[keysersoze]

Day in and day out, I see the likes of GManifesto and co. tweet about the importance of a living in a great city.

I've started growing more and more tired of the Midwestern society I've lived in my whole life - the terrible climate, the subpar nightlife, lack of quantity of quality females. I have family and great friends here, but I feel it's time to move on. I feel like I've outgrown this area. You can't day game when its freezing cold out, you know?

Now, my issue is that I'll be applying to medical school this summer and enrolling in fall of 2016 if all goes to plan. I am a very solid applicant, although not entirely stellar. There are two kinds of medical degrees - DO and MD. MD is the more traditional route and slightly harder to get accepted to. I don't doubt that Ill get admitted into an MD school or two, but I'm not banking on them being elite schools, which is fine by me.

On the other hand, I'm almost a slam dunk for some DO schools.

Most MD school have a high in-state preference. Therefore, if I were to get into MD schools, chances are they'd be in-state. Meaning I'd be trapped in this area for another four years of my life. Not the worst thing in the world, but not an exciting prospect. After all, the medical degree is chief priority.

However, I'm eyeing a particular school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is a DO school, and a bit less prestigious than many others I'm applying to. But at the end of the day, is school prestige a higher priority than my happiness for four+ years? It's a debate I've been having for a long time. Day in and day out I dream of the warm weather, swimming, not bundling up to go to the bar, sexy chicks in bikinis, etc. Most of my time would be consumed with my studies, but still.

The ultimate question is this - would you attend a less prestigious school (still resulting in being a doctor no matter what) in a trade off for a higher quality lifestyle?

I'd love some feedback and advice if at all possible. I don't expect many to have a background knowledge of the medical field, but all help is appreciated. Thanks guys.

[Travesty]

I consider it #1.

I think every guy has a few cities in the world that fit their game and lifestyle at a level much higher than all the rest.

Moving is much easier than perpetually fighting for success with a significant handicap.

[Cr33pin]

Location is everything in my opinion

[The_CEO]

First off, to make an informed decision, I'd set aside what you are reading on Twitter.
There are world cities along the lines of NYC, London, Tokyo where for most people, they'd have (or do have) a very awful quality of life below a certain income level. My point is that, for all you know, the person composing these tweets is in a basement in Witchita, KS.
There are all kinds of cities that may not be a great city, but are a very nice place to live.

Your in the Midwest? To some people, Chicago is a great city and a lot of fun. Minneapolis is pretty fun and has a lot of scandi blondes.

If you want to do the Ft. Laurderdale program I'd see if there would be more opportunities for you to work in that region after you graduate, with a local degree.

I am of the mindset though, that it's good to pay your dues while you're young (going to the better program for instance) b/c it can end up paying off for the rest of your life. How long is the program though? And if you go to the better one would you have opportunities to travel in summer?

I'm not sure what I'd do, but I'd consider the better program and then doing a residency (which I assume I'll have to do) in the location of my choice.

[The Lizard of Oz]

I think that if you are going to go to Med school, you should go to the very best one you can get into. Being a physician is a serious responsibility, and you want to learn the trade as well as you possibly can. In addition, doing well in an excellent Med school will maximize your chances when it comes to choosing a location to your liking for permanent employment. So it's a temporary sacrifice well worth making. Think long-term.

Since WestCoast is no longer posting here, I'm going to channel what he would say: most guys chase pussy in their twenties and start thinking about money and career in their thirties, when it would be far more rational to do the opposite -- concentrate on investing in your skills in your twenties, and enter your thirties in an optimal position in terms of your SMV for pussy. Of course it's not a matter of either/or, you do some of both at all times, but it's a question of where the main emphasis lies. Right now you should concentrate on what will set you up as well as possible for the rest of your life.

In addition, Med school tends to be a very stressful time for almost everyone, and daygaming is not likely to be high on your list of priorities no matter where you are. But you will probably get to fuck some nurses that you meet on your rounds, and there is something to be said for that.

[Dr. Howard]

Maybe not a 'great city' but move to a location that fits well with you. I moved to the semi rural south because I like the weather (not too hot) the outdoors, the values, the people and the food. Being in a city or location that you hate really drags you down I find.

