-

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Sort by date Sort by votes
You know, I'm just not that familiar with these three. Might depend on where you'd like to match (rural or urban). Personally, I would probably go with WV. Drexel is going through some difficulties with the Hahnemann closure. They are opening a second medical campus in West Reading, currently under construction. In a few years, I might feel differently, but for 2021 I'd choose WVU. Smaller class size. And it's well established and ranked higher than the other two. You might compare curriculums and see if there are differences there that might help you differentiate. Also, where would you like to move for the next four years. Good luck! Nice to have choices.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Putkernerinthehall said:
You know, I'm just not that familiar with these three. Might depend on where you'd like to match (rural or urban). Personally, I would probably go with WV. Drexel is going through some difficulties with the Hahnemann closure. They are opening a second medical campus in West Reading, currently under construction. In a few years, I might feel differently, but for 2021 I'd choose WVU. Smaller class size. And it's well established and ranked higher than the other two. You might compare curriculums and see if there are differences there that might help you differentiate. Also, where would you like to move for the next four years. Good luck! Nice to have choices.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input. Honestly, Drexel was one of my top choices and I felt really good about it until I started seeing some threads on SDN. According to they are ranked higher than WVU and Geisinger, and I was really impressed by the staff during the interview. Therefore, Im looking for a bit more input hopefully from current students/people who know current students at any of the schools. I only know a student at Geisinger and they enjoy it so idk, at the end of the day Im more than happy to have even one acceptance. I'm just trying to gather some information 🙂
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Yeah, reaching out to current MS4's at the schools via DM might be productive. You can look in these threads and there are usually some willing to chat.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Depends on your specialty interest and what kind of social life you keep.

WVU has a great global health program and hosts a tropical medicine course in July. I liked them for this reason!

WVU also has decent-to-above-average athletic programs. They compete in the Big12, so even if they have a down year, you'll have the chance to see premier programs come to Morgantown. Their basketball team is always top-15-to-20 and, historically, their football team has been pretty competitive.

Drexel is a different atmosphere. If you end up there, I'd suggest enrolling in the Reading campus. You'd have the chance to be the founding class at the new campus and help establish student-run programs with your interests in mind.

Best of luck! You'll get a similar education at all three schools. It's more about where you'd like to live for the next four years.

Philadelphia/Reading will have more "hustle and bustle," while Morgantown has a distinct Appalachian feel. I like the latter, but it's obviously a personal preference.

I know nothing about Geisinger.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Honestly these are all pretty equivalent in my mind. Personally, I didn’t love the Drexel campus, but they’re building you guys a new one so idk. And moving around seemed like a hassle for me. Sounds like it’s possible that you could literally move every single year at Drexel. 1 for old campus, 2 for new, 3 and 4 because their rotations are all over the place. On top of that, Hahnemann closing is a bigger deal because they had wayyyy more residency positions than Tower health. Tower mostly just has the basic IM/FM/EM/Peds/Gen Surg and some of the IM subspecialties. Both WVU and Commonwealth have your Ortho/Radio/Derm in-house residencies. That’s important for letters of rec if you want to match into something competitive.

But other than that, do you want to be in Philly? Or do you like a rural feel? I’d probably say WVU tbh, but that’s just because I think it’s really pretty there. Can’t go wrong with any of them.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
m1redsox said:
Honestly these are all pretty equivalent in my mind. Personally, I didn’t love the Drexel campus, but they’re building you guys a new one so idk. And moving around seemed like a hassle for me. Sounds like it’s possible that you could literally move every single year at Drexel. 1 for old campus, 2 for new, 3 and 4 because their rotations are all over the place. On top of that, Hahnemann closing is a bigger deal because they had wayyyy more residency positions than Tower health. Tower mostly just has the basic IM/FM/EM/Peds/Gen Surg and some of the IM subspecialties. Both WVU and Commonwealth have your Ortho/Radio/Derm in-house residencies. That’s important for letters of rec if you want to match into something competitive.

