A Question for UNC Students and Grads

[i61164]

Why did you apply to UNC (besides the tuition)? I'm applying early decision this summer. My reasons are the in-state tuition and family housing (ECU doesn't have family housing). What else makes this school so great?

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[Gleevec]

Well, its definitely not their subpar athletics programs

Just a general warning about applying early, the time delay in finding out about UNC before being on file ready for interviews at other schools is a disadvantage. Also dont discount ECU so quickly, Ive heard a lot of good things about that school as well. Even if it doesnt have family housing, I am sure they have had people in your situation and handled it well (have ya tried calling them about it?).

Im only saying this because it seems as if youre applying early just for in-state tuition (and a housing consideration) and not really for any other aspect of the school. It might be worth just applying everywhere you want (and doing all your apps early in the sense that you submit AMCAS soon, submit secondaries within a week of getting them, etc). Dont limit yourself just yet, especially since you have a couple really good med schools in your state. Best of luck.

 

[elias514]

Do NOT apply for early decision, it's just not worth it. If you have the qualifications to get in via early decision, you'll definitely be admitted as a regular applicant. Conversely, the early decision option does not compensate for borderline or substandard academic credentials, so you're not doing yourself a favor by applying for early admission. Take the regular MD applicant route--it's the wise thing to do. You'll maximize your options and the probability of gaining admission to a medical school; don't hedge all your bets on one school. Trust your fellow SDNers who have already weathered the admissions process.

Best wishes

 

[i61164]

It's OK, I'm used to sub-par athletics having graduated from Bucknell University. I'll admit that in-state tuition is my number one consideration. You are right that if I went to ECU my family and I could just live off campus and it wouldn't really be a problem. However, since my wife is a stay at home mom, the campus housing at UNC may be a slightly better arrangement (financially).

ECU also sort of scared me off with its primary care agenda. At this point I don't really know if primary care is right for me and in case it turns out not to be, I don't want to have it crammed down my throat (if you know what I mean).

The truth is that I considered several schools in my region (Duke, Wake Forest, Emory, Vandy), all of which are certainly fine institutions, but to me none of them are worth three times the price of UNC. Don't get me wrong, I would go to any one of them (including ECU) if it was the only place that I got in. I guess that I just don't want to pile up tons of debt if I can avoid it.

It also occurred to me that applying EDP might be like putting all of my eggs in one basket (as you suggested). The benefit of EDP is that UNC will know that I am committed to going there and even if I get deferred I will have a good shot at getting in later. If I were to play it safe and apply to the other schools, I would have a tough time answering questions on secondaries like "Why Vandy?" "Why Duke?" Even my answer to "Why UNC?" seems to be a bit lacking, which is my main concern right now.

I have checked out all of these school's websites, but I really didn't find enough info to help me make such a huge decision. Then again, maybe it's not that huge; maybe it doesn't really matter where I go (I don't think the ADCOM's would like to hear that). I know about Duke's research year (but I've never done any research) and their basketball team (I just don't care). Honestly, I think that tuition is much more important than all of the crap that schools try to entice us with (PBL, etc.) but I just don't want the ADCOMs to know that I feel that way.

Can anyone help me out here?

 

[Gleevec]

I think if in-state tuition is your number one consideration, you should give private schools a chance to offer you a financial package before disavowing them completely. Oftentimes private schools can better meet your financial needs because of their large endowment.

I think by saying in-state tuition is your #1 consideration, you don't have a good reason to apply early and put all your eggs in one basket. Also dont underestimate the cost of living in Chapel Hill either, its a pretty nice area, but its not as cheap as most people think. You might even find that ECU is an overall better deal because of this.

One thing to consider is that UNC as well is very primary care oriented. I think both ECU and UNC still graduate subspecialists however, but realize that both schools do have a substantial portion of their graduates go into primary care. This isnt necessarily destiny however, and Im sure you can do pretty much any specialty you desire.

I think you should just apply regular decision to all your NC schools and to some other places in the region you want to live. You might even be surprised by some of the financial aid packages private schools are able to muster.

It's OK, I'm used to sub-par athletics having graduated from Bucknell University. I'll admit that in-state tuition is my number one consideration. You are right that if I went to ECU my family and I could just live off campus and it wouldn't really be a problem. However, since my wife is a stay at home mom, the campus housing at UNC may be a slightly better arrangement (financially).

