purewickprince
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Hi all, looking for some guidance at a potential last minute switch up here. I have been planning to enroll at Colorado and was getting ready to commit to enroll with their CTE deadline approaching. However, I just got off of WSU’s waitlist, much to my surprise this late in the year.
For some context in this decision: I am a WA resident, my family lives in western WA, but my significant other will be in a PA program in the midwest for the next two years, so my support system is somewhat split up. I am not sure what specialty I would like to pursue and want to keep an open mind as I enter clerkships, though I have had interests in psych and emergency. Both schools are P/F preclinical and utilize the LIC model for clerkships, with the most significant difference being CU’s core clerkships during M2 before taking Step 1. I will be relying on student loans for tuition.
Colorado
Pros
Cons
Washington State (Elson S. Floyd)
Pros
Cons
I’d love insight into either program, location, and culture. I wasn’t able to attend either school’s in person preview day so I am not sure what the relative student cultures are like. Thank you in advance!
For some context in this decision: I am a WA resident, my family lives in western WA, but my significant other will be in a PA program in the midwest for the next two years, so my support system is somewhat split up. I am not sure what specialty I would like to pursue and want to keep an open mind as I enter clerkships, though I have had interests in psych and emergency. Both schools are P/F preclinical and utilize the LIC model for clerkships, with the most significant difference being CU’s core clerkships during M2 before taking Step 1. I will be relying on student loans for tuition.
Colorado
Pros
- Location - I love outdoor activities and am excited for those that CO offers. My SO will be living with me for years 3 and 4, this is a location we visited together and liked.
- My plan currently - I am already pretty much ready to go
- Seems to have ample opportunity for research
- Clerkships in the greater Denver area, unlikely I would need to do any major relocation
- Easier to visit my SO from Denver during my first two years
Cons
- Cost of attendance (OOS tuition, 72k/year) and cost of living is more expensive
- Further from parents (3 hour flight)
- I’ve heard negative things about Aurora, but wasn’t too concerned when visiting and have found housing in an area I feel perfectly safe in
Washington State (Elson S. Floyd)
Pros
- Cost of attendance (in state tuition, 43k/year) and cost of living is cheaper
- Proximity to family (roughly 5 hour drive)
- Smaller class size, admin seemed very caring towards student success during my impressions from interview day
- Match list seems strong for a young school
Cons
- Uncertainty of what my clinical location would be for M3 & M4 years. Some are more favorable than others, and at this point in the cycle I am unsure of the likelihood I am assigned to one of my top choices as students admitted in the regular season have already ranked their choices. I am also trying to consider the job market for my SO, who will be a new grad PA during these years.
- I have never actually been to Spokane, might be a bit of a scramble to find housing
- Further from significant other for first two years
I’d love insight into either program, location, and culture. I wasn’t able to attend either school’s in person preview day so I am not sure what the relative student cultures are like. Thank you in advance!