Columbia vs. CCLCM vs. Northwestern

[Orthopedics101]

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[scienceguy95]

Congrats on the wonderful options. You can't go wrong with any. It seems like you are leaning toward Columbia because of support network and the desire to do a residency in the northeast. If those factors are super important to you, then go for Columbia. But CCLCM probably won't prevent you from matching to any residency you want either, and it's a fraction of the cost.

 

[Orthopedics101]

Congrats on the wonderful options. You can't go wrong with any. It seems like you are leaning toward Columbia because of support network and the desire to do a residency in the northeast. If those factors are super important to you, then go for Columbia. But CCLCM probably won't prevent you from matching to any residency you want either, and it's a fraction of the cost.

Thanks! I actually think I’ll be able to match back in the northeast almost equally well between the 3. You’re right, I am leaning towards Columbia a little bit because of my support network but I’m not entirely sure if that security is worth 200k (potentially 400k - 600k with interest).

 

[scienceguy95]

Thanks! I actually think I’ll be able to match back in the northeast almost equally well between the 3. You’re right, I am leaning towards Columbia a little bit because of my support network but I’m not entirely sure if that security is worth 200k (potentially 400k - 600k with interest).

Another thing to keep in mind is that CCLCM has no grades/rankings/exams for all five years. From every medical student I've talked to, this is a HUGE stress relief. CCLCM also doesn't have required shelf exams like Columbia and NU (I believe Yale is the only other school with this perk). If you want the lowest stress medical school experience without sacrificing opportunities, go for CCLCM for sure.

Of course, if you don't mind exams/rankings/AOA and the cost difference, then go with Columbia.

 

[carrots28]

I feel that you should go Columbia since you have a lot more pros for it, unless money is a big issue. Also I'm sure you know but: Roy and Diana Vagelos Donate $250 Million to Columbia’s Medical School

Anyway, to address one of your cons for CCLCM: we have lectures; they're just called seminars and the only difference is that you're in a smaller group.

 

[Orthopedics101]

I feel that you should go Columbia since you have a lot more pros for it, unless money is a big issue. Also I'm sure you know but: Roy and Diana Vagelos Donate $250 Million to Columbia’s Medical School

Anyway, to address one of your cons for CCLCM: we have lectures; they're just called seminars and the only difference is that you're in a smaller group.

Yeh I know about the donation just not sure if that would help my financial package and thanks for the clarification. I must have misunderstood what my host said.

 

[Orthopedics101]

It is absolutely worth 200k for the reasons you describe. Throughout the years, people have been faced with similar decisions and no one has regretted taking on what amounts to less than a year's earnings as an attending for what their heart wants.

On the other hand, I can point you to many users on this very site that went with the cheaper option as opposed to what they wanted and regretted it, and are very open about it.

I know if I go to either northwestern or CCLCM, I will always have that "what if" feeling for Columbia. Can't say I'll have the same feeling about the other two if I go to Columbia.

 

[bobeanie95]

Have you tried contacting Columbia regarding you scholarship to see if they would match?

From your description, it sounds that you want to attend Columbia, but you are having a hard time justifying the debt. The 200k (plus interest, which will probably end up being around 300k) is a significant amount to pay back in the long run. Personally, I would attend Northwestern/CCLCM due to cost and then match at Columbia for residency. But if your heart is telling you Columbia, then go for it, just be realistic about the loans you will have to repay during and after residency.

 

[scienceguy95]

I know if I go to either northwestern or CCLCM, I will always have that "what if" feeling for Columbia. Can't say I'll have the same feeling about the other two if I go to Columbia.

Case closed then. Go to Columbia. The key thing is that you choose a school for the right reasons. Gut feeling/personal fit/proximity to support network are good reasons. Prestige alone is not a good reason at this level.

 

[Orthopedics101]

Have you tried contacting Columbia regarding you scholarship to see if they would match?

From your description, it sounds that you want to attend Columbia, but you are having a hard time justifying the debt. The 200k (plus interest, which will probably end up being around 300k) is a significant amount to pay back in the long run. Personally, I would attend Northwestern/CCLCM due to cost and then match at Columbia for residency. But if your heart is telling you Columbia, then go for it, just be realistic about the loans you will have to repay during and after residency.