ECU also sort of scared me off with its primary care agenda. At this point I don't really know if primary care is right for me and in case it turns out not to be, I don't want to have it crammed down my throat (if you know what I mean).

The truth is that I considered several schools in my region (Duke, Wake Forest, Emory, Vandy), all of which are certainly fine institutions, but to me none of them are worth three times the price of UNC. Don't get me wrong, I would go to any one of them (including ECU) if it was the only place that I got in. I guess that I just don't want to pile up tons of debt if I can avoid it.

It also occurred to me that applying EDP might be like putting all of my eggs in one basket (as you suggested). The benefit of EDP is that UNC will know that I am committed to going there and even if I get deferred I will have a good shot at getting in later. If I were to play it safe and apply to the other schools, I would have a tough time answering questions on secondaries like "Why Vandy?" "Why Duke?" Even my answer to "Why UNC?" seems to be a bit lacking, which is my main concern right now.

I have checked out all of these school's websites, but I really didn't find enough info to help me make such a huge decision. Then again, maybe it's not that huge; maybe it doesn't really matter where I go (I don't think the ADCOM's would like to hear that). I know about Duke's research year (but I've never done any research) and their basketball team (I just don't care). Honestly, I think that tuition is much more important than all of the crap that schools try to entice us with (PBL, etc.) but I just don't want the ADCOMs to know that I feel that way.

Can anyone help me out here?

 

[cptnplanetdc]

unc is not solely primary care oriented. i wouldn't say it is oriented either way - there's plenty of focus on research and on primary care.

 

[Gleevec]

unc is not solely primary care oriented. i wouldn't say it is oriented either way - there's plenty of focus on research and on primary care.

I dunno, I have several friends applying there so I glanced at the match list out of curiosity and it seemed to be very primary care oriented. I dont mean to imply you cant specialize there either, since Im sure they turn out some very good specialists. But from what my friends were talking about the school it is pretty primary care oriented.

 

[i61164]

From what I understand, a lot of schools are making an effort to give their students early and frequent exposure to primary care specialties. They also try to make these experiences as fun as possible in the hopes that more students will choose to be PCPs. I Googled "UNC Residency Placement" and came across the minutes from a meeting of the curriculum committee at UNC (obviously it wasn't intended for the general public to see). In the meeting they discussed the fact that UNC has made a commitment to graduate 60% in primary care. Right now they are struggling in the low 50s. The document mentioned that every school in NC is working to increase their percentage of PCP grads, even Duke.

My point about ECU is that they have two mandatory primary care preceptorships that students do over the summers after the first and second years. No matter where you go, the bulk of third year is spent in primary care, so with the two extra summers on top of that it seems like a lot. If, for the sake of argument, I want to be a plastic surgeon, I might be happier to spend my summers differently.

Having said that, I have not ruled out primary care. I won't even make that decision until my third year. However, I don't want to spend so much time in primary care that I neglect to investigate other specialties. The third year doesn't expose you to enough in my opinion. I hope to spend my summers checking out some others (maybe shadowing). And I haven't ruled out research either. All in all, it think that UNC will probably be the best place to rule out all of these possibilities and hone in on the right career for me.

Anyway, I appreciate all of your feedback. It seems like the general consensus is that EDP is a bad idea. Have you all heard any horror stories about it? I'm guessing that people have applyed EDP somewhere and then didn't get in anywhere because they had to apply late in the game. To apply EDP at UNC, you have to have a 3.5/30, which I'm hoping makes me a strong enough candidate to get in elsewhere (if necessary) even if I apply in October.

As for the financial aid at private schools, I am a little down on my chances for getting anything. I have been working for a large company for the last four year and now make 60K. I'm guessing that this will disqualify me from any need based aid. I hesitate to take on a huge debt because I fear that it could influence my decision of what specialty to go into.

 

[i61164]

Well, I did it. Against the recommendation of the two of you that offered advice, I applied EDP to UNC. Will it turn out badly? Only time will tell. Best case scenario: I get in early and don't have to deal with the hassle of applying to several schools (secondaries, interviews). Worst case scenario: I go to school in Grenada and end up with loads of debt.