HELP: Pritzker vs WashU (full-tuition)

[lioncub415]

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[Melanogaster]

80-85k is very small amount for the price of better fit for 4 years. Personally, I enjoy Chicago a lot more than St. Louis, and having a great group of students that I vibe with has been huge. I'd go UChicago, but I want to go into a fairly competitivie specialty, so your situation may be different.

 

[libertyyne]

think about about your care being worth 20 k, now think about setting it on fire every year for four years to attend school in Chicago.

Take the full tuition deal. It is a higher ranked school, with a lower cost. It will allow you more flexibility in your your career later on in terms of having to worry about loans etc.

 

[puahate]

WashU.

 

[lioncub415]

think about about your care being worth 20 k, now think about setting it on fire every year for four years to attend school in Chicago.

Take the full tuition deal. It is a higher ranked school, with a lower cost. It will allow you more flexibility in your your career later on in terms of having to worry about loans etc.

I think the deal breaker for me is whether the culture among students at WashU is positive or negative. Although I didn't get the sense of a bad culture and the students seemed pretty cool, I've heard it has a reputation. Could be wrong, but I'm not sure.

 

[libertyyne]

I think the deal breaker for me is whether the culture among students at WashU is positive or negative. Although I didn't get the sense of a bad culture and the students seemed pretty cool, I've heard it has a reputation. Could be wrong, but I'm not sure.

TBF WashU and Prtizker both have a bit of a reputation in that aspect. WashU probably more so.

Culture may be toxic at some of these institutions, but it is only temporary. And you can be manage by studying away from the school. This works out since most of medical school is studying by yourself in some place.

 

[CarpeDiem1993]

Both phenomenal choices. Congrats. That being said, I would choose UChicago.

Like people above have said...I have heard a lot of negative feedback about the culture at WashU. That it tends to be pretty cut throat...unfriendly...maybe somewhat "condescending." Idk, it may also be viewed with a "southern bias" by NE and Western residency programs (this observation is by no means based in evidence haha).

UChicago is great because you get to live in one of the best cities in the USA...you get regional access/a leg up to match back to Chicago and Northwestern...also, if you are interested, they have a phenomenal MD/MBA program. The p/f for 4th year is also reallll nice.

 

[freedoctor17]

Where is this wash u being cut throat idea coming from. The students i met there were so chill. I don't think you have to worry about that being an issue. They said everyone shares study materials and helps one another out. I don't know if the under grad has a reputation or something but the medical school seemed great to me.

On that same note your cost difference doesn't seem like a big issue in this case so i think you should just just choose the one you got a better feel for. I just wanted to have some input on this "cut throat" stuff. Pretty sure people are letting the undergraduate reputations affect their view of the medical schools and don't actually know much about the school. I interviewed at both and was waitlisted at both and could've seen myself enjoying either one (although I'll likely be withdrawing from both). The only real con I'd have to add for wash u is the curriculum change that might affect your classes clinical years since the next class after will start in the clinic a year early. They seem to be planning for it pretty well though but it's just something to keep in mind.

 

[lioncub415]

Where is this wash u being cut throat idea coming from. The students i met there were so chill. I don't think you have to worry about that being an issue. They said everyone shares study materials and helps one another out. I don't know if the under grad has a reputation or something but the medical school seemed great to me.

On that same note your cost difference doesn't seem like a big issue in this case so i think you should just just choose the one you got a better feel for. I just wanted to have some input on this "cut throat" stuff. Pretty sure people are letting the undergraduate reputations affect their view of the medical schools and don't actually know much about the school. I interviewed at both and was waitlisted at both and could've seen myself enjoying either one (although I'll likely be withdrawing from both). The only real con I'd have to add for wash u is the curriculum change that might affect your classes clinical years since the next class after will start in the clinic a year early. They seem to be planning for it pretty well though but it's just something to keep in mind.

I also didn’t feel this when I Interviewed or at second look. Students seemed chill and happy. It’s just something I’ve heard.

 

[rball]

OP keep in mind this is that unique time of year when ppl on SDN are on waitlists and you may get a lot of misinformation by pppl w/different motivations.

If you’re truly torn btwn the schools, I can’t see why you would turn down WashU. Cheaper, marginally stronger rep (this rep difference is heightened in competitive specialties esp surgical subspecalties) and cheaper. Based on what you’ve told us, this vote really shouldnt be close. And Im a huge pritzker fan, think its one of the best places for med school.

Neither school is known for having a gunner vibe, compared to other top schools. Esp not pritzker, but even for washu thats not their reputation at all. So I wouldnt worry about this.

If you felt happier at pritzker and felt you’d fit in better there/etc its a great choice and prob worth the marginal cost difference to go there instead. Dont think you can go wrong, but based on what you’ve told us id vote washu pretty easily.

 

[dodolol21]

OP keep in mind this is that unique time of year when ppl on SDN are on waitlists and you may get a lot of misinformation by pppl w/different motivations.

lol truest thing I've seen OP always check post-histories! sad but true

 

[Ilyn]

Have you asked Pritzker to match your WashU offer? It sounds like your only con for Pritzker is the price.

 

[capriccio]

Have you asked Pritzker to match your WashU offer? It sounds like your only con for Pritzker is the price.

I second this, Pritzker is known for taking that seriously, plus Pritzker matched an offer from a lower ranked school for me this year. I imagine they will seriously consider matching for you as well esp since WashU is of similar prestige, though I would hurry to email them if you haven't yet.

 

[lioncub415]

I second this, Pritzker is known for taking that seriously, plus Pritzker matched an offer from a lower ranked school for me this year. I imagine they will seriously consider matching for you as well esp since WashU is of similar prestige, though I would hurry to email them if you haven't yet.

I have and nothing was changed, so it looks like the finances are locked in.

 

[capriccio]

I have and nothing was changed, so it looks like the finances are locked in.

Sorry to hear that, it was worth the try at least 🙁

Hard to say which to pick. The general opinion I've seen from sdn is that <100k debt differences are not extremely significant when accounting for how much you would eventually make. It seems from your post that you feel Pritzker is a better mission/location fit for you, but it is def really tough to turn down full tuition at WashU, since you really wouldn't be limited by either option in terms of opportunities. I guess the question is whether the location/mission is worth the extra money to you.

 

[lioncub415]

Sorry to hear that, it was worth the try at least 🙁

Hard to say which to pick. The general opinion I've seen from sdn is that <100k debt differences are not extremely significant when accounting for how much you would eventually make. It seems from your post that you feel Pritzker is a better mission/location fit for you, but it is def really tough to turn down full tuition at WashU, since you really wouldn't be limited by either option in terms of opportunities. I guess the question is whether the location/mission is worth the extra money to you.

That’s the $80,000 question I’ve been pondering for a month now. Thanks for the input!

 

[AJC1]

So your options are $0 tuition or ~$20k/year tuition? Both of those options are so cheap as med schools go that I think you can feel good about either one financially 🙂