Case Western vs University of Cincinnati

[Bearhugs]

So I have been accepted to both Case Western and Cincinnati, and would like to hear some opinions from my fellow SDNers.

Case Western:

Pros:
PBL
Less time spent in lecture
Many "free" afternoons
Opportunities to do rotations/research at Cleveland Clinic
Mandatory research project
High board scores
Pass/fail

Cons:
High COA ~$50,000 more over the course of 4 years

Cincinnati:

Pros:
Cheaper (in state tuition)
High board scores
Great children's hospital
Friends who attend

Cons:
Research/rotations opportunities didn't seem as abundant as Case
More time spent in lecture

I'm not from cinci or cleveland, but have been to both and I wouldn't mind living in either city so that doesn't have much weight in my decision.

I am really interested in Ortho, which I know is a pretty competitive residency, so given this info what do you guys think? I'm fairly certain I know where I will be happiest but I'd just like to hear a couple other opinions!!

Thanks!

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[deleted127837]

If you aren't interested in peds, the children's hospital isn't going to be doing you any favors, while Case's research reputation will. Depends entirely on your personal debt tolerance, though. I'd go to Case.

 

[MedPR]

Case is the clear winner. 50k over 4 years isn't that bad when you're spending it at a school like case.

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[vayntraubinator]

So I have been accepted to both Case Western and Cincinnati, and would like to hear some opinions from my fellow SDNers.

Case Western:

Pros:
PBL
Less time spent in lecture
Many "free" afternoons
Opportunities to do rotations/research at Cleveland Clinic
Mandatory research project
High board scores
Pass/fail

Cons:
High COA ~$50,000 more over the course of 4 years

Cincinnati:

Pros:
Cheaper (in state tuition)
High board scores
Great children's hospital
Friends who attend

Cons:
Research/rotations opportunities didn't seem as abundant as Case
More time spent in lecture

I'm not from cinci or cleveland, but have been to both and I wouldn't mind living in either city so that doesn't have much weight in my decision.

I am really interested in Ortho, which I know is a pretty competitive residency, so given this info what do you guys think? I'm fairly certain I know where I will be happiest but I'd just like to hear a couple other opinions!!

Thanks!

It's going to be what you make of it. Personally, I'd go for what's cheaper because they are equally reputable. Check out Children's Pediatric Ortho department. Those guys are big in the field.

 

[vayntraubinator]

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/about/uc-affiliation/uc-dept-surgery/default/

but really it's what you make of it. either or. 50k + in my pocket for me hahaha.

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/o/orthopaedic-surgery/team/

 

[CsHead]

Keep in mind, at cinci you'll have weekly quizzes.

I liked the surrounding area better at Case than I did at Cinci, but I liked the facilities better at Cinci. Better undergrad population at Cinci as well (if you look into those kinds of things).

You're not going to go wrong either way and I'm sure there will be many Case votes here based a lot on ranking as well. If you already know what you want in your heart, go with that.

Or better yet flip a coin and then you'll really know what you want.

If it was me, I would chose case based on some of the Pros you listed at Cinci (aka friends in the area) and I got rubbed the wrong way by some staff at Cinci

 

[Agtongue]

Keep in mind, at cinci you'll have weekly quizzes.

I liked the surrounding area better at Case than I did at Cinci, but I liked the facilities better at Cinci. Better undergrad population at Cinci as well (if you look into those kinds of things).

You're not going to go wrong either way and I'm sure there will be many Case votes here based a lot on ranking as well. If you already know what you want in your heart, go with that.

Or better yet flip a coin and then you'll really know what you want.

If it was me, I would chose case based on some of the Pros you listed at Cinci (aka friends in the area) and I got rubbed the wrong way by some staff at Cinci

Weekly quizzes for the organ/system blocks are going to be every two weeks next year (fundamentals will still be every week). At least that's what I heard.

 

[Bearhugs]

Bump!

Thanks for the replies guys, any other thoughts?

 

[frost08]

UC has a P/F system as well but they also calculate a class rank based on your actual grade percentage. At the end of each semester they notify students what fifth of the class they are in (top 1/5, bottom 1/5, ect.).

