Boston University (~15.5k/yr scholarship) vs. Seton Hall Hackensack Meridian (~65k/yr scholarship)

[few_neurons123]

Boston University (~15.5k/yr scholarship) vs. Seton Hall Hackensack Meridian (~65k/yr scholarship)

Boston University (COA: ~310k)

Pros:

• Underserved patient population & social justice focus
• Largest safety net hospital in New England
• Location, love Boston and would love to be there for med school & potentially residency. Opportunities in Boston are unmatched.
• Research, I have an engineering background and BU (as well as the Boston area as a whole) has a strong school of engineering where I would be able to stay involved in that research
• Really interested in emergency med & BMC is largest level 1 trauma center in NE
• Impressive match list, strong for EM and surgery, which I am interested in
• Clinical sites are essentially all in Boston, minimal need for car

Cons:

• Cost, have a small scholarship but the rest will all be loans
• 2 year preclinical
• Building is kinda old

Seton Hall Hackensack Meridian (COA: ~135k)

Pros:

• Cost, awarded full-tuition scholarship
• Potential for 3 year graduation & match after 3 years into their residency program, which includes competitive options
• I really like their human dimensions program pairing students with community families
• Shorter preclinical, longer clinical
• Super new facilities

Cons:

• Location is not great, would rather be in a city
• Their mission/goals/vibes of the school were very unclear to me in my info sessions, seemed that they just kept saying that their school was cutting edge
• 16 month preclinical curriculum, students seemed pretty busy/overwhelmed in info sessions
• New school
• No match list yet
• Lots of driving to different hospitals/sites (up to an hour)
• Originally from NJ and would like to go to school elsewhere

Basically, my heart was (is) set on BUSM but I don't know if I can justify passing up the scholarship from Hackensack and I'm so torn.

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[Mr.Blackdoc.5]

Boston University (~15.5k/yr scholarship) vs. Seton Hall Hackensack Meridian (~65k/yr scholarship)

Boston University (COA: ~310k)

Pros:

• Underserved patient population & social justice focus
• Largest safety net hospital in New England
• Location, love Boston and would love to be there for med school & potentially residency. Opportunities in Boston are unmatched.
• Research, I have an engineering background and BU (as well as the Boston area as a whole) has a strong school of engineering where I would be able to stay involved in that research
• Really interested in emergency med & BMC is largest level 1 trauma center in NE
• Impressive match list, strong for EM and surgery, which I am interested in
• Clinical sites are essentially all in Boston, minimal need for car

Cons:

• Cost, have a small scholarship but the rest will all be loans
• 2 year preclinical
• Building is kinda old

Seton Hall Hackensack Meridian (COA: ~135k)

Pros:

• Cost, awarded full-tuition scholarship
• Potential for 3 year graduation & match after 3 years into their residency program, which includes competitive options
• I really like their human dimensions program pairing students with community families
• Shorter preclinical, longer clinical
• Super new facilities

Cons:

• Location is not great, would rather be in a city
• Their mission/goals/vibes of the school were very unclear to me in my info sessions, seemed that they just kept saying that their school was cutting edge
• 16 month preclinical curriculum, students seemed pretty busy/overwhelmed in info sessions
• New school
• No match list yet
• Lots of driving to different hospitals/sites (up to an hour)
• Originally from NJ and would like to go to school elsewhere

Basically, my heart was (is) set on BUSM but I don't know if I can justify passing up the scholarship from Hackensack and I'm so torn.

Know someone who was in the exact same situation as you last year and chose BU. She’s very happy with her decision.

 

[thetenthletter]

I think BUSM could definitely open up some more doors if you decide to do something more selective (i.e., ortho), but for EM, I don't think you'll have too many issues matching from Seton Hall Hackensack. How much does money matter to you? $175K difference + interest is huge, and may not justify the prestige difference between the two schools.

I think you really can't go wrong with either. BUSM is a great school but does come with a price.

A side note:
I spoke to a few students who matched into Neurosurgery at a few schools, and most of them told me that the advantage of going to a lower-ranked program is that you can be a "big fish in a small pond" more easily (especially at schools with AOA), and residency PD's from competitive specialties like to pick students that are doing well relative to the rest of their class.

 

[few_neurons123]

Know someone who was in the exact same situation as you last year and chose BU. She’s very happy with her decision.

Do you know what her determining factor was?

 

[Mr.Blackdoc.5]

Do you know what her determining factor was?

The uncertainty surrounding a new school
Plus she wanted to experience a new city and loved Boston since I believe she was doing a post-bacc there

 

[bigdbron]

BU without a doubt

 

[SpreadKindness20]

Think this depends in part on your financial situation and your career goals.

If you’re interested in academic medicine, BU is the better choice. If you see yourself in primary care or in private practice and don’t care so much about where you do your residency, then the money you’d save by going to Hackensack would be nice.

Overall you seem more excited about BU.