Drexel West Reading vs. Drexel Philadelphia Campus

[FuturePediatricNeurosurge]

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Hi all-- I'm trying to decide between these two Drexel campuses and compiled this list of pros/cons. If anyone has info to add in making this decision I'd appreciate it.

Drexel West Reading

• Pros
  • Lower cost of living
  • Higher Faculty:Student ratios
  • Stable clinical site nearby-- Reading Hospital is the home-base clinical site for all four years, don't have to worry about moving around the state/country for clerkships
  • Various free clinics
• Cons:
  • Campus is really just one building.
  • Research (mainly clinical trials?) are available at Tower Health, but less opportunities than the University City Campus
  • Will likely need a car for transportation
• Neutral:
  • Smaller class size (~40), so potentially less opportunities to meet people
  • Quieter setting, not as much campus hustle and bustle.
  • More of a suburban feel
  • Reading Hospital is a Level 1 trauma & tertiary care center (not quaternary, but still decent)
  • Campus building is new but seems a little sterile/office-building-like.
  • Safer campus, though Reading still has a local rep for crime rates

Drexel University City, Philadelphia

• Pros:
  • Better public transportation via SEPTA, Amtrak, and buses
  • More connected with other universities like Jefferson, Temple, UPenn, CHOP for research, networking, shadowing opportunities
  • Can use Drexel's libraries, fitness center, theaters, athletic fields, and non-medical student orgs
  • High degree of patient population diversity
  • Numerous free clinics nearby
• Cons:
  • Higher cost of living
  • Lower Faculty:Student ratios
  • Higher rates of violent/sexual crimes
• Neutral
  • Larger class size (~260), more opportunities to make friends
  • MS, PhD, Nursing, PT, Dietitians, PAs share the building, providing opportunities for more interprofessional training
  • More urban, densely populated
  • Clinical sites scattered around Pennsylvania (x13), New Jersey (x1), Delaware (x1), and Cali (x1) so may have to travel/find housing for these sites. Less stability but more opportunities to explore new areas.

 

[chilly_md]

If you think you would personally thrive in a smaller class size and in a less urban setting, that is a big pro. If you have particular interest in certain specialities (eg optho), being close to research at one of the places you listed would be benefit.

I will say there is likely not going to be anything gained out of sharing a building with those other programs and you likely will need a car for rotations.

 

[Basalganglia4life]

a smaller class size and less expensive area and centralized clinical rotations that don't involve driving all over the city sounds perfect to me. Then again I'm older and the city nightlife and big city vibes is not a big draw for me.