 

[cookiemonsters]

Can someone explain to me exactly what are the benefits of higher research ranking besides reputation? I also interviewed at U Cinci, and I never got the feeling that the research opportunities there would be limited. One of my interviewers was a PI, and she said that they love to snatch up medical students to work in the labs. 😕 I also interviewed at Case and I think I would just pick Cinci since I hate the idea of PBL.

It also seems so weird to me (and a little hypocritical) that we have to do all these service-oriented activities to get into a highly ranked research school.

 

[Bearhugs]

I never said that research opportunities were limited at UC, but rather the opportunities would be more abundant at Case with UH and the Cleveland Clinic. Part of me thinks that doing research with a doc at the Cleveland Clinic will help my chances of matching into a specialty as competitive as Orthopedics. Thats just what I'm thinking--I'd love to hear other opinions!

 

[gocalbears2010]

I also interviewed/was accepted at both schools. Personally, I thought the vibe I got at Case Western was far better than at Cinci. The students there also seemed genuinely happy....REALLY happy, in fact. I know it's very vague, but did you just have a stronger connection to one school over the other? I also felt like the students who interviewed with me at Case were more mature and interesting to talk to than at Cinci as well. Just my 2 cents!

 

[flymaster99]

OP: I had the same choice as you, but recently, I have decided to withdraw from Cincinnati and go with Case.

I feel like Case is more of a sure bet than Cincinnati. While the research opportunities may be excellent at UC, we know that Case offers great research opportunities. Also, less time in class and unranked pass/fail seem more desirable to me. But most importantly, you should think about where you would want to do your residency. Generally, many students match at their home institution for residency. I know that it seems very far in advance, but you might want to think about where you might want to be in four years.

Honestly, this is a personal decision, and both places will give you opportunities to succeed, and you will have to take advantage of those opportunities either way to match into ortho. What you need to figure out is where you feel like you can perform your best. I personally feel like the environment at Case would give me a better shot, but that's just me.

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[casem3]

Hey I'm a Case M3 and happened to stumble on this thread somehow. I was also deciding between Case and other Ohio schools -- so here's my 2 cents.

Pros:
-Structure of years 1&2 -- second to none. The PBL is really well done, and lectures aren't mandatory so most people flux in and out of those as needed. It's completely adaptable to any learning style.
-School usually ends at noon and Thursdays are completely optional (no new material is presented). Oftentimes you have only 1 afternoon session/week (usually a clinical skills session).
-Years 3&4 -- lots of variety. There are 4 main clinical sites (University Hospitals, VA, Cleveland Clinic, Metro) that expose you to virtually all facets of modern medicine.
-Research block -- it's huge for competitive residencies to do research, and you get protected time for that. You can also do research in your summer between years 1 & 2 and do some in 4th year if you want. Case has great research overall and it's really easy to get hooked up with a mentor.
-Pass/fail -- pretty awesome. Except it evaporates in year 3 and you essentially go to an A/B/C/F system. Yikes.
-Board scores are usually high and you get plenty of time to study; probably a reflection of the caliber and motivation of the students and not necessarily the curriculum itself
-No class rank -- very nice

Cons:
-$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
-Getting need-based aid made the difference for me going here
-Some say Cleveland sucks, but I don't mind it. It's basically Cincinnati with a big lake and more snow and crappier sports teams.

I also interviewed at Cinci and have friends that go there. They love it, and I hear their curriculum has changed from the very traditional one that was in place when I was applying. You honestly can't go wrong with Cinci. It's way above average as far as public med schools go. I'm sure you'd have some great research opportunities there as well.

I'm probably telling you lots of things you already know. Basically, you're good to go at either place. Wait for your financial aid and see how it really compares. If Case is the right fit, join us! Case has tons of ortho people match every year. Basically, Case grads love ortho and rads and other competitive fields and are often very successful because the school gives you everything you need to match at the best possible place.

PM me if any of you have any questions about Case, I'd be happy to answer them

 

[jjolso12]

Go to Case and we can be ortho buds ha