[speakeasy]

If I was in your situation based on what you're telling us, I'd go to a somewhat less prestigious school in a place I enjoyed life than a better school in a place I don't want to be. From studies I've seen, when you look at people's lifetime earnings, the school they went to isn't as important as its made out to be. Plus you can always come up with ways to make more money. What you can't get back is time, and your 20s will fly by fast. So enjoy them as best you can.

While I think you can enjoy most cities as long as you're making decent money, have a good social circle and sex life, I think there's something to be said about living in a city that inspires you. To me that's worth more than whatever small income loss you may initially get stemming from the lower prestige school.

[Grange]

A good supply of quality pussy is only a part of the good life. You also need to think about doing productive work, having enough money to satisfy you, and other things that a good medical school will really help out with. You need a balance, but think about the long term

[Sonoma]

I'm with Lizard on this- sacrifice location at first so that when you work you'll have a lot more options to choose from

Also from what I understand med school doesn't leave much time for tail anyway

[AneroidOcean]

(04-15-2015 07:14 PM)keysersoze Wrote:  

Day in and day out, I see the likes of GManifesto and co. tweet about the importance of a living in a great city.

I've started growing more and more tired of the Midwestern society I've lived in my whole life - the terrible climate, the subpar nightlife, lack of quantity of quality females. I have family and great friends here, but I feel it's time to move on. I feel like I've outgrown this area. You can't day game when its freezing cold out, you know?

Now, my issue is that I'll be applying to medical school this summer and enrolling in fall of 2016 if all goes to plan. I am a very solid applicant, although not entirely stellar. There are two kinds of medical degrees - DO and MD. MD is the more traditional route and slightly harder to get accepted to. I don't doubt that Ill get admitted into an MD school or two, but I'm not banking on them being elite schools, which is fine by me.

On the other hand, I'm almost a slam dunk for some DO schools.

Most MD school have a high in-state preference. Therefore, if I were to get into MD schools, chances are they'd be in-state. Meaning I'd be trapped in this area for another four years of my life. Not the worst thing in the world, but not an exciting prospect. After all, the medical degree is chief priority.

However, I'm eyeing a particular school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is a DO school, and a bit less prestigious than many others I'm applying to. But at the end of the day, is school prestige a higher priority than my happiness for four+ years? It's a debate I've been having for a long time. Day in and day out I dream of the warm weather, swimming, not bundling up to go to the bar, sexy chicks in bikinis, etc. Most of my time would be consumed with my studies, but still.

The ultimate question is this - would you attend a less prestigious school (still resulting in being a doctor no matter what) in a trade off for a higher quality lifestyle?

I'd love some feedback and advice if at all possible. I don't expect many to have a background knowledge of the medical field, but all help is appreciated. Thanks guys.

You need to research more.

How much time off will you really have?

How close to that sweet sweet beach will you actually be able to afford to be? How close to the popular areas will you be able to afford to be?

Will you be able to afford the other costs of living in the area (transportation, etc...)?

How much money do you stand to make additional if you go to an MD school?

Also, a big question is whether with all these significant distractions in your life, will you be able to focus on your "chief" goal?

These topics will answer your question.

Myself, I find moving to the beach has been one of the best decisions of my life, but it hasn't necessarily made all my decisions past that easier and it certainly hasn't got me to make other good decisions by default.

Opened up my social and networking world dramatically, though.

[Oz.]

I don't know I've been sacrificing location for a couple of years now while in college to obtain more options when I'm out into the world alone, maybe i'm too young to understand this but I pretty much hate every day I spend in a place I don't enjoy and sure I'll have more options when I graduate but I won't get all those years I spent hating the place I lived back. Just my two cents though

[The Lizard of Oz]

(04-15-2015 07:48 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

From studies I've seen, when you look at people's lifetime earnings, the school they went to isn't as important as its made out to be.

These studies typically look at the undergrad college you went to and it's true that this does not make as much of a difference as commonly believed. Med school is a whole other kettle of fish, and graduating from something like Harvard Med School will set you on a very different career trajectory than graduating from some random no-name Med school. Although the OP is not talking about Harvard, going to a good solid upper echelon state school is still very different from some DO school in Fort Lauderdale.

