CCOM vs. Rosalind Franklin?

[utailor2]

Which school is better? If anyone can list some pros and cons about each school that would really help! Thanks!

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[bluemonkey]

Do you want to earn an MD or DO degree? That's the first question that you should answer. Ultimately both will allow you to practice medicine, but would you be happy with either degree? Some people have rather umm...strong opinions on MD vs. DO...

 

[gasapple]

Some people have rather umm...strong opinions on MD vs. DO...

"People" should be qualified as "pre-meds".

Also, Rosalind Franklin was placed on probationary status after a review a couple of years ago; they've since corrected the deficiencies and have met requirements.

 

[Sam212]

Which school is better? If anyone can list some pros and cons about each school that would really help! Thanks!

I will have to go with RFU on this one. Although CCOM is a very highly regarded DO school, but compare the matchlists of both schools and RFU will come down on top. Besides, there is not much difference between tuition either. Locations cross out each other too, both suburban Chicago. Go to RFU and you will go through a lot less hassle.

 

[DrMidlife]

One just recovered from trouble with accreditation, and didn't the other just lose its hospital?

Either's fine. Acceptances from both is a great problem to have.

 

[Kateb4]

Locations cross out each other too, both suburban Chicago. Go to RFU and you will go through a lot less hassle.

My mom lives by RFU, locations are not equal here! I would definately prefer CCOM if you are looking at location!

 

[Sam212]

My mom lives by RFU, locations are not equal here! I would definately prefer CCOM if you are looking at location!

One's about 40 miles aways from Downtown while other is around 25 miles. There might be a little more to do in west suburban area than in North Chicago, but you must keep in mind that as a medical student you will keep your other activities to a minimum.

 

[MaximusD]

One's about 40 miles aways from Downtown while other is around 25 miles. There might be a little more to do in west suburban area than in North Chicago, but you must keep in mind that as a medical student you will keep your other activities to a minimum.

I'd say it's a personal decision. Although some regard DO schools as lesser, it really has no basis in fact.

CCOM is one of the top three DO programs in teh country and the rotations are excellent. Going to a DO school, you also may receive an additional crack at some of the specilaties in the AOA match that you wouldn't get by simply applying to MD residencies.

In the end, it's a wash. They're both medical schools and you are in an excellent situation.

Go with your gut...

 

[crazy4clana]

Rosalind Franklin! You will be happy when it comes time for the boards and residency placement 😉

 

[ellinopedo182]

One's about 40 miles aways from Downtown while other is around 25 miles. There might be a little more to do in west suburban area than in North Chicago, but you must keep in mind that as a medical student you will keep your other activities to a minimum.

well if one does go to RFU, they can always get drunk at my parents sports bar, or get a bite to eat 24-hours a day at my parents other restaurant... all within 2-3 minutes from campus. 🙂

 

[Sam212]

well if one does go to RFU, they can always get drunk at my parents sports bar, or get a bite to eat 24-hours a day at my parents other restaurant... all within 2-3 minutes from campus. 🙂

Dude, I see that you went to Loyola, when did you graduate? Fellow rambler here

 

[ellinopedo182]

Dude, I see that you went to Loyola, when did you graduate? Fellow rambler here

Hey, i graduated in may 2006, went to rome for a semester in september 2006 and then opened a cafe at loyola a few months back. im still lurking around loyola, even though i graduated nearly 2 years ago lol. when did you graduate?

 

[Sam212]

Hey, i graduated in may 2006, went to rome for a semester in september 2006 and then opened a cafe at loyola a few months back. im still lurking around loyola, even though i graduated nearly 2 years ago lol. when did you graduate?

Graduated in May 2007, so is this cafe of yours aound the campus? is it in CFSU?

 

[ellinopedo182]

Graduated in May 2007, so is this cafe of yours aound the campus? is it in CFSU?

its at 1217 W. devon, across from hamilton's on devon street.

 

[Sam212]

its at 1217 W. devon, across from hamilton's on devon street.

Wasn't there a shooting right there on friday? A Nigerian guy got killed I heard.

