Case Western or Vanderbilt?

[JAMESdoe3]

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Nevermind waitlisted schools, it's tough enough deciding where to commit to by the May 15th deadline.

I'm debating between Case Western w/ scholarship (significant but not full), or Vanderbilt. Obviously if you check the USNews ratings (which I try not to, but couldn't help in this case), the schools are very similarly ranked (20 vs. 17, respectively).

I'm trying to compile a list of pros/cons. I know Vandy is p/f the first year, but I was unsure of Case. Case assigns you to a patient in your first year, which I really like. Both schools seem equally concerned with student satisfaction. Cleveland seems like a more appealing place to live compared to Nashville, although I got the impression the school wasn't in the greatest part of town. Also, I am looking to match in orthopedic surgery (in New York hopefully), so prestige/reputation/match list are somewhat important to me.

My parents don't want me to choose a school just for the money, however it's a factor for me personally. All things being equal, does the higher rank/reputation of Vanderbilt warrant foregoing the scholarship?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. 🙂

 

[sandg]

Case is completely P/F the first two years.

These schools are ranked so similarly, neither is going to give you a significant advantage over the other IMO.

 

[Llenroc]

I would go to Case Western.

The thought of living in the country music capital of Nashville scares me.

 

[lorelei]

Case isn't in the BEST part of town, but it's not bad. Actually it's kind of on the border between the ghetto part of Cleveland and the quite nice part of Cleveland Heights - you definitely wouldn't have to live in a sketchy neighborhood at all. I think Cleveland is a pretty good place to live as a student. (Disclaimer: from there originally, CWRU alum, never been to Nashville, no opinions on the medical schools themselves.)

 

[jjmack]

I'd go to vanderbilt. I can't really put my exact finger on why I didn't like case, but I really didn't like it. Yeah, nashville is slightly scary, but Cleveland isn't the best either. Also if research is your thing I didn't like how so many facutly were jumping ship while Vandy has recruited many top people (a lot from wash u.) good luck with the choice.

 

[tmarsh]

I think Nashville is a cool place. Good nightlife and the city has an overall "clean" feel to it. I have never been to Cleveland though. I would bet you would like the Nashville weather better.

 

[Shobra]

I would go to Case.

P/F first two years, and no ranking...! Plus, I think you would get a better clinical experience in a major city as Cleveland.

 

[gz4444]

So. Cleveland is a lot of fun. The med school itself (and the hospitals) are about a mile from where the "Bad" part of town starts... and honestly, I live about .25 miles from the "Bad" part of town in the dorms/greek houses, and I don't have any problems at all with anything. The med school and hospital is also really close to the nice, upscale suburb of CLeveland Heights, and if you were to get an apartment, it would be in the Heights. There is a TON to do in Cleveland from the rock and roll hall of fame, to all of your major sports teams, lots of museums (right on campus), and until september that cadaver exhibit is at the great lakes science center. There is good shopping and EXCELLENT restaurants. Any type of food you want. I could go on for hours🙂 In terms of the school, the new dean at Case (Dean Horwitz) is from Yale and he promises that Case will be at top 10 school in the next few years. If you notice, Case went up 4 places in terms of research ranking and 15 spots!!! for primary care. Those are huge jumps and I believe him when he says Case will be phenomenal (based on what he did for Yale when he was Dean there). Also, money is important... why be $200,000 in debt when it can be $100,000? Case is P/F, has tons of patient care, one of the best hospitals in the world (Cleveland Clinic) and one of the best children's hospitals in the country (Rainbow--5th overall I think). Plus, I think the rumor is that they decided to give out Tablet PC's next year. That's way cooler than a laptop!

No, I am not already in Case Med, but you better believe it was my first choice and that's where I'll be in the fall! And no I don't work for the admissions office! I just think the school has a lot to offer and is only going to get better over the next few years. And I am a HUGE country music fan, and I turned down Vandy to stay here!

 

[jjmack]

All deans claim that their school will be in the top ten with in a few years or soon. I don't believe any of them. Also the last head dean, kesler I believe, of yale who is now at UCSF is a big reason why they have dropped like a rock in the rankings (from a high of 2 or 3 in mid to late 90's to whatever is now.) To the OP go with your gut. You will match well coming out of either place.

So. Cleveland is a lot of fun. The med school itself (and the hospitals) are about a mile from where the "Bad" part of town starts... and honestly, I live about .25 miles from the "Bad" part of town in the dorms/greek houses, and I don't have any problems at all with anything. The med school and hospital is also really close to the nice, upscale suburb of CLeveland Heights, and if you were to get an apartment, it would be in the Heights. There is a TON to do in Cleveland from the rock and roll hall of fame, to all of your major sports teams, lots of museums (right on campus), and until september that cadaver exhibit is at the great lakes science center. There is good shopping and EXCELLENT restaurants. Any type of food you want. I could go on for hours🙂 In terms of the school, the new dean at Case (Dean Horwitz) is from Yale and he promises that Case will be at top 10 school in the next few years. If you notice, Case went up 4 places in terms of research ranking and 15 spots!!! for primary care. Those are huge jumps and I believe him when he says Case will be phenomenal (based on what he did for Yale when he was Dean there). Also, money is important... why be $200,000 in debt when it can be $100,000? Case is P/F, has tons of patient care, one of the best hospitals in the world (Cleveland Clinic) and one of the best children's hospitals in the country (Rainbow--5th overall I think). Plus, I think the rumor is that they decided to give out Tablet PC's next year. That's way cooler than a laptop!

