Carver COM vs UMDSOM

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School: University of Maryland MSTP

Pros:

-Established MSTP with successful funding year to year

-Strong viral immunology program/researchers (good number of labs I’d like to do my PhD in)

-Centrally located on the East Coast

-Really vibed with the students on interview day

-Proximity to the NIH allows me to do PhD research there



Cons:

-In/close to West Baltimore (personally, don’t think it’s the safest feel free to change my mind!)

-Urban campus (I tend to like more suburban settings)

-High cost of living compared to the stipend

-Plane ride from home, but I’ve been in MD for a few years now so I already have connections here



School: University of Iowa Carver MSTP

Pros:

-Also older and established MSTP with successful funding year to year

-Strong pulmonary virology research and lots of researchers I’d like to do my PhD under

-Super low cost of living and can buy a house off of the stipend

-Driving distance from home



Cons:

-Much smaller city, not necessarily underwhelming but not the East Coast

-Not centrally located

-Not sure if I want to lay down roots in Iowa/spend my life there after schooling



Thanks for any input! Both schools seem to have similar MATCH rates and STEP scores and seem to be pretty similar in “prestige” but any inside information or opinions would be appreciated.

 

[TheDataKing]

I think having a support group already established in Maryland will prove useful and proximity to the NIH can't be paralleled by many schools. That said, both are strong programs. It sounds like you prefer the east coast, so I'd go with M over I for this one - you can't go wrong with either, though