Harvard vs. Stanford

[decision2020]

Happy Super Tuesday everyone. I have been amazingly fortunate enough to be accepted into my 2 favorite schools: Harvard and Stanford. I am seeking the advice of SDN as I have used this website a lot throughout my application cycle and I am truly torn about this decision. The costs of both schools are going to be similar, so that won’t be a factor in my decision.

As of now, I’m set on either neurosurgery or dermatology (yes, very different but I’m fascinated with both) in terms of future specialty. I was born and raised in Texas, so both schools are an airplane ride away from home. Not sure where I want to match in the future, so no geographic preference either.

Harvard

Pros:

• Prestige
• Also interested in MBA, great opportunity at Harvard Business School.
• Love Boston as a city
• One year pre-clinical curriculum. Especially w/ step 1 pass/ no pass, looking forward to earlier clinical opportunities
• No ranking/ AOA/ core rotations are P/F, no competition amongst class
• Match list very good

Cons:

• Have to attend class every day for at least 4.5 hours, not sure that I will learn best this way
• 1 year pre-clinical means very little break between 1st and 2nd year, when I hoped to do a lot of research
• COLD (from the south and despise cold weather)
• Research most likely won’t start until year 3 (I think..maybe current students could chime in?) and I want to work on more longitudinal research projects to maximize publications for residency applications.
• Slightly larger class size

Stanford

Pros:

• Prestige
• Very interested in Entrepreneurship in medicine, right by Silicon Valley
• Don’t have to go to class every day, learn at your own pace
• Weather (closer to home climate in Texas)
• Small class size, easier to grow close with classmates and very community feel when I interviewed there
• 2 year pre-clinical means can space things out more, start research earlier
• Match list very good

Cons:

• Like Palo Alto (don’t mind the suburbs) but definitely see myself living in a city later in life
• 2 year pre-clinical means later clerkships and less clinical exposure before the all important (or soon will be…) Step 2
• Core clerkships graded on tiered system, not Pass/Fail like Harvard. Not sure how this factors in to overall feel and experience

Thoughts, SDN community?

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[strappysandals]

Sorry, I think you are on your own on this one. Cost and prestige is the same and you dont care about location. So pick the school/other intangibles you like more. Cant go wrong!

 

[SleazySalesMed]

Congratulations, truly impressive. Prestige is the same, cost is the same, both have high CoL (Though that area of Cali is probably relatively cheaper?) I'd personally choose Harvard for the P/F clerkships.

I'm also not understanding what you mean by the 1-year pre-clinical note for Harvard. After you finish your pre-clinicals, what exactly do you do with that 1 year? I assumed it involved research and clinicals.

Best of luck

 

[deleted972488]

I would choose Harvard. It sounds like you prefer the curriculum and the location.

that area of Cali is probably relatively cheaper

no, the bay area is absurdly expensive

 

[juliannewman]

Palo Alto>>>>>>Cambridge

 

[strappysandals]

Palo Alto>>>>>>Cambridge

HMS is not in Cambridge lol. Regardless, Boston is a better location than being stuck in the suburbs (for most people). The weather does suck though.

 

[Etopn23]

Didn't Stanford just announce full tuition/cost of living stipends for their entire class (for those that qualify based on need)?

 

[chaim123]

Happy Super Tuesday everyone. I have been amazingly fortunate enough to be accepted into my 2 favorite schools: Harvard and Stanford. I am seeking the advice of SDN as I have used this website a lot throughout my application cycle and I am truly torn about this decision. The costs of both schools are going to be similar, so that won’t be a factor in my decision.

As of now, I’m set on either neurosurgery or dermatology (yes, very different but I’m fascinated with both) in terms of future specialty. I was born and raised in Texas, so both schools are an airplane ride away from home. Not sure where I want to match in the future, so no geographic preference either.

Harvard

Pros:

• Prestige
• Also interested in MBA, great opportunity at Harvard Business School.
• Love Boston as a city
• One year pre-clinical curriculum. Especially w/ step 1 pass/ no pass, looking forward to earlier clinical opportunities
• No ranking/ AOA/ core rotations are P/F, no competition amongst class
• Match list very good

Cons:

• Have to attend class every day for at least 4.5 hours, not sure that I will learn best this way
• 1 year pre-clinical means very little break between 1st and 2nd year, when I hoped to do a lot of research
• COLD (from the south and despise cold weather)
• Research most likely won’t start until year 3 (I think..maybe current students could chime in?) and I want to work on more longitudinal research projects to maximize publications for residency applications.
• Slightly larger class size

Stanford

Pros:

• Prestige
• Very interested in Entrepreneurship in medicine, right by Silicon Valley
• Don’t have to go to class every day, learn at your own pace
• Weather (closer to home climate in Texas)
• Small class size, easier to grow close with classmates and very community feel when I interviewed there
• 2 year pre-clinical means can space things out more, start research earlier
• Match list very good

Cons:

• Like Palo Alto (don’t mind the suburbs) but definitely see myself living in a city later in life
• 2 year pre-clinical means later clerkships and less clinical exposure before the all important (or soon will be…) Step 2
• Core clerkships graded on tiered system, not Pass/Fail like Harvard. Not sure how this factors in to overall feel and experience

Thoughts, SDN community?

Current HMS student. Feel free to DM me with any questions

 

[cleric201]

Currently deciding between the two as well. Would love to chat, feel free to DM me ^^

 

[Biscuitboy11]

I think the prestige factor is about the same in the medical community. Also have met more than a few Stanford grads and most have entrepreneurial aspirations, seems much more part of their education/training. I'm in Boston, Harvard Med grads aren't supposed to be interested in "money/business". Also, between December and April Boston is a pretty dreary place. I'll cheer up in the spring...

 

[9blade]

As a southerner myself, I would prefer Palo Alto. Those winters in Boston are no joke. Ultimately, like someone said above, prestige is the same and if costs are the same, it really all just depends on you and what you prefer. They're both going to get you where you want to be. It's up to you to decide how you want to do it? warm but expensive techy suburb or cold but cheaper city?