Please give constructive and relevant answers to this urgent question:
In terms of the following areas, which campus out of Miami and Boca Raton is better and why?
1. The amount of clinical experience, and the opportunities to practice on a diverse environment with many types of patients?
2. Resources available for students in terms of libraries (preferably 24/7), textbooks etc?
3. Faculty quality?
4. USMLE averages?
5. Prestige situation when applying to a residency (when applying, will the Boca campus be seen as a secondary branch to the main campus and thus less presitigious?)
6. Match rates to residency positions and main kinds of sub-specs taken at each campus
7. How the curriculum differs not only in PBL time, but in courses and others types of clinical education as well
Thank you for your generous input. I highly appreciate it. I am still not entirely clear on the above factors, and I am deciding on which campus to go to, since I have been selected to both 🙂.
My take on the question (accepted at both campuses too):
1. Boca wins hands down with clinical experience as far as the first two years since you work a lot more hands on with patients. However in Miami you will see more variance in the patient population (obviously).
2. I think its a toss-up between the two, but I feel Boca has an advantage over Miami. My student guides at Miami main said that the library isn't really busy until exam time and that they studied a lot at home. The people at Boca said that students can come and go as they please and there's a security guard stationed in the med school.
3. Boca hands down. One of the best ratios for students:faculty I think in the nation. As far as their pedigrees, I'm not too sure.
4. From what I've read, Boca has higher USLME scores. However I don't think that's something you want to base your decision on since USMLE scores are more dependant on the individual rather than the teachings of the school IMO.
5. This question was brought up during both tours and they said that those who graduate from the Boca campus and main campus will have a degree from the University of Miami. Thus, no campus is more prestigious than the other.
6. I'm pretty sure they combine match lists with no distinction between the two campuses... (at least that's what I saw on their match day list)
7. I think there aren't that many differences between the two in curriculum, other than the teaching style. Medical education is typically comprehensive no matter where you go.
I think that Miami main has impressive hospitals but since those at Boca can do their rotations at Jackson, I don't really see any advantage in going to Miami over Boca... unless you despise PBL.