So guys, any thoughts on VCU vs. Maryland?
I loved both Schools when I visited, and I still like both of these schools, which is why I still hold my acceptances here, and I have withdrawn from my other schools.
These thoughts come to mind, and sorry for the jumbled ideas.
Maryland does have a bigger name, but VCU is rising quickly in the ranks.
VCU has excellent clinical education and the whole city of Richmond, while Maryland has to share Baltimore with JHU.
Apparently Baltimore is not a nice city, but I thought it was lovely, and I really like Richmond, because it seems like a small version of a Big City.
Both schools have the nicest admissions people.
Richmond has UNOS, so if you want to do transplant surgery, you will be in the right place.
Baltimore is a bigger city, so there are more venues in terms of entertainment, but Richmond has its own stuff.
The weather is the same, except I think Baltimore gets cold.
Maryland has more afternoons off(8-12 except on 2 days, if I am not mistaken), while VCU uses the traditional 8-5 system.
Both have basically the same grading system. Maryland has ABCDF, while VCU has Honors, High Pass, Pass, Marginal Pass, Fail.
Maryland has a rural health rotation requirement, which I think is cool, but I do not know how other people would perceive of it.
VCU has Dr. Constanzo who literally wrote the book on Physiology, but my sister tells me that her test questions are harder. This may be due to the fact that they are written in Boards style, since she writes questions for USMLE. I am not sure how Maryland fares for boards, but it is well.
VCU has a more diverse class, while most of Maryland ends up being Marylanders.
VCU has the preceptorship so you get clinical stuff right away, but I forgot about Maryland.
VCU does not have their own sim patients, and they borrow them from EVMS, but my sister says that it is not that much of a hindrance.
This is all I can think of at the moment. I hope it helps.
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