Emory vs. Duke - please help me decide!

[RomantheDog]

Hi everyone! I feel very fortunate to be in this position, but I’m really struggling to decide between these two schools. I’d love to hear your vote and the reason why!

A little about me:

• I currently live in Atlanta and work at Emory. I love how much there is to do here, but I really dislike the traffic and how hectic it can be. While I would miss Atlanta, I think I could benefit from a slower-paced city.
• I’m currently most interested in neurology, but I want to keep an open mind.
• I’m very interested in research and plan to pursue a career in academic medicine.
• I hope to stay in the Southeast for residency.

Emory (~$60k/year tuition + fees)

Pros:

• I like the extra elements built into the 1.5-year preclinical curriculum, like the Community Learning and Social Medicine course (weekly community service) and OPEX (biweekly longitudinal clinical experience).
• Students raved about their Small Group advisors, who stay with them for all four years and offer strong mentorship.
• I prefer Emory’s structured approach to Step exams (Step 1 after preclinical, Step 2 during M3).
• Exams are scheduled on Fridays, giving students a free weekend after each exam before the next block starts.
• I’m already established in Atlanta and very familiar with Emory (although part of me feels it might be nice to branch out and experience somewhere new).

Cons:

• Current students shared that the curriculum changes almost every year based on student feedback, which creates a sense of instability. There will also be additional changes this year to incorporate more PBL - I like this in theory, but there may be bumps along the way.
• Overall, students weren’t thrilled with the preclinical years but felt Emory shines during clinicals.
• Grady is a very busy and intense clinical environment. Many students love it, but it isn't a major draw for me personally.
• I didn't have the best interview or Second Look experience. Emory was my top choice going into the cycle, so this has been really disappointing and has made me feel less excited about the school.

Duke (~$66k/year tuition + fees)

Pros:

• 1-year preclinical curriculum. I'm a bit nervous about the fast pace, but the current students I talked to seem to love it.
• Dedicated third year for research, with the flexibility to pursue additional degrees. This is a huge pro for me since I know I want to incorporate research into my career. Also, the possibility of securing research funding for the third year could make Duke cheaper in the long run.
• Stronger national name recognition and reputation, which could be helpful for residency.
• Durham has a lower cost of living than Atlanta.
• I had a great experience during my interview day and Second Look Weekend. I really connected with the admitted and current students and could see myself fitting in. Overall, I feel that I align more with Duke's mission than with Emory's.

Cons:

• Relocating to Durham would be stressful, especially since my fiancé would need to find a new job relatively quickly. He'll be covering our living expenses while I'm in school, so he's concerned about finding a job that he enjoys and pays similarly to his current role. While I don’t want this to be the sole reason I don’t choose Duke, it is a significant factor in my decision.
• The timing for Step exams is less structured - some students take Step 1 after M1, while others take both Step 1 and Step 2 during M3. Because of this, it seems like there is less formal support for Step.
• Smaller city vibe. While there's still a lot to do in Durham/Raleigh, it’s not as bustling as Atlanta (again, this could also be seen as a pro).

Similarities between both schools:

• True Pass/Fail all four years
• No AOA or internal ranking
• Lectures are non-mandatory and recorded
• Early clinical exposure starting in M1
• Strong, well-established hospital systems

I'm really torn, so any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!

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[TheRealBibFortuna]

I think the answer is pretty obvious, so I'll just point out the highlights:

A little about me:

• I currently live in Atlanta and work at Emory. I love how much there is to do here, but I really dislike the traffic and how hectic it can be. While I would miss Atlanta, I think I could benefit from a slower-paced city.
• I’m currently most interested in neurology, but I want to keep an open mind.
• I’m very interested in research and plan to pursue a career in academic medicine.

Cons:

• Relocating to Durham would be stressful, especially since my fiancé would need to find a new job relatively quickly. He'll be covering our living expenses while I'm in school, so he's concerned about finding a job that he enjoys and pays similarly to his current role. While I don’t want this to be the sole reason I don’t choose Duke, it is a significant factor in my decision. --> this is the real con. I don't know what he does or how easy it would be for him to find a job. Only you can weigh this against the pros.
• The timing for Step exams is less structured - some students take Step 1 after M1, while others take both Step 1 and Step 2 during M3. Because of this, it seems like there is less formal support for Step. this is generally considered a pro. Flexibility allows you to do everything at your own pace and according to your own ability.
• Smaller city vibe. While there's still a lot to do in Durham/Raleigh, it’s not as bustling as Atlanta (again, this could also be seen as a pro).

 

[CheeesyBoi]

+1 vote for Duke

 

[Brownies_15]

Making this same decision and going with Duke!😭

 

[radrak]

I chose emory over a higher ranked school, but the reason for that was because I wanted to be in a more supported environment and i preferred the location. If you prefer the secondary factors of Duke over Emory, I think that should be a no-brainer, since it will seemingly provide you with better quality. So as long as your fiance is on board, I would go with Duke. I think you'll adjust to the curriculum and stuff no matter where you go, you got into two really great schools for a reason!