Baylor (Temple) vs. UVA vs. UChicago

[TiredChild]

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Hey everyone, I’m sitting on a difficult decision for a cycle that’s been kinda okay. Not very objective and I’m first gen, so I could use some help and I figured you all would be able to give me some solid advice.

Baylor Temple

Pros:

• P/F pre-clinic and clinical (no internal ranking, someone correct if I’m wrong), heard it makes life a lot easier and less stressful
• Baylor name (pretty prestigious, it’s a roughly T20 school)
• Cheaper than the alternatives, from what I know, as a Texas resident, and that is a big plus
• Seems like the logical best of my options
• Solid historical matches for my current preferences specialties (i.e. Radiology, maybe ortho, ophtho, etc.)
• Probably would be my first choice...if not for Temple (see below)

Cons:

• Wasn’t my first choice (or second) in Texas
• The Big One: Temple -
  • 1) Not my first choice at all. I’ll probably be resentful of the fact that I was bottom of the barrel on Baylor's match list and got sent to this campus (against my hopes) until I’m too burnt out and tired to care anymore. Logically, I know it’s not personal, might even be a good thing (pure cope here), but I’ve spent the last several days feeling very down and wondering what was wrong with me to not get matched to Houston. The lack of transparency doesn't help here either.
  • 2) Not sure how well the Temple campus will match compared to Houston, similar to Mayo AZ situation. We have no data and are essentially guinea pigs, and that worries me. No point in the Baylor prestige if Temple’s matches aren’t as good, and that would seriously frustrate me.
  • Lack of consistent access to the TMC - the one good thing about Baylor in the first place
  • Lack of access and networking (for research and in general) at Temple
• P/F clinicals are a double-edged sword, but from what I’ve heard, you can honor elective rotations so that should be fine. Just a small thing.

UVA

Pros:

• Fully P/F, no internal ranking
• Most chill and supportive from what I’ve heard and experienced
• I like the area
• Solid match list

Cons:

• Far from home, don’t know anyone (not a big one, I've done it before, but it’s nice to have support)
• More expensive than Baylor
• Slightly less prestigious that Baylor or UChicago (T30 vs. T20)

UChicago (Pritzker)

Pros:

• The best ranked of the bunch (not saying much though, they’re all similar)
• I love Chicago as a city
• Heard great things about the program, very community oriented (a huge plus of mine)
• Solid match list

Cons:

• Far from home
• No aid yet and by and away the most expensive, it’s insane
• Heard sketchy things about the area
• No P/F clinicals, which is double-edged sword again
• This is stupid, but the vibes compared to UVA or Baylor just weren't as great for me but again, that's a dumb consideration

I think Baylor would've been the clear winner had it not been for Temple, and now I'm reconsidering. To anyone who responds or has advice, thank you, it's much appreciated. Super lost and too emotional and tired to process these days.

 

[Mr. Macrophage]

UChicago is likely to give you a substantial scholarship. If that becomes reality, it should be really easy to pick UChicago!

 

[TiredChild]

UChicago is likely to give you a substantial scholarship. If that becomes reality, it should be really easy to pick UChicago!

I hope you're right and that happens, Mr. Macrophage (also, random, but why Mr. Macrophage and not Mr. Dendritic Cell or Monocyte or so on?). Cost is definitely a massive factor, so it'll come down to Baylor vs. UChicago most likely depending on the aid I get. Congrats on the killer cycle, hopefully I can catch some of your cast-offs and my waitlists turn into acceptance!

 

[Mr. Macrophage]

I hope you're right and that happens, Mr. Macrophage (also, random, but why Mr. Macrophage and not Mr. Dendritic Cell or Monocyte or so on?). Cost is definitely a massive factor, so it'll come down to Baylor vs. UChicago most likely depending on the aid I get. Congrats on the killer cycle, hopefully I can catch some of your cast-offs and my waitlists turn into acceptance!

Fingers crossed for you, and thank you!

 

[misanthropeGalore]

I think you are likely to get off the waitlist into bcm houston because a lot of baylor houston students leave for out of state colleges.
bias: am likely choosing baylor over mayo az

 

[cbum]

I think you are likely to get off the waitlist into bcm houston because a lot of baylor houston students leave for out of state colleges.
bias: am likely choosing baylor over mayo az

i remember your thread, why are you leaning towards baylor, IMO i would go for Mayo AZ with cost being the same.

bias - been accepted to baylor with a great scholly but also have some t10 oos options so no certainty yet

 

[cbum]

Hey everyone, I’m sitting on a difficult decision for a cycle that’s been kinda okay. Not very objective and I’m first gen, so I could use some help and I figured you all would be able to give me some solid advice.