 

[utailor2]

Wasn't there a shooting right there on friday? A Nigerian guy got killed I heard.

yeah I heard about that from my cousin who goes to Loyola

 

[Syncope82]

CMS all the way...but the question is...do you want to go to a low rated MD school...or a top rated DO school?

If you are looking at a specialty..i would go for CMS..as the allopathic route offers more residencies (quantity) in specialties than the osteopathic route


but it is personal preference...I would choose to go to CMS...only because I'm not a fan of CCOM

 

[PistolPete]

but the question is...do you want to go to a low rated MD school...or a top rated DO school?

Low rated? I think many people would disagree with you. CMS used to have problems, but is now becoming very impressive and with some great match lists. And I'm not even a student there!

 

[Syncope82]

Low rated? I think many people would disagree with you. CMS used to have problems, but is now becoming very impressive and with some great match lists. And I'm not even a student there!

sorry to say..but CMS high not as highly regarded as some other medical schools from the medical community..sorry to say...they do have the lowest stats...and have had their share of problems that will probably shade the school for a little bit longer

 

[ellinopedo182]

Wasn't there a shooting right there on friday? A Nigerian guy got killed I heard.

yeah, he was a friend of mine. his name is kaycee and was 46, with a child and a wife. he worked there with his brother gabriel. its a sad thing that happened. chicago cops suck, i found a blood trail a few blocks away where the shooter walked toward while they were too busy drinking coffee in my cafe. and i found a suspect on my cameras that fits the description of the shooter (the description came from my cameras). All they are working with are everything i showed them. quite said imo.

his brother came to my place earlier today asking me if he can put up some loving memory posters on my window.

 

[crazy4clana]

sorry to say..but CMS high not as highly regarded as some other medical schools from the medical community..sorry to say...they do have the lowest stats...and have had their share of problems that will probably shade the school for a little bit longer

Not highly regarded? If you did your research you would know that the "problems" they had was based on funding, nothing wrong academically. The school has average stats, 3.5 gpa, 30 MCAT. They also have amazing residency placements. I guess I should tell my brother that he goes to a lower grade medical school with his USMLE score of 238. 🙄

 

[box29]

It all boils down to either wanting the DO or MD. Do you want to learn OMM or not? Everyone places too much emphasis on reputation and such...

Figure out which degree you want - you'll be a physician with either...

With that said, go where you will be happiest. You'll perform better at a place if you are happy there. Work and study hard and don't forget to play and blow off some steam.

Both are good schools...go somewhere where you will be happy.

 

[Syncope82]

Not highly regarded? If you did your research you would know that the "problems" they had was based on funding, nothing wrong academically. The school has average stats, 3.5 gpa, 30 MCAT. They also have amazing residency placements. I guess I should tell my brother that he goes to a lower grade medical school with his USMLE score of 238. 🙄

I live in chicago....and I have 4 family members who are practicing physicians, and 2 of them are at teaching hospitals in Chicago...and that seems to be the general consensus among chicago ...sorry to say

 

[crazy4clana]

I live in chicago....and I have 4 family members who are practicing physicians, and 2 of them are at teaching hospitals in Chicago...and that seems to be the general consensus among chicago ...sorry to say

So your family of physicians constitues all of Chicago? 🙄 I also live in Chicago and have a family of physicians. Did any of them go to Rosalind Franklin? Obviously not from the dumb A accusations you've made about the school when you actually know nothing about it.

PS All of my brother's friends also got 230+ on their boards. Wow, what a terrible school that produces some of the highest board averages and best residencies! Seriously, get off your high horse.

 

[Syncope82]

So your family of physicians constitues all of Chicago? 🙄 I also live in Chicago and have a family of physicians. Did any of them go to Rosalind Franklin? Obviously not from the dumb A accusations you've made about the school when you actually know nothing about it.

PS All of my brother's friends also got 230+ on their boards. Wow, what a terrible school that produces some of the highest board averages and best residencies! Seriously, get off your high horse.

230+? that is good.....if you study hard and are focused....you could get good board scores at any school...doesn't depend on the school.