But other than that, do you want to be in Philly? Or do you like a rural feel? I’d probably say WVU tbh, but that’s just because I think it’s really pretty there. Can’t go wrong with any of them.
Click to expand...
I have dreams of ortho/IR...but everyone going into school does. So it's not like ill be upset if I don't get to do one of them, but I'd like the chance. I still have a lot to learn. I've lived in rural/small towns my entire life so I have no idea if I'd love Philly or hate it. Drexel was one of my top choices and I was thrilled to get an early II and A, but I guess im just second guessing myself from what I've read on here. I also was more impressed by the Drexel staff than the others...but that can be deceiving.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
helpmepickPLSthrowaway said:
I have dreams of ortho/IR...but everyone going into school does. So it's not like ill be upset if I don't get to do one of them, but I'd like the chance. I still have a lot to learn. I've lived in rural/small towns my entire life so I have no idea if I'd love Philly or hate it. Drexel was one of my top choices and I was thrilled to get an early II and A, but I guess im just second guessing myself from what I've read on here. I also was more impressed by the Drexel staff than the others...but that can be deceiving.
Click to expand...
I’d place very little importance on the staff you meet at your interview since admissions usually has nothing to do with the med school curriculum. But considering the fact that Drexel/Tower Health has neither of those two residency options, it might be in your best interest to go elsewhere for connections, LORs, etc. Geisinger has both Ortho and IR, and WVU has Ortho. Both also have DR which is a common route for IR as well (Tower doesn’t have DR either)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
One thing to consider is that at WVU all four years may not be at the same place. First two years are in Morgantown, but the clinical years could be in Morgantown, Charleston, or Eastern (very small and rural area). You said you are willing to move around, but you should still consider what the differences are between the locations.

If you are interested in something competitive, you might also want to consider that Drexel is surrounded by several quality medical schools in Philadelphia. The potential for research and connections is likely higher. When it comes to residencies, think regionally more than school-specific. Philadelphia as a whole would have the full range of competitiveness and variety of residencies.

I would not worry about the ranking differences between these three. After Top 40ish the rankings don't mean much at all. These would all fall into the same tier and your own performance will be the determining factor for you. It would be a different story if you were comparing between top tier and low tier schools.

I would choose based on where you see yourself being most comfortable and happy.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Upvote 0 Downvote
m1redsox said:
Honestly these are all pretty equivalent in my mind. Personally, I didn’t love the Drexel campus, but they’re building you guys a new one so idk. And moving around seemed like a hassle for me. Sounds like it’s possible that you could literally move every single year at Drexel. 1 for old campus, 2 for new, 3 and 4 because their rotations are all over the place. On top of that, Hahnemann closing is a bigger deal because they had wayyyy more residency positions than Tower health. Tower mostly just has the basic IM/FM/EM/Peds/Gen Surg and some of the IM subspecialties. Both WVU and Commonwealth have your Ortho/Radio/Derm in-house residencies. That’s important for letters of rec if you want to match into something competitive.

But other than that, do you want to be in Philly? Or do you like a rural feel? I’d probably say WVU tbh, but that’s just because I think it’s really pretty there. Can’t go wrong with any of them.
Click to expand...

