FAU vs. Rush

[AlmostADoc42]

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So I find out if I got accepted to FAU on Wednesday - and if I get in I feel like I'll have some decisions to make. I really liked FAU's curriculum. I think minimal lecture and a heavy focus on PBL would be the best way for me to learn. I also liked the small class size and research opportunities at Max Planck and Scripps. I just got a really great vibe. Also, it's very close to my home, so I could live at home and save a lot of money. It would cost about $100,000 for all four years, and thats before financial aid.

My issue with FAU is reputation and the fact that I have no idea what the match lists look like. I have no problem attending a new school, but I don't want it to close any doors for me.

I've been offered an interview at Rush and if I get into FAU I don't know if I should even fly out to Chicago, based on the cost difference. Is there a significant difference between Rush and FAU that I should consider?

 

[FL1234]

I am from Florida... and attend school at Rush. I was offered an interview at FAU but didn't attend. But had I attended and gotten in, I would've stayed at home and been in similar debt as you. I was accepted at FIU and had a Similar situation there as well.

This could be a biased opinion, but I definitely think you should give Rush a shot. One of the biggest things that I didn't realize until I got here were the amazing opportunities in clinical and pre-clinical years. Rush has its own hospital and has very close associations with Stroger (Cook County)... so there's no fighting for spots on clinical rotations.

FAU doesn't have a specific hospital for itself (although I do think you can go to JFK...but believe me, my mom worked as JFK and its nothing like Cook County). There are amazing networking opportunities within the medical profession here in Chicago. For example, our current CMO is pretty big in medical community and wrote the book "County", and he's already led some of our small group sessions, given lectures in our class, and super down to earth and knows me by my first name. That's just one example. I think volunteering and research opportunities are great here... although I know at FAU has Scripps too, and that's pretty big too (I did research there in undergrad).

We have about 128 people in our class and we hold a lot of small group sessions, so you still have the small group vibe. Lectures are only in the morning, they are not required, and they are all recorded. We have PBL (and although SUPER helpful, I really don't think should be your biggest draw to a school...IMO)

Lastly, Rush gives out a lot of scholarships. There are soooo many donors... I am currently here on scholarship. All I am saying is that you should give Rush a shot and see what it has to offer.

 

[AlmostADoc42]

Thank you so much for your response!
I've been talking to a lot of people at my school as well and the opportunities and quality of life in Chicago seem to be reason enough to check it out.
The only reason I seem partial to PBL is because it seems like you would remember more of what you learned if it was in a clinical context and you had to find that information for yourself. With lecture, you're simply presented with information and it seems like it would take more effort to stick.
What is your experience with this? Do you find PBL to be more helpful than lecture or does it seem like an inefficient use of time?
It's also good to know Rush gives out scholarships =)
I have decided to fly out for the interview - which is in two weeks! I've been doing a bunch of research on the school and volunteer opportunities in the city and I'm excited to see the campus =)