Geisinger Commonwealth vs. Cooper Rowan

[purpletulipsss]

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Hi everyone! Just for context, I'm an OOS student for both schools, so the tuition is roughly the same. Both schools are also true P/F schools in the first two years.

Geisinger Commonwealth
Pros

• higher step 1 scores - mean of 231
• lower rent/COL
• abigail geisinger scholars program :O i'm not a resident of PA and don't have connections to the area, so i'm not sure about the likelihood of me receiving it

Cons

• in Scranton, no job opportunities for SO and a ~2 hr drive from major cities
• unranked - does this matter?
• have to go to regional campuses for clerkships - don't know where i'll be placed
• prob need a car?

Cooper
Pros

• right next to Philly - can live with SO here
• 100% match rate in 2019
• warm and friendly students that all seemed to love the school, plus chill faculty

Cons

• the surrounding area of the school is not great, but current med students told me there were police officers 24/7 and they were fine
• problem-based learning. i'm more of a lecture type of person, but then again i've never experienced this format of learning
• 224 avg step 1 score (below the national mean) - is that concerning?

thanks everyone in advance!

 

[FuturePedsDoc1993]

I interviewed at both and personally prefer Cooper because of early clinical exposure. They get assigned real patients to follow starting first year and I loved the school, including the problem based. I think it helps understand and apply knowledge better. I do agree their step score / match list was concerning to me but I think it's because its still a relatively new school. It depends what field you would like to go into. THe scholars program at Geisinger requires you to commit to a geisinger health system which is a lot to do when you don't know what you want to do or aren't in the area. Philly also has access to research at Penn and CHOP (who take cooper med students in the summer). Overall, Cooper seems like the better school, but if you are concerned about step/match I would wait until this years list to come out.

 

[gopher1997]

I'd go to Cooper based on your pros and cons list especially with these factors.

1. sounds like your significant other is working. No job in Scranton means either they don't go with you, or they are unhappy they aren't working leading to stress in the relationship which could lead to it getting in the way of your schooling. all relationships have their challenges, but this is not the time to test that especially if you want to marry this person.

2. Step 1 is pretty dependent on the student (or so I've heard). I would not base your decision solely on that especially if the school does not use NBME exams as part of their curriculum. If they did, that would give them an edge to help you succeed, but you can always do that on your own too. Step 1 is largely dependent on your motivation as a student as well as your ability to harness more information. Higher ranked schools have higher step 1 scores (probably) due to world class faculty and just the students being brilliant to begin with. But, your step 1 score does not have to be around the average of any program you choose.

3. Going to regional campuses might be stressful for you if you do not want to do that.

4. Sounds like you vibed better with Cooper based on the students and faculty.

5. I would not be concerned with the problem based learning. Lots of new information has come out that working collaboratively with your peers helps tremendously with applying and learning information - afterall, that's what you will do as a doctor. Now if you do not like that, I'm sure there are plenty of resources out there that will help you succeed.

Cooper sounds like the least stressful choice for you and your SO.

 

[deleted915325]

Disclosure: I go to cooper.

Our step scores were actually 233 for last year so I think that might be just an edge higher than geissenger and 2 pts above the national average of 231. 224 is from a few years ago. They’ve been increasing every year as the crop of students get better

Both great schools on the rise though!

 

[TheDataKing]

Geisinger isn't true P/F - it counts for AOA

 

[medschoolapplicant101.]

Disclosure: I go to cooper.

Our step scores were actually 233 for last year so I think that might be just an edge higher than geissenger and 2 pts above the national average of 231. 224 is from a few years ago. They’ve been increasing every year as the crop of students get better

Both great schools on the rise though!

How was the match in 2020 and 2021 for competitive specialties?