Boston University vs. USF

[PelicanMan]

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I have been accepted to Boston University and to University of South Florida.

Now the difference of cost is huge. USF is like half the cost of BU. However I think that BU is a better school and has a better reputation. Also BU has Pass/Fail the first year and Honors/Pass/Fail the second year.

The only thing is that I got a better feeling about USF when I was there as compared to BU. But maybe I didn't like BU because I really didn't like my student host that much. Plus there interview day has like 30 students which I think is way to much.


Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dionysios]

I know cost of school is a big issue but don't let it stop you from going where you want. Either way you are going to come out of med school with alot of loans, so go to to BU if it has a better rep and you will get a better education. Remember you will be in school for 4 more years. Sometimes first impressions of schools can be misleading, and student host are not always in the greatest moods.

 

[Joe Joe on da Radio]

hey peli,

i say you should go to USF and save yourself from the horrendous debt. why? b/c you have amazing stats and would do well anywhere you went you to school and on the boards, which would minimize any difference in "reputation" between BU and USF. g'luck with your decision.

--joe joe

 

[PelicanMan]

Thanks. Anybody with more imput.

 

[batman123]

Hey Pelican Man, I'm sort of in the same boat. I'm also in at BU, and I'm looking forward to using the April 12 open house to get a better feel for the school. I didn't feel that the curriculum in the preclinical years was as good as that at some of the other places I'm waitlisted at, but I got the sense that the clinical training is amazing there. Also, I think Boston is the best place to be as a student.
Like other posters have said, cost is an issue, and BU will be quite expensive, but I tend to agree with dionysios, in that we'll be in debt wherever we go, so go to the place you liked the most, regardless of cost.

 

[Adcadet]

hey Pelican - great to hear you got in. Congrads!

Sorry, no advice to offer.

 

[SolidGold]

Whats up PelicanMan, I say go with BU....so the waitlist at USF can move a little. 😀

Seriously, I think that you would agree that the entire application process is very difficult, so you should choose the school that you think you will be the happiest at and the place you feel will give you the best opportunities to be the best doctor. We both know the USF will give you that, but since I have not been to BU, I can't really say anything about them. I can say that BU is a great school thats in an area that could be considered a medical mecca (Boston) but you should know which one would be better for you. USF is on the rise and is very underrated because its has the goods to be a ranked school, and it should be ranked once the research kicks it up even more.

Honestly, I think you will have more choices to choose from before all is said and done so this BU vs. USF debate might well be a waste of time (NU might just give you a big surprise).

 

[gringotuno]

Howdy Bird Guy...

I was debating the same thing recently relating to USF. I work at the Moffitt Cancer Center and chatted with a Doc here about his opinion of USF. He attended UF and I asked him for his opinion between the two schools. Although he really enjoyed his time at UF and would absolutely do it again, he did mention that there are some really competitive, grade-grubbing people at UF (which from my experience, is more common at a place like BU than USF).

As the UF doc pointed out to me, the reason that is such a drawback is that you would then have to work and compete much harder with your classmates for a prestigious residency placement. There isn't a significant difference between the match lists of the two schools. So, if USF is less competitive and the quality of the other students isn't as good, you have a better chance of standing out. And realize, residency is more important in your professional career that where you go to school. Always remember the bigger picture.

So, that would be my vote for USF. It would be better to do a residency in Boston than go to school in Boston.

Plus, it would more likely be possible to afford living in Boston with less debt. If you had less debt to take out of your monthly paycheck during residency, then you wouldn't have to pay $650 a month for a room in a 4 person house in the ghetto with a Cocaine-addict land lord and commute 1 hour each way to work on the T in the cold weather... and I am not making this stuff up... that's what I did on a tight budget as a lab tech at Massachusetts General Hospital last year!

Hope this helps... if you have any more questions, let me know.

 

[Rdhdstpkd]

I have a good friend who started at BU med a couple years ago and so I've been able to ask her tons of questions about the program. She's really enjoyed the school, but as for the honor/pass/fail system- it's really honors/high pass/pass/low pass/ fail - looks a little bit like A/B/C/D/F and is interepretted that way too. Don't let the grading system at BU factor too much into your decision.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Go with BU; The Boston area has so much more to offer in terms of research, culturally, and historically; BU has much better rep and opportunities in terms of not only a medical education, but a complete education as well. Have fun!

