Big-name school or state school?

[steveurkel52]

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I'm interested in doing radiology (although I'm open-minded to other specialties and might change my mind later). I'll be attending medical school this fall. I'm very excited, but I'm having a hard time choosing where to go. Should I go to a big name school (ex. Duke) or a state school with small class of 50 students (cheaper tuition, close to home, high step 1 exam average)? Is it better to be a big fish in a small pond (less competition, more likely to be AOA, small student:faculty ratio, extensive clinical training) than a small fish in a big pond (ex. average student at a big-name school, no AOA)? In other words, how important are AOA and medical school prestige for matching in radiology? I would greatly appreciate your thoughts/advice.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

AOA = very important. Especially when you don't have it, you're on the outside looking in at some big time places.
School rep = not very important.

These places are looking at grades, board scores, and AOA or not. That, and regional status. Those factors in my experience are the only ones that really matter. Save on tuition and chill out - don't be flipping over AOA before you even start.

 

[MrBurns10]

I think both have their advantages and disadvantages. The problem is that it's impossible to know what exactly got you an interview someplace...for example, I didn't have the world's greatest step 1 score and am not AOA, but I've gotten most of the interviews I was hoping to get. Is it because of my school name? Because of my research? My clinical grades? Because I'm female? I have no idea, and it's impossible to know. It's probably a combination of things.

I will say this. I've seen some medical schools that don't have radiology residencies associated with them...I've spoken to some students at schools like this and it makes things much more difficult for them in many ways. If you already know you're interested in radiology, make sure you go to a school that has a residency program. It'll make rotating, finding a mentor, doing research, and applying MUCH much easier.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

That's true. There aren't many without it, but it is a big disadvantage if you don't have a program.

 

[Man In White]

Pretty simple really - depends on where you want to go for radiology -> Big name place? better chances with a big name med school.

Yeah yeah everyone has their anecdotes - "I know so-and-so from X state school who's going to MGH or NYU," but they are outliers plain and simple - maybe they had stellar apps or connections, whatever.

If you are fortunate enough to have the choice of a good pedigree take it.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

Pretty simple really - depends on where you want to go for radiology -> Big name place? better chances with a big name med school.

Yeah yeah everyone has their anecdotes - "I know so-and-so from X state school who's going to MGH or NYU," but they are outliers plain and simple - maybe they had stellar apps or connections, whatever.

If you are fortunate enough to have the choice of a good pedigree take it.

I dunno, from what I can tell, how well you do matters much more than where you go. If you can do both, it helps of course. But is it worth the $$$ burden? I don't think so.

 

[Man In White]

If you did well enough in undergrad to get into a prestigious med school and you're thinking rads you prob won't have a problem in med school. And if you don't think you can do well in med school well then you better bank on that big name.

You can't buy interviews from the big name rads places - they're priceless. $$ shouldn't be an issue if you want to go for gold. If you're not looking for big name rads do whatever you want.

 

[Labslave]

If you're not looking for big name rads do whatever you want.

I think this is right on the money, except I would generalize and say that if you don't want a career in academics (radiology or otherwise), do whatever you want. You'll still be able to get a residency spot if you do well.

To the OP: You should know that you can get terrific clinical training in radiology at virtually any university residency across the country. Throughout my interviews this season, I've been quite surprised by how homogeneous programs really are with regards to the quality of their clinical training. Where there's a big difference, however, is in the quality of the research going on at different places. This may not matter much in radiology though, because every program I've been to has terrific fellowship placements.

If you go to the more prestigious med school, you definitely won't be burning any bridges, whereas this may or may not be true when choosing the state school. You'll definitely have more research opportunities (if that's your thing) and bigger names for LORs at the top tier places. As an example, this definitely helped me just yesterday, as I was interviewing at such a "top" program and was asked, "So how is Dr. X?" multiple times throughout the day. (They were asking about my mentor and LOR writer, who's very well known in the radiology community). You need to decide how much this kind of thing matters to you.

To summarize: You will most likely still be able to pursue a career in academics if you choose to attend your state school, however it will probably be easier at one of the top places. You'll get great clinical training no matter what. Good luck!

