Harvard vs. Columbia vs. CCLCM

[Med.Geek]

Firstly, I am beyond grateful for how this cycle has panned out. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined to get an acceptance at any of these schools, let alone all three of them.

That said, I'm torn between the three and want to make an informed decision soonish. I hope to narrow it down to at least two schools, and commit fully to one of them after revisits.

About me: I'm from the deep south, my support network resides here. Interested in academia/public health/health policy. I do not qualify for any need-based aid.

Harvard
Pros:

• Prestige
• Could not be happier living in Boston
• Friends in the area
• Favorite curriculum of the three (after recent changes to USMLE step 1)
• Opens doors to every possible opportunity conceivable
• Loved the current students and have kept in touch with a good bit throughout the cycle
• Very tight-knit class (by virtue of mandatory lectures and ~85% of the class living together in dorm-style quarters for M1)

Cons:

• Current students seemed a little stressed (?), could be due to having mandatory lectures on top of their extracurricular involvements
• Could coming from the south potentially hurt me in this new elitist society (should it even exist)?
• Cost of attendance is absurd
• Not ready for the weather change

_______________
Columbia
Pros:

• Fan of their curriculum
• The faculty seemed particularly interested and invested in their students here
• Students seemed generally happy, could be attributed to sampling bias
• Prestige and the match list are tip top.
• Many close friends in NYC, which is also bustling with opportunity

Cons:

• NYC is a little overwhelming for me...I got lost on the metro station for an hour when I tried it for the first time.
• Not a huge fan of the Washington Heights neighborhood/area
• NYC might potentially be too distracting, though I could probably say the same about Boston

_______________
CCLCM
Pros:

• Full tuition and potentially COA (awarded based on merit later into the cycle)
• Match list on par with top 10 programs
• 32 student class size, increases mentorship intimacy and strengthens relationship (important to me)
• P/F, no internal ranking, no AOA like the other two, but also has P/F clinical rotations (M3)
• The Cleveland Clinic is routinely ranked #1 in a variety of specialties, contrary to common belief (when thinking about CWRU at large)

Cons:

• I did not like the city at all (cold, desolate, abandoned)
• The medical degree is conferred by the Case Western Reserve (not Cleveland Clinic....not as prestigious?)
• No direct flights from home, no family support or friends in the area
• Extra 5th year due to having a research year (not a dealbreaker for me, but worth considering)

I know this is a tough a decision and that I "really can't go wrong where ever I decide"...But that is also what makes this so challenging and why I need your help. I have my biases right now and will have more biases depending on the revisits, including the order that I attend them (Columbia > HMS > CCLCM). So it would be really helpful to get an unbiased, third party perspective on this.

Thanks again for your help!

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[ItAintEasyBeingCheesy]

You mention you don’t qualify for need-based aid. Would the COA at Harvard place a significant burden on your family? Or are they well off enough to the point where they’re able to front the cost without much problem?

If it’s the latter I would pick Harvard, period. If it’s the former, then I’d go with CCLM. Or maybe you can pressure Columbia into giving you some merit scholarship by using Harvard as a bargaining chip.

 

[Med.Geek]

You mention you don’t qualify for need-based aid. Would the COA at Harvard place a significant burden on your family? Or are they well off enough to the point where they’re able to front the cost without much problem?

If it’s the latter I would pick Harvard, period. If it’s the former, then I’d go with CCLM. Or maybe you can pressure Columbia into giving you some merit scholarship by using Harvard as a bargaining chip.

Hey thanks for your response! The cost difference between HMS and Columbia will not be significant enough to warrant picking one over the other. Still, my family is prepared to support the cost of whichever school I pick, so I guess the COA at CCLCM won’t hold much value.

 

[ItAintEasyBeingCheesy]

Hey thanks for your response! The cost difference between HMS and Columbia will not be significant enough to warrant picking one over the other. Still, my family is prepared to support the cost of whichever school I pick, so I guess the COA at CCLCM won’t hold much value.

If cost isn’t an issue, then I think the choice is clear. Congrats on Harvard!

 

[TheDataKing]

• NYC is a little overwhelming for me...I got lost on the metro station for an hour when I tried it for the first time.

