Anyone whose dream school is not a top-ten?

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Brent8927

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It seems like a lot of people on SDN want to attend a top-ten school; in fact it seems most do. I think it is wonderful that people aim for these programs, and completely support people going to the program that is the best fit for them. However, I'd really like to know how many others out there have a dream school that isn't ranked at the very top according to NIH funding or US News and World Report.

If so, what about it makes it your dream school? What about it inspires you?

I guess I should start by answering my own question. 🙂

My dream school is Loyola. I had been really impressed by what I heard about it before interviewing, and when I interviewed there I felt the people (students, professors, and staff) were all amazing people--the kind of people that will help make you a better person by being around them. I really see myself growing both as a physician and as a person at Loyola--moreso than anywhere else. I felt the underlying spirit/soul of the school was very in sync with my own, and that I couldn't find a better fit.

Since this isn't a "why Loyola should be your dream school" thread, I won't go into more detail, as I could talk all day about why I want to go (and why I am going) there. 🙂

So now, tell me a bit about your dream school!

Also, I'd like this thread to stay inspirational--covering why certain schools are our dream schools, so lets please avoid putting down other schools, and other people's dreams. 🙂
 
I think the reason why people's dream school tend to be top 10/top 20 is because the way schools are arranged geographically.

A lot of people like to go to big cities, which are filled with top 10/top 20 schools.

A couple of destination cities for people:

SF > UCSF
Manhattan > Columbia, Cornell, NYU, Mt.Sinai
San Diego> UCSD
LA > UCLA

Additionally, dream school changes in the cycle. When I was a college student I loved to go to HMS, when I got my gig working in UCSF I would love to attend UCSF, but for me my dream school is the best fit school that takes me.
 
I'm very partial to Dartmouth. It's absolutely my dream school. I've never been up to visit it, but I've basically read the whole website and can't find anything that I don't like about it. It's got a small class (~70). It's in a small town (~10,000), which may be a little too small, but I prefer smaller rather than larger. They encourage you to do clerkships all around the country during 3rd year. From everything I've heard, the students love it there. It seems like they all consciously try to have a life outside of med school.

Now I just have to hope that they like my grades/mcat/personal statement and I can write a good enough secondary! Who knows maybe I'll look back on this post in 8 months and wonder why I thought I had a chance there, but as of now those are my thoughts.
 
My dream school is the one that accepts me. 🙂 I got into NYMC and just knowing I'll be a doctor makes me happy, well beyond whatever school I go to to make it happen. Why am I happy with this school in particular? Its a nice change from where I'm at now (Baltimore) and offers me the unique personal activities and interests I would like to maintain involvement in throughout medical school -- great rock climbing in the area and a large Deaf community where I can maintain my sign language skills. I couldn't ask for more from a medical school, because an accredited school will make you as much of a doctor as the next one. I'm going to find just as supportive instructors at this school as I will elsewhere because all programs have the same end goal: to make great doctors. After that, grades, USMLEs, research, and any other opportunities and important aspects of medical school are exactly what I make of them.

Really I think the preference for top-tier comes from the belief that it makes things easier come match time because there are inarguably more opportunities for research and (overall) more reputable instructors at these institutions. But that's not the point. I'm just as happy with where I'm going as anywhere else. I had my preferences for home in Maryland, but going to different schools really opened my eyes to what other places have to offer.

Plus, I'm a little tired of the proverbial pissing contest this whole process is made out to be.
 
My dream school isn't even an MD school, it's a DO school, mid-range among DO schools for competitiveness.
 
sarahl86 said:
My dream school is the one that accepts me. 🙂
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could not agree more. plus, i have no clue what i really want at this point. i'm trying to reserve judgment until i go to see the schools where i get interview invites. then i'll decide where i'll be happiest. but seriously, any school on my list that accepts me will reach "dream" status. 🙂
 
It seems like the thread title should have been: Anyone whose dream school IS a top-ten?
 
The application process is very humbling. I think a lot of people start out dreaming of a top 10 (or 20 or a particular) school but reality kicks in and they are satisfied with getting in period.
 
My dream school is in the top 10. But I will be overjoyed whichever MD school accepts me.
 
UC Davis because it's close to my girlfriend and our cat (awwww <3)

Stanford because it's close to home and I always wanted to go for something, but I'm not applying there this cycle so it's a deferred dream for now.

Beyond that, I don't care where I go. After being through this process once already, anywhere is gold.
 
My #1 dream school is my state school. And not just for financial reasons (although those are compelling).

Of the other schools I applied to, GW and Tulane were two schools that I just fell in love with on paper. GW rejected me early on, so I never got the chance to see if it was as great a place as I thought (and the probation issue did bother me a bit).

My Tulane interview was just as great as I was expecting/hoping, and I feel so fortunate that they accepted me. I would have been very happy to get into any medical school, and being accepted at one of my top choices feels absolutely amazing.
 
I could care less about rankings. My dream school is Howard University and I am so grateful and thankful that I am going to be attending my dream school for medical school!
 
BlackDr2b said:
I could care less about rankings. My dream school is Howard University and I am so grateful and thankful that I am going to be attending my dream school for medical school!
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Haha despite the fact that Howard is among the elite of the HBCs.
 
My dream school is any allopathic school in my home state, or any allopathic school in Texas.
 
Handy388 said:
I think the reason why people's dream school tend to be top 10/top 20 is because the way schools are arranged geographically.