(04-15-2015 07:48 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

While I think you can enjoy most cities as long as you're making decent money, have a good social circle and sex life, I think there's something to be said about living in a city that inspires you. To me that's worth more than whatever small income loss you may initially get stemming from the lower prestige school.

Again Med School is not college where you party most of the time -- it tends to be a stressful time and your opportunities for social circle and sex life are limited no matter what. It's a good time to concentrate on actually learning what you came there to learn -- which is important -- and treat everything else as a bonus. When you have to settle for your permanent job, that's when you think hard about location, and going to a better school is likely to give you more and better choices in that regard.

I'll say one more thing. I know a lot of doctors and know a lot about them. Unfortunately, most of them are not very good at what they do and this has serious real life consequences for their patients. But some few of them are f'ing great at what they do and those are a real treasure. To become a truly excellent physician is one of the very best and most valuable things a man can do, and it should be taken seriously, or not done at all.

[Killface]

It's everything.

Where you go to school is also highly correlated with where you'll work. Maybe it's different for medicine, but for most careers going to school where you want to work is best. Many schools are highly regarded regionally and virtually unknown elsewhere. You'll have a much better network.

I was in your situation....in a Midwest city and utterly miserable. Changing one little thing and moving has made all the difference. Don't let people tell you it's the same everywhere, as many people who have never been outside the Midwestern bubble (most Midwesterners) will tell you. Location makes a HUGE difference. Why fight an uphill battle?

[Brodiaga]

Go to a school which will provide the highest return on investment even if it is in a boring city. If there is not much to do, you'll have more time to study and find a better job. I know this goes against what a lot of guys on RVF think, but pussy is not everything. As a medical student at a prestigious school, you will always find a girl to hang out with, so no need to worry about that no matter where you study.

Of course, there are other factors and limitations to consider as well. If you despise the people in a certain region or can't stand the weather, then maybe it's worth going to a lower ranked or more expensive school elsewhere.

[The_CEO]

After reading through the thread and my own post, yeah I think if you can get into a better program, do it.
Now is not the time to take your foot off the gas.

I went to a competitive program in my field and I did not like where it was located. I was so immersed in the program though it didn't matter because there wasn't a lot of time for much else.

Also, is this school in Fargo or in Ann Arbor? Ann Arbor may not be the French Riviera but there's a difference as you know from one Midwestern city to the next.

Lastly, I'll say it again, don't let a fictional Avatar influence important choices you'll make that will effect the rest of your life.

Personally, I'd want to put myself in the best position to do a residency at a top school/location and then land a full time position in my top choice location. Not go to a 2nd rate school in nice weather and end up back to square one if indeed this causes you to lose or limit opportunities.

Which is not to say to not go to Lauderdale. The point is that you need to do your due diligence. Where are grads of that school getting residencies? Where are they landing jobs?

[Chaos]

(04-15-2015 07:21 PM)Cr33pin Wrote:  

Location is everything in my opinion

[Drazen]

Do you really want to spend the rest of your life explaining to people what a DO is and that you're not an optometrist? Keep in mind that high value places will discriminate against the DO vs MD title as something lesser. You may choose Ft Lauderdale now but when it comes time to practice for the rest of your life, you'll be likely relegated to second tier cities and more rural areas.

[RichieP]

Location is important but so is your PEER GROUP and if you're considering universities you will presumably be spending most of your time in college social circles and venues... I would say go for the better school, chances are you'll probably enjoy the crowd there more too. Although I dont know, maybe everyone will just work hard and be boring, but in my experience, smarter people are more stimulating to be around if you're also smart. There will be surely be enough going on socially to have a good time too.

Save the world-class city picking for later on, it is important, but moreso for a later stage of life than college. I'd rather study at a world-class university in a 100k person town than an average school in London or NY. Both for socialising and future career options actually. You'll have plenty of time after to move to the big city.

[MdWanderer]

(04-15-2015 07:31 PM)The Lizard of Oz Wrote:  

Since WestCoast is no longer posting here, I'm going to channel what he would say: most guys chase pussy in their twenties and start thinking about money and career in their thirties, when it would be far more rational to do the opposite -- concentrate on investing in your skills in your twenties, and enter your thirties in an optimal position in terms of your SMV for pussy.

