Colorado or Keck USC?

[MPMD]

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I'm really torn between the two, from what I've seen and researched, the pros and cons are:

Colorado:
Pros - Brand new beautiful campus, great location, rapidly moving upward in terms of research funding and reputation, top 5 in primary care rankings (for what that's worth), top pediatric and pulmonary centers

Cons - Expensive for OOS (though not that much more than USC), underfunded by the state, campus is in an up-and-coming (read: somewhat derelict) neighborhood

USC:
Pros - Brand spanking new county hospital, emphasis on early patient contact, great weather, graduates tend to match in CA (where I would like to end up), top ophthalmology center, slightly cheaper (though with LA cost of living, might not make a difference)

Cons - Less reputable research, campus is much smaller than CO and is located in East LA

I'm leaning towards Colorado based on my interview and everything I've read so far. Just wondering if anybody else has an opinion on these schools? Thanks in advance!

 

[ZeusonRoids]

I say it is a Win-Win situation for you.🙂

If I were in your position I would go to the private school because they have proper funding and it is in the location you want to match into and live in. Going to USC will allow you to begin to make connections with the different area hospitals and will allow you to have "ties" to the state for when you do apply to residency. I hear cali is one tough cookie to crack into.

You cannot lose with either school

 

[drizzt3117]

If you're comparing USC to a school of similar cost, I would go there, especially if you want to end up in CA.

 

[funkydrmonkey]

I am generally not an advocate of USC, but if you wanna match into CA, go to USC...

 

[MPMD]

I am generally not an advocate of USC, but if you wanna match into CA, go to USC...

If I might ask, generally why are you not an advocate of USC? If residency wasn't (weren't?) a concern, would you advocate Colorado instead?

 

[mtnman12]

Colorado has no gym or place to work out which is lame lame. I really loved the school though too, and still trying to decide for sure. The cost is basically my main deterrent.

 

[DrWookie]

If I might ask, generally why are you not an advocate of USC? If residency wasn't (weren't?) a concern, would you advocate Colorado instead?

He's a Bruin...that might be part of it. They are jealous of the Trojans 😀

 

[scottyT]

If you want to wind up in California, USC will certainly provide you with more opportunities and connections. As far as cost of attendance goes, I would also give the edge to USC. A larger proportion of their ~70,000 estimate is for living expenses whereas Colorado's ~70,000 is mostly tuition. You can cut down on living expenses, but you cannot reduce tuition.

As far as funding goes, I would believe Keck has the ability to keep costs somewhat normalized for students. They seem keenly aware that they are quite expensive and have been trying to keep tuition from going up much more. Colorado, conversely, is public and at the mercy of politicians. Tuition will continue to rise each and every year at both schools; however, Colorado's seems to be at risk for rising faster. Furthermore, Keck has some 3rd and 4th year scholarships available--Colorado has none that I know of.

If are going to spend a similar amount regardless, then go with the one that offers better opportunities for your career goals.

 

[BlueElmo]

I say Keck. You get to live in LA.

 

[funkydrmonkey]

He's a Bruin...that might be part of it. They are jealous of the Trojans 😀

Yup, except it is not so much jealous as it is that we pity the Trojans...😉

 

[fizzle]

I say Keck. You get to live in LA.

I don't know...that's a negative for some of us

 

[zenlike]

USC:
Pros - Brand spanking new county hospital, emphasis on early patient contact, great weather, graduates tend to match in CA (where I would like to end up), top ophthalmology center, slightly cheaper (though with LA cost of living, might not make a difference)

Colorado has early patient contact through the preceptorship as well.

Colorado has no gym or place to work out which is lame lame. I really loved the school though too, and still trying to decide for sure. The cost is basically my main deterrent.

It's quite a ways away (~8 miles), but I believe you get access to the Auroria gym.

 

[DrWookie]

Yup, except it is not so much jealous as it is that we pity the Trojans...😉

For what? Beating you at football every chance they get? 🙂

 

[funkydrmonkey]

For what? Beating you at football every chance they get? 🙂

I couldn't care less for football so it does not matter that USC beats UCLA... and before you talk about how USC beat UCLA at basketball this year... I could not care for basketball either...

 

[BlueElmo]

I couldn't care less for football so it does not matter that USC beats UCLA... and before you talk about how USC beat UCLA at basketball this year... I could not care for basketball either...

USC students care so much about football, it's ridiculous. But then again, if your team is that good, you can't really blame them.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

USC students care so much about football, it's ridiculous. But then again, if your team is that good, you can't really blame them.

Yeah, and college football is easily the most interesting thing at most schools.

 

[DrWookie]

I couldn't care less for football so it does not matter that USC beats UCLA... and before you talk about how USC beat UCLA at basketball this year... I could not care for basketball either...

I actually don't really care either 🙂 If I did I would have actually attended a school with a football team.

I was just messing around. I also didn't actually know USC beat UCLA in basketball this year.

 

[mtnman12]

It's quite a ways away (~8 miles), but I believe you get access to the Auroria gym.

Yeah you can get a discount at the "24 hour fitness center" or something - so you get to spend your leisurely med-school workout next to some giant meatheads haha. Its really not a big deal though... I just thought it was odd, and they said there were no plans to construct any type of athletic place.

 

[BlueElmo]

Hot chicks at 24 hours fitness.😉

 

[funkydrmonkey]

I actually don't really care either 🙂 If I did I would have actually attended a school with a football team.

I was just messing around. I also didn't actually know USC beat UCLA in basketball this year.

I did not either until I read an article in the Daily Bruin about stress during finals week, and they were lamenting the loss

 

[ZeusonRoids]

USC is gonna get Dwayne Polee Jr. for their basketball team. He committed to USC as a freshman in HS before he even played a game!!

(Even though it is not a binding contract)...

So there will be some GREAT basketball played down in LA if you decide to go to USC! Check out Dwayne Polee Jr. on youtube, the kid is AMAZING.[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_rN7o9gC4g[/YOUTUBE]

 

[0Complications]

Yeah you can get a discount at the "24 hour fitness center" or something - so you get to spend your leisurely med-school workout next to some giant meatheads haha. Its really not a big deal though... I just thought it was odd, and they said there were no plans to construct any type of athletic place.

This isn't true. They are planning on putting in a new fitness center, but it probably won't be completed for another 1-2 years or so.

It is lame that they don't have a gym yet though, but it's a new campus, so it's forgivable.

The 24 hour fitness is about 5-10 minutes from campus and it's ~$30 a month if you're a CU student.

As far as the Auraria gym, it's a looooooong way from the med campus, but it's possible you will end up living closer to downtown Denver if you moved to Denver (where the Auraria campus is located), so you wouldn't be that far.

Tough decision though, they're both great schools. I'd go to CU, but I'm biased. 😉

 

[MPMD]

This isn't true. They are planning on putting in a new fitness center, but it probably won't be completed for another 1-2 years or so.

Thanks for the input guys, yea they told us there was going to be a new fitness facility on campus by 2010, so that's kind of a non-issue, especially considering that USC has no gym on their HS campus either.

USC football and basketball would be nice, but backcountry skiing in Colorado would be pretty nice too, not that there's going to be a whole lot of time for that stuff anyway 😴

 

[parafilm]

Denver's cool, and the mountains are even cooler, but the school is in a gross suburb. I've never liked that location (grew up in Denver), but it's a good school with awesome facilities. Plus the weather is gorgeous... even when it's freezing, it's sunny.