Choosing between BU and UVa

[PaedsDoc]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey guys!

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, and I am sorry in advance if its not. I am facing a pretty difficult decision in choosing between BU and UVa? I was wondering if I can have a little input / opinions in regard to this decision.

Overall, UVa's program is 1.5 years pre-clinical, which gives you an extra half a year of doing extra rotations in clerkship period. UVa claims that it is a huge upper hand when it comes to matching later on... I was wondering if you guys think the same? At the same time it gives you less time to process/ learn material for USMLE 1....

While boston is a 2 year pre clinical and 2 year clinical curriculum, just like the majority of other medical schools.

Also - does the rank of the school matter at all later on? I'm an international student, if it makes any difference...

Thank you in advance for your input!

 

[ilikesports]

my thoughts:

Both are very good schools, UVa probably has more prestigious reputation IMO and therefore associated benefits... top 25 in both research/primary care according to at least USNews

Boston = urban
Charlottesville = small city somewhat removed

UVa tends to give a lot of financial aid and you'd probably pay something like 30-35K in tuition rather than sticker price (may not be true for Internationals)

shortened pre-clinical curriculum has a lot more pros than cons

I don't know--- they are pretty different schools. Both awesome. You'd most likely spend a lot less $$$ at UVa though

 

[rabsa]

Also - does the rank of the school matter at all later on? I'm an international student, if it makes any difference...

I assume you are also either a permanent US resident or citizen (otherwise you wouldn't be eligible to apply to most US medical schools). Are you planning on pursuing a residency and practicing in the US? If so, where do you want to end up?

The topic of school reputation vis-a-vis residency has already been discussed on previous threads. You can search the forums to read them. Both schools have good reputations.

1.5 preclinical years doesn't always mean less instruction hours. Some schools get around this by nixing or shortening the summer break between M1 and M2.

 

[PaedsDoc]

I am an international, so I will be paying the same price for both schools, so I'm not really factoring in the price in my decision. I would like to practice in the US or Canada in the future.

 

[drizzt3117]

Uva >>>>>>>>>>>>>> bu

 

[sibitrum]

Uva >>>>>>>>>>>>>> bu

I'm curious as to why you think that. Not that I necessarily disagree; I'm just wondering why you think uva is that much better.

 

[mipp0]

I'm curious as to why you think that. Not that I necessarily disagree; I'm just wondering why you think uva is that much better.

So do I. My friend chose BU over a similarly ranked school in Midwest.
Compared match lists as well, pretty similar.

Respect your opinion of course, as you've provided great advice and insight.

 

[drizzt3117]

I'm curious as to why you think that. Not that I necessarily disagree; I'm just wondering why you think uva is that much better.

Much stronger national reputation, elite programs in neurosurgery, ortho, IR/VIR, excellent programs in medicine and gen surg, much stronger research, accelerated curriculum, etc. The two schools aren't even comparable.

 

[justinbaily]

Much stronger national reputation, elite programs in neurosurgery, ortho, IR/VIR, excellent programs in medicine and gen surg, much stronger research, accelerated curriculum, etc. The two schools aren't even comparable.

As a student at UVA, I agree with this poster. The shortened pre-clincal curriculum seems to have mostly been accomplished by removing trivial topics not relevant to step one or clinical rotations, so you actually end up with a much more focused pre-clinical experience without as many trivial topics. The summer is 10 weeks and you have a week of spring, fall, and Thanksgiving break both years, in addition to a two-week winter holiday. The facilities are new, which helps morale and makes everything more pleasant. The quizzes and tests are broken into much smaller pieces and spread throughout a system, so you're able to gain a solid understanding of a topic without having to cram months of information superficially or stress if you have a single bad day. We also have a fully integrated systems-based curriculum, so you get to learn path, pharm and micro along with the normal processes in each system, which makes everything much more entertaining and relevant in my opinion. It also spreads the traditionally difficult second-year coursework throughout the 18 months, so I felt like I was able to work in board-review at an appropriate time without being overwhelmed by schoolwork. Pre-clinical is also true P/F with no rankings reported to residency directors, so the pre-clinical culture was much more relaxed than at my friends' schools. I don't know how BU organizes their curriculum. I'm sure that the admissions office spoke to you at length about the active learning that the school is using. I found the variety of activities to be much more enjoyable than 20 hours of lecture per week.