In fact, first cousin went to CMS, graduated back in 98...and im not just speaking from family experiences. I have talked with many chicago area attendings who also feel the same way.

Unfortunately for CMS, there are many diff schools in the chicago land area that are more respected (this is not to say that CMS is not respected at all)...but sorry...and 1 of them has to come in last place....sorry to say that it is CMS.....name a med school that is worse than CMS in the midwest region...come on..go ahead

you are just getting defensive.....if you need actual numbers, please go crack open a US world news magazine...or talk to any respectable attending for an honest opinion

im not saying cms is bad...but it's just at the lower scale of us md schools

 

[Syncope82]

produces some of the highest board averages and best residencies! get off your high horse.

you're kidding right? are you saying CMS has a better match list and board scores than UIC, RUSH, NW, UC? please....🙄

sorry..but I have no high horse to saddle up...

I'll be attending a DO school and many people would rather take a CMS acceptance over any DO school...

keep in mind that this is all relative...it's like comparing a bmw, mercedes, and jaguar....they are all good cars...but one is the best..and one is the worst...and it all depends on who you speak to

 

[crazy4clana]

UIC, are you kidding me? It's a state school that's average at best. Shows how much you really know about med schools. 🙄

You asked to prove you wrong.

From princetonreview.com
Admission stats for
Rosalind Franklin
Average MCAT Bio: 10.36
Average MCAT Phys: 10.13
Average MCAT Verbal: 9.08Average MCAT Essay: PAverage UGrad GPA: 3.59

UIC
Average MCAT Bio: 9.60Average MCAT Phys: 9.40Average MCAT Verbal: 9.00Average MCAT Essay: QAverage UGrad GPA: 3.50

Rush
Average MCAT Bio: 10.00
Average MCAT Phys: 10.00
Average MCAT Verbal: 9.50Average MCAT Essay: PAverage UGrad GPA: 3.50

Just by admission averages, Rosalind Franklin is the 3rd best school in IL. And UIC has a 75% USMLE pass rate while Rosalind Franklin has a 95% pass rate. Shows how much you know.🙄

 

[Syncope82]

UIC, are you kidding me? It's a state school that's average at best. Shows how much you really know about med schools. 🙄

You asked to prove you wrong.

From princetonreview.com
Admission stats for
Rosalind Franklin
Average MCAT Bio: 10.36
Average MCAT Phys: 10.13
Average MCAT Verbal: 9.08Average MCAT Essay: PAverage UGrad GPA: 3.59

UIC
Average MCAT Bio: 9.60Average MCAT Phys: 9.40Average MCAT Verbal: 9.00Average MCAT Essay: QAverage UGrad GPA: 3.50

Rush
Average MCAT Bio: 10.00
Average MCAT Phys: 10.00
Average MCAT Verbal: 9.50Average MCAT Essay: PAverage UGrad GPA: 3.50

Just by admission averages, Rosalind Franklin is the 3rd best school in IL. And UIC has a 75% USMLE pass rate while Rosalind Franklin has a 95% pass rate. Shows how much you know.🙄

quality of rotations and professors are also important...and im not the only one that has this view about CMS

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=6149186
http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20495

btw...where did you get those stats from? stats are all over the place these days and sorry to say that CMS is a backup for most MD applicants

also where did you get that uic has a 75% pass rate? Univ of IL is considered to be a top medical program

 

[Syncope82]

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/award/rank/medttl03.htm

NIH considers CMS to be ranked 108/121 in terms of research and MD schools are all about research

 

[crazy4clana]

A lot of the professors at Rosalind Franklin wrote the books that most medical schools use. They do rotations at hospitals all over Chicago and students from UIC and Rush choose to follow suit because you see 10x more cases.

UIC a top notch program? HA! That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard. You have to be at the top of your class to get the match results you want. Good luck getting a good spot. The pass rate was released somewhere, don't know where it was you will have to look it up.

And the threads you provided was full of clueless pre-med who didn't know about the school or they just asked interview questions.

And sorry, if what was a back up school (yeah right) you certaintly didn't get in did you?

