Case Western (CWRU) vs Mount Sinai (Icahn)

[CanadianPremed7]

I am a Canadian citizen completing my master’s degree and have been accepted to both CWRU and Mount Sinai. I think both schools are great. They have unique advantages and disadvantages and I am having a hard time picking one. I have until next week to choose between these two schools. I am interested in academic medicine and would like to study psychiatry or neurology. Any advice would be highly appreciated!

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Pros

• NYC (more exciting city, more diversity of patient population?)
• Better chances of NYC residency
• Better known for neurology and psychiatry (fields I am interested in)
• Most lectures are optional and video-recorded (may not have to attend all classes)
• Quizzes every week (tested more frequently, will be able to stay on top of my studies)
• Will get a chance to rotate at 7 different hospitals.
• Has almost double the amount of NIH funding (not sure if this matters - it might get me good paid research opportunities)
• Subsidized residence (about $700 a month) at a 5 minute walk to the medical school building
• Right next to Central Park (I enjoy going out for walks and runs)
• Every room in the admissions building and the student residence has big windows - more natural light!
  

Cons

• Traditional 2-year long subject-based curriculum
• Quizzes every week (tested more frequently, more stress)
• Students generally seemed more stressed out at interview day and were also less friendly
• Only get one half day off a week
• Clinical affiliates not as highly reputed as Cleveland Clinic

Case Western Reserve University

Pros

• Better chances of residency at Cleveland Clinic
• Can do research and clinical rotations at Cleveland Clinic (well reputed hospital with amazing research opportunities)
• Had a 100% match rate in the last cycle
• Get afternoons off and one full day off a week (less stressful!)
• Shorter preclinical term (more clinical experience)
• Mandatory research thesis (I like doing research)
• Some lectures are recorded but IQ (PBL) sessions are mandatory
• Students generally seemed happier
• The clinical affiliates of Case Western (UH, Cleveland Clinic) may be better reputed than the ones at Mount Sinai.

Cons

• Need a car
• It is about $11000/year more expensive
• Cleveland is a more boring city
• Larger class size compared to Mount Sinai
• Need to rent a place that would be at least a 15 minute walk to the school and would cost about the same or more as the residence at Mount Sinai
  

Questions:

• How are the match rates at mount sinai? (where can I get this information?)
• How are the average step scores at the two schools?
• Is CWRU better for me if I am interested in academic medicine?
• Which one would make it easier for me to come back to work in Canada?
• Which city is safer to live in?
  

Summary: I’m drawn toward Mount Sinai because of its location, lower tuition, and because it is better known for neurology/psychiatry. I’m drawn to Case Western because of its curriculum and because I perceived students to be happier at Case on interview day.

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