LucieA

Hello,

so my husband and I are in the process of moving out of Florida. we do not have a definite state in mind at this time. He is graduating with a microbiology, molecular biology bachelor in August, and is planning to go for medical school, or Doctor assistant school. He is not 100% sure at this time. He has work in the medical field ( veterinary field more specifically ) for 7 years now. the reason being, no human medical field would hire him without a diploma.
I have no diplomas yet as I was waiting for my husband to enter medical school before starting up again but I am re-considering it. I am in the process of getting a certificate for medical translation. Until now, I have only had " jobs" to support our family until we get things figured out.
Few things you might need to know to help me out with my questions : we are both 27 years old, I moved from France to Miami 10 years ago. I moved up to Orlando 7 years ago. my husband moved from Peru 12 years ago and was in Miami for 5 years. We both hate Florida with a passion and want to move somewhere else. We want a state that has 4 seasons, we do not mind the cold, we even considered Canada as a choice to move. But we are not sure what state to go to. We were considering northeast mostly. somewhere his degree and my certification would have career opportunities open to us. we have been renting all our life and are considering buying but we want to rent first to make sure it is the right place for us. We do not have kids yet and are not really planning to have any just yet as he is not done with school. We have a large dog. We both love outdoors activities and do not want to be in a big city. I am a horse person and would like barn in proximity.
We had in mind, North Carolina ( since it has Duke university ) and seems to correlate with our ways of living. Some people have suggested Virginia, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Canada.

1. my question is/ are : what state do you recommend? why or why not ? what are the pros and cons in the state you recommend?
2. Does anyone recommend Canada ? why or why not ?

We are aware of what it takes to move out of state, I am planning on finding a job before moving to the location we choose. and probably go house hunting first as well before making the big move. I just want to narrow my search by asking advice to people that have lived in areas we are considering. Since I am from Europe and my husband from South America, we have not lived outside of Florida, it is hard to look for the perfect place without having all the information necessary to make the decision.

thank you for taking the time to read my post

BigRuss

The northeast is the most densely populated area in the country and the most expensive (generally). Net population migration is trending OUT of NY, Massachusetts, Vermont, NJ and Pennsylvania. Why? Because cost of living and taxes are high - far higher than Florida.

The most important issue is one you have not discussed - why does Florida limit your career opportunities based on his degree and your certification? Is that why you hate Florida (I'm thinking there are plenty of other reasons, especially if you're living in Central Florida)? And being more specific with what you want may get you better answers.

This is a travel board more than a relocation board - there are plenty of those that could be really useful for you. Of your initial choices, Colorado, NC and VA would be the higher ones on my list. PA and NJ would be off: taxes, population density, governmental incompetence.

tomfuller

Duke is a great choice - if you can get in. I have a nephew that is from Oregon but he is graduating from Duke this spring.
If you strike out in North Carolina, try Johns Hopkins near Baltimore. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/admissions/
Pennsylvania has some great schools of Medicine in the SE corner near but not in Philadelphia.
You could also look at northern Delaware for a place that has a mild winter. I'd stay away from New Jersey. I would stay away from Canada since any degrees from there may not be recognized by US medical facilities.

suze

I love Vermont. One of my favorite states.

Moving to (being allowed to work in) Canada has a whole set of redtape/paperwork for a US Citizen.

DebitNM

I would see where your husband gets accepted in to Medical School first [ or PA - Physicians' Assist] before moving.

Last I heard, getting into Medical School is very difficult. (PA not as difficult) It isn't a matter of moving somewhere and then applying to "local" school and hoping you moved to where you actually got accepted.

nytraveler

The biggest thing on your radar at this point is your husband getting into medical school. Hasn't he applied to them already? I would think now is way too late for applications for this upcoming year - or is his looking at the year after?

As you know this is extremely competitive and I think he should be focusing on picking the places where he has the best chances rather than where you will live long-term - since his eventual residency "match" will determine where you have to live for those years immediately after medical school.

It sounds like he could use some additional advice from his counselor/mentor in terms of the workings of this process and how he can realistically expect this to go and where he should be applying.

(And getting into medical school is a MAJOR difference from entering school to become a Physician Assistant - about which I don;t have a whole lot of info.)

sassy27

Since you mention the medical field, my first thought was PA/NJ but taxes are high in NJ. Depending on where in PA it can be a little more reasonable but you might want to look at Delaware. You can be close to PA from there. A lot of people in Pharma at one time were moving to NC and I was toying of making the move but never did. So keep looking at NC or maybe Delaware close to the boarder to Philly to see if it might meet your needs.

marvelousmouse

Aside from the medical school issue- which I agree is the most important part- his first job is unlikely to be in the same area his school is in. I predict you'll be moving around for at least the next 5-10 years.

More of a concern- have you ventured out of florida much at all? I get the "anywhere but here" vibe from your post, and that's not such a great basis for a decision. It's also hard to generalize a whole state to you: for instance, I could suggest oregon, but the pros and cons of eastern oregon are much different than Western Oregon. Landscape is different, job market is different, CLIMATE is different. Northeastern oregon approaches hell in August, while the coast is near heaven at that time. If you've never been to the west, and you are thinking about Colorado (or Montana or Idaho or heck, anywhere in the southwest) then you should visit just to get a sense of population and distance travelled. It's a different lifestyle and a different outlook. You should not just visit in summer; you should also visit in late winter. When the rural county you live in owns 1 snow plow and the main highway is 15 miles from town and you get nearly 4 feet of snow- well, let's say after 4 days of not being able to drive to the supermarket 30 miles down the main highway, you may be ready to move right back to Florida. (That happened to me. When the snowplow finally cleared the road, we felt like we hit the jackpot when we could finally go to the county seat and buy Taco Bell.) That wasn't an emergency situation- that was just another winter. Mm, I'm feeling nostalgic! I didn't get to play in the snow this year at all. I've met people from the east coast who think 30 miles is a "long" drive- my parents frequently drove about 180 miles just to go clothes shopping and to the doctor and to see relatives. That drive was very, very boring- no services, few towns, occasional farms for long stretches of it. What I consider a "town", my college friends from more populated states considered a hole in the road. Just very different outlooks.

