Help! Einstein or Upstate

[arghh]

I've just been accepted to Albert Einstein but going there means borrowing 60K more and with interest probably will mean 100K diff between these two schools.
Upstate doesn't sound so bad even though I am from NYC. Einstein has a better reputation and location but I don't know if i want to be in 200k debt especially since i will become a primary care physician. I would appreciate any comments on these two schools. Thank you!

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[CityIvy]

what school is "upstate"?

 

[arghh]

Upstate is State University of New York-Upstate Medical University located in Syracuse.

 

[ckent]

Unless there are huge differences in quality of life that you know about now that you think are worth 60,000 dollars, go to upstate. I'm sure that there are curriculum differences and one might be better then the other at teaching something, but almost all medical schools gear the first two years towards preparing students for USMLE part 1. Because this is a standaridized exam, the education at almost all medical school during the first two years is roughly the same. There might be a difference in the education or the atmosphere during third and fourth year (I will be a second year next year so I don't know for sure), but most schools have a pretty standard third year experiences from what I've heard. In terms of going into primary care, don't think that just because you are going to upstate that you have to do primary care. You can still change your mind no matter where you go. Most schools, public or private, produce the same amount of primary care physicians a year (roughly 40-60% of most medical school classes enter primary care classes). It's up to individual students whether they want to go into other specialties. (Just to give you some actual numbers, according to U.S. News 2000, University of Washington, which focuses heavily on primary care, had 58.6% of it's graduates going into primary care residencies whereas Duke University, a school that focuses heavily on producing specialists, had 49.0% of it's graduates going into primary care residencies (The dean of admissions at Duke told my friend that they do not focus on training primary care physicians)). (Also people can subspecialize after completing their residencies but that's more dependent on their residency program then the school they graduated from).

 

[Nik]

I had a similair decision this year. I had to choose between Boston University and Upstate Medical University. I chose Upstate..I plan to be a specialist (orthopedic surgery or something). I couldn't justify spending 40 -50 grand per year for probabably little to no benefit. Syracuse is h/p/f, has note-taking system, and a nice atmosphere. THE PRICE IS RIGHT! Also, the match list was quite impressive...almost the same as BU. I'm not sure about Einstein, but I suspect its the same. Plus, SUNY Upstate University Hospital is top notch. Hope this helps. If you nned more help...please ask

 

[booie00]

Ckent,

Actually when I interviewed at upstate, I had the impression you couldn't change your mind on what you planned to pursue in medicine while in school.

After the second year, the class diverges to two different groups. Upstate has two campuses; the one in Binghamton is geared toward primary care while the one in Syracuse is geared toward specialties, research, and the rest. What bothered me the most, aside the dreary long winters in Syracuse, was that you had to choose which campus you were going to attend before even school started! In essence, you had to know whether or not you wanted to go into primary care or specialized care.
Although I wasn't sure if they allowed you to change your mind during the first two years - in hindsight I should have asked them that - but the fact that they make you decide early on gave me the impression that you were pretty much bound by it. Of course I might be wrong.. (if so please enlighten my ignorance )

 

[kd]

I'm also planning to go into primary care and was accepted to a couple of expensive private schools, including one top-20 (Rochester, which I absolutely loved.) However, I've chosen to attend a less expensive state school (East Tennessee) instead. As much as I liked Rochester, I just couldn't justify taking out all those extra loans to pay the higher tuition. I talked to a lot of physician friends about it and they all said the same thing- where you go to school is not as important as how well you do once you get there. All schools cover the same material for USMLE Steps 1 and 2; the biggest differences are in terms of research opportunities, clinical exposure, student body, etc. For that matter, Upstate may actually have a stronger primary care program than Einstein. OTOH, if you think you might want to go into academic medicine or some high-powered specialty, reputation does become more important and Einstein might well be worth the extra money. Just make sure that you choose a school at which you will be HAPPY...don't go somewhere that you hate just because it will save you money.

 

[Nik]

Booie-

your right. Upstate does make you choose a clinical campus when you interview---syracuse or bing. However, this does not mean you have to do primary care. Several who chose bing matched into ortho, optho, surgery, etc.. into some pretty good programs. The opposite is also true, syr people matched into primary care at Yale, UCSF, etc..

Additionally, if you are at either Syr or Bing, you can still rotations at either campus. If you choose bing, and want to do a ortho rotation at Syr, you can. Essentially, its only for your third year--even that is flexible. Some say bing is better because you receive hands on instruction form attendings.

I am not sure if you can change your minds on which campus to atttend, but I imagine so. Overall, Upstate is a good school that combines research, education, and patient care and the price is definately right. The match list is also impressive. For me, it comes down to what you do during medical school, whether you are at Einstein or Upstate. At the end, residency directors want to know how you did, not where yuo went to school. If you do good at either school, you WILL get the residency of your choice.

Good luck.

 

[arghh]

Thank you for your comments. But I already decided to attend Einstein just bec I think I will be more happy there. I am already thinking of various schemes to pay off my loans. I am thinking of asking my future husband to pay off a part of my loan instead of giving me a diamond engagement ring? (i don't have a fiancee, so this is hypothetical) Do you think this is obnoxious?

 

[Nik]

Aaargh--

congrats on your choice. I'm glad you decided to go where you'll be happy, although I'll be sad you aren't going to join me at Upstate next year You go girl--ask your future hubby to help payback those loans, although I suspect you'll have little problems paying them back when you become a physician. hehe
Enjoy med school and good luck..we're in for a great ride!

 

[Nik]

Aaargh--

congrats on your choice. I'm glad you decided to go where you'll be happy, although I'll be sad you aren't going to join me at Upstate next year You go girl--ask your future hubby to help payback those loans, although I suspect you'll have little problems paying them back when you become a physician. hehe
Enjoy med school and good luck..we're in for a great ride!

 

[Izzy77]

hey everybody,

First off, a big hello to those starting school @ Upstate in a few weeks. I'm going into my second year there, and if any of you have questions, write me a note.
With regards to clinical education, it is possible to switch between programs after you have made the decision on the day of your interview, up until about April of second year.
It is a common misconception that Binghamton trains you for primary care. It is a different learning environment than Syracuse, mainly in the fact that there are no residents or interns to follow... mostly you work with an attending. It offers a wide variety of clinical experiences and produces graduates who go into all different fields of medicine outside of primary care.
And yes, Nik,the price is right. I'm taking out about half the loans some of my friends at Brown are.... less than what my undergrad cost!

Izzy

 

[ashtanga]

Izzy, I will be a MS 1 at Upstate. I wanted to write you but I couldn't get your e-mail address. I have been in Syracuse since Sunday and I am just bumming around until orientation begins.

 

[Izzy77]

Hey Ash,
I'm up here too working in the ER, and if you want I could show you around. Email me at [email protected]