Dartmouth vs. Rush vs. Downstate

[smoof92]

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I know this is a last minute question and I need to decide by TONIGHT, but I am really struggling to decide between these three medical schools. I was accepted to Dartmouth in late March, and it really made it difficult to make this decision.
Dartmouth is in a rural area, there are many older students, and I feel that the social support is not great. When I spoke to students there they did not seem particularly happy and there are a lot of quizzes, which seems stressful. Yet I know the match list is great there. I just do not know if the pros outweigh the cons at Dartmouth, especially because I have always lived in urban areas. Part of me feels that maybe I am exaggerating how difficult things will be socially at Dartmouth, so I appreciate any input.

I am also considering Rush and Downstate. I love that Rush is in Chicago (I am from Chicago) and has an incredibly supportive faculty. If Rush was a true p/f system, I would most likely go there. But I do not like that it is honors/pass/fail - how stressful is this in medical school? I also know the match list is not as great there as Dartmouth.

I like Downstate's location and that it has a true P/F system. I also think the students seem pretty happy there and the step 1 averages/match list are good. The administration does not seem as supportive at Downstate though. Also, I have friends in NYC who I can lean on when medical school gets very stressful.

I am struggling to determine whether I need social support to deal with the stress of medical school or whether being in an isolated area like Hanover is ok. I appreciate any input on these schools!

ps. finances-wise dartmouth is cheapest (50,000/year) vs rush (60,000/year) vs downstate (64,000 but they have sent me an application for a grant)

 

[mmmcdowe]

You don't seem overly enthused by one more than the others. Go where you will be happiest not where the match list is better.

Moving to SSD

 

[625233]

10 points for Dartmouth. I like that it ha draw prestige factor :/

 

[onceawolverine]

You seem kinda dispassionate about all of your options. Which makes me sad. You've been through so much to get accepted - are you SURE that one school doesn't just GRAB your heart? You sure you're not EXCITED about one or more of these options?

If not, then you have a few hours to make a ruthlessly pragmatic decision. I suggest ranking the schools on all the factors you find important, while weighing the most important factors more heavily.

Finally, think about which school will leave you with the most closure. Which school could you pick, at the end of the day, and never worry about "what could have happened if...?" That's really what helped me make my call. Imagine yourself sending withdrawal emails to each school - which email hurts your heart the most? This thought exercise is less important than the approach suggested in paragraph 2, but I think it can help make a tough call between very equivalent options.

 

[threesparrows]

From reading your takeaways, I think you sound more into Downstate and Rush. I don't think you sound unexcited, just STRESSED. Which is understandable since you're torn on April 30. I think if you are a die hard Chicago person and plan to stay in that area after graduation, maybe that gives Rush an extra appeal since you will make good Chicagoland connections that will be helpful when applying for residency/fellowship. If you want to go to school in Brooklyn and pass/fail is really the most important aspect to you, choose Downstate.
The honors/pass/fail thing might work to your advantage if you're the type to usually set the curve.

 

[blueharbor]

You'll make friends in Hanover, I promise. The location and small class will probably be conducive to having a supportive group of friends, or at least they would be for me. I don't think you would regret Dartmouth. And it's the cheapest by a lot (almost $100k after interest in the case of Downstate). You only have a few hours so I'm trying to give you the advice that, in my opinion, would result in the least likelihood of regret down the road. Dartmouth is a fantastic school that offers a fantastic clinical education and has a fantastic reputation.

I was also accepted there and personally thought that the medical students seemed happy and very appreciative of the P/F system.

 

[Willy38]

cheapest option.

 

[FIREitUP]

I know this is a last minute question and I need to decide by TONIGHT, but I am really struggling to decide between these three medical schools. I was accepted to Dartmouth in late March, and it really made it difficult to make this decision.
Dartmouth is in a rural area, there are many older students, and I feel that the social support is not great. When I spoke to students there they did not seem particularly happy and there are a lot of quizzes, which seems stressful. Yet I know the match list is great there. I just do not know if the pros outweigh the cons at Dartmouth, especially because I have always lived in urban areas. Part of me feels that maybe I am exaggerating how difficult things will be socially at Dartmouth, so I appreciate any input.

I am also considering Rush and Downstate. I love that Rush is in Chicago (I am from Chicago) and has an incredibly supportive faculty. If Rush was a true p/f system, I would most likely go there. But I do not like that it is honors/pass/fail - how stressful is this in medical school? I also know the match list is not as great there as Dartmouth.

I like Downstate's location and that it has a true P/F system. I also think the students seem pretty happy there and the step 1 averages/match list are good. The administration does not seem as supportive at Downstate though. Also, I have friends in NYC who I can lean on when medical school gets very stressful.

I am struggling to determine whether I need social support to deal with the stress of medical school or whether being in an isolated area like Hanover is ok. I appreciate any input on these schools!

ps. finances-wise dartmouth is cheapest (50,000/year) vs rush (60,000/year) vs downstate (64,000 but they have sent me an application for a grant)

Any idea of what field you would like to go into? Med school can matter very little in certain fields (e.g., internal medicine, general surgery) vs others (e.g., dermatology, ENT, ortho, urology)

 

[dermie1985]

I know this is a last minute question and I need to decide by TONIGHT, but I am really struggling to decide between these three medical schools. I was accepted to Dartmouth in late March, and it really made it difficult to make this decision.
Dartmouth is in a rural area, there are many older students, and I feel that the social support is not great. When I spoke to students there they did not seem particularly happy and there are a lot of quizzes, which seems stressful. Yet I know the match list is great there. I just do not know if the pros outweigh the cons at Dartmouth, especially because I have always lived in urban areas. Part of me feels that maybe I am exaggerating how difficult things will be socially at Dartmouth, so I appreciate any input.

I am also considering Rush and Downstate. I love that Rush is in Chicago (I am from Chicago) and has an incredibly supportive faculty. If Rush was a true p/f system, I would most likely go there. But I do not like that it is honors/pass/fail - how stressful is this in medical school? I also know the match list is not as great there as Dartmouth.

I like Downstate's location and that it has a true P/F system. I also think the students seem pretty happy there and the step 1 averages/match list are good. The administration does not seem as supportive at Downstate though. Also, I have friends in NYC who I can lean on when medical school gets very stressful.

I am struggling to determine whether I need social support to deal with the stress of medical school or whether being in an isolated area like Hanover is ok. I appreciate any input on these schools!

ps. finances-wise dartmouth is cheapest (50,000/year) vs rush (60,000/year) vs downstate (64,000 but they have sent me an application for a grant)

I personally don't think "Dartmouth" has a big "prestige" name is medicine other than it's Ivy League affiliation. Though, neither do Rush or Downstate.

One thing to consider about Dartmouth, though, is that your 3rd/4th year clinical rotations can be done off-site. A few of my friends went there for medical school and one of them did a significant chunk of his 3rd/4th year rotations in San Francisco and New York.

 

[Ace Khalifa]

OP, which one did you choose? I gave my opinions in the other thread you cross-posted that was closed.