Differences between Public and Private Medical Schools

[rahmadi]

What are the main differences between a private and a public medical school?

I'm pretty aware of the pros and cons of both for UG, but I'm not aware of the differences for medical schools. The costs seem comparable, so im wondering if there is a difference at all? Someone please enlighten me. =)

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[sgtbrushes]

(1) Private medical schools, in general, accept more out of state students.
(2) Some private medical schools have "higher prestige," allowing branding/ social networking. (As much as you don't like that guy in your class who didn't have to pay a dime of his tuition through UG and med school and drives a BMW, he could probably help you land a residency or job after residency through his social network).
(3) Cost. Though some private schools have costs comparable to state schools, in-state tuition at state med schools can be tens of thousands of dollars less than certain private schools.

 

[seelee]

As far as education quality and facilities go there is not going to be a huge difference between public and private schools (generally speaking). State schools usually have to reserve a majority of their spots for in state applicants. Great if you live in a place like Texas or California, ****ty if you live in a place like Wyoming.

 

[armybound]

anybody know where private schools get most of their funding from? is it research dollars, care, alumni donations?

public schools obviously have a budget from the state and might be less likely to suffer from stock market/economy changes.

 

[Slack3r]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[csmittyB]

As far as education quality and facilities go there is not going to be a huge difference between public and private schools (generally speaking). State schools usually have to reserve a majority of their spots for in state applicants. Great if you live in a place like Texas or California, ****ty if you live in a place like Wyoming.

Not so great for CA residents when 2 of the 5 state schools are UCSF and UCSD.

 

[MegaProjectile]

anybody know where private schools get most of their funding from? is it research dollars, care, alumni donations?

public schools obviously have a budget from the state and might be less likely to suffer from stock market/economy changes.

All of the above including tuition and their own hospital operating budget. As an example, Tufts just completed a $15 million renovation of the medical school building that was made possible by an alumni donation.

 

[randombetch]

Not so great for CA residents when 2 of the 5 state schools are UCSF and UCSD.

Why? Those are excellent schools. You trying to say that it's bad because CA residents won't be getting in?

 

[MedMan25]

public schools obviously have a budget from the state and might be less likely to suffer from stock market/economy changes.

I don't know about that. State schools arguably take an even bigger hit when the economy tanks because they have a budget from the state. If the state goes bankrupt, so does the school.

 

[chrisski]

Why? Those are excellent schools. You trying to say that it's bad because CA residents won't be getting in?

I believe he is pointing out that these are very difficult schools to get into, even if you are in state.

 

[BBender716]

Why? Those are excellent schools. You trying to say that it's bad because CA residents won't be getting in?

Yeah. They are awesome schools so a ton of students IS and OOS apply to them, making it more selective and making it more difficult to obtain admission for IS students.

 

[RySerr21]

anybody know where private schools get most of their funding from? is it research dollars, care, alumni donations?

public schools obviously have a budget from the state and might be less likely to suffer from stock market/economy changes.

erm.......try googling the UC system and the budget crisis.........there is a reason they are trying to raise tuition by 33% and are cutting all sorts of funding from every where.

Why? Those are excellent schools. You trying to say that it's bad because CA residents won't be getting in?

thats what he was going for. its pretty difficult to get in, to any of the schools. All of the UCs....Stanford....USC......

 

[armybound]

I don't know about that. State schools arguably take an even bigger hit when the economy tanks because they have a budget from the state. If the state goes bankrupt, so does the school.

so it's more likely that a state would go bankrupt than a single institution that relies on donations from its alum?

either way, I was giving my opinion. I've only had experience with a few schools, and the privates have been hit harder than the publics.

 

[guyski79]

so it's more likely that a state would go bankrupt than a single institution that relies on donations from its alum?

If the state is California, then yes. 🙂

 

[armybound]

If the state is California, then yes. 🙂

CA's economic situation is jacked, regardless.

 

[guyski79]

CA's economic situation is jacked, regardless.

Agreed.

But back to the discussion, state governments are broke, and the endowments of private schools shrank in the recession.

EVERY school is hurting for money, regardless of public vs. private.

 

[csmittyB]

thats what he was going for. its pretty difficult to get in, to any of the schools. All of the UCs....Stanford....USC......

Exactly. I didn't realize my post was so unclear. When 2 of the state MD schools have stats on par with the Ivy's, it doesn't bode well for the average in state MD applicant.

 

[zebalong]

Not so great for CA residents when 2 of the 5 state schools are UCSF and UCSD.

Don't forget another 1 out of the 5 is UCLA which also has high ave. stats. which gives no state preference.. basically CA residents don't have it so great at all... Wish I was a NY or Texas resident = P

 

[csmittyB]

Don't forget another 1 out of the 5 is UCLA which gives no state preference.. basically CA residents don't have it so great at all... I'm praying to get into a UC.. ANY UC

Damn right. I love seeing the "apply to your state MD school as a backup" posts. As of now, CA residents don't have that luxury.

 

[guyski79]

Damn right. I love seeing the "apply to your state MD school as a backup" posts. As of now, CA residents don't have that luxury.

👍

 

[LizzyM]

At private universities, the operating budget comes from tuition and fees, investment income (the endowment), and research funding. Very little of the operating expenses come from donations. (Money for buildings and contributions to the endowment are another story.)

Physicians on the faculty are often paid by a multi-specialty group practice made up of full-time faculty who are salaried and who kick pack a portion of their annual practice revenue to the medical school (in turn the medical school staffs the library and provides other services that enhance the group practice's operations).

Other physicians may be in "private practice" and pay themselves out of their practice revenue while contributing their services to the medical school as bedside teachers on rounds, and in the preceptorship of students who are learning physical exam skills and the like.

 

[FloatOn]

All of the above including tuition and their own hospital operating budget. As an example, Tufts just completed a $15 million renovation of the medical school building that was made possible by an alumni donation.

😱

 

[LizzyM]

It was, I believe, a family foundation, based on a multi-generational pharmaceutical business, & not the practice of medicine for 20 years that made that money.

 

[armybound]

you mean I won't have $15mil to donate if I become a doctor?

 

[psipsina]

I worked for my city's private school and attend my city's state school. There really aren't that many differences. Both have state of the art simulation centers, both rotate in public and private hospitals. The main differences is that the private school has more research $$ and that they take out of state kids (which does lead to a more diverse class). Oh and their yearly budget is >2x more$$$.

 

[Narmerguy]

you mean I won't have $15mil to donate if I become a doctor?

Probably 10

 

[JJMrK]

Why? Those are excellent schools. You trying to say that it's bad because CA residents won't be getting in?

IMO: A school, is generally going to have features similar to other schools around its ranking, public or private. Private schools will probably be more, though, unless you're talking about OOS tuition at a public school. Some public schools don't accept any non-residents, some have about a 50-50 mixture, and some are somewhere in between.

 

[mongoose1180]

As far as education quality and facilities go there is not going to be a huge difference between public and private schools (generally speaking). State schools usually have to reserve a majority of their spots for in state applicants. Great if you live in a place like Texas or California, ****ty if you live in a place like Wyoming.

Wyoming residents have a 34% acceptance rate at UW, top primary care school in the country. I get the point, but just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[mongoose1180]

This thread is 8 years old and WY residents are considered "in state" at UW (as are Alaska, Idaho, and Montana residents).

Yes