Drexel vs EVMS (URGENT)

[MedSchoolUNKNOWN]

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Any help I could get is greatly appreciated, especially quickly.

For some background knowledge, I am from Northern Virginia. I am unsure about specialty, but if I had to choose something now, it would be Anesthesiology, Radiology, or Pathology.

DREXEL:

Pros:

• Is in a major city, will make it easy to do fun, exciting things throughout medical school. I've never lived in a big city and it could be an exciting opportunity. It'd be easy for me to amtrak back to NOVA as well and also go to places like NYC
• My best friend goes to graduate school in Philadelphia, I would have so much more fun being able to do things with them such as eating out, going out, seeing the sights, etc. We've been best friends for a very long time.
• My long-term significant other is applying to medical schools next year, and there are many options in Philadelphia/nearby which increases the chances of us being able to be near each other (Drexel, Temple, Jefferson, Cooper, DO Schools)

Cons:

• the school is much more expensive. not even including CoL (which will be hefty in a city), I can expect to pay a tuition of $66K annually
• the reputation of the school isn't the best, however I've seen it does have pretty good match rates. I don't really know what specialty I want to go into, but most likely not one of the super competitive ones like Derm or Ortho
• clinicals and rotations for years 3 and 4 seem to be a big hassle, as I'll be shuffled around all of Pennsylvania

EVMS:

Pros:

• in-state school, so the tuition is very cheap. I will have an annual total cost of $40K from tuition, and then cheaper CoL.
• Although both schools are P/F, EVMS's exams are all based on NBME material, which I think is a huge stress-relief and will make studying for Step 1 easier
• Rotations and clinicals are through EVMS hospitals that are right next to the school, I don't have to worry about moving around and stuff
• I think this school is better regarded than Drexel, however their residency match list seems to have a more primary care slant which may just be due to the demographics that attend the school. So unsure about this point

Cons:

• I don't know anyone in the Norfolk area at all, my family is elsewhere in Virginia 4 hours away, I'll be away from my friends and significant other. I'm worried that the distance from my friends and relationship could cause some strain
• Less research opportunities than Drexel which could affect my competitiveness for a lot of specialties. Again, I don't really know what I want to do, but most likely it won't be primary care
• Life in Norfolk might be boring, I'm more of an urban person than a beach person
• Now that Step 1 is P/F, I'm not sure if it's even a big deal that they prided themselves in the past of their great board scores. And I don't know EVMS's Step 2 scores compared to Drexel's

EDIT: Decided on EVMS!

 

[chilly_md]

EVMS. There is no real reason to pay significantly more. You could fly from Norfolk to DC with the money saved. Cooper does not take OOS students, and Rowan (DO) heavily favors in-state as well. Your SO would have similar chances of getting into EVMS or VCU as they would Temple, Drexel or Jefferson. Better in fact if they are a VA resident.