CMSRU vs NYMC

[hanginginthere!]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone, thanks so much for your help on this. I feel very privileged to be in this position but have to decide between NYMC and CMSRU by Monday and am losing a lot of sleep over it!

NYMC

Pros

• Closer to family
• A more established medical school with a more recognized name
• More research and more access to doing research at institutions in NYC
• Huge clinical affiliate network with many options for rotations (but some see this as a con too)
• Great match list (they definitely bat above their average)
• Better suited to matching into nyc which I will probably, but not definitely, want to do
• Larger university network
• I know a lot of people that go there, will be a good social network for me
• Nice big campus, can get food there, go to the gym, etc
• I am Jewish and they give off for all of the Jewish holidays which could really significantly hinder school schedules which was a big cause of stress undergrad

Cons

• Bigger class size; more traditional medical school experience without anything particularly exciting in the curriculum
• I’ve heard that the atmosphere can sometimes be a bit on the competitive side
• Have heard complaints about course content and exams not matching up with the boards
• Have heard that admin can be not super supportive or favors the “gunners”
• Main affiliate hospital is suburban and I want to learn medicine and do residency in an intense urban environment (I know that NYMC has NYC rotation options but none of those places have a level one trauma center)
• Tuition is 13k more a year
• Cost of living is higher (but I’d live in nyc and everything is a trade off I guess?)

Another thing that could be seen as a pro or con is that the pre clinical stage was shortened to 18 months instead of 24 so that’s more pressure to consume more content and pass step 1 in a shorter amount of time but also means more clinical time

CMSRU

Pros

• Get the best vibes from admin and student body. Truly a positive and collaborative space where everyone wants everyone to succeed
• Smaller class size
• Located in Camden, NJ where I will have the urban medical learning experience I want but will live in Philly which is a great place to live
• Innovative curriculum including active and small group learning, starting in the student-run clinic your first week, having blocks dedicated to shadowing, humanities and arts courses integrated into the curriculum (I’m a big humanities person and view medicine through this lens)
• Step review courses are part of the curriculum
• Everything clinical is harmonized in the Cooper University Hospital
• Tests are a mix of NBME and in-house content
• Amazing community-centered work

Cons:

• Further from home (but still not too far) but definitely would have a smaller support system
• Definitely more geared toward primary care, and I am almost certain I want to specialize (but it’s completely doable, however its match list definitely looks different than NYMC’s)
• Fewer research facilities and much less funding and infrastructure (I have a very heavy research background)
• Will have to play catch up every year during holidays (but that’s life, I know)
• Not as “prestigious”
• Might be more challenging to match back into nyc (but again, doable)
• No real cafeteria on campus, campus is one small (but very nice) building so resources are more limited

Thank you all so much for your input. If anyone has made this exact decision it would be so tremendously helpful to hear your perspective as well!

 

[syrupedbacon]

I would lean towards NYMC. I think tangible things (more research, better match list) are more important then nontangibles (school vibes) especially with your stated goal of wanting to specialize.

Would the support system be worth the cost difference? If it isn't too crazy of a COA difference I think it would be worth it.

 

[hanginginthere!]

I would lean towards NYMC. I think tangible things (more research, better match list) are more important then nontangibles (school vibes) especially with your stated goal of wanting to specialize.

Would the support system be worth the cost difference? If it isn't too crazy of a COA difference I think it would be worth it.

Thank you so much, this is actually a really useful comment as I didn’t think about this in these terms. I think the cost difference is worthwhile actually but it’s also something to think about.

 

[hanginginthere!]

Any last commentary? I’ve got hours left to decide 😭

 

[Lightningbolt1]

Both schools are really not known for research, when I interviewed I asked about research at NYMC and most students have to go to other institutions. I would consider finances the most (go w/ the cheaper option if it is fairly significant) because both are ranked similarly. However, NYC has some big research institutions (closer to NYMC).

Also, the school admin is ran by touro, they bought it, and they aren't as competent as they should be. However, NYMC is fairly established as seen by their match list. Cooper is newer.

I would say look at finances, if same, go with where your heart is (support system + location you prefer). Both are schools where you can go into any specialty you want if you put in the effort.