 

[gringotuno]

I hate to be one to disagree...

But, again, what I think that it comes down to is that it is more likely that with USF you would be a big fish in a little pond rather than a little fish in a big pond.

I disagree with Blitz's point about research. Although there is much more research going on in Boston, how likely is it that you will be able to become involved in research that will be published and/or research that you direct.

Point 1. Say you have an idea about some research that you would like to start and you discuss it with a doc sponsor, you would have to get the project approved by the University's IRB. At BU, it takes >3 months to get something approved by their IRB. Here at USF, 1-2 weeks. When we have an idea for a study here at Moffitt, we can actually start doing the study pronto.

Point 2. To be able to do any research that can get your name on a publication, that quickness is very important. If you can think of an idea, get it approved, and then do the research and paper in a summer, you can be the 1st author. THAT is impressive to residency programs. Much moreso than being 7th author on a study that you were just a temporary lab tech on.

Big fish, small pond.

 

[cabruen]

PelicanMan --

Congrats on your acceptances. You went from lamenting no acceptances to a debate on which to choose.

While both schools are excellent and even though I am on the waitlist at BU, I nevertheless would strongly encourage you to choose BU. Its clinical training is incredible, and program is fantastic. You will absolutely love BU and Boston and the Northeast.

So despite my better judgement, go to BU!!!!!

Whatever you choose, congrats Dr. PelicanMan.

 

[letusbedocs]

Go

 

[PelicanMan]

Good points from both sides.

I think that the match list for BU is better than USF.

Location is an important factor for me as well.
Also I am pretty sure that BU is going to be strict pass/fail the first year.

Regardless. I am going to second look weekend at BU on April 12th. This will help me decide.

I agree with the big fish in little pond theory somewhat.

Actually at my interview at UF my interviewer tried to convince me to go to UF because I would outcompete my classmates.

Well I have some time to decide, but I will post my decision. I will let you know what is going on.

But keep the comments coming.

 

[SolidGold]

Sounds like you are leaning toward BU right now. If you have that gut feeling that it would be the better school for you, then go for it. USF will always be that little unknown state school that FL residents like, but it will be a while before its a known institution like BU is for medical school. Make sure to get the best you can out of the second look weekend and make sure that you don't base your opinion on what others say necessarily, but more on what "you" see.

 

[lola]

i think it's great you are going to the second look at bu. it will definitely help you make a this hard decision. while others have pointed out many things that might sway you toward bu, i think you should listen hard to your gut. if after the bu revisit you are getting vibes that are not as good as those that you got from usf, think long and hard about going to bu instead of usf. that's all i'm going to say. good luck with your decision, and have fun in boston at the revisit! 🙂

 

[PelicanMan]

Well I got back from the open house at BU. I fell in love with the city of Boston. Like someone has said. I am confident that I will do well at any school that I choose to attend. I think that BU's location is really awesome. Also a big thing for me is Pass/Fail. I know what I went through in undergrad. Always comparing my grades to others. I think that this is very unhealth competition and I don't want to do that at USF. Even if I will be a big fish in a little pond. BU also has the research opportunities and international electives that I am looking for in a medical school. Probably the most important factor for me is the clinical training at a medical school. I think that is the most important thing to look for in a medical school. I think it is clear that BU students get better clinical training then USF students. Also BU serves the poor and uninsured population. BU is a much more diverse city than tampa.

So as you can see. I will be withdrawing my acceptance from USF. Thanks for everyone's insightful comments. However the med school saga is not yet over for the Pelicanman. I am currently on 6 waitlists and hopefully I will be able to post another thread comparing BU to some other school.

Good luck to everyone. I hope that this helps you out SolidGold.

 

[SolidGold]

Good luck PelicanMan in the medical school you will end up in. You are going to do well and you are going to be a great physician. BU is a great school and it sounds like you will love it there, if that's were you eventually end up.

Thanks for keeping me in mind and wishing me luck.