Boston University
Pros
Pros
I understand there are multiple factors here that nobody else can really weigh against others, but I'm curious about your opinions. Truthfully, I feel that BUSM would offer the most opportunity, but I also feel drawn to being at home with family for the length of medical school, even if I don't want to end up in the Southeast long term. Basically, I'm wondering how "worth it" it would be to make one decision over another.
Pros
- Have been living in Boston for a year, already have a network of friends/ a “home” here
- Long-term significant other lives in Boston
- Previous Master’s student -> have already taken many of the first year BUSM classes
- Would like to ultimately match in the Northeast (but would be happy in a large urban area like DC/Philly/Chicago as well)
- Have already established strong research connections in Boston and would ultimately like to work at an academic medical center
- Higher ranked
- P/F curriculum
- ~$90-$100,000 COA/year
- Not the best facilities, BMC on campus but other clinical sites seem to be scattered
- Family is far away and flying home is expensive and difficult from Boston
- Need a car for 3rd/4th year which is a huge extra expense in Boston
- Less friendly vibes on interview day
Pros
- ~$50-$60,000 COA/year
- Nicer facilities, several hospitals to rotate at directly around the school
- Family lives in the same city as school and I’d really like to be able to see them more often that I have the past few years
- Would be “going back home” but would also have the opportunity to rotate at hospitals across the state
- Good vibes from students/faculty on interview day
- Easy to have a car all 4 years
- Very long-distance with significant other
- Lower ranked
- Weaker focus on research/ less research opportunities in city
- Less exciting match list (less matches to locations I’d ultimately like to end up in)
- Graded curriculum
- Would basically lose my research connections in the Northeast due to distance/less ability to continue working with them
I understand there are multiple factors here that nobody else can really weigh against others, but I'm curious about your opinions. Truthfully, I feel that BUSM would offer the most opportunity, but I also feel drawn to being at home with family for the length of medical school, even if I don't want to end up in the Southeast long term. Basically, I'm wondering how "worth it" it would be to make one decision over another.