 

[MrBurns10]

If you go to the more prestigious med school, you definitely won't be burning any bridges, whereas this may or may not be true when choosing the state school. You'll definitely have more research opportunities (if that's your thing) and bigger names for LORs at the top tier places. As an example, this definitely helped me just yesterday, as I was interviewing at such a "top" program and was asked, "So how is Dr. X?" multiple times throughout the day. (They were asking about my mentor and LOR writer, who's very well known in the radiology community). You need to decide how much this kind of thing matters to you.

To summarize: You will most likely still be able to pursue a career in academics if you choose to attend your state school, however it will probably be easier at one of the top places. You'll get great clinical training no matter what. Good luck!

I'll definitely agree with this, and I'll add that it's impossible to know what you want going into school. Not only did I think I wanted to do OB/GYN, I was all about private practice. Basic science research definitely wasn't for me. But then I entered med school, discovered radiology, and then realized that what academics is can range anywhere from being in a lab 100% of the time to be purely clinical. Now I'm strongly leaning towards academic rads, and I'm glad I went to a school that fostered that sort of career path.

You really can go anywhere from anywhere, I firmly believe that. But I think it does help a little to go to a big name place, if only for the research opportunities present, at least at the big name programs.

 

[doctalaughs]

I'll definitely agree with this, and I'll add that it's impossible to know what you want going into school. Not only did I think I wanted to do OB/GYN, I was all about private practice. Basic science research definitely wasn't for me. But then I entered med school, discovered radiology, and then realized that what academics is can range anywhere from being in a lab 100% of the time to be purely clinical. Now I'm strongly leaning towards academic rads, and I'm glad I went to a school that fostered that sort of career path.

You really can go anywhere from anywhere, I firmly believe that. But I think it does help a little to go to a big name place, if only for the research opportunities present, at least at the big name programs.

From the perspective of someone towards the end of residency I would ABSOLUTELY pick the state school. Private med school is one of the worst investments you'll ever make. Will it make it slightly easier to match to a big residency progam? Maybe, but then again you will have more competition so maybe not. If you do well at the state school you will have PLENTY of chance to go to a competitive residency program, and you will have MUCH LESS debt. In fact, you will probably be more able to enter academics cause you don't have so much debt looming and therefore don't care as much about the lower salaries in academics.

Believe me, go to the state school. You will thank yourself in 10 years.

PS, you learn the majority of your trade in residency, not med school so paying 85k a year for something you could learn from a textbook is crazy IMHO, when you could be paying 35k for the same thing (a piece of paper that says you are an MD).

 

[docmd2010]

go to the prestigious school. do research with a big name radiologist. do as well as u can. going to a high grade med school will always help you.

 

[doctalaughs]

Debatable wheather it will help you. For an extra 100-150k in loans I wouldn't do it on a debatable point. That is what most premeds and even med students don't understand... Cause the repayment is so far away. Go to a state school... It's not like law school where it really matters where you go. Even for the most competitive specialties there is NO problem matching from any US allopathic school if you do well. Private med school, in my opinion should ALWAYS be a second choice given what you are getting unless you are independently wealthy or mom/dad are paying 100 percent.

 

[RisingSun]

Go to whichever school has an environment that is most conducive to success for you. Doing well at a state school that is nearby family/friends and in which you are comfortable is much more likely than at a private school where you are unhappy. Study hard for step 1 and do well (>240) and you have a good chance of matching, regardless of the school you come from (or so I hear and would like to hope is true).

Something else to take into consideration is the size (or possibly lack) of the radiology program at your home institution. Research is easier at academic powerhouses than at smaller schools, but of course is not impossible at smaller/state schools. Keep this in mind when making your choice.

 

[Labslave]

Go to whichever school has an environment that is most conducive to success for you. Doing well at a state school that is nearby family/friends and in which you are comfortable is much more likely than at a private school where you are unhappy. Study hard for step 1 and do well (>240) and you have a good chance of matching, regardless of the school you come from (or so I hear and would like to hope is true).

Something else to take into consideration is the size (or possibly lack) of the radiology program at your home institution. Research is easier at academic powerhouses than at smaller schools, but of course is not impossible at smaller/state schools. Keep this in mind when making your choice.

👍 Great advice.

 

[MossPoh]

That's true. There aren't many without it, but it is a big disadvantage if you don't have a program.

Mine doesn't and it sucks.

But hey, I also will finish with under 40k in debt.