Duke vs. University of Washington

[gentlebalogna]

Hey peeps. A little background on me: I started wanting to be a doctor at the same time as I was reading all of Paul Farmer's books, and I really fell in love with medical anthropology. I love that stuff and want it to be a part of my career. That said, I'm open to the idea of more school after an MD, and actually most MD/PhD's in the social sciences go that route. I mention this because it's really important to me, and Duke is waaaay better set up to facilitate that. Not choosing Duke feels a little like giving up on the med anthropology dream, but I can rationally remind myself that there's other ways to pursue that interest. I will probably match into primary care, with the thought of possibly going on for a fellowship after that.

COA at both schools is comparable (+/- $10k). Waiting for merit scholarships at both schools, but UW won't let me know until late summer.

Duke:
+ Exciting curriculum with a dedicated 3rd year for research. They fully support my interest in medical anthropology.
+ Really cool environment of being surrounded by great scholars at Duke University
+ Reasonably small class size (120)
+ Duke Hospital is a world-class medical facility, feels tightly integrated with the med school
+ Beautiful facilities, simulation center and anatomy facility
+ I'm in a smaller Primary Care subtrack with good camaraderie and support - maybe less competitive vibes
+ Primary Care track features a longitudinal integrated clerkship during year 2
+ Duke students earn amazing Step scores
+ Durham is an affordable, fun town with great weather
+ I really liked all the people I met, especially the Primary Care mentors

- Pre-clinical is condensed down to just 1 year. That sounds like PA school and my PA friends tell me that sucked.
- I've heard from a Duke student that they might be less prepared clinically for residency, but N=1
- Have to move across the country and idk what'll happen with my girlfriend. Sounds hard though.
- Possibly a very competitive atmosphere given Duke's prestige.... plus I'm a small town, west-coast kid and don't know how to be *elite*
- Duke is less known for its primary care education


UW:
+ It's in my hometown. I have a GF here who could not move with me to Duke due to her small business.
+ UW is arguably the nation's leading primary care school (lookin @ you UNCCH), and has a higher reputation score than Duke among residency PD's on that unreliable little survey that gets published every year
+ I'm in their rural underserved primary care track (TRUST), which I think will have incredible clinical education
+ TRUST includes a longitudinal integrated clerkship, so you get to know a rural town early and keep going back (and live there for 22 weeks for clerkship)
+ Really small class size (60 people in my regional site), and I have some friends in the class
+ UW has been supportive of my research interests but would probably be more public health-focused than med anthropology. I'm 75% OK with that.
+ I already know a lot of community organizations who I can partner with for my research interests, vs starting from scratch in Durham
+ 18 month preclinical seems like a nice balance between Duke's 1 year and traditional
+ TONS of clinical exposure early on

- Can't pursue my interest in medical anthropology like I could at Duke
- No simulation center, shared anatomy facilities w/ Washington State med school
- WWAMI rotations in year 3 and 4 could feel isolating... but also could be exciting with the right mindset
- Might feel less well-integrated in Spokane, compared to Duke where everything is in 2-3 buildings and you can walk 5 minutes between them
- Lower Step scores overall, but that may reflect student priorities (eg, matching in primary care)

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[thesecretisme123]

I would go to Duke because I can see how it might be more challenging to be involved in research, especially if you're in Spokane and not Seattle. I have a M4 friend who did coast to coast LDR with her boyfriend (now fiance) and she said that it adversely affected her performance in medical school. If you are going to get married to this gf I'd go to UW, otherwise Duke.

 

[gentlebalogna]

I would go to Duke because I can see how it might be more challenging to be involved in research, especially if you're in Spokane and not Seattle. I have a M4 friend who did coast to coast LDR with her boyfriend (now fiance) and she said that it adversely affected her performance in medical school. If you are going to get married to this gf I'd go to UW, otherwise Duke.

Fair points, thank you!