Boston University vs University of Iowa

[derm83]

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I am interested in GI. Here are the pros and cons I have in mind about both programs:

BU:

pros: awesome location, electives in first year

cons: large program(presumably harder to get into their fellowships), reputation for being very busy.

U of I:

pros: smaller program(presumably easier to get into their fellowships), sounded more professional.

cons: location is a major issue, no electives in first year.


Please, if you are aware of any other pros or cons, share it.

 

[lapooh]

BU and U Iowa are very different programs, IMO. While Iowa is not cush by any standards, I felt it was definitely less intense than BU. Iowa is a place where you will have more support, and I felt that people were definitely friendlier there (atleast on the interview day). BU is more on the sink-or swim side, but consequently you will get lots of autonomy. BU sees a lot of the inner city population and new immigrants, that Iowa does not. Depends on you what you want.

Fellowship-wise, BU may be (slightly) better, though that is probably more of a representation of BU graduates staying on the East Coast, and Iowa graduates staying on in the midwest.