 

[Syncope82]

A lot of the professors at Rosalind Franklin wrote the books that most medical schools use. They do rotations at hospitals all over Chicago and students from UIC and Rush choose to follow suit because you see 10x more cases.

UIC a top notch program? HA! That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard. You have to be at the top of your class to get the match results you want. Good luck getting a good spot. The pass rate was released somewhere, don't know where it was you will have to look it up.

And the threads you provided was full of clueless pre-med who didn't know about the school or they just asked interview questions.

And sorry, if what was a back up school (yeah right) you certaintly didn't get in did you?

how immature .. want to stop the personal attacks? am i personally attacking you?

I never applied MD...so I obviously didn't get in CMS

so..you just said they have a 75% pass rate?...but now you can't find the source? and you are telling me to look it up[cough] liar [cough]

btw..i did try looking it up and I did not find anything lower than 90%

UIC and Rush follow suit to CMS students? are you kidding me?

sorry that you had to face reality

 

[Sam212]

UIC, are you kidding me? It's a state school that's average at best. Shows how much you really know about med schools. 🙄

You asked to prove you wrong.

From princetonreview.com
Admission stats for
Rosalind Franklin
Average MCAT Bio: 10.36
Average MCAT Phys: 10.13
Average MCAT Verbal: 9.08Average MCAT Essay: PAverage UGrad GPA: 3.59

UIC
Average MCAT Bio: 9.60Average MCAT Phys: 9.40Average MCAT Verbal: 9.00Average MCAT Essay: QAverage UGrad GPA: 3.50

Rush
Average MCAT Bio: 10.00
Average MCAT Phys: 10.00
Average MCAT Verbal: 9.50Average MCAT Essay: PAverage UGrad GPA: 3.50

Just by admission averages, Rosalind Franklin is the 3rd best school in IL. And UIC has a 75% USMLE pass rate while Rosalind Franklin has a 95% pass rate. Shows how much you know.🙄

I know about 12 kids who had a combination of acceptances between Rush, UIC, and Rosalind Franklin. None of them chose Rosalind Franklin over either Rush or UIC. Another Kid got in at Creighton, SLU, and RFU but ended up going to SLU instead of Rosalind Franklin despite higher tuition. He was from Chicago too. The fact that RFU has high MCAT/GPA is due to high number of matriculants from California. Ask you brother, he will tell you that more than 50% of the class consists of kids from California. Since avg stats of California schools are ridiculously high, many are left without acceptances to Cali schools, thus they enroll in schools like RFU, boosting its avg stats. UIC and Rush accept a large number of Instate students which leads to lower avg stats. If they accept as many OOS kids as RFU, I am sure the avg stats will be much higher than RFU. Other than that, RFU wasn't bringing in enough money from NIH and was heavily depending on tuition money, thus the school was put on probation. Not having its own hospital is a factor as well. I am sure that RFU provides excellent education but it does have slight negative connotations attached to it among Chicago's medical community.

 

[Moniker]

The fact that RFU has high MCAT/GPA is due to high number of matriculants from California. Ask you brother, he will tell you that more than 50% of the class consists of kids from California.

this is no longer true.

Since avg stats of California schools are ridiculously high, many are left without acceptances to Cali schools, thus they enroll in schools like RFU, boosting its avg stats.

more accurate to say that they dropped the feeder program that tended to admit lower stat students.

If they accept as many OOS kids as RFU, I am sure the avg stats will be much higher than RFU.

this part is true - RFU is a private school with ~no real preference for Illinois residents, while UIC is a public school obligated to admit mostly instate residents. however FWIW, in recent years, the state that comprised the largest percentage of students was Illinois.

Other than that, RFU wasn't bringing in enough money from NIH and was heavily depending on tuition money, thus the school was put on probation. Not having its own hospital is a factor as well. I am sure that RFU provides excellent education but it does have slight negative connotations attached to it among Chicago's medical community.

this stuff may be true (the tuition reliance part at least), the reputation part is mostly opinion.


can I just say something? UIC is a great school. they've got a rich history, great residency placements, and strong students. So is RFU. We've both got our slightly different profile, and different strengths, different weaknesses, but they're both great institutions.