A lot of people like to go to big cities, which are filled with top 10/top 20 schools.

A couple of destination cities for people:

SF > UCSF
Manhattan > Columbia, Cornell, NYU, Mt.Sinai
San Diego> UCSD
LA > UCLA

Additionally, dream school changes in the cycle. When I was a college student I loved to go to HMS, when I got my gig working in UCSF I would love to attend UCSF, but for me my dream school is the best fit school that takes me.
Click to expand...

word. the question should be, anyone who wants to pay to go to school for 4 years in the middle of no-*******-where? if you exclude IS schools/ppl, i believe that would be rare
 
koko_eats said:
Haha despite the fact that Howard is among the elite of the HBCs.
Click to expand...

That is true! It is considered the MECCA OF BLACK EDUCATION! I never used this idea in my wanting to go there. :meanie:
 
My dream school was always UTHSC San Antonio. I had no plans on going out of state, so I narrowed down to Texas schools. San Antonio grasped me early on, just really seemed like it had a kind of atmosphere that I would enjoy. My thoughts were definitely substantiated at my interview and all of my experiences since then. Still can't quite believe I got in, but it really feels like something that was meant to be.

Not that I had the req's for a top-10 to begin with, and I have no way of knowing for sure if I would feel the same if I did, but I can't see myself ever fitting in at a top-10.
 
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine is my dream school because the camaraderie among students is amazing, the classes are pass/fail, they want to educate doctors to serve the under-served populations in Michigan. Not that other schools don't match these criteria, me feeling very comfortable there is what it all comes down to.
 
university of hawaii since I want to stay at home for med school.
 
My dream school is my state school SUNY Downstate. People rag on it all the time but you know, I know numerous doctors that have come out of there that are humble, normal and incredible. I like everyone that I have met that goes there/ will be going there and I like their focus there. I am not the biggest fan of research (though I do enjoy clinical research) and I like that downstate focuses on clinical care more so than research. Plus it lets me be close to home. So yeah, not even ranked. Still the dream. There are of course other dream schools that I will apply to but ideally, I would love to go here. And I think I can get in as well which matters 🙂
 
My dream school is CCLCM because of the awesome research opportunities there. 🙂 Too bad I am on the waitlist...🙁
 
My dream school is either Stonybrook or Downstate, not only for financial reasons but personal as well.

However I will be applying to John Hopkins for the hell of it.
 
My dream school is MUSC, I've had enough of the northeast in undergrad, time to go home 🙂
 
university of cincinnati. loved every part about it. i'm an OOS student as well
 
ECU BSOM!!! My state school... and the cheapest med school in US..

and ranked 6th in physicians..lol... i would've never guessed that..
 
My dream school is Tulane, because I love their relaxed attitude, I have a lot of family in the area, and I adore New Orleans. I'm sooo excited to be going there in the fall!
 
ucla LOL

guilty 🙁
 
mayo and UNC(if you dont include primary care rankings), vanderbilt.
 
dream school would be any school where it is super cheap! (bless you, Texas)

Other than that, though, dream schools are (in some cases, were... RIP, dreams!) Vanderbilt, UNC, UTSW, Virginia, Baylor. The dream's still barely alive, though. Come on, waitlists!
 
virusgirl said:
My #1 dream school is my state school. And not just for financial reasons (although those are compelling).

Of the other schools I applied to, GW and Tulane were two schools that I just fell in love with on paper. GW rejected me early on, so I never got the chance to see if it was as great a place as I thought (and the probation issue did bother me a bit).

My Tulane interview was just as great as I was expecting/hoping, and I feel so fortunate that they accepted me. I would have been very happy to get into any medical school, and being accepted at one of my top choices feels absolutely amazing.
Click to expand...
Congrats! I know you were waiting for the MD schools to pull through for a while.
 
Pre-cycle, my dream schools were Northwestern and NYU (#20 and #34, according to US News).

Though realistically, the best fit for me was SUNY Downstate (not ranked).
 
Loyola and Tulane are my dream schools. I love them both and have been accepted to both. Now I can't even decide which one to go to.
 
STXGregor said:
My dream school was always UTHSC San Antonio. I had no plans on going out of state, so I narrowed down to Texas schools. San Antonio grasped me early on, just really seemed like it had a kind of atmosphere that I would enjoy. My thoughts were definitely substantiated at my interview and all of my experiences since then. Still can't quite believe I got in, but it really feels like something that was meant to be.

Not that I had the req's for a top-10 to begin with, and I have no way of knowing for sure if I would feel the same if I did, but I can't see myself ever fitting in at a top-10.
Click to expand...
same here!!! i applied this application cycle for entry 2010! i am wishing and hoping to hear back from uthscsa about offering me an interview!!!! (hopefully!!!!)
 
My dream schools are actually Mt. Sinai and Jefferson. Here's hoping.
 
riceman04 said:
soon it won't be so cheap:meanie:
Click to expand...

Spiker said:
What you mean?
Click to expand...

Just saw this, wanted to make it clear that the likely merger with Rice WILL NOT affect tuition. They have checked with the state extensively on this, and have determined through some obscure technicality that I don't understand (and frankly don't need to, as far as I'm concerned 🙂 ), that Baylor will still be eligible to receive state funding.
 
It would be a dream if I could go to UMDNJ-RWJMS. 🙂
 
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