I was planning on contacting them within the next week or so. The amount I have next to Columbia is an estimated amount because I haven't received my package yet so it could very well be better. I haven't attended any SLWs yet so my feelings about Northwestern/CCLCM are based on interview day alone.

 

[thenucleusaccumbens]

sounds like you'd be happier at Columbia. also washington heights isn't a bad place to live! i liked it 🙂

 

[bobeanie95]

I was planning on contacting them within the next week or so. The amount I have next to Columbia is an estimated amount because I haven't received my package yet so it could very well be better. I haven't attended any SLWs yet so my feelings about Northwestern/CCLCM are based on interview day alone.

I would consider trying to contact them soon before awards are distributed. If you wait until after packages are sent out, the school may not have funds left to distribute.

I also interviewed at NW and I'm strongly considering attending. I'm also a minority and in my opinion I believe that the school has been making a significant effort in diversity and inclusion. Also, it may seem that you work with a homogeneous population, but from talking to multiple students it seems that there are a lot of opportunities to work in underserved clinics throughout Chicago.

Most physicians that I have talked to recommended to graduate with the least amount of debt as possible. At the end of the day it's up to you what you choose to prioritize when selecting a school. Good luck !

 

[Orthopedics101]

Bumping this for more opinions. I'm surprised from the polls that more people chose CCLCM over Northwestern when they would cost me about the same and Northwestern would be a year less.

 

[scienceguy95]

Bumping this for more opinions. I'm surprised from the polls that more people chose CCLCM over Northwestern when they would cost me about the same and Northwestern would be a year less.

Northwestern is a phenomenal school, but if I were in your shoes I'd pick CCLCM over them easily regardless of cost. Northwestern has a large class, exams, internal rankings, and AOA. CCLCM has no grades, exams, rankings, or AOA--and this extends to the clinical years. Cleveland Clinic is one of the premier medical institutions in the entire world (it's ranked higher than Hopkins' and Harvard's hospitals.) Not to mention the small class size virtually guarantees excellent individualized attention that will translate to good letters of recommendation and mentorship.

Honestly, I'd pick CCLCM over Columbia for these same reasons. Of course, this is just my opinion. You can't make a wrong choice here, so you'll have to trust your gut feelings and make a judgment call. Do you value location and lay prestige more? Or do you value low stress academic culture and quality of life with individualized attention?

 

[TheVisionary]

Bumping this for more opinions. I'm surprised from the polls that more people chose CCLCM over Northwestern when they would cost me about the same and Northwestern would be a year less.

Congrats on all the amazing choices my dude! If your heart (but not your wallet) is set on Columbia, I think you should still go there. Especially if you end up doing a specialty like ortho, the 230k, 400k, or whatever cost is not going to be significant. Down the line you're instead going to care about how you enjoyed those med school years. IMO, it sounds like you'd enjoy Columbia the most.

On a tangential note, I agree on choosing CCLCM over NW, mostly bc of the lack of exams/rankings.

 

[seeinghowitgoes]

Bumping this for more opinions. I'm surprised from the polls that more people chose CCLCM over Northwestern when they would cost me about the same and Northwestern would be a year less.

CCLCM matches probably "better" than Northwestern (at the very least the same), and the Cleveland Clinic is a top hospital in the country, so people aren't going to immedietely say "oh this is a no brainer because northwestern is more prestigious and the same cost."

Ultimately though - you cannot put a price on not having grades/tests/rankings. That it extends into the third year is simply amazing (and doesn't affect matching judging by the match list). People focus so much on the city they're going to be in, but at the end of the day the actual dynamics of your working environment will matter just as much, and on that front nobody has CCLCM beat. I imagine that's another reason for the voting breakdown, as we know based on past posts people on this site aren't just throwing love to the metropolitan area of Cleveland.

I have opinions on specifics (like the questionable value of 4 year MD/MPH programs, for example), but even if I shared all my specific opinions they don't change the fact that I don't think you can go wrong. These are all objectively good programs that will help you become a good doctor, they'll all have more research and public health opportunities than you can take advantage of in Med school, they're all in cities with millions of people living in the greater Chicago, Cleveland, and NYC areas (though yes Chicago and NYC are on a different scale still), and you'll be a physician capable of paying back your loans no matter where you go. I don't mean this to trivialize your decision, but I genuinely believe wherever you pick you'll look back and say "man I couldn't imagine being anywhere else."