phoenix - i thought you gave up your seat to gw??
Yeah, believe it or not, I withdrew from GW on 5/15 to go to Loyola. Later that day I learned from Loyola's fin aid office that I actually could have requested a slight extension to get GW's fin aid letter first before making a final decision. I spent all night tossing and turning and unable to sleep, and the next morning I called GW and asked if it was possible to be reinstated and get a slight extension to make my decision upon receipt of the fin aid letter. They said yes, and then Loyola agreed as well. I flew out the next day to DC to do an informal second look that weekend/Monday. I spoke with a bunch of students about my curriculum concerns, found out more about the health care policy track and opportunities, checked out living options/expenses and how to live within GW's $1,100/month budget for housing and utilities, talked to students about any detriment to obtaining a Chicago residency if I went to GW instead of Loyola, and spent two days walking all over DC with my dog to get a better feel of the city. I went to DC thinking that I'd most likely go to Loyola, but came back feeling so excited about the opportunities at GW and living in DC that I ended up withdrawing from Loyola. And I managed to sleep through the night perfectly fine after withdrawing from Loyola.
Yay Phoenix! What made you decide for GW in the end?
Let's see.... From what I learned, it is entirely feasible to skip many of the lectures (i.e., not sit in class from 8-5 everyday), and many students do so and do well (they listen to classes on mp3 and/or use the class notes). The first year WILL be stressful and grueling (compared to Loyola), but I'll just have to suck it up. From the students I spoke with, the first two years are pretty rough, but it gets markedly better after that. Third and fourth year sound great, with excellent third year rotations and a ton of flexibility for fourth year (you can pretty much spend the entire year away with the exception of about three months), so I can spend most of fourth year doing rotations back in Chicago if I want to. The graduating fourth years I spoke to said that everyone they knew got their first or second choice residencies, and they've supposedly got an amazing emergency medicine program at GW (something I'm interested in). The health care policy and global health opportunities and tracks are also amazing, and I look forward to working with a track system preceptor and possibly working on the hill or going abroad my first summer. And I learned their emergency medicine program/director is really interested in integrating policy issues into learning about emergency medicine, which also really appeals to me if I end up going into EM. The students I spoke to were very nice, and I love the campus and the area.
Now for DC - the weather is great compared to Chicago (excellent for year-round dog walking), and the city is incredibly diverse and dynamic. I love that there are people from all over the world in DC, and I feel the city has a lot to offer. Granted, there won't be a lot of time the first two years to experience it, but it's out there when there is free time (or when it can be integrated with med school). I guess I just really liked the energy and the possibilities I felt there. And I figured that I can always move back to Chicago after med school for residency, and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to try to integrate my JD in some way with my future MD degree.
I do feel that Loyola's curriculum and mission were a much better fit for me than GW's, but the unusual opportunities GW presented (as well as living in DC vs. Oak Park) eventually cinched the deal. My friends and family were definitely all shocked that I won't be staying in Chicago and attending Loyola, but they're very supportive and happy for me. And I'm happy too.
