Colorado vs WSU (Floyd)

[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

• 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!

 

[The OTC]

I would stick with Colorado - great program and can match anywhere afterwards. Colorado is also a much better market for a new PA grad. You could network for your SO closer to their graduation so they can land a nice job in CO.

From a personal standpoint, Spokane is on a bit of an island with not much around. The drive from Spok to Seatac area can also get pretty dangerous come winter time, so you are better off flying. In contrast, Denver has so much to do and easy to get home with the airport being a HUGE international airport (easy flights home, to your SO, or any major city, really)

Most important thing is could you see yourself if CO even if your SO is not in the picture? A grim thought but stuff happens, especially in med school. Make sure you set yourself up for success either way.

 

[Bagel Enjoyer]

I’ll also add that since Colorado has its preclinical exams on Friday mornings, you can take off on Friday at noon to go see your SO for pretty much any weekend. I know a 3rd year at CU that said her and her partner visited 10+ new states without her ever having to take a day off in first year. Culture-wise all of the students I met at the Colorado preview day were really cool, and the school in general has a rep for chill students. I also grew up in Denver and have lived in Aurora for a few years, and I have never felt unsafe in my life, but I know everyone has their own barometer for safety. I think if price isn’t a major concern of yours, then it sounds like you have more reasons to attend Colorado, but you definitely can’t go wrong either way. Full transparency, I chose to attend a different med school - mainly because of price and wanting to live somewhere different than where I grew up. Good luck and congrats!