Albany vs Jacobs (JSMBS/Buffalo)

[sparkles123]

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Hello! I was planning on going to the Jacob’s School of Medicine at University of Buffalo, but I just got off the waitlist at Albany Med. I only have 2 days to make my decision. Any feedback is helpful! I think I am interested in either primary care or a non-surgical specialty. My s/o lives in Albany and will likely stay there for at least the next year or two do to work. Both schools are systems-based, have NBME exams, and are pass/fail for the most part. I would also take Step 1 in February of Year 2 at both schools.

— Albany Medical College (Albany, NY) —

Facts:

• Private school, 145 students
• It would cost $60,000/year plus fees
• Affiliated with the Albany Med Health System and the med school building is attached to the main hospital
• Class format is a mix of virtual/prerecorded lectures and some in person classes

Pros:

• Proximity to Home: I am from Albany, NY and could live with my s/o or family (no cost)
• Familiarity: I have worked at one of Albany Med’s clinics the last 2 years, I had research published with their department, I volunteered at the hospital in high school, and my mom also works there.
• Rotations: All are within the hospital or affiliated clinics in the nearby area (I worked at one of these clinics for the last two years as a medical assistant and did research)
• Third-Party Resources: I heard that Albany Med gives students an allowance of $2500 for things like UWorld or Sketchy
• Convenience: Might improve chances of getting a residency in Albany (if I want to stay), could keep doctors offices/appts, could likely attend more family events when I have the time.

Cons:

• Financial Aid: I don’t have an official financial aid package yet and I don’t think I’ll get one until I accept.
• Cost: A bit more expensive than Jacobs.
• Facilities: Older facilities.

vs


— Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Buffalo, NY) —

Facts:

• Public School, 180 students
• It would cost around $55,000/year (in-state tuition, school-specific scholarship, housing, food, and travel to home)
• Affiliated with University at Buffalo
• All classes are in-person

Pros:

• Cost: In-state tuition as a NY resident, and they gave me a yearly scholarship. But with housing and food costs, it’s just slightly cheaper than Albany Med.
• New Area: I could get to see explore new area (I did high school, undergrad, and gap years all in the Albany Capital Region)
• New Facilities: The med school is in a beautiful and modern building in downtown buffalo. Huge anatomy lab with windows, and the sim lab is modelled after modern hospital rooms
• Rotations: The med school is located on the Buffalo-Niagara medical campus and is surrounded by Buffalo General Hospital, Oishei Children’s Hospital, and Roswell Park Cancer Center (research). Students also rotate at other hospitals that are 10 min and 25 min drives from the school and also 3 nearby family medicine health centers.
• Research: I already have experience in research with many connections at Albany Med, but the school is highly ranked in research

Cons:

• Further Location: A 4 hour drive from home (or 5 hour train ride)
• Farther from Support System: I don’t have family in the area and my s/o is not planning on moving from Albany
• Bad Weather: Likely LOTS of snow

Thank you so much!

 

[surelycalm]

Since no one else offered anything up, you might be better off with Albany since it's where you live now. Big added bonus that you can live with your SO and save money. I don't think you need to worry too much about matching if you are pretty sure you are sticking with a non-competitive specialty. I'd suspect either school would have just as good of a chance of matching in pretty much any region of NY.

It probably wouldn't hurt to compare the match lists from both schools, but as others have said it's like reading tea leaves as you really don't know if folks matched to their first choice specialty etc.

 

[DoneDone3451]

ALbany, Buffalo sucks

 

[LunaOri]

If you are serious about your s/o, choose Albany. It will make your life so much easier!

 

[The OTC]

Albany

Check out buffalo residency strike. Can’t imagine watching residents get worked like “a sweatshop” (actual description from a resident) would be very motivating/inspiring as future physicians

 

[BigDawg101]

Albany