I'm starting my clinical training in the next week, so I can't speak to it, but everything I hear sounds encouraging, and the upperclassmen really seem to like their rotations. I think it's great that we have such a well-regarded hospital with excellent programs like the ones drizzt mentioned because it ensures that we have great residents, who you spend most of your time with third year.

Since we have an extra six months for fourth year, it sounds like we'll be at an advantage when applying for residency, and we'll have time to do more elective rotations, away rotations, international healthcare or research. And speaking of research, I don't know how it is at other schools, but I literally just emailed a lab during the winter and had a great research experience over the summer, which was fully funded with a stipend, so there are a lot of opportunities.

Great school. 👍

Edit: just read your concern about time to prepare for step one. We finished the pre-clincial curriculum halfway through December and had to have taken it before this week, so you potentially have two entire months of time to focus solely on step one if you really want it.

 

[PaedsDoc]

UVa does has a stronger national reputation, according to US News. However, when I look at this rank

http://www.topuniversities.com/univ.../2011/subject-rankings/life-sciences/medicine

Boston is 35 world rank, while Virginia is 51. I find it really confusing as to why the two schools switch places...

 

[RogueUnicorn]

can't speak for uva but bu is one hell of a school

 

[KinasePro]

UVa does has a stronger national reputation, according to US News. However, when I look at this rank

http://www.topuniversities.com/univ.../2011/subject-rankings/life-sciences/medicine

Boston is 35 world rank, while Virginia is 51. I find it really confusing as to why the two schools switch places...

Those rankings are on the "subject" of medicine... a lot of those universities don't even have affiliated medical schools (e.g. MIT). Probably not relevant to the OP.

Also, I agree that UVa >>> BU. BU is a decent school, but UVa is excellent.

 

[eagle34]

I think BU is a pretty awesome school.
But I'm biased, I'm a med student there.

Those rankings are on the "subject" of medicine... a lot of those universities don't even have affiliated medical schools (e.g. MIT). Probably not relevant to the OP.

Also, I agree that UVa >>> BU. BU is a decent school, but UVa is excellent.

 

[Rippy087]

UVa does has a stronger national reputation, according to US News. However, when I look at this rank

http://www.topuniversities.com/univ.../2011/subject-rankings/life-sciences/medicine

Boston is 35 world rank, while Virginia is 51. I find it really confusing as to why the two schools switch places...

They have MIT listed as #3......... MIT doesn't even have a medical school.

As someone who got into BU med, I would definitely swap that for a UVA acceptance. Maybe I've just been in Boston for too long.

 

[afob100]

OP, it seems that the major pro of BU over UVA is location. Boston = big city compared to tiny Charlottesville, VA. If this is a huge concern for you, then I would definitely suggest going to BU as you don't want to be unhappy with where you live for 4 years.

Conversely, if you don't care too much about the big city life and can be comfortable in a college town/rural area, then I would definitely choose UVA in a heartbeat due to the reasons mentioned by previous posters. UVA's reputation in medicine >>> BU's by a long shot (research activity, hospital reputation, new curriculum, facilities, etc). Don't underestimate the benefit of finishing the basic sciences in 1.5 years...you can complete a solid research project in the 3-4 months following your "3rd year" well before applying to very competitive residencies that essentially "require" publications.

 

[TingTingCrazy]

Those rankings are on the "subject" of medicine... a lot of those universities don't even have affiliated medical schools (e.g. MIT). Probably not relevant to the OP.

Also, I agree that UVa >>> BU. BU is a decent school, but UVa is excellent.

I also <3 Uva. I base my medical school decision soley on the lunch they give on interview day. And DAMN they gave a great lunch, it included steak lol! Plus people there are so jolly. Also its warmer!

 

[PaedsDoc]

Hey guys, thank you so much for your input!

I actually have a few more specific questions. Would both schools write USMLE 1 at approximately the same time?

What do both schools do in terms of preparation for USMLE step 1?

I'm aware that you must do "away" - rotations in rural Virginia at UVa for a total of 3 months I believe. How about at BU? are there any mandatory rotations that are away? And for both schools - do you have choice in the location of these rotations?

