Hackensack Meridian vs ECU Brody vs USUHS (PHS)

[caligirl22]

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Hi everyone! So thankful to be deciding between 3 great options.

State of Residency: North Carolina
Specialty of Interest: Not entirely sure, I can see myself in surgery/obgyn or neurology and also internal medicine


Hackensack Meridian
Pros

• Get to live near a big city
• large variety of specialty matches
• lots of friends in the area
• feels like there's more to do
• mandatory class --> I think it would encourage me to study
• Really good step pass rates and high average score
• opportunity for dual degrees in 4th year
• rotations in NYC
• medium class size (170 students)
• Really nice facilities

Cons

• very expensive (72k tuition)
• high cost of living
• condensed curriculum (step 1 and 2 are taken only a month apart)

**Would probably apply for HPSP scholarship for this program because of expenses

ECU Brody
Pros

• VERY cheap (24k tuition)
• low cost of living
• seems very supportive /has a collaborative environment
• 50% primary care matches but at top institutions (think UVA, UNC, Duke)
• in state so I can visit family
• all 3rd year rotations are in greenville (don't have to move around)

Cons

• small town vibes, not much to do
• less matches into surgery but also could be because of smaller class size (86 students)
• facilities are kind of old (building a new one but only finishes in 2027)
• non mandatory classes

USUHS (public health corps)
Pros

• Free + 82k stipend every year of medical school
• New location (DC)
• great hospital (Walter reed to rotate at)
• seems very collaborative
• unique curriculum (military focused)
• would be able to do a lot of great public health work

Cons

• limited to IM, peds, FM, anesthesiology, radiology, gen surg, or obgyn (part of agreement)
• Seven year service commitment after residency + fellowship adds to service commitment
  • lower salary during service compared to peers
• might have to go very far for rotations and during service
• working mostly on west coast for service (I have family on the east coast)

Summary: I'm leaning towards Brody as of right now, but I am unsure if the experiences at USUHS or Hackensack would justify the cost/time commitment