I love it here (RFU), I know lots of people who do, I know lots (almost surprisingly lots) of people who have been very successful with their education here. I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised with our Match success this year, we've got a particularly strong class graduating. Please try not to insult CMS students (we're colleagues out there on the wards) in your attempts to compare schools. Likewise, I'm mortified that apparently some CMS student(s) may be trashing UIC on this thread in defense of our own school, which of course is silly. Both are good schools, it isn't anyone's place to denigrate one as some sort of testament to the other.

 

[crazy4clana]

how immature .. want to stop the personal attacks? am i personally attacking you?

I never applied MD...so I obviously didn't get in CMS

so..you just said they have a 75% pass rate?...but now you can't find the source? and you are telling me to look it up[cough] liar [cough]

btw..i did try looking it up and I did not find anything lower than 90%

UIC and Rush follow suit to CMS students? are you kidding me?

sorry that you had to face reality

I'm just saying who are you to attack the integrity of the school when you obviously know little about it other than what your parents tell you. And yes, UIC and Rush do rotations with RFU students because they like the diversity of going to different hospitals. But of course you didn't know that so you decided to call me a liar. How mature.🙄 And BTW, the most important factors in med school ARE board scores and residency placements. UIC is PUBLICALLY funded which means they get their money from the government. Private schools do not have that luxury, therefore they must depend on tuition from students and benefactors/alumni. And yes, that was the pass rate for UIC and RFU. Go call the school if you think I am a liar. I never meant to insult UIC, I would be forever greatful if I went there. Sorry, you had to face the reality of your delusions and mighty inaccuracies about med school.

 

[Syncope82]

I know lots (almost surprisingly lots) of people who have been very successful with their education here.

I would think people would tend to be quite successful, especially after graduating from medical school 🙂

I did not mean to put CMS down, however, unfortunately when someone asks for a comparison, someoone comes in last and someone in first...sorry that it had to be CMS that had to be put down.

CMS has a bad rep due to preconceived notions. It has had some rocky times and the negatives tend to stick in peoples mind...hoepfully, CMS can overcome this shadow and it seems like they are on the right track. recent match lists have been very impressive

 

[Syncope82]

I'm just saying who are you to attack the integrity of the school when you obviously know little about it other than what your parents tell you. And yes, UIC and Rush do rotations with RFU students because they like the diversity of going to different hospitals. But of course you didn't know that so you decided to call me a liar. How mature.🙄 And BTW, the most important factors in med school ARE board scores and residency placements. UIC is PUBLICALLY funded which means they get their money from the government. Private schools do not have that luxury, therefore they must depend on tuition from students and benefactors/alumni. And yes, that was the pass rate for UIC and RFU. Go call the school if you think I am a liar. I never meant to insult UIC, I would be forever greatful if I went there. Sorry, you had to face the reality of your delusions and mighty inaccuracies about med school.

my parents? I also said I have heard this from many other attendings

I called you a liar for the 75% pass rate...some caribbean schools bost a better pass rate than that...and I still call you one....simply because you pulled that number out of the air and now you can't find a source for it. 🙄

In the notion of defending your school, you stooped quite low..attacking other schools...attacking me personally

Regarding rotations: everyone from all of the chicago medical schools share roations...meaning all chicago area med students end up in the wards together ...so please dont say one school follows another around

 

[Sam212]

By no means do I think of RFU or the doctors produced by RFU any less than those at UIC or Rush. However, the common consensus seems to be that people prefer Rush and UIC over RFU for whatever reasons. I was merely refuting the other poster who was putting down UIC and Rush by posting Avg stats of all three schools and rationalizing it. Also I wasn't aware that Illinois was the biggest representative state of the student body this year, historically, as high as 75% of the student body was from California.

As I have stated, going to RFU will not have any hinderance on the kind of physician one wants to be, with that said, Moniker, did you chose RFU over UIC and Rush, or if presented with the dilemma, would you have chosen RFU? Now that you attend RFU, I am sure your opinion must have changed about its reputition, seeing and experiencing it first hand.

