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Started by extrabobaplease
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extrabobaplease said:
Hi friends! I am super lucky to choose between two great schools, but I am struggling with which program to choose. For background, I am a Washington native and went to UW for undergrad. I have been living in another state for the past year, but I am still looking for a change in scenery and feel like my return to Washington could be too soon for my liking. I haven't been to Atlanta/Emory yet, but the few connections I have at Emory have made me feel truly excited about the SOM, as well as given me a strong sense of belonging before even matriculating (which I do not have a strong sense of belonging in the UW community). Long-term I see myself settling down somewhere outside of Washington. Unsure of specialty, but I am very interested in Derm, Ob/Gyn, Peds, and Infectious Disease.

University of Washington (Seattle)
Pros
  • In State (Familiarity with neighborhoods, favorite restaurants, friends/family nearby, etc.)
  • Highly ranked in Internal Med, Family Med, and Peds
  • New Health Sciences Building

Cons
  • First 2 years is P/F, but clinical years is tiered (H/HP/P/F)
  • The weather is so dreary which is part of why I want to stay away from Seattle 🙁
  • Being in the same town


Emory
Pros
  • New City
  • Diverse patient populations/Learning at Grady
  • P/F for first 3 years (Didactic + Clinical)
  • Better weather
  • Emory gives one summer break after MS1 year (3 weeks), while UW does not give any breaks like this at all.
  • I've already been accepted to the MD/MPH program there
  • Smaller class size

Cons
  • More difficult to move to. (I am living on the West coast)
  • More unknowns to what the city/vibes are like.
  • Less prestigious than UW (?)

In terms of tuition/CoL (total 320k UW vs 363k Emory), residency match, and campus architecture/resources, I feel that both schools are pretty equivalent. Any input would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance.
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Same cost, UW is a stronger name. But you seem more excited about Emory. I would say go to Atlanta.
 
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You honestly can't go wrong with either choice. Both are top tier schools. Seems like you are more excited about going to Emory. The difference in cost between the two is negligible in the scheme of things. You can certainly go back to Washington for residency if you want. You also have the CDC in town so that could serve as a potential research opportunity if you are leaning towards internal medicine (infectious diseases). The South is a bit different than the PNW and doesn't have the reputation of the Seattle Freeze
 
Both are great schools. I think at the end of the day it depends on what you prioritize more. If I was in your position, family and residency placement are most important to me (the ranking doesn't hurt either!) so University of Washington would be the obvious choice.
 
I just want to quickly chime in and say that I have strong ties to Emory/Atlanta and this is truly a wonderful place to be. Growing and thriving city with tons of greenery and a hotspot for research/job opportunities. Tons of historical value also as a focal point for the civil rights movement. You also cannot go wrong with Emory; it is an amazing school.

Good luck with your decision! Certainly 2 great options.
 
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