Baylor Temple

Pros:

• P/F pre-clinic and clinical (no internal ranking, someone correct if I’m wrong), heard it makes life a lot easier and less stressful
• Baylor name (pretty prestigious, it’s a roughly T20 school)
• Cheaper than the alternatives, from what I know, as a Texas resident, and that is a big plus
• Seems like the logical best of my options
• Solid historical matches for my current preferences specialties (i.e. Radiology, maybe ortho, ophtho, etc.)
• Probably would be my first choice...if not for Temple (see below)

Cons:

• Wasn’t my first choice (or second) in Texas
• The Big One: Temple -
  • 1) Not my first choice at all. I’ll probably be resentful of the fact that I was bottom of the barrel on Baylor's match list and got sent to this campus (against my hopes) until I’m too burnt out and tired to care anymore. Logically, I know it’s not personal, might even be a good thing (pure cope here), but I’ve spent the last several days feeling very down and wondering what was wrong with me to not get matched to Houston. The lack of transparency doesn't help here either.
  • 2) Not sure how well the Temple campus will match compared to Houston, similar to Mayo AZ situation. We have no data and are essentially guinea pigs, and that worries me. No point in the Baylor prestige if Temple’s matches aren’t as good, and that would seriously frustrate me.
  • Lack of consistent access to the TMC - the one good thing about Baylor in the first place
  • Lack of access and networking (for research and in general) at Temple
• P/F clinicals are a double-edged sword, but from what I’ve heard, you can honor elective rotations so that should be fine. Just a small thing.

UVA

Pros:

• Fully P/F, no internal ranking
• Most chill and supportive from what I’ve heard and experienced
• I like the area
• Solid match list

Cons:

• Far from home, don’t know anyone (not a big one, I've done it before, but it’s nice to have support)
• More expensive than Baylor
• Slightly less prestigious that Baylor or UChicago (T30 vs. T20)

UChicago (Pritzker)

Pros:

• The best ranked of the bunch (not saying much though, they’re all similar)
• I love Chicago as a city
• Heard great things about the program, very community oriented (a huge plus of mine)
• Solid match list

Cons:

• Far from home
• No aid yet and by and away the most expensive, it’s insane
• Heard sketchy things about the area
• No P/F clinicals, which is double-edged sword again
• This is stupid, but the vibes compared to UVA or Baylor just weren't as great for me but again, that's a dumb consideration

I think Baylor would've been the clear winner had it not been for Temple, and now I'm reconsidering. To anyone who responds or has advice, thank you, it's much appreciated. Super lost and too emotional and tired to process these days.

Hey OP, firstly from these options I would go for UChicago, especially if they come through will a scholarship. Definitely not UVA over Baylor.

AND just something I think you need to hear - although Baylor temple feels like a letdown at first not being in Houston, i have talked with and heard NOBODY who is a student there that has anything but good things to say about the breadth of research opportunities that are thrown at you and the ease of mentorship and how great a teaching hospital Baylor Scott and White is. also the community and the events are much better planned throughout medical school being a smaller class. you will have a great time at Baylor regardless, to a greater extent than many other schools in Texas and in the country, Baylor prioritizes the student actually enjoying their 4 years of school

 

[misanthropeGalore]

i remember your thread, why are you leaning towards baylor, IMO i would go for Mayo AZ with cost being the same.

bias - been accepted to baylor with a great scholly but also have some t10 oos options so no certainty yet

It's the ortho surgery matches - I looked at the last 4 years of their matches and they seem to be matching at best into the mayo AZ program and at worst into other arizona programs. No matches out of state anywhere impressive for ortho, although I did see some good matches for gen surg for 1 or 2 students. One student got into mayo R ortho from mayo AZ but he lives in Minnesota, did lab work with mayo R faculty after UG, and had a grandpa who was part of the OG mayo faculty. The quality of mayo AZ students accepted seem incredible - they all seem like smart, hardworking, driven, ambitious people. I struggle to believe that the reasons for the az match list is ALL self-selection...

if you look at baylor orthopedic matches, most if not all stay within texas programs. there are 1 or 2 people in 2019 or 2020 that matched into fancy programs from baylor. for residency, my personal preference is fancy academic ortho program out of state > texas ortho program >>>>>>>> arizona ortho program. UTSW ortho residency seems especially good and I wouldn't mind matching there, and they have accepted baylor students before.

It seems like to match fancy academic out of state programs, you have to stand out greatly, and you need time outside of class for that. Baylor is P/F for clinicals, has 1 year of preclinical, and gives time in M4 for 5 away rotations, and has less in-person class while mayo only gives time for 3 aways and has 1.5 years of preclinical. I don't have the greatest social skills and will probably do better with P/F clinicals.

also, with lifestyle reasons, i did UG out of state and miss my parents. I'm not sure how I would get along with a small class size, and being an hour away from my support system in bcm houston sounds like an paradise after 4 years of being away from family.

