To the Penn People

[Thirteen]

Hello all - like my previous Boston post, this has to do with how things are/cost/etc in Philly.

The SO got an interview at Temple for CA-1 !!! EEEK!

Thoughts? Advice?

[DCJenn]

Re: To the Penn People

Uh, don't leave near Temple.

A good friend of mine went there for his rads residency.

Jenn

[ladymoreta]

Re: To the Penn People

My DH interviewed there for anesthesia. Several of his classmates ranked it pretty high. It seemed to be a really family-friendly program because, in my husband's words, there's nothing else to do in Temple besides make a family. I haven't ever been there, but I think it's within an hour of Waco (confirmation/correction anyone?), and if so, that would probably be your closest "big" city.

[Thirteen]

Re: To the Penn People

Sorry guys, I meant Temple in Philadelphia.

I agree, I know all about Waco... Yucko!
(Originally from OK)

[ladymoreta]

Re: To the Penn People

Oops... Um, no comment... Never even been to the state! :guilty:

Re: To the Penn People

I know someone who is doing their EM residency at Temple. Ummm...let's see...not the safest neighborhood I guess...but Philly was sort of scary for me when I moved here in June. I came from NYC (originally from KY) but still really feel like NYC was safer as a whole. My MD BF is doing Peds at St. Christopher (northern Philly) and he loves it. However, it is NOT in a great area. I almost feel uncomfortable DRIVING up there at night. Perhaps some would not say it is that bad. One of the biggest perks to living in Philly is that it is one of the most affordable eastern cities by far. This is something to consider when you take into account student loans and other expenses on a resident salary. Plus it is only 1 1/2 hours from NYC (and a lot of other major cities). I can't say I was too psyched about it at first but I had actually never been to Philly before I moved here with the MD BF. You cannot believe it is going to be anything like NYC...it does not compare. However, it does have a lovely Center City with a very nice historic district that I have come to love (or something like love...maybe like would be more accurate). I know that we will not stay in Philly after his residency...or at least I KNOW this.

Let me know if you have any other questions - more than happy to help. I am pretty new to all of this myself and need all the help I can get as well!

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: To the Penn People

Uh, don't leave near Temple. . . .

Double-super-ditto.

I lived in Philly as a kid and then we were there for a five-week away rotation in last year of med school. It was my experience that it was more expensive that Dallas in terms of cost of living. Rent was higher, food and dry goods were a bit more expensive (but not horribly so), and private school costs for kids were way higher. We lived within walking distance of HUP, so we were there without a car (can't speak to those costs).

Honestly, I loved Philly. It was a terrific experience for us. But I grew up in that general area of the country and don't mind the fact that Philadelphians are kind of hard-bitten at times. A couple of years ago, it was ranked the rudest city in the country (blowing away NYC), but I think that is really the result of a micro-cultural misunderstandings. It is definitely not "midwestern nice" (I'm in St. Louis, MO now...), but, in Philly, you tend to know where people are coming from and what they think of you, good or bad.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: To the Penn People

It seemed to be a really family-friendly program because, in my husband's words, there's nothing else to do in Temple besides make a family.

Are you talking about Temple, Texas and Scott & White Hospital? My husband is from Temple and his dad was an attending there for years! You are SO right about the twon, though...small, sleepy, not much to do. But it's only an hour from Austin, which ROCKS!

[Sheherezade]

Re: To the Penn People

DH did med school at Temple. Bad area, good people at the hospital. I used to worry about DH walking to his car at night but the feel around the program was that the neighborhood looked out for the hospital workers because they were in the hospital so much. It was a good place to learn trauma work, that's for sure. DH loved the med school.

We lived in Mayfield and used the RTA to get to Penn (me) and trolley to Temple (him). Cheap as all get out. We bought a twin house with three bedrooms/one bath and a small yard for 30K. Less than a car these days. It made med school/grad school/first child a lot easier to have a house payment under 300 dollars a month. Suburbs with trees were a lot more expensive. We moved from NYC to Philly...and I totally concur about the comparison. Philly was far more dangerous. I was mugged on UPenn campus at 7 am one morning - and there are just a lot more empty streets that seem ripe for a crime than we ever had in NYC, Baltimore or Boston.

Good luck!

[Thirteen]

Re: To the Penn People

Thanks for your insights everybody!

Re: To the Penn People

I know someone who is doing their EM residency at Temple. Ummm...let's see...not the safest neighborhood I guess...but Philly was sort of scary for me when I moved here in June.

I really don't know of many teaching hospitals that are in the "good" part of town. Especially if they have a Level I ED. I'm sure there are some, but it's not been my experience.

Re: To the Penn People

What part of Philly is the 'good' part of town?

Only kidding...the Old City is nice...and Rittenhouse Square....just don't get lost and wander down the wrong street.

[Meenah]

Re: To the Penn People

If you are at Temple, look at Yardley or Newtown, in Bucks County. He could then take the train to Temple (30 min.) The is a stop at the University/Hospital. I am about 10 minutes from Newtown.

[scarlett09]

Re: To the Penn People

I was born and raised a half hour outside of Philly, and I still live fairly close by, at least until June.

The area around Temple is definitely not great. When he goes for interviews, he might want to chat up some of the other residents. They can tell him about where they live and the pluses and minuses of it. He might want to already have an idea of what type of living situation you guys want (i.e., house vs. apartment, burbs vs. city) when he asks those questions. I've already been having these conversations with the MS4 as he starts interviews next week. I don't want to wind up in some scummy area because he didn't ask the right questions.

Olde City and Rittenhouse Square are good neighborhoods in Philly. I also like Manyunk. My cousin works at CHOP and just bought a rowhome there. Nice neighborhood with lots of shopping and dining, and there is a young feel to it.

I totally agree with Luanne about Yardley or Newtown in Bucks County. I heart Bucks County, I wish I could move there.

You could also go into NJ - there are some nice towns along the PATCO High Speed Line. I am thinking of Haddonfield, specifically, but Collingswood is not too bad. The High Speed Line goes directly into 8th & Market in Center City. He would need to transfer to another line to ride up to Temple. Might not be as direct, but it could potentially be an option for you.

[MrsC]

Re: To the Penn People

[quote="frowe01"]What part of Philly is the 'good' part of town? [quote]

I thought the same thing.
DH did a couple of rotations through Temple and thinks it's a great hospital. There's nothing you don't see and it has a great reputation...It's where they take the cops when they get shot in Philly, seriously, I'm not making light of it, they go there over Jefferson, Hahnemann, Penn.
The area, very bad.
Having said that, there are nice areas just outside the city, 20 mins outside of rush hour and you can rent a nice apartment for $830 a month. The train service to the suburbs is pretty good. There is a nice historic area (I think that's the good part of town Frowe, along with Society Hill and it's 3 million dollar condos). You do get used to Philly.
The things I dislike about it most are the people, can be very rude and unfriendly and the streets, which are filthy (I've gotten used to holding my breath on the way to work because of the stench), there are homeless people on every corner, which is never good to see.

Ok, so I have a lot of negative things to say. DH doesn't like it either and we've lived here for 3 years. Apparenty it was once a great place to live but a series of corrupt politicians have ruined it and no money has gone into the city in years. I know a lot of natives who still like it but I guess it depends where you come from. Personally I find it very hard to ignore the poverty and it's just depressing driving through it every day. That's all I hear "Just don't drive through it".