Geisinger Commonwealth vs Maryland vs USF vs PCOM

[progress365]

Geisinger
Pros

• Accepted
• Relatively new facilities and school itself
• All staff have been welcoming and seem very supportive of and listen to students

Cons

• Lowest rank of the three MD
• Scranton, while not a bad place to live, is not as enticing as Baltimore or Tampa
• Not as many opportunities for research

Maryland (Waitlisted)
Pros

• Highest Ranked
• I liked Baltimore when I visited and think it is a great city to be involved with medicine and also having things to do during free time
• Very research oriented, think I might like doing research throughout schooling
• Great match list

Cons

• Waitlisted
• Letter Grading
• Seemingly very tough preclinical years relative to other medical schools

University of South Florida SELECT (waitlisted)
Pros

• Brand new facilities in Jan 2020
• Best weather and location being in Tampa
• Clinical years in Allentown PA - 1hr from hometown in Philadelphia

Cons

• waitlisted
• having to move halfway through school

PCOM (Interviewed, waiting to hear back)
Pros

• Closest to my hometown - 25 minutes
• One of the best/ well established DO schools in the country

Cons

• Not sure if DO will limit me if I decide to go into competitive specialties
• Competitiveness of clinical experience with multiple other med schools in the area?

Summary: Currently I am thinking Geisinger, but if I end up getting off the waitlist to either Maryland or USF, or getting into PCOM, Ill have a much tougher decision. Any help or advice is appreciated! TIA!

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[Qrtpcr]

In my opinion
USF>Geisinger>Maryland>>PCOM

 

[lalalallala]

I would plan to go to Geisinger. If you get into Maryland then I would go because I think it is a strong school and Baltimore >> Scranton in my opinion

 

[holdthemayo]

Plan on Geisinger and pick between MD schools if you are given the luxury of getting another acceptance. PCOM is a great school. I probably would have picked from my DO options, but life will just be easier for you if you pick to the MD school.

 

[puahate]

Maryland

 

[lalalaaaaaa]

Scranton is really rural compared to the other places, but Geisinger is solid. PCOM is a great DO school and philly is awesome. If you strongly want to do primary care, PCOM wont hold you back. Maryland and USF are better ranked and in better areas IMO. A lot of this comes down to where you want to live and how you felt you fit into the culture on interview day. Go to a second look if you need to feel it out more.

No matter what choice you make, you have great options.

 

[FamousLinen]

In my opinion
USF>Geisinger>Maryland>>PCOM

I agree with this

 

[progress365]

Thanks all!!

 

[Smiles_for_Days]

Maryland > USF > PCOM (Philly is a very DO friendly city for students and doctors. PCOM students have solid clerkships and a good reputation among their MD counterparts and program directors and match very well in the area for residency.) > Geisinger

Just my 2 cents.

 

[SparkPlugs]

Maryland, USF, and PCOM are all located in cities with an abundance of opportunities and connections to be made

 

[lecrah_96]

Plan on Geisinger since you are accepted. I know someone who did a Master's program there and was miserable with the location since it is about 2 hours from Philly. But if you are fine with a more rural area, this would be a great option. In my opinion: Maryland >USF > Geisinger > PCOM since you would have more options with an MD program.

 

[bosoxs505]

I’m in a similar situation as you. I’m accepted to Geisinger and waitlisted at Maryland and 2 other schools. My plan is to prepare as if I’m going to Geisinger, but write LOI’s for the other schools just in case I get in. Geisinger is an up and coming school, their match list is improving each year. School has lots of resources and the only thing holding it back is it’s location, which as a med student shouldn’t matter as much as you think.

 

[phillykat96]

I’m in a similar situation as you. I’m accepted to Geisinger and waitlisted at Maryland and 2 other schools. My plan is to prepare as if I’m going to Geisinger, but write LOI’s for the other schools just in case I get in. Geisinger is an up and coming school, their match list is improving each year. School has lots of resources and the only thing holding it back is it’s location, which as a med student shouldn’t matter as much as you think.

Are you going to write an LOI to more than one school?

 

[bosoxs505]

Are you going to write an LOI to more than one school?

Letter of intent for one school but letter of interest for several.

 

[puahate]

I agree with this ranking

Maryland > USF > PCOM (Philly is a very DO friendly city for students and doctors. PCOM students have solid clerkships and a good reputation among their MD counterparts and program directors and match very well in the area for residency.) > Geisinger

Just my 2 cents.

 

[DoctorMedicine]

I'm curious as to what happened. Did you end up getting accepted to USF and Maryland? IMO, unless you want to go to primary care, pick a MD school. As much as we are in the current situation of medicine, DOs are still biased when it comes to getting interviews for residency. Unfortunately certain specialties such as plastics, ENT, radiology, and optho are still more likely to rank MDs higher.

 

[progress365]

I'm curious as to what happened. Did you end up getting accepted to USF and Maryland? IMO, unless you want to go to primary care, pick a MD school. As much as we are in the current situation of medicine, DOs are still biased when it comes to getting interviews for residency. Unfortunately certain specialties such as plastics, ENT, radiology, and optho are still more likely to rank MDs higher.

Thanks for the advice! I have not gotten off of the waitlist at USF or Maryland yet, though Maryland said I am in the upper half of their waitlist if that is worth anything. Planning on Geisinger unless I hear back from USF or Maryland in the next month or so.