Case Western vs. USC Keck vs. OHSU

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UreterIHardlyKnowHer

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Career goals: Currently most interested in Emergency Medicine, but this could certainly change. From Oregon, have been in Los Angeles for the last 5 years and am comfortable here, but I think that I would like to ultimately move back up to the Pacific Northwest.

Case (The Career Move)

Pros
+ Cost of living is cheap
+ Ranking is good
+ Clinical sites are top notch
+ Seems super invested in their students, good vibes
+ The Hogwartsy house system seemed neat
+ High average Step 1 and 2 scores
+ Match list is very nice, varied specialities
+ Daily schedule for students gives ample free study time
+Curriculum was attractive, PBL seems cool
+ Ample research available

Cons
– Full CoA burden, very pricey
– Cleveland is doable, but kinda meh
– Far from family (different timezone)
– Housing seems like kinda old
– Facilities are old. They will be updated by my M3, but still suck at the moment
– Girlfriend detests the idea of moving here with me, and Cleveland job market isn't as good for her
– Harder to return to PNW?
– No support network here

USC Keck (The Middle Ground)
Pros
+ I can continue to surf, and SoCal lifestyle is generally pleasant
+ Focus on serving the underserved, and I can use my Spanish abilities
+ LA County Hospital #1 EM residency, sweeeeeet clinical rotations
+ Friends at school already, and good community
+ I know the area and know where I want to live already
+ Well regarded on west coast
+ Good STEP scores
+ Good curriculum and daily schedule
+ Ample research available
+ Girlfriend likes working here
+ Small support network in the area
+ USC football games
+ Good, varied speciality match list with California spots everywhere
+ I have a good professional network from USC undergrad

Cons
– Full CoA burden
– THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH!
– Still far from family
– Area around the campus kinda blows, have to drive a lot.
– Speaking of driving, traffic here sucks
– Not super thrilled with more big city livin'

OHSU (The Heart Wants What It Wants)
Pros
+ Home, family, free laundry, my dogs, free meals on the weekends from my mom.
+ Large support network
+ Dream school growing up
+ Easy to match back to PNW
+ I know the area and know where I want to live already
+ The campus is beautiful
+ I can bike to school
+ Ample research available
+ Girlfriend is cool moving back home
+ Running trails everywhere
+ In state CoA, save 20k per year!

Cons
– Medicine is practiced in a bubble here, Portland doesn't have same health problems as big cities
– STEP scores are kind of low...
– Students are not as good stat-wise
– Research is good, not quite as much opportunity as other schools though
– Match list is a bit primary care heavy, seems a bit limiting
– The curriculum is new, seems a bit sketchy. Daily schedule seems filled with mandatory stuff
– Emergency medicine here cannot compare to USC

Summary: I am very torn. I guess I am a soft lean to OHSU, but Keck is close behind. I plan to go to Case's Second Look Weekend, but I need convincing at this point. Please help me out with any input ya'll might have!

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With everything you have provided I would go to OHSU.

The second look at case may help clear it up but if you don't get that feeling you get at OHSU than go to OHSU. The support system and financial savings will be huge
 
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How do you have in state tuition at OHSU if you're in LA? Just curious.

Also I will confirm that OHSU is awesome but also from a friend that goes there the days are long with classes and mandatory activities as you mentioned. I don't know much about the other two. Good luck with your awesome options!
 
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OHSU

- that pro list...
- your STEP score depends on you
- your peformance isn't influenced by the stats of your peers (which I think you're underestimating)
- I feel like the hospital and variety of cases there matters more for residency
 
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If you want to end up on the west coast for residency stay there for med school.

It's definitely harder to return once you leave since many west coast residencies are very competitive.
 
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The biggest concern with OHSU is that I will get stuck in a primary care speciality without a choice.
How do you have in state tuition at OHSU if you're in LA? Just curious.

Also I will confirm that OHSU is awesome but also from a friend that goes there the days are long with classes and mandatory activities as you mentioned. I don't know much about the other two. Good luck with your awesome options!
I went to USC for undergrad, and throughout that time I purposely retained my Oregon residency haha.
 