So I'm definitely leaning baylor rn, although the potential regret from missing out on the mayo name and connections has me hesitating...

 

[solarflare1230]

It's the ortho surgery matches - I looked at the last 4 years of their matches and they seem to be matching at best into the mayo AZ program and at worst into other arizona programs. No matches out of state anywhere impressive for ortho, although I did see some good matches for gen surg for 1 or 2 students. One student got into mayo R ortho from mayo AZ but he lives in Minnesota, did lab work with mayo R faculty after UG, and had a grandpa who was part of the OG mayo faculty. The quality of mayo AZ students accepted seem incredible - they all seem like smart, hardworking, driven, ambitious people. I struggle to believe that the reasons for the az match list is ALL self-selection...

if you look at baylor orthopedic matches, most if not all stay within texas programs. there are 1 or 2 people in 2019 or 2020 that matched into fancy programs from baylor. for residency, my personal preference is fancy academic ortho program out of state > texas ortho program >>>>>>>> arizona ortho program. UTSW ortho residency seems especially good and I wouldn't mind matching there, and they have accepted baylor students before.

It seems like to match fancy academic out of state programs, you have to stand out greatly, and you need time outside of class for that. Baylor is P/F for clinicals, has 1 year of preclinical, and gives time in M4 for 5 away rotations, and has less in-person class while mayo only gives time for 3 aways and has 1.5 years of preclinical. I don't have the greatest social skills and will probably do better with P/F clinicals.

also, with lifestyle reasons, i did UG out of state and miss my parents. I'm not sure how I would get along with a small class size, and being an hour away from my support system in bcm houston sounds like an paradise after 4 years of being away from family.

So I'm definitely leaning baylor rn, although the potential regret from missing out on the mayo name and connections has me hesitating...

I know this is kinda late, but the 2025 match results were released and someone from Mayo AZ just matched into UCSD orthopedic surgery! Im sure its really just self selection rather than limitation

 

[cbum]

It's the ortho surgery matches - I looked at the last 4 years of their matches and they seem to be matching at best into the mayo AZ program and at worst into other arizona programs. No matches out of state anywhere impressive for ortho, although I did see some good matches for gen surg for 1 or 2 students. One student got into mayo R ortho from mayo AZ but he lives in Minnesota, did lab work with mayo R faculty after UG, and had a grandpa who was part of the OG mayo faculty. The quality of mayo AZ students accepted seem incredible - they all seem like smart, hardworking, driven, ambitious people. I struggle to believe that the reasons for the az match list is ALL self-selection...

if you look at baylor orthopedic matches, most if not all stay within texas programs. there are 1 or 2 people in 2019 or 2020 that matched into fancy programs from baylor. for residency, my personal preference is fancy academic ortho program out of state > texas ortho program >>>>>>>> arizona ortho program. UTSW ortho residency seems especially good and I wouldn't mind matching there, and they have accepted baylor students before.

It seems like to match fancy academic out of state programs, you have to stand out greatly, and you need time outside of class for that. Baylor is P/F for clinicals, has 1 year of preclinical, and gives time in M4 for 5 away rotations, and has less in-person class while mayo only gives time for 3 aways and has 1.5 years of preclinical. I don't have the greatest social skills and will probably do better with P/F clinicals.

also, with lifestyle reasons, i did UG out of state and miss my parents. I'm not sure how I would get along with a small class size, and being an hour away from my support system in bcm houston sounds like an paradise after 4 years of being away from family.

So I'm definitely leaning baylor rn, although the potential regret from missing out on the mayo name and connections has me hesitating...

Definitely your proximity to parents and being near home is a huge factor. But I would argue that the ortho match is self-selection based and not due to a "limitation" of the Mayo AZ campus. A solid >80% of your match outcomes are due to your own effort and as someone who already is confident about pursuing ortho, you can set ambitious goals from Day 1. Your match outcomes will be very similar between both places, but I would argue that to match OOS you have a better shot of doing so attending Mayo AZ than Baylor. Having that connection to Mayo faculty at the MN campus will absolutely expose you to more orthopedic clinical research than the lower productivity at baylor - and I know this from the experience of having had mentors in baylor's ortho department, which is not the most productive compared to most other t20 medical schools.

also, Mayo has NO AOA which to me supersedes no P/F clinicals. Since your cost is held equal its a hard decision but something to think abt.

i've got a full tuition scholly at baylor but ill have to pay full sticker for washU or Columbia so my decision is more motivated by financials than yours as your cost is held equal. if price was the same for either of these options id have a much easier decision.