 

[crazy4clana]

I didn't personally attack you, you just didn't have a right to downgrade the school when you didn't even apply there. Why are you taking offence when it didn't even apply to you? It's not my school, but it's crazy if you consider it to be "the worst in the midwest," how does that make you look? Arrogant and foolish. I said go ahead and call them if you can't get past the pass rate. UIC is the biggest med school in the country, obviously not everyone will do well. And no, Chicago med students have their OWN hospitals/clinics where they do their rotations. They can CHOOSE to do the same program that RFU student do because like I said, there is more to learn and greater diversity.

And how was I putting down UIC and Rush soooo badly? By posting their admission stats? By calling UIC average (which it is compared to other med schools) or by stating that is was not THE best school in the country?

 

[Sam212]

I didn't personally attack you, you just didn't have a right to downgrade the school when you didn't even apply there. Why are you taking offence when it didn't even apply to you? It's not my school, but it's crazy if you consider it to be "the worst in the midwest," how does that make you look? Arrogant and foolish. I said go ahead and call them if you can't get past the pass rate. UIC is the biggest med school in the country, obviously not everyone will do well. And no, Chicago med students have their OWN hospitals/clinics where they do their rotations. They can CHOOSE to do the same program that RFU student do because like I said, there is more to learn and greater diversity.

And how was I putting down UIC and Rush soooo badly? By posting their admission stats? By calling UIC average (which it is compared to other med schools) or by stating that is was not THE best school in the country?

Please answer why an unusually large number of applicants choose other MD schools if accepted to RFU and some other school. I know at least a dozen who have done that, not only in Chicago, but some who went out of state instead of choosing RFU and staying in Chicago. It wasn't like they didn't want to stay in Chicago, they would have killed for an acceptance to UIC, Rush, or Loyola.

 

[crazy4clana]

RFU is not IN Chicago, it's about 45 mins away in North Chicago/Lake Forest area. Some people don't want surburban living, or choose UIC because of it's cheaper IN STATE tuition. And since when is "knowing" a bunch of people do didn't go there equate to it being a bad school? They're your "friends", shouldn't you know? I also know about a dozen students from California who chose RFU over UIC because it is more well known on the coasts, count on it. Anyway, what is your gain in putting it down so fervently? Put your money where the match results are.

 

[Syncope82]

Please answer why an unusually large number of applicants choose other MD schools if accepted to RFU and some other school. I know at least a dozen who have done that, not only in Chicago, but some who went out of state instead of choosing RFU and staying in Chicago. It wasn't like they didn't want to stay in Chicago, they would have killed for an acceptance to UIC, Rush, or Loyola.

it was probably due to their probationary status for accreditation...but now that has passed..they may choose differently

 

[Syncope82]

RFU is not IN Chicago, it's about 45 mins away in North Chicago/Lake Forest area. Some people don't want surburban living, or choose UIC because of it's cheaper IN STATE tuition. I also know about a dozen students from California who chose RFU over UIC because it more well known on the coasts, count on it. Anyway, what is your gain in putting it down so fervently? Put your money where the match results are.

regardless, it is still in the metro-chicago area

I don't know one single person who chose RFU over UIC......it simply comes down to money..uic is much cheaper..

 

[crazy4clana]

it was probably due to their probationary status for accreditation...but now that has passed..they may choose differently

No, their probation was for funding.

 

[Sam212]

RFU is not IN Chicago, it's about 45 mins away in North Chicago/Lake Forest area. Some people don't want surburban living, or choose UIC because of it's cheaper IN STATE tuition. I also know about a dozen students from California who chose RFU over UIC because it more well known on the coasts, count on it. Anyway, what is your gain in putting it down so fervently? Put your money where the match results are.

I only wish that was true, but the reason OOS students pick RFU over UIC is tuition. Check it out, there's a difference of about $15,000 per year, amounting to $60,000 over 4 years. I am not putting down RFU, and there match list is very impressive. I am only arguing that RFU is usually a safety for most applicants for whatever reasons. Notice that I recommended that poster to select RFU over CCOM mainly because of their matchlist.

