Georgetown vs. Miami

[Orangecat1234]

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I have been lucky enough to be granted into two WONDERFUl, but different medical schools. I am torn between these two choices because I think they are both great in their own ways. I want to match into internal medicine and I am dead set on cardiology as a subspec. I also want a strong relationship with mentors and clincial research opportunities.


Georgetown:

Pros:

Close to home/support system
Name recognition
Prestigious
only a 1.5 years of preclinical curriculum
research requirement built into program
could do clinical research at NIH during summer
people have been very attentive and organized after I have received my acceptance
I am more familiar with the area so my transition into medical school will probably be easier
Residency matching is usually regionally biased, so it would be easier to match in a program on the northeast
clinical years are great

Cons:
older facilities
campus includes undergrads (I am a bit older)
cold temps
houses in georgetown/glover park are not that nice and they are still expensive (I would not have gym in my apartment)
cost, super expensive 🙁



University of Miami:


Pros:
sunshine, beach, warm breeze
campus is nice and compact together making it easier to get around
the area I would be living is truly top of the line as far as new facilities/beach view/ etc
would not need to deal with a car and the troubles that come with parking in a city,
could learn to speak fluent spanish which would be helpful since might be interested in mission trips in Central America
I love to travel and I am naturally curious about living in a different area of the country
clinical years are great

Cons:
my spanish isn't great, even though I want to learn idk if I will have time
heard has been some recent talk of issues with accreditation and student cheating which concerns me
No post-acceptance communication
moving expenses esp. since I have a cat who probably will hate flying
transition to a totally different area of the country could prove to be difficult
probably not going to stay there long-term, but who knows

 

[DrFortiusNatando]

You don't mention a cost comparison between the two schools. You need to look at your own calculated/estimated COA - financial aid/merit aid and then multiply that number x 4. If there is a significant cost difference, you need to factor that in, especially since you will be in training for 6 years after graduation and not making much money if you do cardiology (and interest will accumulate).

Eliminate your concerns about admissions office post-interview communication. Once you go to a medical school, you will never see the adcom staff. It is not necessarily a reflection of the rest of the med school administration.

But from what you have written in your own pros and cons, if there is not a significant money difference between the two, Georgetown wins.

 

[Orangecat1234]

You don't mention a cost comparison between the two schools. You need to look at your own calculated/estimated COA - financial aid/merit aid and then multiply that number x 4. If there is a significant cost difference, you need to factor that in, especially since you will be in training for 6 years after graduation and not making much money if you do cardiology (and interest will accumulate).

Eliminate your concerns about admissions office post-interview communication. Once you go to a medical school, you will never see the adcom staff. It is not necessarily a reflection of the rest of the med school administration.

But from what you have written in your own pros and cons, if there is not a significant money difference between the two, Georgetown wins.

With the schools being similarly equal and my comfort level favoring Georgetown. I agree, Georgetown wins.

However I would be taking out 40 thousand a year in loans for Miami and 65 thousand a year for Georgetown multiplied by 4. I won’t make money as a cardiologist until 7 years after training and that is a lot of time to accrue Interest on the extra 100 thousand Georgetown will be.

I don’t know how much this extra debt will make me feel burnt out at a physician. Do you have any further insight?

In other words, is this a significant money difference ?

 

[DrFortiusNatando]

With the schools being similarly equal and my comfort level favoring Georgetown. I agree, Georgetown wins.

However I would be taking out 40 thousand a year in loans for Miami and 65 thousand a year for Georgetown multiplied by 4. I won’t make money as a cardiologist until 7 years after training and that is a lot of time to accrue Interest on the extra 100 thousand Georgetown will be.

I don’t know how much this extra debt will make me feel burnt out at a physician. Do you have any further insight?

In other words, is this a significant money difference ?

That is a significant money difference, but probably not enough to change what is the obvious decision, especially if you are going to go into CARDS, which will eventually pay good money. I don't think you will feel burnt out paying back the loans. I think it is more of a risk that it would be very stressful in the short term to pick up and move to a place where you do not have a support system. That said, if you decide on Georgetown, it will be important to live relatively frugally. But you have an advantage in that you know the area, and will be able to find decent housing etc.

 

[Orangecat1234]

That is a significant money difference, but probably not enough to change what is the obvious decision, especially if you are going to go into CARDS, which will eventually pay good money. I don't think you will feel burnt out paying back the loans. I think it is more of a risk that it would be very stressful in the short term to pick up and move to a place where you do not have a support system. That said, if you decide on Georgetown, it will be important to live relatively frugally. But you have an advantage in that you know the area, and will be able to find decent housing etc.

Thanks so much for your time and insight!

 

[SpookyKG]

Orange, gorowannabe touched on some important stuff. Here are my thoughts.

Given what each school reports, for 4 years, out of state, you're looking at:

Gtown
$385,502

UofM - out of state
$296,325

A difference of ~$89,177 is nothing to scoff at, which is a large objective point in Miami's favor. Plus, you aren't going to beat the weather (though DC ain't bad). Miami starts pretty high.

Beyond that, you need to think hard about yourself and what you need. You've almost completed your PharmD (and btw if you have existing debt, that changes the calculation), so you know a bit about the support you need, but it's fair to say that medical school will be more taxing.

What kind of person are you?

You might have some thoughts like: I'm worried about maintaining my current friendships at a distance. I might not feel supported farther from my family... I've had hard times and it's been helpful having their local support. I don't want to move back and forth all over the country, it's not a bad idea to set roots on the East Coast. I'm worried about starting all over again in a new place.

You might also have thoughts like: I'm an unshakeable rock of mental health, I've never really needed a support system to keep on top of things. I have friends all over the country already, it's no problem keeping up. I want to try moving to a brand new place. I can make friends anywhere. Beach lyfe.

When it comes down to it, as long as you do achieve your objective of cardiology without road blocks (and you will have the ability to do this wherever you choose), an extra $89,000 isn't going change having to live like a resident in residency, like a fellow in fellowship, and when you become an attending, even if you make a VERY conservative $350k, you are looking at maybe one more year of 'living super well but not fabulously well' before your debts are paid. It's a lot, but it's manageable.

Think about what's important to you, and realize that in this journey- med school, residency, fellowship, you need to 'pay' yourself. Live somewhere you'd love to be for 4 years, where you'd be happy, independent of med school. People burn out all the time, sometimes it’s those things outside your school that keep you going. If you choose ONLY on finances, maybe you'd do things most efficiently, but maybe it doesn't meet what you need as a person.

Only you know what you might need in those years.

You're lucky to have two great choices, and you're probably going to be fabulously happy and successful regardless of the path you choose.

I’d love to hear other people's thoughts!