The SDN Prestige Poll (2016 Version)

[Cyberdyne 101]

So I'm wondering (again-lol) how SDN feels about taking on an additional 6 figures of debt for a more prestigious school. I realize that other factors come into play when picking a med school, but prestige seems to be the most prevalent justification for a higher COA.

While the poll is anonymous, I'd like to hear why you picked a specific answer i.e. I'm aiming for a top IM program so I'd pay more for a top 10, Stanford is worth an extra 100k due to opportunities outside of medicine etc. Additionally, it'd be awesome to hear from med students and physicians who dealt with this sort of School X vs. School Y dilemma.

Oh, and Mayo counts as a top 10 school.

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[Mansamusa]

Well, my state school would put me at $315K, so $100K more would be $415K.......Definitely wouldn't do.

But in a hypothetical situation where the debt was less crazy, I said the Stanford, UCSF, etc. I still think would be a very stupid decision and not really worth it, but I think my arrogance would get me in the end and I would take the debt

 

[Lannister]

I chose "Only for Stanford, UCSF, Hopkins, Penn, and/or Harvard". I doubt I'll be gunning for a "top residency", and I have no interest in having an academic career. I'd rather have the money to take cool vacations.

 

[Moko]

I chose "Only for Stanford, UCSF, Hopkins, Penn, and/or Harvard". I doubt I'll be gunning for a "top residency", and I have no interest in having an academic career. I'd rather have the money to take cool vacations.

Your family can afford it.

 

[Lannister]

Your family can afford it.

Lol at first I thought you meant my real family and I was like what the f***, does he know who I am!?

 

[Moko]

Lol at first I thought you meant my real family and I was like what the f***, does he know who I am!?

(or I could just be a stalker )

 

[md-2020]

Your family can afford it.

Lol at first I thought you meant my real family and I was like what the f***, does he know who I am!?

Well I mean you did break the cardinal rule of SDN by using a real family photo so

 

[NimbleNavigator]

Penn? How the hell is Penn in the very top tier?

IMO the top tier would be (in no particular order):
Stanford
Harvard
WashU
Yale
UCSF
Hopkins
Mayo

WashU might not even count as very top either IMO because even though it's big in the medical community, most laymen won't even recognize it as a top school. I would pay a significant amount more for all those schools except WashU.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Penn? How the hell is Penn in the very top tier?

WashU might not even count as very top either IMO because even though it's big in the medical community, most laymen won't even recognize it as a top school. I would pay a significant amount more for all those schools except WashU.

 

[WedgeDawg]

I doubt there is a significant difference in prestige between Penn and, say, Duke even though they're technically ranked differently.

Also this is such an SDN post

 

[Mad Jack]

I doubt there is a significant difference in prestige between Penn and, say, Duke even though they're technically ranked differently.

Also this is such an SDN post

It's clearly tongue-in-cheek Sometimes we've got to poke fun at ourselves.

 

[WedgeDawg]

It's clearly tongue-in-cheek Sometimes we've got to poke fun at ourselves.

I know. Just thought I would point it out anyway.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

I doubt there is a significant difference in prestige between Penn and, say, Duke even though they're technically ranked differently.

Also this is such an SDN post

The poll question is supposed to be taken seriously. It's clearly something that applicants wrestle with all the time. But as @Mad Jack pointed out, the tiers in the poll answers are tongue in cheek. They actually reflect how SDN tends to categorize schools.

 

[Okazaki Frag Grenade]

Can I just say, as someone who is just now on season 2 of Game of Thrones (first time ever watching), this Joffrey kid is a real jive-turkey

 

[Mad Jack]

I think there's people on SDN that would legitimately light their firstborn on fire to get into Harvard.

 

[FutureD.O]

So I'm wondering (again-lol) how SDN feels about taking on an additional 6 figures of debt for a more prestigious school. I realize that other factors come into play when picking a med school, but prestige seems to be the most prevalent justification for a higher COA.

While the poll is anonymous, I'd like to hear why you picked a specific answer i.e. I'm aiming for a top IM program so I'd pay more for a top 10, Stanford is worth an extra 100k due to opportunities outside of medicine etc. Additionally, it'd be awesome to hear from med students and physicians who dealt with this sort of School X vs. School Y dilemma.

Oh, and Mayo counts as a top 10 school.

Where does the college of winter hold rank? I've heard it was excellent some time ago, but that was before I took an arrow to the knee.

I couldn't resist...

 

[FutureD.O]

Can I just say, as someone who is just now on season 2 of Game of Thrones (first time ever watching), this Joffrey kid is a real jive-turkey

You seem like the type of guy that will enjoy weddings..

 

[The Buff OP]

Worth every penny.

 

[Affiche]

The poll question is supposed to be taken seriously. It's clearly something that applicants wrestle with all the time. But as @Mad Jack pointed out, the tiers in the poll answers are tongue in cheek. They actually reflect how SDN tends to categorize schools.

Come on now, this is SDN!

And it depends too much on the individual's goal. Why in the blue **** would you ever advise someone wanting to go into primary care (for example) to take on an extra 100k+ of debt to go to a top tier? It would be foolish. I'm not sure your poll can spit out useful results.

 

[Okazaki Frag Grenade]

You seem like the type of guy that will enjoy weddings..

As long as there's an open bar ... (I've heard something about that scene though)

 

[Cytarabine]

Too many variables. Desired specialty, practice environment, alternative med school, etc. I'll cop out and vote top 5 though

 

[Skydive Fox]

I'd pay $100,000+ extra to attend Princeton Medical School.

 

[Mad Jack]

I'd pay 200k more than the fortune I'm paying now to go to Harvard. Not even joking.

