Case Western vs Rochester

[jb1811]

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Hi all! Fortunate to have gotten a couple acceptances from schools I'd be super excited to attend. Don't think any of the schools I am waiting to hear back from post-II would turn my head from either of these two, however I do have a WL from my IS school that would indeed cause reconsideration. Still, since that is far from a guarantee, I figured now may be a good time to get an idea of what to weigh and what may look like the better opportunity. Thanks so much in advance!

Before I provide pros/cons, I should say that I am about as certain as one can be going into school about the specialty I'll be pursuing (urology, specifically academic) for a number of personal reasons. I know that this is subject to change, however it is certainly a factor of how I may decide. Additionally, all COA will be taken on by me, with no familial support. Okay, now that this is out of the way.


Case:

Pros-

• True P/F (no internal rank or AOA)
  • collaborative environment was the hallmark of the interview process
• Cleveland Clinic affiliation
  • track for longitudinal clinical rotations with same patients; very interesting
  • One of the best urology residencies in the country according to online sources
  • One of only 20 sites with the fellowship program that I am interested in
• More NIH funding
• Slightly more prestige(?)
• Great COL; more eventful city(?)
• Rather independent curriculum: typically only a couple hours a day in person and the rest is self-directed (I've always done much better in this style, so definitely a pro)
• TBL for those mandatory sessions
• An hour from Cedar Point (woohoo!)

Cons-

• Tuition (really up there, even for private schools)
• Far from home (Boston) and family
• Competition with students doing aways at the Cleveland Clinic? Will a home program feel less home-y because of so many visiting students?

Neutral/potentially need insight-

• Large class size
  • I like the idea of not always needing to be my highest preforming self, as would be the case if there are only half of the individuals like at UR, but can med students be left in the crowd? Or am I not visualizing what it means to have a "large" class correctly? I think Case does a good job adding in smaller cohorts that you do work with to personalize your education, but still, it is something worth considering.
• 2 year preclinical
  • not sure if this is a pro or a con, and imagine it is likely a bit of each. Obviously, a big draw for Case is its research opportunity, and I'd really like to have as much time as possible. They bake in a ton of time for said research, but I'm wondering if 2 years in the classroom would limit me at least somewhat (especially considering uro starts matching process early)
• Essay based exams
  • We have NBME exams that are worth none of your grade, which is great for practice and reflected in their good Step pass rate, but the exams that count are essay based. Again, maybe a pro and maybe a con, but what I know is I hate to write (secondaries killed me) and I am constantly tweaking my work--something that isn't nearly as bad when you have to circle an answer choice and just move on. Worried about a potential time sink (though this may be a specific question for Case students)

Rochester:

Pros-

• Almost true P/F (no internal rank but they do have AOA)
• Urology home program is very reputable (from research done online)
• Student interviewer emphasized that, because URochester is really the only school in the area, and because the class size is smaller, any and all research opportunities are handed out with little competition (admittedly a big pro)
• Very solid NIH funding; similarly great research culture
• Great COL, maybe even slightly better than CLE
• TBL and PBL emphasis

Cons-

• Tuition (just as bad)
• Emphasis on attendance even for standard lectures (not required but seemed like the student culture as well)
• Closer to home but still a day's worth of plan and travel to get back
• Less happening city--seems as though the school at large is the city of Rochester. Great given the above statement about many opportunities being provided, less good for nights out?

Neutral/potentially need insight-

• Small class size
  • flip the reasoning above--personalized attention sounds great but I do tend to do better when able to have independence
• 2 year preclinical but with your primary care clerkships starting in year 2
  • Not sure if this is why admit says 1 year preclinical, but the schematic lays it out this way at least.
  • All concerns about research timing from above applies (perhaps with more concern given M2 seems very busy at Rochester--wish I had asked this in the info session now that I think about it lol
  • Conversely, earlier exposure maybe makes for better clinicians?
• Emphasis Meliora in medicine and Biopsychosocial Model
  • admittedly, I know someone who has gotten into Rochester shouldn't be neutral about these components of the curriculum because they're so emphasized, and I do have some interest, however I still just don't know how much they tangibly change what we're learning about day to day (may not be articulated well, apologies!)

Overall, my gut tells me that everything I like about Rochester, Case maybe does just a little bit better and with a bump in name recognition. I certainly don't think either would prevent me from matching strongly, and do wonder if either would match better back in Boston if itching to come home after 4 years (currently would be happy to match anywhere, especially if at any of the great home institutions above, but I digress).

Am I placing too much emphasis on potential competition for resources? Am I overrating the benefit of a good home program? Class size? Is this just a "wait for the money" scenario? Perhaps all null and void if Umass WL moves--thanks so much nonetheless!