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For me I would choose northwestern location + curriculum style. Personal preference

Both are great schools ~ firstly decide Northwestern if UChicago doesn't match. If costs are near the same, consider which system you would be happier in.
 
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Definitely Northwestern unless Pritzker matches. Very similar prestige, cheaper, and you seem to like the school better. Good luck!
 
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Definitely try to negotiate with Pritzker for money. Keep in mind that rent in Hyde Park is about half to 3/4s of what you'd pay in downtown. If the cost gap doesn't significantly narrow though, I would go for Northwestern.

More info about Pritzker: Hyde Park is quite safe! Have never felt unsafe walking around during the day/evenings, and there are lots of safety precautions in place (safety apps, shuttles/buses, escorts, etc). Only a ~15 min car ride from downtown—I like living in a chill/quiet area while having easy access to big city life. As far as facilities go, there's an older hospital (Mitchell), but patients are often in CCD, DCAM, and Comer Children's, which are newer and well kept up. Not an MS3, but every time I've shadowed a physician here, I'm usually in the latter 3 buildings. Probably not as eye-popping as Northwestern (I only have vague interview day recollections of NW), but I'd say the facilities are fine. Our lecture building (which is where you interviewed) is a little old though—not enough sunlight.
 
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I am not aware that UChicago is really that much more prestigious than Northwestern. If the only thing UChicago has going for it is the prestige, I think you'll be happy picking Northwestern over it.
 
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Feinberg is absolutely the move. Is UChicago worth a 175k risk that you WOULDN'T find your community of people at Feinberg? I don't think so, but I guess that's for you to determine.
 
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For what its worth, I currently live in Chicago, and I've networked with a bunch of med students from Rush, Stritch, Feinberg, UIC, and Pritzker to get their opinions and advice. One of the guys I connected with from Feinberg was amazed at how cooperative and inclusive his class has been. He mentioned people all posting their notes in a group doc, classmates teaching other classmates on difficult subjects, and going out of their way to include anyone in their study groups that needed the help. From what I took away, even though it is a competitive environment, it is not cutthroat. He talked about the professors and admin emphasizing community in the first couple semesters to help kids keep from drowning. Hope this helps!
 
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Northwestern even if you manage to get them down to the same. Personal location preference and have heard good things about the program itself
 
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GGBMed2021 said:
how cooperative and inclusive his class has been. He mentioned people all posting their notes in a group doc, classmates teaching other classmates on difficult subjects, and going out of their way to include anyone in their study groups that needed the help. From what I took away, even though it is a competitive environment, it is not cutthroat. He talked about the professors and admin emphasizing community in the first couple semesters to help kids keep from drowning.
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Man what a load of BS. I'm sure they're great, but this is verbatim what every medical student says about every school. Much more valuable to know the grading schemes / how they determine honors / if they rank people internally / how high-stakes their assessments are.
 
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Both are amazing schools. Which did you like better?

Northwestern is in a better part of Chicago and has more problem/small group learning. The class size is bigger. Uchicago is more traditional but offers more flexibility (ie. Don't have to attend every lecture) and their class is not at as "cut throat." Uchicago's step 1 and 2 scores are always top 5 every year (step 1 won't matter for you but step 2 will) . Also, the benefit of a small a class size is that you will not be competing with your classmates for research opportunities and LORs. At larger schools, it's common have over 5 ppl applying to derm, ent, and subspecialties. It becomes a competition which can be stressful. I would personally go to Uchicago.
 
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Totally agree that you will do great at either. Just to clarify about a couple of Feinberg things, lectures are recorded and only a few are mandatory ("active learning sessions"), but I'd say most of the people I know go anyway - sometimes just for the social aspect and sometimes to meet the lecturers (I've yet to have one not be willing to chat or go to lunch or offer to shadow). Not sure where the "cut throat" thing comes from. Yeah, there are "those students" everywhere, but that's not the norm in my experience. Research is built into the curriculum (AOSC) and between the faculty at the med school and the main campus, I didn't hear anyone complain about not having a choice of someone to work with. I was a little concerned about the size of the program, but the class is broken down into 20-student "colleges" for a lot of activities (and even smaller for others). Can't speak to the LOR sitch yet, but not sure how having anybody else applying for the same specialty has any relevance, unless they're all gunning for the home program - but maybe I'm just naive. But again, both great programs. Congratulations on having a choice!

EDIT: Just read the comment by @GGBMed2021 and that's been my experience too.
 
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I would pick NW. Cheaper, better location and better home programs for the residencies you're interested in (at least in the fields I'm familiar with like peds, derm, OB).
 
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