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West Coast ---> Cleveland is brutal. There is no way you will like it after living in Oregon and Southern California. Yes, you'll be busy in medical school, but being in a great city makes your non-studying time so much better.

USC or OHSU!
 
West Coast ---> Cleveland is brutal. There is no way you will like it after living in Oregon and Southern California. Yes, you'll be busy in medical school, but being in a great city makes your non-studying time so much better.

USC or OHSU!
Cleveland is a really nice city. Great food, parks, cost of living can't be beat.
 
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If you wanted to get into heavy academic medicine and more competitive residencies, I think the name recognition/connections that Keck would offer would be of more benefit. Depending on what your goal is, that would play into your decision (I know you said EM for now). Additionally, the diversity you will see in L.A. hospitals far outweighs what is present in more insulated areas like Portland. (no diss on the hipster lifestyle, just saying)

I visited both campuses recently and have spoken to faculty heavily involved in the MD prorgam. Keck seems to be putting in a lot more $ and effort into trying to become the "Stanford of SoCal". Of course, they have quite a ways to go ;), but they are doing that they can. OHSU seemed more laid back, peaceful, and just chill. I felt that OHSU faculty were "caring" and not super cut throat. I got the same positive vibes from UVM faculty/admin.

Of course, I can't weigh in on your relationship with family and especially having mom close by. For me, that right there would sell me to OHSU, plus the beauty of the NW. But if it was strictly a career move and your goal was what I mentioned above (academic med and more competitive residencies), then I would go with Keck.

Regarding the step scores, I'm a believer that while step scores depend on ME and not my classmates, our environment does effect us. so being surrounded with folks who are more studious and are studying more in hopes of getting into more competitive residencies MAY effect how I study. I do believe that OHSU has more folks who are geared towards primary care and less competitive residencies...

And I was in Cleveland two months ago. No way I'd want to live there over Portland or LA.

just my 2 cents.
 
Career goals: Currently most interested in Emergency Medicine, but this could certainly change. From Oregon, have been in Los Angeles for the last 5 years and am comfortable here, but I think that I would like to ultimately move back up to the Pacific Northwest.

Case (The Career Move)

Pros
+ Cost of living is cheap
+ Ranking is good
+ Clinical sites are top notch
+ Seems super invested in their students, good vibes
+ The Hogwartsy house system seemed neat
+ High average Step 1 and 2 scores
+ Match list is very nice, varied specialities
+ Daily schedule for students gives ample free study time
+Curriculum was attractive, PBL seems cool
+ Ample research available

Cons
– Full CoA burden, very pricey
– Cleveland is doable, but kinda meh
– Far from family (different timezone)
– Housing seems like kinda old
– Facilities are old. They will be updated by my M3, but still suck at the moment
– Girlfriend detests the idea of moving here with me, and Cleveland job market isn't as good for her
– Harder to return to PNW?
– No support network here

USC Keck (The Middle Ground)
Pros
+ I can continue to surf, and SoCal lifestyle is generally pleasant
+ Focus on serving the underserved, and I can use my Spanish abilities
+ LA County Hospital #1 EM residency, sweeeeeet clinical rotations
+ Friends at school already, and good community
+ I know the area and know where I want to live already
+ Well regarded on west coast
+ Good STEP scores
+ Good curriculum and daily schedule
+ Ample research available
+ Girlfriend likes working here
+ Small support network in the area
+ USC football games
+ Good, varied speciality match list with California spots everywhere
+ I have a good professional network from USC undergrad

Cons
– Full CoA burden
– THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH!
– Still far from family
– Area around the campus kinda blows, have to drive a lot.
– Speaking of driving, traffic here sucks
– Not super thrilled with more big city livin'

OHSU (The Heart Wants What It Wants)
Pros
+ Home, family, free laundry, my dogs, free meals on the weekends from my mom.
+ Large support network
+ Dream school growing up
+ Easy to match back to PNW
+ I know the area and know where I want to live already
+ The campus is beautiful
+ I can bike to school
+ Ample research available
+ Girlfriend is cool moving back home
+ Running trails everywhere
+ In state CoA, save 20k per year!