 

[cbum]

I know this is kinda late, but the 2025 match results were released and someone from Mayo AZ just matched into UCSD orthopedic surgery! Im sure its really just self selection rather than limitation

Baylor also just matched ortho to HSS and Northwestern this year when we haven't to either in ages, the resources are there at both schools - match outcomes are a majority result of STUDENT EFFORT and connections over school name when both programs are similar caliber

 

[hydroflaskhomie]

This is tough - absolutely no money from UChicago? Surprising.

I think you're leaning Baylor and it's probably the right call.

 

[misanthropeGalore]

Definitely your proximity to parents and being near home is a huge factor. But I would argue that the ortho match is self-selection based and not due to a "limitation" of the Mayo AZ campus. A solid >80% of your match outcomes are due to your own effort and as someone who already is confident about pursuing ortho, you can set ambitious goals from Day 1. Your match outcomes will be very similar between both places, but I would argue that to match OOS you have a better shot of doing so attending Mayo AZ than Baylor. Having that connection to Mayo faculty at the MN campus will absolutely expose you to more orthopedic clinical research than the lower productivity at baylor - and I know this from the experience of having had mentors in baylor's ortho department, which is not the most productive compared to most other t20 medical schools.

also, Mayo has NO AOA which to me supersedes no P/F clinicals. Since your cost is held equal its a hard decision but something to think abt.

i've got a full tuition scholly at baylor but ill have to pay full sticker for washU or Columbia so my decision is more motivated by financials than yours as your cost is held equal. if price was the same for either of these options id have a much easier decision.

Having that connections to Mayo faculty at MN campus would be nice, but I don't think it would ultimately matter if they don't take Mayo AZ students into their residency program tbh... If I could reach out to Mayo MN people from Mayo AZ, I could probably reach out to Mayo MN people from Baylor- it would just take a bit more effort on my part and the willingness to send a ridiculous amount of emails until someone replies back. Nothing insurmountable - I've done it before and I'll do it again.

Most ortho clinical research that's ready in time for residency apps is chart review, which tbh, you could probably do anywhere with a big enough set of patients and a decent research question. Maybe I could work w people from Texas Children's or MD Anderson or McGovern if Baylor's ortho department is not productive, but again, I think the productivity of something like chart review really depends on the med student.

Plus clinical grading is very very subjective, plenty of people match into ortho without AOA, but I can't say the same for bad clinical grades. I'm a an awkward communicator + female ORM and a bit scared that trying hard (the usual showing up before everyone and leaving after everyone) and taking initiative won't be enough to guarantee good clinical grades.

Baylor AOA nomination seems to be based on clinical GPA, which because they have P/F clinicals, is based purely on shelf scores. The one talent I have is test taking - I have more confidence in getting AOA nomination through shelf scores and then research compared to a pure popularity contest.

Here's the process lifted from their website:

Timeline for the selection process​

• September of MS3 year – updated process for AΩA Selection to be announced
• Mid-January of MS3 year – Top ~10% based on core clinical GPA are notified of nomination to submit full portfolios; all other students are invited to submit 3 Honors Items for consideration for nomination (given 2 weeks to submit)
• Early February MS3 year – AΩA Selection Committee reviews Honors Items for determination of student nominations (up to an additional ~25% of the class)
• Late February MS3 year – Portfolio requests sent out to all AΩA nominees (up to 35% of the class); students have over 1 month to prepare portfolios
• Late March MS3 year – Portfolios due for all nominees
• Late April MS3 year – Students notified of AΩA selection

I think they select about 20% of the graduating class, which sounds reasonable to me.

Also cbum give me your scholly ૮(˶ㅠ︿ㅠ)ა . I emailed baylor financial aid asking them if they would consider matching my scholly to Mayo AZ cause i haven't received any financial aid info from them yet despite prematching but got hit with that "we don't match schollys" line. Congratulations on an amazing app cycle.

Also sorry to hijack your thread, @TiredChild. The dean at open house told us some info about the campus selection process that may help you - a couple of spots at Houston open up each year as students pursue OOS options. He told us an anecdote about how once 8 spots opened up in a day and they had to call other people at temple to get their spots filled, but that some of temple students liked the campus so much that they didn't want to switch to Houston.

TBH the anecdote sounds a bit fishy to me but i do believe that many spots open up at houston campus and that you have a good chance of switching campuses in may or june. According to the MSAR baylor takes 25 ppl of the waitlist every year (and they all pretty much go to temple) so 25 / 40 people in originally assigned to temple may have the chance to switch, especially if they were highly ranked by admissions committees.