I could be wrong, but I believe the new Reading campus will just be a second campus so if they started at philly campus they wouldn’t have to move the second year. Also as far as 3rd and 4th year rotations goes, there’s an optionmto either have a single site that would require you to move, or you can rotate around the philly area and you wouldn’t have to move. Although, there is a lottery system so you are certainly right that there is a possibility of having to move for 3rd and/or 4th year.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Kirby Smart said:
I could be wrong, but I believe the new Reading campus will just be a second campus so if they started at philly campus they wouldn’t have to move the second year. Also as far as 3rd and 4th year rotations goes, there’s an optionmto either have a single site that would require you to move, or you can rotate around the philly area and you wouldn’t have to move. Although, there is a lottery system so you are certainly right that there is a possibility of having to move for 3rd and/or 4th year.
Click to expand...
I’m referring to the new campus in downtown philly that will be finished in 2022 which will replace their old campus on the outskirts of the city. And I agree, a lottery for clinical rotations sucks. It’s a reflection of them not having their own hospital.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
m1redsox said:
I’m referring to the new campus in downtown philly that will be finished in 2022 which will replace their old campus on the outskirts of the city. And I agree, a lottery for clinical rotations sucks. It’s a reflection of them not having their own hospital.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, gotcha. I’d say it’s about 50/50 students who walk to campus vs drive anyways so theoretically they could avoid moving between 1st and 2nd year even if that change comes at that period for them. It’s only about a 15 minute drive max to the Drexel main campus from East Falls. Just want to point out that if I were him/her I wouldn’t stress about having to move between 1st/2nd year. 3rd or 4th is definitely more possible, which according to an above poster is possible at WVU as well. Not sure about Geisinger.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
helpmepickPLSthrowaway said:
@ciestar could I get your honest opinion here?
Click to expand...
I interviewed at all three schools. I loved Drexel and WVU (earned myself a WL here), not so much Geisinger. I would have picked Drexel though. I had a good vibe there and wanted to stay in the area.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
m1redsox said:
I’m referring to the new campus in downtown philly that will be finished in 2022 which will replace their old campus on the outskirts of the city. And I agree, a lottery for clinical rotations sucks. It’s a reflection of them not having their own hospital.
Click to expand...
Lottery was there before hahnemann closed
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ciestar said:
I interviewed at all three schools. I loved Drexel and WVU (earned myself a WL here), not so much Geisinger. I would have picked Drexel though. I had a good vibe there and wanted to stay in the area.
Click to expand...
what did you not like about Geisinger?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Shunsui said:
what did you not like about Geisinger?
Click to expand...
It just didnt click for me. I knew the interview went terrible.. and i got the R. It was my first interview. I didnt want to live in scranton either.

Keep in mind this is what i am remembering almost 6 years later
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
ciestar said:
Lottery was there before hahnemann closed
Click to expand...
Right, but they were always just a partner. If Drexel had a university-owned hospital like most other major medical schools (and maybe didn't have such a massive class size), they likely would not have to partner with Tower, Kaiser, Allegheny, etc all over the place and a lottery would be unnecessary.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
helpmepickPLSthrowaway said:
I have dreams of ortho/IR...but everyone going into school does. So it's not like ill be upset if I don't get to do one of them, but I'd like the chance. I still have a lot to learn. I've lived in rural/small towns my entire life so I have no idea if I'd love Philly or hate it. Drexel was one of my top choices and I was thrilled to get an early II and A, but I guess im just second guessing myself from what I've read on here. I also was more impressed by the Drexel staff than the others...but that can be deceiving.
Click to expand...
Have you decided?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I vote Drexel then geisinger. I think wvu too remote. You said you are young and single so Drexel wins. While it is tougher without a home department, Drexel matches well at their rotation sites (allegheny in Pitt) and regionally. Geiger residencies are OK but certainly not top crop. I also agree Drexel had more sites so their closed hospital is not an end all. It also makes it easier to collaborate with the other philly hospitals for research (ortho, can work with rothman people, CHOP, U penn). Also Drexel has a large alumni network and history of students marching well. I wouldn’t sweat the small stuff even when the hospital closed everyone had enough clinical sites.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Drexel was one of the med schools I was considering so there was also another regional campus besides tower. I think regional campuses for clinical year are great because you can learn one hospital, computer system, and live in same place for a year and then you can shine on clinical more easily. If that’s not your thing, the sites in philly are located nearby. There is certainly better than some schools that clinical sites are hard to even arrange. My school also had lotteries for clinical sites it’s common. I also preferred a larger class since Med school feels like high school in a certain way taking same classes with the same people so a larger pool makes it more diverse and you find your people. I have heard geisinger is much more homogenous. Clinical year is definitely the hardest anywhere and I think the diverse patient populations and sites at Drexel mean you will not be lacking. There is a benefit to being able to stay at your home program either WV or Geisinger. I call them solid middle competitive programs for the more competitive specialties. Drexel has many affiliates and ties in philly Pittsburgh and a really big reputation. Their most recent match list was good for a class that size.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mcatstudent1 said:
Drexel was one of the med schools I was considering so there was also another regional campus besides tower. I think regional campuses for clinical year are great because you can learn one hospital, computer system, and live in same place for a year and then you can shine on clinical more easily. If that’s not your thing, the sites in philly are located nearby. There is certainly better than some schools that clinical sites are hard to even arrange. My school also had lotteries for clinical sites it’s common. I also preferred a larger class since Med school feels like high school in a certain way taking same classes with the same people so a larger pool makes it more diverse and you find your people. I have heard geisinger is much more homogenous. Clinical year is definitely the hardest anywhere and I think the diverse patient populations and sites at Drexel mean you will not be lacking. There is a benefit to being able to stay at your home program either WV or Geisinger. I call them solid middle competitive programs for the more competitive specialties. Drexel has many affiliates and ties in philly Pittsburgh and a really big reputation. Their most recent match list was good for a class that size.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your input. In my heart, I really like Drexel. I hated high school, and hate the clique aspect the most. My friends at smaller medical schools have stated med school was "just as bad as high school" with cliques. I had the same idea about Drexel, constantly meeting new people and what not. I have some time to make my decision but thank you all so much for the input so far
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
helpmepickPLSthrowaway said:
Thank you so much for your input. In my heart, I really like Drexel. I hated high school, and hate the clique aspect the most. My friends at smaller medical schools have stated med school was "just as bad as high school" with cliques. I had the same idea about Drexel, constantly meeting new people and what not. I have some time to make my decision but thank you all so much for the input so far
Click to expand...