Cons
– Medicine is practiced in a bubble here, Portland doesn't have same health problems as big cities
– STEP scores are kind of low...
– Students are not as good stat-wise
– Research is good, not quite as much opportunity as other schools though
– Match list is a bit primary care heavy, seems a bit limiting
– The curriculum is new, seems a bit sketchy. Daily schedule seems filled with mandatory stuff
– Emergency medicine here cannot compare to USC

Summary: I am very torn. I guess I am a soft lean to OHSU, but Keck is close behind. I plan to go to Case's Second Look Weekend, but I need convincing at this point. Please help me out with any input ya'll might have!
Career goals: Currently most interested in Emergency Medicine, but this could certainly change. From Oregon, have been in Los Angeles for the last 5 years and am comfortable here, but I think that I would like to ultimately move back up to the Pacific Northwest.

Case (The Career Move)

Pros
+ Cost of living is cheap
+ Ranking is good
+ Clinical sites are top notch
+ Seems super invested in their students, good vibes
+ The Hogwartsy house system seemed neat
+ High average Step 1 and 2 scores
+ Match list is very nice, varied specialities
+ Daily schedule for students gives ample free study time
+Curriculum was attractive, PBL seems cool
+ Ample research available

Cons
– Full CoA burden, very pricey
– Cleveland is doable, but kinda meh
– Far from family (different timezone)
– Housing seems like kinda old
– Facilities are old. They will be updated by my M3, but still suck at the moment
– Girlfriend detests the idea of moving here with me, and Cleveland job market isn't as good for her
– Harder to return to PNW?
– No support network here

USC Keck (The Middle Ground)
Pros
+ I can continue to surf, and SoCal lifestyle is generally pleasant
+ Focus on serving the underserved, and I can use my Spanish abilities
+ LA County Hospital #1 EM residency, sweeeeeet clinical rotations
+ Friends at school already, and good community
+ I know the area and know where I want to live already
+ Well regarded on west coast
+ Good STEP scores
+ Good curriculum and daily schedule
+ Ample research available
+ Girlfriend likes working here
+ Small support network in the area
+ USC football games
+ Good, varied speciality match list with California spots everywhere
+ I have a good professional network from USC undergrad

Cons
– Full CoA burden
– THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH!
– Still far from family
– Area around the campus kinda blows, have to drive a lot.
– Speaking of driving, traffic here sucks
– Not super thrilled with more big city livin'

OHSU (The Heart Wants What It Wants)
Pros
+ Home, family, free laundry, my dogs, free meals on the weekends from my mom.
+ Large support network
+ Dream school growing up
+ Easy to match back to PNW
+ I know the area and know where I want to live already
+ The campus is beautiful
+ I can bike to school
+ Ample research available
+ Girlfriend is cool moving back home
+ Running trails everywhere
+ In state CoA, save 20k per year!

Cons
– Medicine is practiced in a bubble here, Portland doesn't have same health problems as big cities
– STEP scores are kind of low...
– Students are not as good stat-wise
– Research is good, not quite as much opportunity as other schools though
– Match list is a bit primary care heavy, seems a bit limiting
– The curriculum is new, seems a bit sketchy. Daily schedule seems filled with mandatory stuff
– Emergency medicine here cannot compare to USC

Summary: I am very torn. I guess I am a soft lean to OHSU, but Keck is close behind. I plan to go to Case's Second Look Weekend, but I need convincing at this point. Please help me out with any input ya'll might have!


What is the average Step score at OHSU, family applying so trying to find info?
 
All good choices. Congrats. I'd stay at USC. Cost of attendance is higher, but OHSU is the priciest school for in-state students in the nation. Med students get more hands-on experience at LAC-USC than at OHSU. Do you not remember what the weather is like in Portland from October to June?
 
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