FIU vs Wake Forest

[The Knife & Gun Club]

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Hi All, so I've been lucky enough to be accepted at both of these schools, and am trying to decide which would be a better choice for what I want to do. I like surgery, specifically Ortho and Transplant (I've got solid research experience in both, and would like to continue this in med school), although it is definitely possible this could change during school.

My goal is to eventually practice in Florida, so I am curious if it's better to go to the no name school in my home state or go to the more established school out of state. Some pros and cons:

FIU: Preferred location, but lacks a home institution. Many of the rotation sites are at community hospitals that could be lacking in mentorship opportunities and diverse pathology. Close to family & support.

Wake: Much more respected, has a large teaching hospital with a ton of residency programs that could serve as a source of mentorship and experience. But it's kind of in the middle of nowhere...A flight home involves 2 planes and $500.

Thanks in advance for any advice, constructive criticism is always welcome!

**Price is kind of a wash between the two since the cost of living is so much higher in Miami**

 

[ldiaz29]

If I was in your shoes, I would pick FIU. I think you are severely underestimating the amount of diverse pathology you will see. You would be in Miami after all. I am not sure, but I think FIU students can also do rotations at Jackson? If so, that is one of the best hospitals in the country for transplant surgeries. Plus its close to home!

 

[Nietzschelover]

"Middle of nowhere" seems like an odd description for W-S, NC, but I'm from that area so maybe it's me. The W-S/Greensboro area is among the nicest in the country, right there with the Research Triangle area. Have you considered flying into RDU or Charlotte instead of GSO?

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Well it's not so much that I'll be exposed to diverse pathology, but that when it comes time to apply for residency, programs will identify that FIU provides solid clinical training.

Also Wake is P/F and you get to choose if your class rank is reported on ERAS. FIU is A/B/C/F and publicly ranked. is this something significant to consider?

 

[Mansamusa]

Well it's not so much that I'll be exposed to diverse pathology, but that when it comes time to apply for residency, programs will identify that FIU provides solid clinical training.

Also Wake is P/F and you get to choose if your class rank is reported on ERAS. FIU is A/B/C/F and publicly ranked. is this something significant to consider?

What do you mean by publicly ranked? Like every knows everyone else's ranking?

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

What do you mean by publicly ranked? Like every knows everyone else's ranking?

Na, just as in they disclose everyones rank in their deans letter.

As opposed to wake that only discloses it if you choose to do so. Basically you're only ranked if it is to your benefit.

 

[Slack3r]

Well it's not so much that I'll be exposed to diverse pathology, but that when it comes time to apply for residency, programs will identify that FIU provides solid clinical training.

Also Wake is P/F and you get to choose if your class rank is reported on ERAS. FIU is A/B/C/F and publicly ranked. is this something significant to consider?

FIU is a new-ish school with an unknown reputation outside FL. Wake is an established school with strong residency programs in multiple specialties. Also, WF has a significant catchment area that provides plenty of diverse pathology.

Seems like a no-brainer to me: WF>FIU

 

[ccountry28]

Hey Knife, I am in your same position with acceptances to both. If you are a Florida resident, Tuition to FIU is only 19 grand a year vs Wakes 75 so it is not a wash in terms of cost. Even accounting 3x the cost of living it is not a wash!

That being said, I am still choosing Wake most likely, FIU grads seem a little pigeon-holed into either living in Miami forever or going into Family Practice/Internal Med. Let me know if you have any thoughts on this because I am making the same decisions!

 

[USvWindsor]

Well it's not so much that I'll be exposed to diverse pathology, but that when it comes time to apply for residency, programs will identify that FIU provides solid clinical training.

Also Wake is P/F and you get to choose if your class rank is reported on ERAS. FIU is A/B/C/F and publicly ranked. is this something significant to consider?

At most of the schools I interviewed at med students emphasized choosing a pass/fail school. Many made it sound like being at a graded school will most likely put you at a disadvantage when applying for residencies compared to all the p/f kids. Also being pass/fail is less stressful. Just what I've heard.

 

[BeachBlondie]

Hey Knife, I am in your same position with acceptances to both. If you are a Florida resident, Tuition to FIU is only 19 grand a year vs Wakes 75 so it is not a wash in terms of cost. Even accounting 3x the cost of living it is not a wash!

That being said, I am still choosing Wake most likely, FIU grads seem a little pigeon-holed into either living in Miami forever or going into Family Practice/Internal Med. Let me know if you have any thoughts on this because I am making the same decisions!

Just wanted to counter the Miami/ family med assumptions. All you need to do is view their match list to find that this is not the case.

...just more fodder for the guy's decision.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Hey Knife, I am in your same position with acceptances to both. If you are a Florida resident, Tuition to FIU is only 19 grand a year vs Wakes 75 so it is not a wash in terms of cost. Even accounting 3x the cost of living it is not a wash!

That being said, I am still choosing Wake most likely, FIU grads seem a little pigeon-holed into either living in Miami forever or going into Family Practice/Internal Med. Let me know if you have any thoughts on this because I am making the same decisions!

I think youre right about the being stuck in Miami thing. While Id like to practice in Florida in the future, I dont think I necessarily want to limit myself to just the southern half of one state. As for cost though, where are you getting your numbers? As per MSAR, total COA at FIU is 78k in state (38k tuition and 38k living expenses) and total COA at Wake is 74k (50k tuition and 21k living expenses).

Just wanted to counter the Miami/ family med assumptions. All you need to do is view their match list to find that this is not the case.

...just more fodder for the guy's decision.

Yea I saw they had some really good placements this past year...they got people into optho, derm, ENT and a bunch of other ultra-competitive residencies.

What concerns me is that they dont rotate at hospitals with residents/residencies for alot of rotations. So who is writing LORs for people when they want to do something like surgery? It will be some private practice doc who isnt well known in the GME/Academic world. The students at second look said its ok becuase you get more hands on time working just with an attending, but I'm not sure if I buy that.

 

[BeachBlondie]

I think youre right about the being stuck in Miami thing. While Id like to practice in Florida in the future, I dont think I necessarily want to limit myself to just the southern half of one state. As for cost though, where are you getting your numbers? As per MSAR, total COA at FIU is 78k in state (38k tuition and 38k living expenses) and total COA at Wake is 74k (50k tuition and 21k living expenses).



Yea I saw they had some really good placements this past year...they got people into optho, derm, ENT and a bunch of other ultra-competitive residencies.

What concerns me is that they dont rotate at hospitals with residents/residencies for alot of rotations. So who is writing LORs for people when they want to do something like surgery? It will be some private practice doc who isnt well known in the GME/Academic world. The students at second look said its ok becuase you get more hands on time working just with an attending, but I'm not sure if I buy that.

That's where your electives and selectives come in. During 4th year, you gotta hustle and forge your own ties. Going to a new school puts the work on your shoulders. But, I know a couple of 4th years there who traveled around the U.S. to places like NYU and UPenn to do ortho. It's super doable. Just food for thought. But, hey, I'm waitlisted at FIU, so--by all means--drop the seat 😉