Don’t worry, med school isn’t like high school. While people naturally form their friend groups and what not, we’re all now on average about 22-25 years old. No one is interested in high school-esque drama, even if we had time for it lmao.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Not even remotely true hahah. In my class of majority female it was all who was dating/ marrying each other/ breaking up. Girls wouldn’t relax until they had their clique
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The no in house residency is a thing to think about life would be easier with a home department. Drexel was mainly lower ranked residencies...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mcatstudent1 said:
Not even remotely true hahah. In my class of majority female it was all who was dating/ marrying each other/ breaking up. Girls wouldn’t relax until they had their clique
Click to expand...
Hmm, strange haha. I guess I can only speak to my experience then.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
helpmepickPLSthrowaway said:
Could you elaborate on this compared to the others? It was my understanding that Drexel matched into a variety of good speciality programs
Click to expand...
Drexel matchED (emphasis on past tense lol) well when they had the benefit of many in-house residency programs where they could get ortho/rads/ENT LORs by just walking over to their HUH department. Now, Tower just has the bare minimum IM/EM/FM/peds/gen surg with some IM subspecialties, and if you want something competitive, you’ll have to do an away rotation elsewhere to get an LOR from another program.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
m1redsox said:
Drexel matchED (emphasis on past tense lol) well when they had the benefit of many in-house residency programs where they could get ortho/rads/ENT LORs by just walking over to their HUH department. Now, Tower just has the bare minimum IM/EM/FM/peds/gen surg with some IM subspecialties, and if you want something competitive, you’ll have to do an away rotation elsewhere to get an LOR from another program.
Click to expand...

My understanding is last year’s class still matched pretty well despite hahnemann closing
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Kirby Smart said:
My understanding is last year’s class still matched pretty well despite hahnemann closing
Click to expand...
They did. But most still had the opportunity to rotate there and get LORs from the department since HUH only closed in 2019. Incoming students will be at a greater disadvantage.

Even after the fact, regardless of HUH (since their contract was ending with them in 2022 anyways), not having reputable in-house residency positions is a disadvantage wherever you are. With your own programs, it’s easier to match at your home program, get early exposure, and get solid LORs. If you want to do rad onc, radiology, ENT, Ophtho, ortho, CT surg, IR, etc, etc, etc, I would go to Geisinger or WVU.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom