another school comparisons

[kiilcancer]

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Hi I was wondering if you guys could help me to decide between these two schools..
Boston U MD/PhD and St. Louis MD/PhD.
The funding is sort of a problem for BU..
I really like the program at SLU, since it has faculties that work on interesting research topics, as well as is very well organized..
But I hear different opinions about school's reputations..
I would reallly appreciate it if anyone would give an overall thoughts on the schools.
Thanks in advance !

Sincerely,
Kiilcancer

 

[physicsnerd42]

I would say that you should avoid BU like the plague. MD/PhDs there have had funding issues and the last thing you want to have to deal with when you're going to sign up for an 8 year program is funding problems. Just my $.02.

 

[Thundrstorm]

I don't know anything about SLU, but I declined an interview at BU for the reason mentioned above: funding. Why risk fudning problems if you have a slot at a fully funded program where you like the research?

 

[kiilcancer]

I guess the more straight forward question is, does the reputation matter?
- so much so that paying my MD/PhD is worth it?
I know BU isn't even that high in reputation compared to schools that a lot of you are going to, but... there's something. (whereas no one even heard of SLU)..
I just wanted to hear the perspectives of the students who are in - or going in - to the field.
THanks

 

[Gfunk6]

Here's the thing, BU does have a reputation as a top 25-30 school. However, one of the perks of doing MD/PhD is full tuition remission and stipend for ALL years of study. As an academic physician, you will not be making as much money as your private practice counterparts and you do not need to be saddled with thousands and thousands of dollars in debt.

I would go to SLU and pick a large, well-funded, nationally recoginzed lab to do your research. If you look at the Match results for non-MSTP MD/PhD grads, it is still pretty darn impressive. I interviewed @ BU in '97 and they gave me the same crappy deal for the MD/PhD program. Even the "fully-funded" spots don't cover tuition completely.