Brown (Alpert) vs. Case Western

[Dr J]

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I'm having difficulty making this decision...here are my thoughts:

Case Western
+ Many many opportunities for research and clinical
+ Big name in medicine (but not outside)
- Cleveland
- PBL Teaching Style

Brown
+ Opportunities to do combined degrees with Boston schools
+ Great matchlist into ivy-league new england programs
+ Small class size, very good clinical training and personal attention from faculty
- Not as big name in medicine
- Research and affiliated hospitals not as strong as Case
- 60% class is PLME

If you were in my situation, which would you pick? Finances are about equal for both. Both are equally far away from home. Both would be completely new for me and I found myself equally happy interacting with the students at both places...

 

[zpiff]

My vote's for Case. I actually really loved it over there.

 

[AdmiralChz]

Love those plus/minuses. Many of them are reverse for me - matching in new england is a negative (yuck) for me. Gotta love Cleveland though - go see Lebron!

 

[TexasPhysician]

Brown

 

[funkydrmonkey]

Brown! One of the schools I regret not applying to... go there!

 

[Dr J]

Brown

Any particular reason, TexasPhysician?

 

[amph119]

Any particular reason, TexasPhysician?

Come with me to Case! Research thesis (+ the opportunit to do this research anywhere in the country), very lax schedule, etc!

 

[FSAP]

Gotta go with Case. Top notch research, Cleveland clinic and laid back atmosphere (for a med school at least). And for a person who went to school in Champaign for four years, Cleveland is not that small of a city. It all depends on your own priorities though, but as stated earlier, come join us at Case. Unless pigs fly and Pritzker lets me in off the waitlist

 

[BlueElmo]

Love those plus/minuses. Many of them are reverse for me - matching in new england is a negative (yuck) for me. Gotta love Cleveland though - go see Lebron!

I would like to go to Brown because of my undying love for the Patriots. But with that said, I would choose Case.

 

[Handy388]

Always thought I can walk around near Brown and run into Peter Griffin.

 

[Dr J]

So general consensus is that Case Western is a better program than Brown? That's what I was thinking too, but everybody's heard of Brown's name.

 

[aebvd97]

So general consensus is that Case Western is a better program than Brown? That's what I was thinking too, but everybody's heard of Brown's name.

Brown's name certainly permeates throughout the undergrad sphere (although CWRU is a very good undergrad, too); Case Western's name is considerably stronger in the med world due to its research and hospital affiliations. When it comes down to it, they are both allopathic schools and they're undoubtedly fantastic institutions..don't worry about the name.

For the record, Cleveland isn't that bad. Don't know if you've spent a considerable amount of time there..but it really isn't bad. Location is what you make of it.

 

[sevenmints]

if name matters, i guess case.

 

[drizzt3117]

I interviewed at both last year, I would pick Brown mostly because of location but I think you'd get a great education and have great opportunities at both. How does relative cost work out for the schools?

 

[futureboy]

Case!!!!!!

 

[BlueElmo]

Yes, Case. Because you don't have to deal with those annoying PLME kids.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Any particular reason, TexasPhysician?

If location and finances aren't a big factor, I would start looking at where I would like to go for residency. Brown faculty is more likely to be well known amongst other ivy faculty compared to those in Ohio (that is where Case is right?). So if you plan on a residency at a well-known program in the NE, it helps to be in the NE already.

 

[CCLCMer]

Well, of course I'm biased, but I think you should come to Case. 😀

Ok, so seriously, you should go on second looks to both schools and then decide based on gut feeling.* You won't make a bad decision either way because they're both great schools. Congrats on your acceptances and hope to see you at the second look!

*This is assuming that cost really is equal and you don't have a strong preference based on location or academic opportunities or whatever. But if cost is really lopsided, go to the cheaper school for sure.