Duke vs. UC Irvine vs. UC Davis

[DrJohnZoidberg]

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Hi Guys,

So I just wanted to get your input on these schools that I have been fortunate enough to be accepted to. I want to go into academic medicine (Interventional/diagnostic Radiology) and was just looking to get some perspective. Some info on me: I don't care about weather, as I've lived on the east coast before. Also I've been out of college for 3 years and have done a lot of research since then with publications (only one first author though). I probably wont get financial aid in the form of scholarships. Been with GF for 6 years, will get married to her for sure but worried about long distance (we've done it before, but only for a year from Massachusetts to Cali). Cost of living would be approx the same across all three places.

Duke

Pros:
-Top 10 school, great match-list (great for career)
-Brand new facilities and excellent hospital
-Curriculum is accelerated, 3rd year free to do research (but don't necessarily need the free 3rd year)
-nice people

Cons:
-Cost compared to instate (50k vs 35k)
-Distance from GF, (who lives in Irvine) and difficult to travel to Irvine from Durham and vice versa
-NC location is not ideal but manageable

UCD

Pros:
-Instate tuition
-nice feel and laid back
-same time-zone as GF
-8 student run clinics is nice

Cons:
-Rural location
-match list not as impressive as Duke and not as high rank
-kind of in a bad neighborhood?

UCI

Pros:
-Live with GF
-Safe and nice area (close to LA)
-Match list pretty good
-instate tuition

Cons:
-not in love with the school and people
-more clinical focus rather than research
-less prestige than Duke

In writing this I kind of realized that I dont love Davis, but I am super torn between Duke and UCI. Any input from med student/residents/pre-meds with any insight? Will I be at a disadvantage for academic residencies if I go to UCI over Duke?

 

[Ace-Co-A]

I think the clear choice is Duke, but the long-distance things sucks. Any way she could move to Durham or does she have a pretty sweet gig on the Left Coast?

Either way, congratulations on having a great app. cycle, man.

 

[SN12357]

Yeah this is a hard one. You didn't mention if you want to be permanently back in CA for residency and on. If so that's a pro that should probably go for the CA schools.

One thing about Duke is that the research year doesn't actually have to be done at Duke. Pretty sure you could be in CA for that time (I knew a Duke student who did her research year in Boston and lived with her SO at that point). So it'd still be a long-distance relationship for most of med school but you'd potentially get a respite.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

I think the clear choice is Duke, but the long-distance things sucks. Any way she could move to Durham or does she have a pretty sweet gig on the Left Coast?

Either way, congratulations on having a great app. cycle, man.

Thanks for the input! She's actually a grad student at UCI so the moving is a no-go.

 

[pyrrion89]

Unless you're going to marry this girl, go to Duke. Duke is above-and-beyond a better school, unless you think location is the only thing worth thinking about.