Arkansas (UAMS) vs SLU

[deleted986277]

I am having trouble deciding between these two schools. Neither school is significantly ahead of the other in any one area, and I am having trouble judging what I should do since I live very close to UAMS and I was hoping for others' opinions. My main question is whether it is worth going to SLU over UAMS. I think I would like to do a more competitive specialty and the only primary care I am interested in is EM.

UAMS $256k ranking:96
Pros

• Familiar with the area, did undergrad in Little Rock
• Actual COA is probably lower since I have a cheap place to stay
• Friends are very close by
• 4hr drive home

Cons

• Not well known
• Primary care focused
• Low rank and most people do primary care in AR
• Graded pre clerk

SLU $315 ranking:71/72
Pros

• Better-ranked, and traditionally better match list
• Possible I could get some financial aid, which would bring down COA
• Better research, esp with WASHU nearby
• Pass fail for pre clerk
• Brand new hospital

Cons

• I like STL when I have visited, but I don't have any connections to the area
• 6hr drive home
• A Catholic school, but I heard it's not big of a deal so IDK

Things that are similar between schools: COL, weather, crime, class size, age of facilities

Summary: I would like to know other peoples opinions on whether going to SLU over UAMS is a smart decision, or if the difference between them isn't significant enough for the money. and being away from the support system.

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[DrStephenStrange]

SLU

 

[deleted986277]

Redid some math after SLU declined to give scholarship. The total difference between COA is 75k. Curious on others thoughts now.

 

[9blade]

the rankings are basically the same to me. One of my brothers went to UAMS and he matched in a competitive specialty. There were plenty of kids in his class who matched Derm/Ortho/Plastics, and one guy matched Neurosurg. Yes...about 2/3 of the class goes into primary care because that's what they want to do, but you can match a competitive specialty. The caveat here is that this was done when students still had Step1 scores.

 

[drluckythetaurus]

I would prob pick SLU because greater chance of matching into a competitive specialty especially since their hospital has a lot of residency programs in derm, optho, surgery, radiology, etc

 

[Yankees27]

the rankings are basically the same to me. One of my brothers went to UAMS and he matched in a competitive specialty. There were plenty of kids in his class who matched Derm/Ortho/Plastics, and one guy matched Neurosurg. Yes...about 2/3 of the class goes into primary care because that's what they want to do, but you can match a competitive specialty. The caveat here is that this was done when students still had Step1 scores.

Show me the numbers that were matched into specialties from UAMS....

 

[9blade]

Show me the numbers that were matched into specialties from UAMS....

the numbers from when my brother graduated? I don't have it.

 

[Skittsie13]

I'd pick Arkansas. Not a significant difference between the two to warrant the cost.