HMS v Columbia

[poopooface]

So my heart is pretty set already, but I want to just get a sanity check.

My interests/goals/information:
- Surgery (uro/urogyn, ent, would consider other surgical specialties)
- Want a family in the next few years and am the one who has to be pregnant
- Healthcare economics research/healthcare finance, entrepreneurship
- Partner has a demanding career that makes NYC the no brainer location. Boston is good too but much bigger risk.
- Will take out "loans" from family so cost differential is not as big of a consideration

Columbia
Pros:
1. Essentially free for me to attend, no burden on anyone
2. NYC is guarantee for my partner's career
3. Cheaper on campus housing but we'd probably live off campus eventually?
5. Very strong for surgery

Cons:
1. Seems to have the least to offer in terms of cross disciplinary work, least excited about their curriculum and extracurriculars, was told that not many people stray from the traditional 4 years of med school route. Also seems more of humanities x medicine lean, versus math/science/econ x medicine
2. NYC is yuck
3. Has AOA I think and h/hp/p/f
4. Have heard that the NY hospital culture is awful, and rumors that VPS is actually competitive. Old hospitals and more limited training sites it seems

HMS
Pros:
1. I <3 Boston way more than Philly and NYC, can see myself staying and raising a family there
2. Cross disciplinary network is most strong both in industry and academia, especially given the life science/health finance presence in boston. Also basically any niche research you can find it's there. 5 year MD == more flexibility
3. P/F everything, no AOA, everyone I've met is so chill
4. Seems to have the best support system for people with families?
5. Extensive training sites and newer facilities
5. It's harvard and my very asian families are over the MOON about it. I can hold it over my sibling who went to the vastly inferior HBS (a joke).

Cons:
1. Likely way more expensive;150k of debt; even student housing is super expensive
2. Bigger risk for husband's career and Boston is expensive as all hell. May need a deferral of a year in order to have a soft landing in Boston.
3. I never showed up to class in college and I am worried I will literally fail out because of their strict attendance policy lol

Originally my top choice was Penn, but then I realized I would choose Columbia over Penn simply because of money/location, even though I like Penn's program more. But with HMS my heart says take the risk of needing to defer a year and pay more because of all of my 'pros'.

Is there any reason that the extra cost/time to go HMS is not worth it over VPS? Am I overstating Columbia's weakness in health econ/finance?

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[GoSpursGo]

Why are you asking us instead of your partner?

Of course on paper HMS is awesome. But if you could literally ruin your partner's career by moving to Boston over NYC, that's a crappy thing to do.

 

[poopooface]

Why are you asking us instead of your partner?

Of course on paper HMS is awesome. But if you could literally ruin your partner's career by moving to Boston over NYC, that's a crappy thing to do.

perhaps what I said was confusing -- he can find a job in boston too it's just not as simple of a transition. we've talked about it extensively and he is supportive of wherever I want to go

 

[GoSpursGo]

perhaps what I said was confusing -- he can find a job in boston too it's just not as simple of a transition. we've talked about it extensively and he is supportive of wherever I want to go

That makes more sense.

They’re both great schools. You can’t go wrong, so if you both are on board with HMS then go for it. Just have some introspection and make sure you’re not doing it primarily to please your family.

 

[eastcoastbestcoast]

Know many students at HMS and a good few at Columbia - would 100% go HMS based on their experiences (regarding competitiveness, overall QoL at HMS, etc.). Seems that you know you want to go HMS, assume that your partner is likely in finance/consulting and Boston has most of the major firms (especially consulting); with a supportive partner and a clear first choice, would go HMS

 

[poopooface]

Know many students at HMS and a good few at Columbia - would 100% go HMS based on their experiences (regarding competitiveness, overall QoL at HMS, etc.). Seems that you know you want to go HMS, assume that your partner is likely in finance/consulting and Boston has most of the major firms (especially consulting); with a supportive partner and a clear first choice, would go HMS

thank you for the input! and yes, he's in kind of a niche sector of the financial industry so I'm just crossing my fingers for smooth recruiting

 

[truthwarrior]

two incredible options.. but harvard is harvard. at the end of the day u know urself best, but make sure if u do end up choosing columbia then HMS wont be in the back of ur mind and something u secretly start resenting SO for.

 

[poopooface]

two incredible options.. but harvard is harvard. at the end of the day u know urself best, but make sure if u do end up choosing columbia then HMS wont be in the back of ur mind and something u secretly start resenting SO for.

Fair! My deep fear is actually that Harvard disappoints and I’ll wish I chose Columbia 😆

 

[TheGOOD_MD_slimreaper]

I think you should follow your heart. Worst case scenario is you do a long distance relationship between NY and Boston (which is not that bad). Medicine is a demanding career and unfortunately your partner will have to make some sacrifices. But in life, I'd rather follow my dream and regret it than not follow my dream and regret it. Go to Harvard.