Boston University vs Georgetown

[ryliecahill2]

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These schools appeal to me for different reasons, and I'm struggling to decide what factors to prioritize. For context, I am from the east coast and currently living on the west coast. I may want to match to west coast for residency.
Georgetown
Pros

• I like DC as a city
• ~10 degrees warmer than Boston, less harsh winters (I hate winter / get SAD. I will still experience that in DC but maybe to a lesser extent?)
• More preferable location for SO due to their support system
• Opportunities in DC for health policy advocacy, which is an interest of mine
• Marginally closer to my family than BU (3 hrs vs 5 hrs)
• Everyone gets to volunteer at free Hoya Clinic & several other service opportunities
• I am interested in their longitudinal tracks (health justice scholars, clinical medical spanish, population health scholar tracks)
• There are virtual one-week long intersessions between blocks that could be used to occasionally travel

Cons

• People seem to think GU is overrated as a medical school
• You have to take Step 1 at the end of February, and I get the impression this is stressful/rushed. I think Step 1 pass rate is slightly below national avg? But you get 8 weeks to study for it vs 4 weeks at BU.
• DC residencies are said to be malignant? Not sure if that applies to GU residencies. But that would be a con for having a solid home program to match to.

Boston University
Pros

• I resonate with BMC's social justice mission & the way they address social determinants of health in hands-on ways
• Students feel prepared to serve a diverse patient population (I don't know much about the quality of clinical training at GU to compare though)
• Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights (interested in refugee health)
• Would get to use/improve my Spanish

Cons

• I have never been to Boston, so it's unfamiliar to me. Though this could be seen as a pro.
• Harsher winters / SAD! This is honestly what I'm most scared of.
• Slightly farther from family, and SO would have support system in DC but not in Boston

Summary: I prefer DC to Boston because I'm scared of Boston winters and my SO prefers DC as well, but I hear negative things about Georgetown, so I’m more excited about BU as a school. I don't know that my pros for GU outweigh the cons. But, I am interested in psychiatry, so maybe I should prioritize the location that I prefer? I would also appreciate more insight about either school.

 

[OrphanAnnieEyez]

Is there a cost difference, or do you know yet?

I don’t think Boston winters are bad, and med school is a nice time to explore a place you haven’t lived, knowing you may not stay for residency. Get a happy lamp and megadose Vitamin D.

You sound more excited about BU, for whatever that is worth. Maybe worth visiting Boston?

 

[riv_jordan]

Georgetown sounds like the way to go. I won't say that all of your concerns about Georgetown are unsubstantiated, but things like passing Step 1 are ultimately more dependent on you than the school and GT matches well across the east coast so if you don't want to deal with a DC residency, you don't have to. Unless you have some very specific goals, the prestige difference between georgetown and BU is negligible.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I get the ambivalence: both Georgetown and Boston Univ have great opportunities with social medicine and policy/advocacy. Both should be able to get you to a West Coast externship/rotation/residency audition. I think the curricular and grading differences (if there are any) should play a bigger factor.

What's your cost difference? How about the cost to cross the country (or wherever "home" is) twice a year to visit family?

Also, summers are getting warmer on this planet. If you love 90-degree, humid days in DC over SAD in Boston (where it might not snow as much as it used to), it's up to you.

 

[Basalganglia4life]

I would go with whatever one is cheaper. Private loans are worth avoiding