elsewhere. The adjustment was hard inititally, but I imagine you're a quick person and could adapt easily anywhere if you made effort.

I also avoided NY for residency (though I did apply and interview bc of couples matching) bc of NY cost of living, horrible NY nursing, and the overall theme of "You see stuff here you don't see anywhere else!!" Please. You're talking to the girl from New Orleans!!, but besides that, every major city has crazy cases and trauma etc....

I think you're smart for looking at other places, and at the very least interview and give them a chance. You'll be surprised!! (even if you're family thinks you're nuts!) Good luck!

 

[sponch]

ok let's get real. the only places where there are lots of asian americans is the west coast and the northeast.

there are pockets of them in southern cities like houston, new orleans, miami, and atlanta. but don't be fooled! just because there are asians there doesn't mean the locals there are any less ignorant.

some comments i've heard while living in the south:

"what language is that patient speaking? oh vietnamese? what are you? chinese? oh why don't you go translate."

"what part of china are you from?"

"are you chinese, boy?"

"i love you oriental people. when i was in korea the women were so beautiful and exotic."

"do you know how to make pad thai?" (i'm not thai)

but perhaps the biggest thing you'll notice is that you actually feel like an outsider down here. people do not treat you the same as they treat other white people.

and of course there are the asians who grew up in the south who for the most part (i'm making a gross generalization here, i'm sure there are exceptions) have had all the color bleached from them.

if you're looking for true diversity -- and not just little pockets where the ethnic people live, eat, and shop -- stay in the northeast or west. but don't take my word for it. come down and check it out yourself. i can't wait to leave.