redpanda71
Full Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2020
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Hello and apologies in advance for this late night indecisive post. I’m having a really tough time deciding on a school and would appreciate any advice!
Harvard
Pros: it’s Harvard. A dream school of mine since forever. Heard it can “open doors” and such. I loved the sense of community in their LMSA and there’s a lot about their program I’m really into. I’ve never been to Boston, but based on what I’ve learned I think I’d really like it. I also like the 1 year preclinical a lot, I’m interested in exploring specialties asap.
Cons: barely gave me any aid even after an appeal (still trying again though). Idk why they are so much more expensive than other need based schools. Looking at paying over 80k a year or 320k total. Yikes.
Hopkins
Pros: also very prestigious. So can also “open doors”?? They gave me great aid, looking at paying only 35k a year. The student body seems collaborative and supportive (at least they stressed this during 2nd look), which is important to me. Also have never been to Baltimore, but it seems like an okay city. I like that the weather is more temperate than Boston, but also Boston seems like a cooler city overall. Grain of salt though as I’ve never been to either city.
Cons: not as excited to live in Baltimore as I would be to live in Boston. A little confused on the happiness/stress levels of students, every student I’ve talked to has said it’s pretty well supported and low stress, but online opinions seem to differ. Also not as into the 1.5 year preclinical, kind of prefer the idea of getting it over with in 1 year.
Yale
Pros: the flexibility seems pretty cool. I unfortunately was not able to make this second look so I feel slightly less informed (planning on watching some recordings soon). Also a great school, although not as highly ranked as Harvard/Hopkins. Students seem happy and less stressed, and I heard you don’t have to take shelf exams? Cost is slightly more than Hopkins, a little over 40k a year.
Cons: would kind of rather be in a bigger city than New Haven. Bit more expensive than Hopkins. Also has 1.5 year preclinical.
UCLA
Pros: the weather! Mountains! Beach! I actually toured this school and got to know current students, super chill vibes and seemed pretty low stress and happy. I was given a full in state tuition scholarship (I’m out of state but can establish residency after a year), so I’d just have to pay CoL which is estimated around 35-40k.
Cons: LA traffic, I really hate traffic. Not as prestigious as Harvard/Hopkins. While I love the weather and nature, I’m not sure I’m into the overall vibe of LA - everything is so far apart! Also would be in the “guinea pig” year with the new curriculum. I also have a friend that had a very poor experience with the administration here.
WashU
Pros: full tuition scholarship! Pretty low CoL around 25k. Cheapest option but not by much. Seems super supportive and very transparent with everything.
Cons: not excited to be in St Louis, visited once years ago for undergrad. I think I’d prefer Boston or Baltimore.
If cost was the same, I would absolutely choose Harvard. Unfortunately, it’s far from the same. Hopkins and Yale have emerged as great contenders, and I see myself swaying that way, but I’m unsure if I should choose the financially logical approach or the full send to Harvard approach. Or maybe the best weather approach. Ultimately, I am hoping to choose a school that has lots of support and good vibes, which has been hard to feel out virtually.
As some background, I’m super interested in global health, but all of these schools have great global health programs. All these schools seem to match well. Not sure where I’d like to do residency, but California or Boston would both be cool. Undecided about specialty. One of my top considerations is Derm, although I could also see myself going into IM or going a more working with nonprofits/ volunteering route regardless of specialty.
Thanks for reading!
Harvard
Pros: it’s Harvard. A dream school of mine since forever. Heard it can “open doors” and such. I loved the sense of community in their LMSA and there’s a lot about their program I’m really into. I’ve never been to Boston, but based on what I’ve learned I think I’d really like it. I also like the 1 year preclinical a lot, I’m interested in exploring specialties asap.
Cons: barely gave me any aid even after an appeal (still trying again though). Idk why they are so much more expensive than other need based schools. Looking at paying over 80k a year or 320k total. Yikes.
Hopkins
Pros: also very prestigious. So can also “open doors”?? They gave me great aid, looking at paying only 35k a year. The student body seems collaborative and supportive (at least they stressed this during 2nd look), which is important to me. Also have never been to Baltimore, but it seems like an okay city. I like that the weather is more temperate than Boston, but also Boston seems like a cooler city overall. Grain of salt though as I’ve never been to either city.
Cons: not as excited to live in Baltimore as I would be to live in Boston. A little confused on the happiness/stress levels of students, every student I’ve talked to has said it’s pretty well supported and low stress, but online opinions seem to differ. Also not as into the 1.5 year preclinical, kind of prefer the idea of getting it over with in 1 year.
Yale
Pros: the flexibility seems pretty cool. I unfortunately was not able to make this second look so I feel slightly less informed (planning on watching some recordings soon). Also a great school, although not as highly ranked as Harvard/Hopkins. Students seem happy and less stressed, and I heard you don’t have to take shelf exams? Cost is slightly more than Hopkins, a little over 40k a year.
Cons: would kind of rather be in a bigger city than New Haven. Bit more expensive than Hopkins. Also has 1.5 year preclinical.
UCLA
Pros: the weather! Mountains! Beach! I actually toured this school and got to know current students, super chill vibes and seemed pretty low stress and happy. I was given a full in state tuition scholarship (I’m out of state but can establish residency after a year), so I’d just have to pay CoL which is estimated around 35-40k.
Cons: LA traffic, I really hate traffic. Not as prestigious as Harvard/Hopkins. While I love the weather and nature, I’m not sure I’m into the overall vibe of LA - everything is so far apart! Also would be in the “guinea pig” year with the new curriculum. I also have a friend that had a very poor experience with the administration here.
WashU
Pros: full tuition scholarship! Pretty low CoL around 25k. Cheapest option but not by much. Seems super supportive and very transparent with everything.
Cons: not excited to be in St Louis, visited once years ago for undergrad. I think I’d prefer Boston or Baltimore.
If cost was the same, I would absolutely choose Harvard. Unfortunately, it’s far from the same. Hopkins and Yale have emerged as great contenders, and I see myself swaying that way, but I’m unsure if I should choose the financially logical approach or the full send to Harvard approach. Or maybe the best weather approach. Ultimately, I am hoping to choose a school that has lots of support and good vibes, which has been hard to feel out virtually.
As some background, I’m super interested in global health, but all of these schools have great global health programs. All these schools seem to match well. Not sure where I’d like to do residency, but California or Boston would both be cool. Undecided about specialty. One of my top considerations is Derm, although I could also see myself going into IM or going a more working with nonprofits/ volunteering route regardless of specialty.
Thanks for reading!