Anyway...my point is, even if medical school and jobs were NOT an issue, I'd recommend visiting all the places on your list and then coming back online to ask specific questions about living long term in the places you liked best. The more you know what you WANT, the more information you'll be able to get

Ackislander

Much of the information you are offered is not relevant to your situation is irrelevant or inaccurate.

Nytraveler's information is accurate,as are those who suggest that medical school (applying in 2016) is your first goal. You need as much career counseling as you can get.

You have certain incredibly important assets in that you are bilingual, Medical personnel at all levels who can speak Spanish and French are in great demand in areas with lots of Hispanics and Haitians. Yes, Haitians speak and write Kreyol amongst themselves, but they learn French in school and are delighted to speak it.

You should concentrate on areas where there are large populations of these ethnicities. Taxes are irrelevant to you because you aren't going to make a lot of money for the next few years, and things you do to establish a permanent home like buying a house in a community with good school aren't going to happen, as someone notes above, for ten years.

Ignore the comment about people leaving the Northeast. Boston has the highest concentration of doctors and top flight medical schools and hospitals in the country. Rents are expensive because NOT ENOUGH people are leaving. Duke? Johns Hopkins? You don't have to go to these schools unless you want to be a medical researcher. No good medical schools near Philadelphia? Give me a break. Dead wrong.

I have a wonderful primary care physician, but I have also had incredibly good care from three physicians' assistants, one of whom saved my life. If your husband is interested in a lot of patient contact and helping people manage their issues, this can be an excellent field, well-paid but with enough time to have a life.

Good luck!

Gretchen

There's a sort of lack of focus in this post.
First, apply to med schools and get in. If that isn't happening for this year, get a good job that will further the possibility of being accepted next year--research lab work, etc.
Even if you "hate FL with a passion", it is a state that welcomes bilinqual people, has a large need for medical jobs, and may have to be your place for a while longer.
Everyone talks about the "medical centers"--there are MANY MANY--not just Boston. And certainly PA, for heavens sake. Charlotte is home to the second largest hospital system in the country. NC has at least 3 large medical centers (Duke being one--and not just research!!)
Certainly investigate Physician Assistant programs everywhere. And even graduate school, if entry into med school or PA doesn't happen.
If veterinary research jobs pay the bills, nothing to look down on.

vincenzo32951

There are a lot of "ifs" but, IMHO, the Philadelphia area might be good for you.

Med schools.
A lot of job opportunity in the fields of health care and medical/pharma reserach.
Four seasons.
Access to mountains and seashore.
Moderate housing costs, at least for the Northeast.

Birdie

I agree with Vincenzo32951 re: Philly. It has a number of medical schools and health related programs. I have no idea what to fuller is referring to when he says,
"Pennsylvania has some great schools of Medicine in the SE corner near but not in Philadelphia."
HUP, Thomas Jeff, Drexel, and Temple schools of medicine are all in Philly.
Virginia, with excellent medical schools and PA programs, is also a good suggestion. PA programs are very difficult to get into.

tomfuller

If you don't like Philadelphia, try Hershey. http://www.pennstatehershey.org/web/guest/welcome
Birdie is right, the rest are in Philadelphia

nytraveler

Yes, but the key fact it that you will need to move to the area of the medical school your DH is accepted to - and his counselor should be recoing where to apply - for the first 4 years. Then you will probably need to move to a different area in which he gets a residency "match" - based on which specialty he is applying for and which programs are interested in him for the 2 ot 4 or 5 years of residency training.

Only then will you have a much bigger choice of where to live - if he has not signed on for a program that covers tuition if he works in an underserved area for a number of years.

I really think you need to look into how this whole system works before just deciding on where to live

flpab

Delaware is very good for taxes but cold wet winters. You have a large dog, problem renting in many places. Do you have a horse now that needs boarding?

ziggypop

Minnesota, hands down is your best chioce, in my opinion.

4 seasons, you betcha

Medical school, U of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic and more.

Job for science geek, 3M, United Health, IBM, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, the list of Forbes 500 companies goes on and on.

You do not like Florida, Minnesota is the anti-Florida.

Gretchen

DEAR HEAVENS. This person needs to get a grip on how things work. She really really doesn't have a clue.
Oh, and as for Minnesota, maybe 3 seasons if you're lucky. BUT a great place.
And as our dear friend says (a former head of a major specialty at Mayo and 50 year resident of rochester!), you are only a window pane away from freezing to death!!

Sassafrass

Gretchen, that is so funny, "only a window pane away from freezing to death!" I never heard it before, but will remember it.

Birdie

Don't be so quick to criticize the OP for investigating the idea of moving to a new state before applying to medical school. I know that veterinary schools lean heavily towards accepting state residents and residents of states they have agreements with so I was curious whether medical schools do the same. As it turns out, it depends on the state.

If the OP decides they like VA, they should move there first. If, on the other hand, they like PA they should apply first. If they decide on a state school anywhere, they should move there first.

https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/c...part2/appendix

ziggypop

Gretchen, which season is missing?