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http://www.premedlife.com/1/post/2013/06...chool.html

Top 10 Best Cities for Medical School

While there are undoubtedly many important factors to consider when choosing which medical school to apply to, one factor often overlooked, but quite significant, is location. For the most part, prospective medical students figure that the location is not much of a factor and have the "I'll fit in, where I get in" mentality. The fact of the matter is, your medical school experience is about more than simply getting your degree.

The city where your medical school is located is also important and should very much be taken into consideration when deciding on where to apply to. Each year, rankings of the best medical schools in the country are released, but what they fail to take into account are some rather important factors - location being one. It is important that, in addition to what your top medical school can offer, you seriously think about where you will be living.
The place where you attend medical school may not make a difference, but for others it may be the key to success and happiness during the medical school years. Actually, according to one survey, when choosing the medical school students attend or plan to attend, most students say that the geographic location of a medical school is a key positive factor weighed in their decision.

So, what makes a city great for medical school students? When determining our 2nd annual list of the Best Cities to Live for Medical Students, PreMedLife searched for all the data we could find to compile our list of places that offer the best overall quality of life for students. We found that the best places to attend medical school share many similarities - affordability, free events and activities, and an overall low cost-of-living. We started our search by looking at cities across the country which offered the lowest cost-of-living for its residents. Then, to narrow our search, we began considering factors of interest to the medical student population like rent affordability, access to public transportation, and the number of activities and events that cost little to nothing.

Lastly, we realize the importance of life outside of medical school and looked for cities which support a balanced life and encourages and fosters opportunities for social, personal and emotional well-being. After analyzing these factors, we think these are the best cities when it comes to the medical student population.

You told us your ideal city to attend medical school is affordable, intellectually and culturally vibrant. Here are the cities we think will offer you the best overall experience outside of the classroom and make their four years of medical school as enjoyable as possible.

Birmingham, Alabama

If you've ever thought you couldn't have the best of both worlds - a great medical school experience inside the classroom and a personal and social life outside the classroom - think again. As one of the most livable cities in the country, Birmingham is a fast-growing metropolis that is quickly gaining popularity among recent graduates. According to the city's web site "Birmingham has transformed itself into a medical research, banking and service-based economy, making it one of the nation's most livable cities with a vibrant downtown, a burgeoning loft community, a world-class culinary scene and more green space per capita than any other city in the nation."

Cost-of-living: 87(national average 100)
Avg 1br rental: $729/month
Medical schools located in this city: University of Alabama School of Medicine

Seriously, what's the official name, again?

Um....I think that is the "official name". At least that's the name on the diplomas I've seen (of Dr.s who went to med school at UAB).

I think Dr. G. changed in several years ago raising a stink with the medical school alumni group. If I remember correctly, Chancellor Portera ruled at the time that the decision was a Campus decision and did not override.

This is from the school website:

Yupp. That's about the time they introduced this logo, IIRC.

That makes sense, as most of the Dr.s I see graduated from med school "more than a few yeas ago".

3 cities are C-USA cities, and 2 are former C-USA cities.

(08-05-2013 07:36 PM)BhamSnap Wrote:  3 cities are C-USA cities, and 2 are former C-USA cities.

And all 10 have similar cost of living with 87 (B'ham) the lowest and Lexington and El Paso tied at 92 the highest (Nat'l average-100). The rent for a one BR flat was midrange (#5) @ $729 between Ok City's high of $955 and Memphis's low of $526. All in all, it made a good case for coming to the B'ham area for medical education.