Decision between UW and UU

[Benignity]

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Hi everyone,

I am now in a lucky position to choose between a top 10 university (UW) and a top 50 medical school (UU). I like both programs and I am having a difficult time to choose. I would love your input.

UW:
Pros:
1) Top 10 medical school so easier to get residency matches
2) Slightly cheaper tuition
3) Opportunity to do rotations in different environments as part of the WWAMI program

Cons:
1) I will have to complete the first 1.5 years of medical school in a small town in the WWAMI region outside of Seattle which means a smaller class size and a lot of learning outside the classroom
2) Rotations will probably be throughout the WWAMI region so I would have to move around
3) Research opportunities throughout medical school are limited

UU:
Pros:
1) Great facilities and faculty- I loved interviewing here.
2) I would spend the entire four years in Salt Lake City and won't have to move around
3) More research opportunities throughout medical school

Cons:
1) Not as highly ranked
2) Graduates don't end up getting as many prestigious residencies

I appreciate your advice. Thank you!

 

[Goro]

Most people would kill to have such a conundrum!

It seems like you're torn between which can offer you more during the next four years (UU) vs which can offer you more for your career (UW).

So, I advise on taking UW. You can hack four years of UW. IF you think that you will be miserable, then that's a different story.

You'll get a fine education at either school.

Good luck!

 

[akwho]

Hey, congratulations on your acceptances!

I'll be graduating from University of Washington this Spring from a WWAMI site. I had an initial pro con list similar to yours, my "other" school was a T-30 with more time allotted for research. After going into a competitive surgical subspecialty, I'm very glad I went to the University of Washington. It helped me acquire 25+ interviews around the country as a national "name brand" school. You will get access to arguably bigger names and higher volume departments at UW than at UU. I think your decision should ultimately be based on where you will be happiest and therefore most successful. The fact that UW is much higher ranked, and cheaper tuition-wise is what made my decision for me.

The first 1.5 years of pre-clinical studies are practically self-study regardless of where you go. The nice thing about being at a WWAMI site is it is cheap to live and work, while you are studying 24/7 for Step 1. The downside is it is harder to acquire research projects from the WWAMI region. I think research was definitely the weakest part of my residency app, but it ultimately didn't end up hurting me. Overall, I don't think being at a WWAMI site for the first 1.5 years should be a big factor in your decision.

The WWAMI region rotations are the secret strength of UW. My entire Ob/gyn, and surgery rotation there were no residents, and I was first assist on surgeries
piloting laparoscopes, practicing closures, and doing one and two handed ties which will prepare me well for surgical residency. My internal medicine rotation I was carrying a panel of 6-8 patients doing meds, labs, and imaging orders on my own. The amount of autonomy given to you in your clinical rotations gets your skills up to snuff far quicker than the shadowing done at most hospitals, and it allowed me to develop the clinical skills to impress on my away rotations for residency.

Anyways, I am very happy to be graduating from UW and consider myself fortunate to have gone to medical school here. I'd be glad to answer any other questions if you have them. Good luck on your decision.

 

[Dr. Death]

This one is really splitting hairs but I would go with UW. They also have awesome research opportunities, their tuition is a bit lower and it has a bit more prestige. Plus Seattle > SLC 8 days a week

 

[DNC127]

UW

 

[Benignity]

Thank you so much guys. I am taking all your comments into account as I am deciding between these programs. I was not sure if I should post here since I never had before but I am glad I did. I am getting a lot of good perspectives.

 

[ortnakas]

This one is really splitting hairs but I would go with UW. They also have awesome research opportunities, their tuition is a bit lower and it has a bit more prestige. Plus Seattle > SLC 8 days a week

OP won't be in Seattle, though.

 

[Benignity]

OP won't be in Seattle, though.

That is true and actually I WAS wondering how feasible it is to get my rotations scheduled in Seattle after the foundation phase. I know they usually give preference to in state students but I was wondering if any current WWAMI students end up doing the majority of their rotations in Seattle.

 

[futuremdforme]

UW!

 

[Optimus-Prime]

UW

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

Hi everyone,

I am now in a lucky position to choose between a top 10 university (UW) and a top 50 medical school (UU). I like both programs and I am having a difficult time to choose. I would love your input.

UW:
Pros:
1) Top 10 medical school so easier to get residency matches
2) Slightly cheaper tuition
3) Opportunity to do rotations in different environments as part of the WWAMI program

Cons:
1) I will have to complete the first 1.5 years of medical school in a small town in the WWAMI region outside of Seattle which means a smaller class size and a lot of learning outside the classroom
2) Rotations will probably be throughout the WWAMI region so I would have to move around
3) Research opportunities throughout medical school are limited

UU:
Pros:
1) Great facilities and faculty- I loved interviewing here.
2) I would spend the entire four years in Salt Lake City and won't have to move around
3) More research opportunities throughout medical school

Cons:
1) Not as highly ranked
2) Graduates don't end up getting as many prestigious residencies

I appreciate your advice. Thank you!

no brainer UW

 

[ortnakas]

That is true and actually I WAS wondering how feasible it is to get my rotations scheduled in Seattle after the foundation phase. I know they usually give preference to in state students but I was wondering if any current WWAMI students end up doing the majority of their rotations in Seattle.

Education-wise it sounds like UW is winning, and I honestly don't know enough about the rankings or curricula to compare, but I'm in the mood to play devil's advocate.

Since you're undecided and it's relatively close, it might depend on other factors, like how much you like the smaller city you'd be doing the first two years in, and how much you mind moving. It sounds like for UW that's at least once between pre-clinical and clinical, and most likely a lot between WWAMI. Salt Lake City is significantly cheaper than Seattle and while it's not my favorite city in the world, there's worse places to spend a few years (especially if you like skiing and other mountain stuff!).

TL;DR: If you value the stability of staying in one place for four years, I'd vote UU. If moving around isn't a barrier for you and you think you'll be more successful in the long run at UW, go with that.

 

[Ellie Arroway]

I'm a third year at UW and I'm on a rotation in Idaho right now. Go to UW. There will be opportunity to do Seattle rotations, especially in 4th year. Also, most people I know in classes above me seemed to match at their top choices.

 

[Ellie Arroway]

I also did the WWAMI Safari thing - I spent 2 years in Seattle and I've been moving to a different state once every 6 weeks since August. It's hard and sometimes isolating, but I am glad I did it.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Moving to pre-allo SSD 15-16

 

[Benignity]

Thanks everyone for all your comments.

 

[Dr. Death]

Thanks everyone for all your comments.

What'd you choose?

 

[Benignity]

I chose University of Utah because that is what my gut tells me to do and I figured I couldn't go wrong with that.