Hi, it looks like I am paying full price for like the three schools I get into (boooooo), and Vanderbilt is by far the strongest program I got into, so I will most likely be going there. But I have a few reservations and I was wondering for advice to address them or reassurance.

I am South Asian male, and while I am from the West Coast, my college studies and gap years has taken to me to the South and the Midwest, and I don't know, I just feel like it was a harder adjustment. Very late bloomer in terms of making friends, late bloomer in terms of hobbies, late bloomer in terms of even trying to date, and late bloomer of just making these places "home." My reference point are my older sisters who also had to make transitions like that, but personality wise, they seem different to me. Like they just aren't a massive nerd like me (they have super like outgoing career goals/interests, fit in more with people, easier to make friends, they actually "date" or are considered "attractive" or whatever with no problem). I don't know, I just look at them and compare them to me sort of feel like I struggle a lot with things.

That goes to my next concern. Wouldn't going to a place like Nashville exasperate things? It feels like a Southern city where people from the region go for weekend trips, and doesn't exactly have a South Asian community. Will it be hard to make friends or perhaps eventually find a partner? If I already struggle so much, wouldn't the time commitment of medical school (especially Vanderbilt's accelerated preclerkship), make things difficult? How can I fix this?

And one of the reasons why I think Vanderbilt would be a great place is that out of all the schools I've gotten into, Vanderbilt has the strongest match list, and I would like to match back home in the West Coast where I have family (California, and less in Washington), or larger cities post medical school. But is there any way to build myself up to be competitive for such residency programs? I don't know, I always feel a little sad about it because I always want to be in California, but I didn't get into most of the UCs, for both undergrad and medical school, so I really think I have it in me for one more effort to go back home.

Thanks, everyone!