AnhydrousPond
Full Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2019
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 2
EDIT: Ohhhhhhh myyyyyyy, my life just got 1000X more complicated, and I didn't even know that was possible.
Major updates:
1. Wake Forest increased my scholarship to 73K (originally 65K). That means I could graduate with only ~30K in loans after four years.
2. I went to Second Look at Mayo and loved it there. I connected well with prospective students, most of whom are going to Mayo for sure.
3. Case won't increase my scholarship, so I will have to let them go 🙁.
4. I just got accepted to UNC!!! Like a day before April 30th? OMG..............why is that allowed? Here are some pros and cons about UNC.
UNC:
+ At least $18K/year scholarship but probably more (but they couldn't tell me before tomorrow's deadline)
+ Home institution/very familiar with the area/love Chapel Hill
+ Many friends and mentors around
+ Diverse patient population
+ Great reputation
- Since they can't say how much more they'll give me, they're currently my most expensive option ($20K more expensive than Mayo and $152K more expensive than Wake Forest, lol)
- They're already a bit disorganized, and this may get worse since they're demolishing their main med school building
- Didn't go to Second Look so no idea how I will connect with classmates
- Step 1 averages dropped after changing the curriculum a few years back, but they're buying study resources for their students now, and I think it has improved
- I'm salty for being placed on the WL, lolol
New thoughts:
* I've decided I won't consider Case any longer.
* I was leaning toward Mayo last week when the difference between WF and them was $100K, but now it's $137, which is making me rethink everything again, ugh.
* Never expected to get off the waitlist at UNC a day before the April 30th deadline. They won't have the financial aid package ready by tomorrow, which makes the situation much more difficult. At the beginning of the cycle last year, they were my top choice just because I went to undergrad there and loved it and would also like to live longer in Chapel Hill. The idea of saying no to them tomorrow is terrifying, but I may do it...? Currently, after getting to know more about other programs (and specifically Mayo), I think Mayo may have better opportunities for me and may be a better fit, but I'm also not sure. I tried not to think about UNC too much while I was on the WL.
Original post:
Hi, y'all. I really don't know what to do and would love to hear your thoughts.
1) Mayo Clinic 2+2 MN/FL Program
+ $40K/year scholarship
+ Really liked the deans, staff, and doctors I met during my interview at the FL campus
+ Great facilities and amazing simulation center
+ Love the idea of "Selectives" in between most blocks, which is dedicated time to explore interests
+ Great Step 1 average and match list
+ Small class (50 students)
+ Most prestigious of all three options
- Expensive (~$100K more expensive than WF)
- Weather (very cold, but at least I'll move to FL for clinical years)
- I haven't been to Rochester. "Second Look" is next weekend, so I'm not sure how I'll like the prospective students there
- Mandatory 8am lectures (I'm a lecture-goer though, so this may be okay)
- Least diverse patient population (in Rochester; in Jacksonville it may be better)
2) Wake Forest
+ $65K/year scholarship (cheapest option). This will cover full tuition + a little extra for living expenses
+ Location (nice weather and close to friends)
+ Good Step 1 average and match list
+ A lot of free resources to study for Step 1
+ Nice medical school building
- Didn't connect as well with prospective students, maybe because of lack of diversity (ethnic, geographic, age, etc.)
- Current students seemed a little indifferent (as if they didn't hate the school but didn't love it either)
- Hospital is not connected to the school (10-15min drive)
- Not very diverse patient population
- Closest airport is far
3) Case Western
+ $35/year scholarship
+ Affiliated with 4 great hospitals (Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, the VA, and Metro Health) = opportunity to interact with very diverse patient populations
+ PBL instead of lectures (I may like this, although not 100% sure)
+ Has happiest medical students; 27% of current first-year students are from groups underrepresented in medicine (URM)
+ Connected extremely well with prospective students during "Second Look" (diversity may be a reason)
+ Great Step 1 average and match list
+ Brand-new and amazing medical school building
- Most expensive option (~$120K more expensive than WF)
- Weather (very cold and a lot of snow)
- Large class (~200 students)
- Have hololens for anatomy; tried them during "Second Look" and not a big fan
General thoughts: Case is still in the running because of how well I connected with current and prospective med students. However, I will probably drop them if they don't increase my scholarship ($120K is too much IMO). I also liked Mayo more than WF (better opportunities in terms of research, mentorship, global health, etc.), but again, I'm not sure an extra $100K is worth it? I think I could be happy at WF as well. In terms of career interests, I like very different things: peds (primary care), peds surgery, psychiatry, and sports medicine (ortho?). Lastly, I don't know how much weigh I should give to how I liked other prospective students (many may not even end up going there?). I'm also on the WL at UNC and UCSF, but I'm trying not too worry about those two until (if) the time comes. Thank you so much for getting through this really long post! Please leave your thoughts/comments below 🙂.
