BUSM vs LKSOM vs CNUCOM

[Abradolf_Lincler]

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I am having trouble figuring this all out. Everyone I ask is so adamantly and obviously saying BU.. to the point where I question how shallow the response is (based solely on ranking?).

Here’s a small background: my wife and I are from the Bay Area, our entire extended families live there. We want to start a family in the next few years and would appreciate proximity to family for a support network. She works in molec. bio labs.

Schools:

BUSM
Pros-

• Great school.
• Love the community.
• Currently live in Roxbury and enjoy it.
• Awesome programs.
• Seriously great mission/goals.
• Epicenter of medicine and easy to find jobs for wife.

Cons-

• Abysmal curriculum.
• Old facilities.
• Library from hell.
• Weather is not ideal (but not the worst).
• It’s not the most collaborative student body I’ve seen..
• Did not get great vibes over all from faculty/students.

LKSOM
Pros-

• Accepted to St. Luke’s program, very great for primary care oriented person such as myself.
• $40k scholarship.
• Philly campus has new facilities.
• Very collaborative.
• Amazing vibes.
• Reputable school with solid match list.
• Rotations at st. Luke’s are unique and encompassing.

Cons-

• My wife and I are city folk. We are not turned off by a more rural setting but are very urban in our lifestyle.
• We have no connections or any community anywhere near this area.
• While working in Philly will be easy for my wife, finding a job in the Lehigh valley area could be slightly more challenging.
• Involves 2 moves, from our current location to Philly, and Philly to Lehigh Valley.
• Regardless of scholarship, still a private school.

Northstate:
Pros-

• New school means new facilities, very modern and state-of-the-art.
• Loved the people, good vibes all around.
• Solid community and solid mission for primary care.
• Fantastic curriculum, it’s the best I’ve ever seen (for me).
• Many opportunities for wife’s career nearby.
• Proximity to family.
• Best location for our personal family goals.
• New school = exciting

Cons-

• The most important con is the lack of data in support of the school.
• This year’s boards were at national average so that’s calming but who knows what could happen.
• Absolutely no residency data yet.
• Not fully accredited (I know it can take years but it has to be on here).
• Obviously lower in reputation which, to me, isn’t bothersome but would be an obvious con to some.
• Partnered with HMO hospitals but no onsite teaching hospital of their own.

In conclusion:
For me I see a school with reputation and history with a great name and amazing programs for students. A school with the exact opposite but with potential, cool curriculum, and supports my personal goals. And finally a school somewhat in the middle; financially the best option, pretty cool curriculum, and good overall vibes.

Send help.

 

[nymd22]

If I were you, I would stay away from Northstate. The fact that you can't get federal loans is a huge red flag for me. To me, t sounds like between BU and Temple, you prefer Temple, and that scholarship is really good.

 

[Abradolf_Lincler]

If I were you, I would stay away from Northstate. The fact that you can't get federal loans is a huge red flag for me. To me, t sounds like between BU and Temple, you prefer Temple, and that scholarship is really good.

Thank you. Ya it is pretty strange about federal loans I guess that is what happens when you are considered “for profit.” Although they explained this distinction was made because they wanted to quickly address the physician shortage in the Central Valley rather than wait 10 years to graduate a class.

Thanks again for the input 😀

 

[Kingsmen2018]

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[1203xx]

Wait BUSM as in Boston U? Definitely go Boston...

 

[Gray Fox]

If I were you, I would go BU. It's an obvious answer to me. Anyone on this forum who tells you otherwise probably wants your spot. I've rotated with students from that school (EM), and they are extremely strong clinically.

 

[Abradolf_Lincler]

out of curiosity, what did you dislike about BU's curriculum?

The curriculum felt antiquated. They preach integration but the schedule feels very cluttered, blocked, and boring. I currently live with an MS1 at BU and know several MS2’s and 3’s. While it is true that clinical training is exceptional and the school overall is above average and reasoning rapidly in the rankings, I personally just felt unsure about the overall vibes. It’s a classic heart vs mind scenario. Logically I know BU is far better for my future. But the school didn’t feel right.

Regardless, I appreciate all of your input and it certainly helps put a new perspective on everything. Sometimes you have to step back and see things with a different lens to realize what’s going on.

Wait BUSM as in Boston U? Definitely go Boston...

If I were you, I would go BU. It's an obvious answer to me. Anyone on this forum who tells you otherwise probably wants your spot. I've rotated with students from that school (EM), and they are extremely strong clinically.

 

[Gray Fox]

The curriculum felt antiquated. They preach integration but the schedule feels very cluttered, blocked, and boring. I currently live with an MS1 at BU and know several MS2’s and 3’s. While it is true that clinical training is exceptional and the school overall is above average and reasoning rapidly in the rankings, I personally just felt unsure about the overall vibes. It’s a classic heart vs mind scenario. Logically I know BU is far better for my future. But the school didn’t feel right.

Regardless, I appreciate all of your input and it certainly helps put a new perspective on everything. Sometimes you have to step back and see things with a different lens to realize what’s going on.

Look man. Do you. If your heart is saying Temple, go Temple. Their training is also great.

I agree with you re: rankings. Interviewed at BU recently for residency. Their huge level 4 infectious diseases lab got approved, and they got a multi-million dollar gift for a new substance abuse center, so I definitely think they will continue to rise in research rankings.

What does your wife want to do? Congrats. Good problem to have.

 

[Abradolf_Lincler]

Look man. Do you. If your heart is saying Temple, go Temple. Their training is also great.

I agree with you re: rankings. Interviewed at BU recently for residency. Their huge level 4 infectious diseases lab got approved, and they got a multi-million dollar gift for a new substance abuse center, so I definitely think they will continue to rise in research rankings.

What does your wife want to do? Congrats. Good problem to have.

Thank you, I appreciate that. Yeah, it is completely beyond my expectations and I will admit that 1 year ago I was honestly unimpressed by people with this sort of “problem.” Sometimes you have to experience it to truly understand how much gravity there is to such an issue.

My wife wants what is best for our future and our eventual return to California, whenever that may be. It is important to us both that her career be furthered wherever we end up. There is no question, on that note, that Boston would be the best location for that.

It’s one thing to look at a curriculum from the outside looking in. One can never truly know how they will fair until they step in and try. Possibly one of the biggest issues with deciding that I imagine most students must experience.

 

[Gray Fox]

You've got social support in B, and your wife can further her own career there. Presumably, she will be happier there. BU is a well known, well respected school out here in the West (specifically EM, but I'm sure other fields too), and will def help get you back here. Nvm. Go BU.

 

[Abradolf_Lincler]

Yes the support network is extensively enticing. As my wife and I wish wash between schools we are currently waxing on the BU side as of late. EM is a residency in my bucket of considerations (a large bucket admittedly). Thanks for all the insight.

 

[Gray Fox]

Yes the support network is extensively enticing. As my wife and I wish wash between schools we are currently waxing on the BU side as of late. EM is a residency in my bucket of considerations (a large bucket admittedly). Thanks for all the insight.

I'm a married man myself. The greatest lesson I could ever impart: a happy wife is the greatest asset to your career. An unhappy one...hell hath no greater fury...

Edit: finished the EM interview trail. Almost always saw at least one BU kid at top tier programs. BU is highly, highly regarded in EM.

 

[Abradolf_Lincler]

I'm a married man myself. The greatest lesson I could ever impart: a happy wife is the greatest asset to your career. An unhappy one...hell hath no greater fury...

You’ve made us both laugh, thank you. Happy wife happy life may be the cliché, but we simply never heard back from the ones on the other end of that spectrum (rip).