question about new york

[cleansocks]

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Hi,

I'm planning to couples match with an IMG and it looks to me like brooklyn has many more IMG friendly EM places than NY or Bronx. But for me, most of the programs I want are in NY or Bronx. So my question, since I know absolutely nothing about NY, is whether it's possible to live together while going to residency in these two different areas (brooklyn and nyc/bronx). What kind of commutes would be needed from booklyn -> nyc/bronx or bronx/nyc -> brooklyn?

thanks

 

[dmitrinyr]

It's definitely possible for the two of you to live in one borough and work in two separate boroughs. Well the avg commutes to and from different boroughs of NY is different whether you have a car or using public transit. Also if you are driving you have to think about all of the extra costs (i.e. tolls for bridges, parking, time stuck in traffic, etc.).

For example, I live in Queens and when I did my elective in the South Bronx it took me about 15-25 minutes to drive in, but it would take me about 1 hr if I would take the train and/or bus.

If you live in the city (manhattan), many people take public transportation during residency and I personally think that if you're going to Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn it will cost you less money and usually less time that driving in. Lets say to the middle of each borough, usual train ride from Midtown Manhattan would be around 45 min - 1hr to Queens and Brooklyn, 25-35 minutes to Bronx. These times of course depends on the time of the day that you're riding the train. Expect the longer commute at rush hour (7 am-9am and 5 pm-7 pm). At off times (i.e. really early in the morning or on weekends) trains don't come as often, sometimes as least as once per hour.

Definitely doable, there are just many little variables to think about. Hope this helped.

 

[taXi]

Your SO in Brooklyn and you in the Bronx would be less favorable than you in Manhattan, but still doable. If your SO matches in Brooklyn and you in Manhattan I would suggest living in Brooklyn someplace with easy subway access to your hospital. Your SO could access their hospital either by bus or a relatively short car ride. Also, driving from someplace close to the brooklyn, manhattan or williamsburg bridge to a hospital in manhattan would not be much of a headache for you.

If you are in the Bronx, both of you would likely want to drive, but since you both would avoid driving into Manhattan, the commutes would not be bad. (i.e. live in queens someplace near the halfway point between your two hospitals).

Taking a look at subway and bus maps will help put things in perspective for you. Good luck with the match.

 

[happyfeet]

check out http://www.hopstop.com/ for subway and bus routes.

 

[jazz]

Also, driving from someplace close to the brooklyn, manhattan or williamsburg bridge to a hospital in manhattan would not be much of a headache for you.

some programs in brooklyn/queens/bronx may pay or subsidize resident parking.

however, most manhattanites don't drive and thus there is no expectation for free parking (i think maybe only cornell subsides there medical residents).... and parking in manhattan at/around hospitals are easiy $400+ per month (if you can get a spot).

commuting between boroughs is possible. there are toll free bridges b/w brooklyn and manhattan, manhattan and queens, and manhattan and brooklyn. they are not bad if you are doing a reverse commute but horrible if you are commuting with regular manhattan traffic.

drving between queens/brooklyn can be done toll free.

driving between queens/bronx and brooklyn/bronx will stick you with probably about $8-10 in tolls each roundtrip

you can use public transportation (bus/subway) between manhattan and the boroughs but expect to leave at least 45 min-1.5 hours depending on where you are and which hospital you are going to.

forget about traveling via public transportation from any combo of brooklyn/queens/bronx.



all things to consider.

 

[Universe_Explorer]

Hi,

I'm planning to couples match with an IMG and it looks to me like brooklyn has many more IMG friendly EM places than NY or Bronx. But for me, most of the programs I want are in NY or Bronx. So my question, since I know absolutely nothing about NY, is whether it's possible to live together while going to residency in these two different areas (brooklyn and nyc/bronx). What kind of commutes would be needed from booklyn -> nyc/bronx or bronx/nyc -> brooklyn?

thanks

The answer to your question is yes, it is absolutely possible to live together while one person works in Brooklyn/Queens and the other works in Manhattan/Bronx. How difficult your commutes will be depends on where you both end up working. It's extremely easy to get between Manhattan and any of the boroughs (excluding bayside and some of the really far reaches of Queens and the Bronx) on public transportation. So, one solution would be to ditch your car, share a place in Manhattan, and both commute out to work from there. Commuting between Brooklyn and Queens is actually a real pain without a car (the G train is a joke), and going from either of those boroughs to the Bronx would be time consuming (but doable) without a car. Your best options would probably be to live in Manhattan without a car, or live in Queens with one - but all of this depends on where you both work. Good luck!

 

[roja]

As UE said, the couples I have known that have done this did exactly as said. They lived in manhattan and each commuted to thier respective places. Either the East Village or West Village would be best (easy access to the subways and if you choose to drive, which I wouldn't easier to drive.)

Its definately do-able and you would really not be an exception. I don't know about other places, but the Continuum hospitals (SLR, BI, etc)offer either subsidized housing OR subsidized parking. Something to consider.

h

 

[gutonc]

If you end up matching in Queens and the Bronx or Brooklyn and the Bronx then definitely live in Manhattan and both commute. If you end up in Manhattan and your SO in Brooklyn, I'd personally argue for Brooklyn (assuming no subsidized housing from your program in Manhattan...subsidized housing trumps EVERYTHING when it comes to making decisions like this in NYC).

I lived in Brooklyn and had rotations in Brooklyn, Manhattan (UES and UWS), the Bronx and Nassau County as a med student. On the Manhattan rotations I took the train which took 30-45 minutes each way and provided lots of study time (I nailed those three Shelf exams) but less sleeping time. My commute to the Bronx was 20-30 minutes (and $12 in tolls and parking) if I drove and 60-80 minutes if I took the train.

Also as above, commuting b/w Brooklyn and Queens on the train (or even different parts of Brooklyn or Queens) is a total PITA on the subway so if that's what you end up doing, a car is definitely in order.