Well said, and I'm living proof of this so OP don't make the mistake I made. I partied, chased tail in college and choose an arbitrary major (History) and the price I paid for it was having shitty jobs, living with family, and no car out of college for a good 3-4 years before I joined the military to get back on my feet. I was invincible to women at that point.

Now I'm inching closer back to where I need to be with a steady income but still have roommates and can barely afford a one bedroom apartment thanks to the decisions I made almost ten years ago.

As for your question I would research that school in Florida and get some opinions from people that have attended that school. Also research the school in-state and ask them about the possibility of finding jobs out of state when you complete school. My uncle went to medical school in a small college town (UNC Chapel Hill) and found a job in Baltimore, MD, so it can be done. Gaming and having a good life is fun but academics should take priority if you want to afford a pussy-magnet nice pad and a steady bankroll after graduation.

[gamebreaker32]

Lived in medium sized Midwestern city my whole life and it feels like the biggest small town in the world. At age 24 people in large part still perceive you as when you were 17-21. The only nights during the week in which there is a nightlife are Thursday-Saturday and after going out every weekend for six months it's a lot of the same faces at the same places. Once I finally finish college in a few months it's Hasta Luego Omaha and I'm never coming back. I agree with everyone if your not happy living in your Midwestern medium sized city like I'm not move as soon as you can.

[Fortis]

Location is EVERYTHING.

I have lived within 5 miles of where I was born my entire life and I absolutely hate this area. The job market is absurdly competitive and the jobs are shit. It is a giant cock-block where the nearest party destinations are 30-45 minutes away and getting a room in said destinations is upwards of 150 dollars a night if you really want to go hard in those areas.

Want to move to a party destination? Probably not going to happen. Those areas are so expensive that only guys raking in serious dough can actually enjoy living there. If you try to move there as a guy fresh out of college you have to spend so much time hustling to stay afloat that you can't really have as much fun as you would like.

When it comes to medical school, correct me if I'm wrong, but many guys have told me that where you go to school isn't as important as how good you are at your area of study. If you're a half-ass doctor no one is going to hire you regardless. The market is inundated with shitty, slacker med school students. So you better be going hard if you intend to actually have a paycheck.

one of my close friends started out at community college and got straight As in all his courses, worked 40 hours a week and ran an undergraduate lab before winning a full-ride through medical school at a university down south. He has even told me that the weather where he is allows him to work far more efficiently than he was able to up north where we are from. I can even see it in his demeanor: there is a real sense of well-being that he has acquired from living in a great area even though he's supremely stressed out from all the studying.

I would pick a solid school where I'm happy instead of an amazing school in a climate I don't like. That isn't to say you should pick the worse school out there if it's in your dream city, but I wouldn't want to go to the best medical school if I hate the actual city, weather and set up. This goes beyond game and more into actual well-being.

There is a reason so many people want to leave their current situation and live abroad even if it means accepting less money. You cannot put a price on actually liking where you live. Everything is easier if you like it.

[monster]

Go to an elite school if you can. Furthermore, it's not like elite schools or out in Gainesville Ohio either.

[poutsara]

some good advice here.

[Alpone]

I'd say it's pretty important depending on your situation. I lived in the northeast up until a year and a half ago. I grew up there and all my college buddies and family are there, but I just outgrew the culture, weather and "personality" of the cities. Even when I visited places like Boston or NYC I was like "Ok, this is cool but I wouldn't want to live here".

Somehow my sensibilities shifted from northeastern to southern. I'm now in Texas and it totally fits who I am. The warmer weather, vast open spaces, clean, well run cities, pro-business culture, down to earth friendly people, etc. I also like that I can take road trips to the Rocky Mountains, the southwest, New Orleans, and a bunch of other places I consider new territory for me.

But keep in mind I've already paid my dues in shitty cities. I choose my grad school because of a great program, but it was in a backwater town nobody would move to otherwise. If you're early in your career, your focus should probably be to find the best college and 1st job rather than looking for a city that's a perfect fit. That comes later once you pay your dues.

[The_CEO]

I would also add there's no question location is important.

BUT...I would re-phrase your question - is location the most important factor in selecting your grad/professional school program?
What weight do you give it?

I have lived in some so called "great" cities, and also so very not great ones.
Sometimes it might mean living in the less desirable one to have more and better options later.