 

[Dr. Retractor]

I'd pay $100,000+ extra to attend Princeton Medical School.

PMS sucks, dude

 

[ZedsDed]

I think there's people on SDN that would legitimately light their firstborn on fire to get into Harvard.

Hey if you wanna make an omelet...

 

[Mad Jack]

Hey if you wanna make an omelet...

That analogy only applies when we're dealing with abortions dude.

 

[ZedsDed]

That analogy only applies when we're dealing with abortions dude.

Damn, don't cut yourself on all that edge MJ

 

[ZedsDed]

PMS sucks, dude

Basically a pretentious version of Ross.

 

[Lannister]

Can I just say, as someone who is just now on season 2 of Game of Thrones (first time ever watching), this Joffrey kid is a real jive-turkey

Don't talk about my son like that. I'll have you strangled in your sleep.

I think there's people on SDN that would legitimately light their firstborn on fire to get into Harvard.

Only GoT scene that's ever made me cry.

 

[FutureD.O]

As long as there's an open bar ... (I've heard something about that scene though)

Do yourself a favor and don't look up spoilers!

 

[Sardinia]

@Cyberdyne 101 Why aren't there any D.O. schools listed in the OP?

 

[Moko]

You seem like the type of guy that will enjoy weddings..

I'm not one to enjoy weddings, but I choked up. It was beautiful, even the host couldn't resist.

 

[Lannister]

I'm not one to enjoy weddings, but I choked up. It was beautiful, even the host couldn't resist.

I watched it with my mom and she was pissed, said it wasn't painful enough.

 

[ZedsDed]

I watched it with my mom and she was pissed, said it wasn't painful enough.

Shhhhh

 

[Lannister]

4 more days...I'm so excited for the new season, it's the first time I'm not going to know what happens ahead of time (speaking of that, George needs to hurry up, I want Winds of Winter).

EDIT: 3 more days...I can't math.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

I'd pay 200k more than the fortune I'm paying now to go to Harvard. Not even joking.

For real?! Care to elaborate?!

 

[Lucca]

Penn? How the hell is Penn in the very top tier?

IMO the top tier would be (in no particular order):
Stanford
Harvard
WashU
Yale
UCSF
Hopkins
Mayo

WashU might not even count as very top either IMO because even though it's big in the medical community, most laymen won't even recognize it as a top school. I would pay a significant amount more for all those schools except WashU.

What.

 

[The Buff OP]

I voted for the first option because I might want to do a specialty that is big in academic hospitals.

 

[jaxon]

WashU might not even count as very top either IMO because even though it's big in the medical community, most laymen won't even recognize it as a top school. I would pay a significant amount more for all those schools except WashU.

Most people who have no knowledge of the medical world wouldn't recognize WashU, but will recognize UCSF and Mayo?

 

[Pastamahn]

Most people who have no knowledge of the medical world wouldn't recognize WashU, but will recognize UCSF and Mayo?

Eh, I feel like most people have heard of Mayo Clinic and would probably assume the associated medical school would be highly ranked. Although, I agree that people outside the medical field wouldn't recognize UCSF.

 

[Lucca]

Eh, I feel like most people have heard of Mayo Clinic and would probably assume the associated medical school would be highly ranked. Although, I agree that people outside the medical field wouldn't recognize UCSF.

Idk what "most people" you hangout with but most people I've met are confused as to why a school is named after a condiment

 

[Pastamahn]

Idk what "most people" you hangout with but most people I've met are confused as to why a school is named after a condiment

Huh, might be some crazy coincidence then, but I've never met anyone who didn't know what Mayo Clinic was.

 

[FutureD.O]

Most people who have no knowledge of the medical world wouldn't recognize WashU, but will recognize UCSF and Mayo?

Stop following me Mr. Meeseeks.

 

[eteshoe]

I think there's people on SDN that would legitimately light their firstborn on fire to get into Harvard.

It's either that or donate a new wing to the library lol

 

[claduva94]

My answer is only for Mayo (which is heavily subsidized by grants)

 

[darkjedi]

Penn? How the hell is Penn in the very top tier?

IMO the top tier would be (in no particular order):
Stanford
Harvard
WashU
Yale
UCSF
Hopkins
Mayo

WashU might not even count as very top either IMO because even though it's big in the medical community, most laymen won't even recognize it as a top school. I would pay a significant amount more for all those schools except WashU.

your beloved nimble navigator went to Penn

pretty sure that's a negative though

 

[alpinism]

Penn? How the hell is Penn in the very top tier?

IMO the top tier would be (in no particular order):
Stanford
Harvard
WashU
Yale
UCSF
Hopkins
Mayo

WashU might not even count as very top either IMO because even though it's big in the medical community, most laymen won't even recognize it as a top school. I would pay a significant amount more for all those schools except WashU.

You do realize that Perelman is the oldest medical school in the US and played a huge role in establishing what is now modern american medicine?

In terms of med school prestige (not undergrad prestige) Penn is right up there with Harvard, Hopkins, and Stanford.

 

[NimbleNavigator]

your beloved nimble navigator went to Penn

pretty sure that's a negative though

That was Wharton, the business school, which has an excellent reputation.

 

[jaxon]

Stop following me Mr. Meeseeks.

Not until you perfect your putting.

 

[jaxon]

Huh, might be some crazy coincidence then, but I've never met anyone who didn't know what Mayo Clinic was.

Most of my family doesn't even know Hopkins has a hospital. If I named all those schools (Harvard Yale Stanford Mayo Hop UCSF etc), probably only Harvard Yale and Stanford would be recognized.