You'd figure it out, I'm sure, but take the Harvard A and runnnnnn. CCLCM is 5 years which eats away at one year of attending salary/your life and if cost doesn't matter, HMS is the clear winner to me.

 

[enchantments]

Harvard

• Opens doors to every possible opportunity conceivable

--------

• Still, my family is prepared to support the cost of whichever school I pick-

 

[strappysandals]

Clearly you like Harvard most. CCLCM is a unique program and not worth going to just for free tuition - that place can really make you miserable (mandatory tbl, mandatory research all 5 years, mandatory etc. etc. they consider med school as a job - show up mentally engaged everyday during preclinicals in business casual attire and then go home and study.) Atleast that was my impression from my interview there.

 

[Med.Geek]

Clearly you like Harvard most. CCLCM is a unique program and not worth going to just for free tuition - that place can really make you miserable (mandatory tbl, mandatory research all 5 years, mandatory etc. etc. they consider med school as a job - show up mentally engaged everyday during preclinicals in business casual attire and then go home and study.) Atleast that was my impression from my interview there.

That wasn’t quite my perception of it all, actually. I loved that aspect about the school

 

[deleted915325]

I love the thought of CCLCM. Really wish I knew about it before I did my apps a few years ago. I had the same perception of Harvard when interviewed. Students seemed very stressed, even the ones giving tours etc. The prestige obsession there by many of the faculty and tutition are also huge turn offs imo. During my interview I asked one of my interviewers what set Harvard apart from the other T10s and he literally said “because we are gods.” That put a bad taste in mouth. Not to mention the $48 parking charge for 4 hours worth of parking

 

[strappysandals]

That wasn’t quite my perception of it all, actually. I loved that aspect about the school

Haha i know, it just wasnt for me I guess. I do believe that they have the best medical education of all schools. All the TBL, professionalism, and high standards for students definitely crafts mature, confident physicians more often than perhaps a student who studied hiding in their dorm all 4 years (just a theory).

I just meant if someone doesnt like those aspects of CCLCM, one should not go just for the free tuition. They wouldnt be happy.

 

[imbesrs]

Harvard, parents are paying COA. Comes off as weird flex thread imo


/thread?

 

[Med.Geek]

Harvard, parents are paying COA. Comes off as weird flex thread imo


/thread?

Cost was not the only conflicting attribute when I posed this thread.

 

[Vincero]

Lemme get your autograph!! 😍 No /s

 

[imbesrs]

Cost was not the only conflicting attribute when I posed this thread.

If you want my full shpeel,

CCLCM: 32 kids, constrained class, if you dont like who youre with youre outta luck 5 years. Oh yea its also 5 yrs.

Hard to justify columbia>harvard unless you really value your NYC lifestyle/friend support to that extent. Boston is also a bustling city with many things to do recreationally. I also take it youll be able make many friends both on and off of campus. BU/HMS/Tufts/UMass so plenty of students in the area. Dating game plethora.

All places you will experience all 4 seasons... so a "seasonal adjustment" will be necessary. Cost is not a factor.

Therefore, just go to Harvard lol, there is no pricetag on this:

Opens doors to every possible opportunity conceivable

If in the future you may want a harvard/penn MBA after, there will be no barriers to getting one.

 

[Med.Geek]

If you want my full shpeel,

CCLCM: 32 kids, constrained class, if you dont like who youre with youre outta luck 5 years. Oh yea its also 5 yrs.

Hard to justify columbia>harvard unless you really value your NYC lifestyle/friend support to that extent. Boston is also a bustling city with many things to do recreationally. I also take it youll be able make many friends both on and off of campus. BU/HMS/Tufts/UMass so plenty of students in the area. Dating game plethora.

All places you will experience all 4 seasons... so a "seasonal adjustment" will be necessary. Cost is not a factor.

Therefore, just go to Harvard lol, there is no pricetag on this:



If in the future you may want a harvard/penn MBA after, there will be no barriers to getting one.

Super helpful!! Thank you for that!!

BU/HMS/Tufts/UMass so plenty of students in the area. Dating game plethora.

Also....hit the nail on the head lmao