Ugh.. this decision is so difficult to make!!! I really appreciate all the input on this.

 

[Rippy087]

Hey guys, thank you so much for your input!

I actually have a few more specific questions. Would both schools write USMLE 1 at approximately the same time?

What do both schools do in terms of preparation for USMLE step 1?

I'm aware that you must do "away" - rotations in rural Virginia at UVa for a total of 3 months I believe. How about at BU? are there any mandatory rotations that are away? And for both schools - do you have choice in the location of these rotations?

Ugh.. this decision is so difficult to make!!! I really appreciate all the input on this.

UVA will take the USMLE about 2-3 months before BU.

 

[eagle34]

Hey guys, thank you so much for your input!

I actually have a few more specific questions. Would both schools write USMLE 1 at approximately the same time?

What do both schools do in terms of preparation for USMLE step 1?

I'm aware that you must do "away" - rotations in rural Virginia at UVa for a total of 3 months I believe. How about at BU? are there any mandatory rotations that are away? And for both schools - do you have choice in the location of these rotations?

Ugh.. this decision is so difficult to make!!! I really appreciate all the input on this.

We took Step 1 sometime in May before the 3rd year starts in beginning of June. You have about a month off to study for Step 1. BU has review lectures for Step 1 as well as review program where they bring in someone to specifically help you learn strategies for the exam (at least they had that 2 years ago when I was studying for it).
In terms of rotations - there are no mandatory away rotations, you have a chance to do all of your rotations pretty much at Boston Medical Center, the largest Level 1 trauma center in New England and a safety net hospital in Boston. That being said, the choice of location is a lottery between students so you may get some rotations at other sites (VA, private offices for family medicine). BU shares the VA with Brigham and Women's so it's cool to be with residents from there if you do surgery or medicine there.

 

[PaedsDoc]

One more Question - do students at both schools apply for residencies at the same time? Or would UVa apply sooner? If UVa applies sooner, does that give them an upper hand?

 

[drizzt3117]

One more Question - do students at both schools apply for residencies at the same time? Or would UVa apply sooner? If UVa applies sooner, does that give them an upper hand?

everyone applies at the same time (or at least the opening date of ERAS is the same for everyone)

 

[mipp0]

I think BU is a pretty awesome school.
But I'm biased, I'm a med student there.

Based on their 2011 match list, I'm sure PDs agree. I think people value "rankings" too much without really knowing the school. You can bet I am considering BU over "higher ranked" schools...

 

[DaTruMD]

UVa

 

[drizzt3117]

Based on their 2011 match list, I'm sure PDs agree. I think people value "rankings" too much without really knowing the school. You can bet I am considering BU over "higher ranked" schools...

Using match lists to compare schools is an exercise in futility; that being said, their match list is fine but pretty much what you'd expect from a school of it's caliber, 12 people, or 8% of the class matched into elite programs (top 3 in IM/Peds/Neuro, top 10 in rads, derm, rad onc, ent, uro) where UVa had 30. I don't think this is a good comparison but like I said before, the two schools just aren't comparable.

Btw mipp0, did you notice BU only put 6 into EM and none at a top program?

 

[mipp0]

Using match lists to compare schools is an exercise in futility; that being said, their match list is fine but pretty much what you'd expect from a school of it's caliber, 12 people, or 8% of the class matched into elite programs (top 3 in IM/Peds/Neuro, top 10 in rads, derm, rad onc, ent, uro) where UVa had 30. I don't think this is a good comparison but like I said before, the two schools just aren't comparable.

Btw mipp0, did you notice BU only put 6 into EM and none at a top program?

??? I don't understand. BMC (arguably equal to Harvard EM residencies), UPenn (peds exposure is second to none), and UCinn are top tier/elite EM residency programs 😍 UMASS is a very competitive 3 year residency, and I know UCONN (very close residency community/nurturing environment w/ good exposure to trauma) and UTSW (PD is gunning for top tier EM program) are very highly regarded. Truth be told, I know next to nothing about Metropolitan Hospital...Plus, you can't discount resident preferences (program strengths, hours worked 8v12, home state, county vs private/suburb) when constructing a match list.

I know it's weird, but for EM, schools like Stanford and JHU don't rank as high because their programs are younger and/or lots of infighting between departments, with less control for EM EM is strange like that...but EM attracts strange people...