 

[crazy4clana]

That's not what they said, or they could've been lying. They come from wealthy families so I doubt the money was a factor/problem.

 

[Sam212]

That's not what they said, or they could've been lying. They come from wealthy families so I doubt the money was a factor/problem.

Then I suppose there's a small population of students who choose to go to RFU, unfortunately, I have yet to come across one myself. Since I am from IL, I can only vouch for what I have seen/heard from applicants here.

 

[Syncope82]

Then I suppose there's a small population of students who choose to go to RFU, unfortunately, I have yet to come across one myself. Since I am from IL, I can only vouch for what I have seen/heard from applicants here.

I agree...i'm not sure what it is...but CMS is usually a backup..maybe due to their tuition 😕

 

[Moniker]

I would think people would tend to be quite successful, especially after graduating from medical school 🙂

I did not mean to put CMS down, however, unfortunately when someone asks for a comparison, someoone comes in last and someone in first...sorry that it had to be CMS that had to be put down.

CMS has a bad rep due to preconceived notions. It has had some rocky times and the negatives tend to stick in peoples mind...hoepfully, CMS can overcome this shadow and it seems like they are on the right track. recent match lists have been very impressive

No offense, but it matters pretty little to me what pre-meds think of my school. I acknowledge your opinion about where it ranks as an Illinois school and again would say, they've both got their strengths and weaknesses (and I am well aware of ours), and yet we do produce great doctors, so "to each his own". Compare if you must (I realize I'm in a pre-med forum and you people have a...."tendency" to get a little crazy about this), but frankly the opinions voiced here don't exactly hold much water.

It's an interesting question, though - "would I go here again if I were offered a place at other area schools"....
Knowing what I know now, I don't know if I'd be as successful and happy there as I have been here. I really don't know. That success and happiness has a very strong tendency to translate into success in what medical school is supposed to prepare you for - performing on the wards, getting a residency, and becoming a physician. I know I'll get that here, and I'm not sure if it'd be better elsewhere.

The thing is, if you're the type of person to find a place you fit and really make the most of it, you'll never wonder that. You'll just be grateful for whatever turns along the way brought you to a situation you could make the most of, and that was basically the best you could hope for.

Compare and contrast, rank and stratify, put up and put down, scrutinize or criticize, at the end of it all you'll look back and think "god, I had no idea what I was looking for back then", but you'll probably find it if you take the advice repeated over and over again on these boards: go where you feel like you fit. I certainly wouldn't fault someone for picking a "higher ranked" school (whatever that means), if for no other reason than for lack of any other reason, but it never occurs to anyone on the wards (when you're working alongside UIC, Rush, NW students) to stack each other's school up, you don't have time, you don't have the inclination, and it's silly to profile an entire institution based on a couple of schmoes you happen across on some rotation. You'll either perform well (and reflect well on your school) or not. Believe me, it can go either way on that one, no matter where you're from.

 

[cleothecat]

I know nothing about UIC but.....................

I have been involved in medical education for over 20 years.

I have a daughter attending RFU and can compare her M1 curriculum to that of other schools.

The RFU curriculum is very thorough, and has a lot more clinical content and relevancy than several schools which are considered more "research oriented".
And it does result in strong USMLE step 1 scores, leading to better residency ooportunities.

I checked out RFU with Chicago based physicians, and CMS/RFU has a reputation of producing capable students and physicians who have been successfull in medical careers locally and nationally.

What impresses me more than above average USMLE exam scores or match lists is that RFU appears to have put together a class of students which is collaborative, motivated and "fun to work with". They have the benefits of downtown Chicago despite the North Chicago location. And the concentration of students in the dorms and neighboring apartments in North Chicago will lead to better camaraderie and memories cw students attending many urban based research oriented "commuter schools".

The American system of Tiers has little relevancy once you go beyond the Top 20 or so. Find the school that fits your style. It is better to be in the top 50% of the class of any school, regardless of ranking, than to go to be near the bottom of the class at a "top tier" school which does not fit your style.

 

[discoharrison]

I am an M1 at CMS and, for what it is worth, I chose CMS over 5 other schools.