No, I am not already in Case Med, but you better believe it was my first choice and that's where I'll be in the fall! And no I don't work for the admissions office! I just think the school has a lot to offer and is only going to get better over the next few years. And I am a HUGE country music fan, and I turned down Vandy to stay here!

 

[pekq]

If your goal is orthopaedic in NYC, I strongly suggest you consider a NYC school (except NYMC). The residency directors in NYC know each other and it'd be advantageous when it comes time to match. Location-wise, NYC beats the other two cities. Though I have to admit that partial scholarship is hard to beat.

If I am being presumptuous in assuming you hold an acceptance at a NYC school, please forgive me.

 

[mr_bertman]

pick case. i'm here on partial scholarship too, and it's totally been worth it. two of my college friends are at vandy now, and they give it mixed reviews, mostly complaining about the lack of diversity but also some about the grading system. we had a great match in orthopedics this year--10 total--with one guy going to HSS and another to mt. sinai in manhattan. personally i think P/F is the way to go, but it's true among top 20 schools that those with graded systems produce higher step 1 averages, and vandy is one of the best in terms of teaching to the boards. still, you can study ortho here in cleveland at either universityhospitals or the cleveland clinic, both of which are top notch programs. my two cents.

 

[USCTex]

Cleveland seems like a more appealing place to live compared to Nashville, although I got the impression the school wasn't in the greatest part of town.

Look where you live is a very subjective thing but having been to both Cleveland and Nashvegas...I don't know about saying Cleveland is a better place to live.

On the other hand, I haven't lived in either.

On a shallow note, for the lay person if I heard you attended Vanderbilt I'd be more impressed than Case Western. No offense to Case Western but at least undergrad wise (which is what the average joe has a perception of) I'd say there was no debate concerning prestige.

Take it as it is, I'm going to a state school...I just got some good friends who graduated Vanderbilt undergrad 🙂

 

[JAMESdoe3]

pick case. i'm here on partial scholarship too, and it's totally been worth it. two of my college friends are at vandy now, and they give it mixed reviews, mostly complaining about the lack of diversity but also some about the grading system. we had a great match in orthopedics this year--10 total--with one guy going to HSS and another to mt. sinai in manhattan. personally i think P/F is the way to go, but it's true among top 20 schools that those with graded systems produce higher step 1 averages, and vandy is one of the best in terms of teaching to the boards. still, you can study ortho here in cleveland at either universityhospitals or the cleveland clinic, both of which are top notch programs. my two cents.

pekq

Lack of diversity was certainly a concern of mine, and I did notice that Case had a lot of orthopod matches (HSS woo). Then again I have also heard that Vandy really teaches well for the boards.

pekq - you presumed incorrectly. I'm only waitlisted in NYC, and its a scary for me to imagine living elsewhere for the next 4+ years. No one in nashville, even the students to a large extent, cuss. Curiously, this frightens me a good deal, as my most commonly used verb, noun, and angry expression has becume ****!

i need some soap for my mouth if i can't stay here!

 

[exmike]

You can teach someone for the boards, but people who are studious and smart will do will on the boards anyway. I dont feel that simply because a school "teaches" for the boards is a good reason to choose it. You know how you can make a pass fail school teach for the boards? Study for the exams like you are graded!

I was very leery of going to schools like emory and vandy because of the social environment and lack of diversity. Academically these schools and case are all peers. Choose based on where you will fit in and cost!

 

[jjmack]

I got yelled at in the airport in nashville for swearing after I got kicked off my flight due to overbooking. I almost started laughing.

pekq

Lack of diversity was certainly a concern of mine, and I did notice that Case had a lot of orthopod matches (HSS woo). Then again I have also heard that Vandy really teaches well for the boards.

pekq - you presumed incorrectly. I'm only waitlisted in NYC, and its a scary for me to imagine living elsewhere for the next 4+ years. No one in nashville, even the students to a large extent, cuss. Curiously, this frightens me a good deal, as my most commonly used verb, noun, and angry expression has becume ****!

i need some soap for my mouth if i can't stay here!

 

[taehong81]

If you are concerned for diversity, I would pick CWRU b/c vandy (and nashville) does have problem with diversity. I dont think it is worth to pay more just to go to Vandy over CWRU, like everyone said they are both great school.