Major updates:
1. Wake Forest increased my scholarship to 73K (originally 65K). That means I could graduate with only ~30K in loans after four years.
2. I went to Second Look at Mayo and loved it there. I connected well with prospective students, most of whom are going to Mayo for sure.
3. Case won't increase my scholarship, so I will have to let them go 🙁.
4. I just got accepted to UNC!!! Like a day before April 30th? OMG..............why is that allowed? Here are some pros and cons about UNC.
UNC:
+ At least $18K/year scholarship but probably more (but they couldn't tell me before tomorrow's deadline)
+ Home institution/very familiar with the area/love Chapel Hill
+ Many friends and mentors around
+ Diverse patient population
+ Great reputation
- Since they can't say how much more they'll give me, they're currently my most expensive option ($20K more expensive than Mayo and $152K more expensive than Wake Forest, lol)
- They're already a bit disorganized, and this may get worse since they're demolishing their main med school building
- Didn't go to Second Look so no idea how I will connect with classmates
- Step 1 averages dropped after changing the curriculum a few years back, but they're buying study resources for their students now, and I think it has improved
- I'm salty for being placed on the WL, lolol
New thoughts:
* I've decided I won't consider Case any longer.
* I was leaning toward Mayo last week when the difference between WF and them was $100K, but now it's $137, which is making me rethink everything again, ugh.
* Never expected to get off the waitlist at UNC a day before the April 30th deadline. They won't have the financial aid package ready by tomorrow, which makes the situation much more difficult. At the beginning of the cycle last year, they were my top choice just because I went to undergrad there and loved it and would also like to live longer in Chapel Hill. The idea of saying no to them tomorrow is terrifying, but I may do it...? Currently, after getting to know more about other programs (and specifically Mayo), I think Mayo may have better opportunities for me and may be a better fit, but I'm also not sure. I tried not to think about UNC too much while I was on the WL.
Original post:
Hi, y'all. I really don't know what to do and would love to hear your thoughts.
1) Mayo Clinic 2+2 MN/FL Program
+ $40K/year scholarship
+ Really liked the deans, staff, and doctors I met during my interview at the FL campus
+ Great facilities and amazing simulation center
+ Love the idea of "Selectives" in between most blocks, which is dedicated time to explore interests
+ Great Step 1 average and match list
+ Small class (50 students)
+ Most prestigious of all three options
- Expensive (~$100K more expensive than WF)
- Weather (very cold, but at least I'll move to FL for clinical years)
- I haven't been to Rochester. "Second Look" is next weekend, so I'm not sure how I'll like the prospective students there
- Mandatory 8am lectures (I'm a lecture-goer though, so this may be okay)
- Least diverse patient population (in Rochester; in Jacksonville it may be better)
2) Wake Forest
+ $65K/year scholarship (cheapest option). This will cover full tuition + a little extra for living expenses
+ Location (nice weather and close to friends)
+ Good Step 1 average and match list
+ A lot of free resources to study for Step 1
+ Nice medical school building
- Didn't connect as well with prospective students, maybe because of lack of diversity (ethnic, geographic, age, etc.)
- Current students seemed a little indifferent (as if they didn't hate the school but didn't love it either)
- Hospital is not connected to the school (10-15min drive)
- Not very diverse patient population
- Closest airport is far
3) Case Western
+ $35/year scholarship
+ Affiliated with 4 great hospitals (Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, the VA, and Metro Health) = opportunity to interact with very diverse patient populations
+ PBL instead of lectures (I may like this, although not 100% sure)
+ Has happiest medical students; 27% of current first-year students are from groups underrepresented in medicine (URM)
+ Connected extremely well with prospective students during "Second Look" (diversity may be a reason)
+ Great Step 1 average and match list
+ Brand-new and amazing medical school building
- Most expensive option (~$120K more expensive than WF)
- Weather (very cold and a lot of snow)
- Large class (~200 students)
- Have hololens for anatomy; tried them during "Second Look" and not a big fan
General thoughts: Case is still in the running because of how well I connected with current and prospective med students. However, I will probably drop them if they don't increase my scholarship ($120K is too much IMO). I also liked Mayo more than WF (better opportunities in terms of research, mentorship, global health, etc.), but again, I'm not sure an extra $100K is worth it? I think I could be happy at WF as well. In terms of career interests, I like very different things: peds (primary care), peds surgery, psychiatry, and sports medicine (ortho?). Lastly, I don't know how much weigh I should give to how I liked other prospective students (many may not even end up going there?). I'm also on the WL at UNC and UCSF, but I'm trying not too worry about those two until (if) the time comes. Thank you so much for getting through this really long post! Please leave your thoughts/comments below 🙂.
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