Anyway, I suppose the BU school is a great fit for me, but my interests and future goals are very, very specific (drizz knows this), so the OP will have to keep that in mind.

As for "rankings", I do respect your opinion (drizz) and I know I may change my mind, so I will be more open to "reputable" schools in...less desirable, less diverse areas . Weren't you a California native? How did you take the change from sunshine paradise to...not California/Boston/NYC?

BTW, I've always wanted to ask, what residency are you interested in?

 

[drizzt3117]

??? I don't understand. BMC (arguably equal to Harvard EM residencies), UPenn (peds exposure is second to none), and UCinn are top tier/elite EM residency programs 😍 UMASS is a very competitive 3 year residency, and I know UCONN (very close residency community/nurturing environment w/ good exposure to trauma) and UTSW (PD is gunning for top tier EM program) are very highly regarded. Truth be told, I know next to nothing about Metropolitan Hospital...Plus, you can't discount resident preferences (program strengths, hours worked 8v12, home state, county vs private/suburb) when constructing a match list.

The top tier EM candidates here this year (260/AOA people who interviewed absolutely everywhere) were all pushing for places like BWH, Hopkins, Maryland, UCLA/Harbor, USC, HCMC, and community places like Carolinas, Cook County, Highland, etc. Penn is a good program and BMC is good if not as strong an academic EM program but it's hardly surprising to have people match in their home program anyways. My point was that the BU match list was fine, but people were going to elite programs at a far lower rate than at UVa. Preferences surely could play a role but it's not a small difference,

I know it's weird, but for EM, schools like Stanford and JHU don't rank as high because their programs are younger and/or lots of infighting between departments, with less control for EM EM is strange like that...but EM attracts strange people...

Anyway, I suppose the BU school is a great fit for me, but my interests and future goals are very, very specific (drizz knows this), so the OP will have to keep that in mind.

As for "rankings", I do respect your opinion (drizz) and I know I may change my mind, so I will be more open to "reputable" schools in...less desirable, less diverse areas . Weren't you a California native? How did you take the change from sunshine paradise to...not California/Boston/NYC?

BTW, I've always wanted to ask, what residency are you interested in?

I'm a WI native who lived in CA for awhile, so being in WI doesn't bother me in the least, I'll be back in CA soon enough (hopefully a year and a couple months, but who's counting?) 🙂. I'm doing radiology (IR)

 

[mvenus929]

I actually have a few more specific questions. Would both schools write USMLE 1 at approximately the same time?

At UVA, you would *probably* take Step 1 in the last two weeks of January. I say *probably* because you could technically take it after classes end in December (one guy in our class did), but you can't take it during the first two weeks of January. Regardless, you have to take it before the second or so week in February.

What do both schools do in terms of preparation for USMLE step 1?

I can only speak to UVA, but we have professors that put together boards review courses for us. Most of the preparation is on your own, though.

I'm aware that you must do "away" - rotations in rural Virginia at UVa for a total of 3 months I believe. How about at BU? are there any mandatory rotations that are away? And for both schools - do you have choice in the location of these rotations?

That's not *technically* true. You're required to do some away rotations, yes, but they're not necessarily in rural Virginia. One of the away rotations is in Fairfax, others are in Richmond and Roanoke. For the outpatient rotations (there's only two months of those), you COULD be placed in rural Virginia, but you could also be placed in Virginia Beach, NoVa, Richmond, etc.

For everything except the outpatient rotations, there's a lottery to decide where you end up. Some rotations will be at UVA. Others you have a choice on. Where you go depends on your interests and how highly you rank those rotations.

One more Question - do students at both schools apply for residencies at the same time? Or would UVa apply sooner? If UVa applies sooner, does that give them an upper hand?

It's like AMCAS... you can submit on the first day and have an upper hand, or you can submit later.

UVA students are ready to submit residency applications when they open on September 1st. Our Dean's Letter will also be going out in October, instead of November as it was in the past. In that sense, we have an upper hand, and are more likely to get earlier interview invites.

 

[drizzt3117]

Eras opens on 9/15 for everyone and MSPE is released on 10/1 for everyone starting this year.

 

[deleted428653]

As a UVa student I highly recommend you don't come here. The new curriculum is a disaster.