Georgetown vs Miami

[JoelEmbiid]

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Hey everyone, I am trying to decide between Georgetown and Miami Miller and am having such a hard time. I love both schools for different reasons and have no clue what to choose. For some background, I am from Philadelphia and pretty determined to match ortho as my own experience with ortho is 90% of why I want to be a doctor. I would prefer to match in the northeast for residency but have an open mind as I am always open for new experiences. I will be moving with my girlfriend who is interested in getting her MPH and working in research and her future is a good bit of my decision ( She prefers DC but is open to Miami). We have no ties to FL except my mom who lives in Sanibel for half the year and Philly for the other half. My best friend lives in DC and we both know some people in the area.


Miami (COA ~75-80k)
Pros:

• The curriculum is amazing - I really like the 1 year pre clinical. This opens up about 5-6 months post step 1 and 2 to do electives/research to get experience before aways.
• Match rate for ortho has been outstanding last couple years (around 80-85%)
• I’ve talked to many students and everyone loves it, really haven't heard of any bad experiences only positive
• Mentorship is better than GU from what I’ve heard - Less students applying ortho and more centralized hospital system makes relationships easier to create - I’ve heard with GU mentorship is hard to get because of volume of students applying ortho
• I’ve heard from students that there is ample time for research + good research opportunities - no one over the last couple years has taken a research year who matched ortho
• Have heard so many great things about the clinical experience and how well Miami prepares students for aways
• MPH programs in the area for my GF - a lot of entry level research jobs at the U
• Because of the airport cheap flight access to all over
• Chance to try out a new environment and culture to what im used to - this is scary and exciting because I like to try new things but more uncertainty

Cons

• Name carries less weight in the NE? Their residency matches show they send students to amazing programs but i feel like GU carries more weight in the NE
• Farther away from my community/friends - This is more a worry for my Gf I want her to be able to see friends and not feel isolated
• Much smaller job market for my Gf
• Weather - for half the year the weather is amazing and the summer is brutal + I like all 4 seasons.
• Awful public transportation and traffic, this isn't as important for me because the medical campus is accessible by public transit but wherever my GF works I hope it isn't too bad
• Feels like much more risk and uncertainty moving to Miami with my GF vs DC
• All I know about living in DC is what I see on tiktok and DC seems much more ‘real’ and like an actual community.

Georgetown (COA~105k -110k)

Pros:

• The name. I’ve gotten mixed advice on how important this is but GU obviously carries prestige nationally and definitely in the NE
• Also hear great things about the clinical training
• DC. The location is Ideal, warmer, all four seasons, a lot more jobs for my GF. The culture of DC is more familiar to what I am used to and would be a easier transition for my girlfriend. Much more our vibe.
• Best friend lives in DC
• Easier to travel to cities and see friends from college.
• Super walkable
• Massive hospital system in Medstar, diverse range of hospitals and patient populations.
• Probably well connected within the NE
• Great match list a well for ortho (although their match percentage has struggled recently)
• Feels like more stability and sure that ill like the location (This is mostly because I am familiar with it and know my gf will like it).

Cons

• I’ve heard some negative things about the preclinical there.
• Some clinical sites are far especially for ortho rotations
• Match rate for ortho has been lower recently ~50%
• Many more students are applying for ortho, I’ve heard from students this makes it very hard for any sort of mentorship relationships until 4th year.
• Clinical lottery system - might not even get a home ortho rotation before aways
• More structured and required 4th year electives than miami
• Seems like there is less dedicated time for step 2 and that step 2 has to be jammed in before away rotations
• Seems like students end up taking research years

Overall it feels like Miami is a school where I will be able to have more opportunities and enjoy the actual education more and miami doesn't seem like it holds students back from matching wherever they want. My concern is just the location itself and the experience my girlfriend will have. Georgetown feels more secure, better location for both me and my GF but i feel like miami is the better education and opportunity for me at lower cost.

 

[riv_jordan]

I think your overall assessment at the end is accurate. My inclination is Georgetown due to you and your partner's preference for the location. Most would consider Miami the stronger school, but GT will still set you up well for the professional and academic goals you've listed here. Has your GF looked into options for her career in FL?

That said, based on the numbers you've given the COA difference is ~$120k which is fairly significant. Would GT require taking on a greater private loan burden? If so, that definitely changes the calculus in strong favor of Miami.

 

[jvquarterback]

Miami’s the choice here. Cheaper and sets you up better.