How to decide?

[docwannabe2]

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For those of us in the enjoyable situation of having to choose between more than one of our top choices, how should we decide? As much as I loathe US News, it seems like we're going to need to rank these schools SOMEHOW... how important should location be? Should we be more worried about where we'd be happy living, or where we'd get the best patient exposure? Or should we be mostly worried about where our personality fits? How can we figure out where we'd get the best residencies?? Any advice from current students?

 

[mikedc813]

You're right. There are tons of variables that affect your ultimate decision. But the questions should be redirected back at you in the sense that it's all a matter of what's the most important to you. If location is important to you then obviously that's going to make you choose one place over another. If one school has a significantly better academic reputation and you're looking to get a prestigious residency then that should be a factor. Cost is also a huge factor for people. I know some who have gotten into very good medical schools and who chose to go to a state school because it was much cheaper and it still will make them into doctors. So it's all a matter of where your priorities lie. What's most important to you? Getting a residency at Mayo, Mass General, Johns Hopkins? Finding the cheaper option? Being closer to family?

 

[Attentive]

You're right. There are tons of variables that affect your ultimate decision. But the questions should be redirected back at you in the sense that it's all a matter of what's the most important to you. If location is important to you then obviously that's going to make you choose one place over another. If one school has a significantly better academic reputation and you're looking to get a prestigious residency then that should be a factor. Cost is also a huge factor for people. I know some who have gotten into very good medical schools and who chose to go to a state school because it was much cheaper and it still will make them into doctors. So it's all a matter of where your priorities lie. What's most important to you? Getting a residency at Mayo, Mass General, Johns Hopkins? Finding the cheaper option? Being closer to family?

I'd agree with mikedc. It all depends on what you want from your medical school. From a recent interview, I think one admissions director put it best when she stated, "go to where you will thrive."

The USMLE is a fairly effective leveler, so regardless of where you go you will be judged in part on your personal competency.

Keeping that in mind, I think the next step is to gauge which school is most compatible with your learning style, a place where the teaching environment and facilities will aid rather than hamper your maturation to a physician's responsibilities. You may survive in some schools, but in my completely uninformed opinion, I think that leads to just competency rather than mastery.

I personally think that although cost should play a factor, the prior considerations should be weighed heavier. I know that I will be in debt following medical school. The difference between a state and private school may vary, but I would much rather pay more to really learn and be prepared for a life in medicine.

Towards that, I'd start making a personal rankings based in part on the residency director ratings from US rankings, prestige to a part, but mostly from actual interviews where you can get a considerable deal of information on how compatible you may be with that school. In any case good luck.

Heh nuts...just realized you asked for current students.

 

[W222]

If you go by US News you are way off. Frankly, you can do your best at a school you are happy at. If you choose school A and are miserable in that environment then you will probably not do as well. On the other hand, if you choose school B and love it you are more likely to do very well there. It doesn't matter what the avg USMLE score is or what, what matters is where you will be comfortable and happy. About 75% of med schools in the US are basically the same;with the exception of Harvard, Hopkins, Mayo, ect. AND of course the couple terrible US med schools out there (ones who have recently been on probation). Hey, I know a girl who graduated from a very low-rank med school and is now at a Harvard residency. It was all in what she did with it. Go where you are comfortable.

 

[Iamajew]

If you go by US News you are way off. Frankly, you can do your best at a school you are happy at. If you choose school A and are miserable in that environment then you will probably not do as well. On the other hand, if you choose school B and love it you are more likely to do very well there. It doesn't matter what the avg USMLE score is or what, what matters is where you will be comfortable and happy. About 75% of med schools in the US are basically the same;with the exception of Harvard, Hopkins, Mayo, ect. AND of course the couple terrible US med schools out there (ones who have recently been on probation). Hey, I know a girl who graduated from a very low-rank med school and is now at a Harvard residency. It was all in what she did with it. Go where you are comfortable.

Totally. I'm at yale now as an undergrad and just met someone who graduated from suny downstate medical school and is a resident at yale new haven. Downstate is a great school, but isn't as highly ranked as the ivy league obviously. She loved downstate, felt comfortable there, has NO DEBT, and is now earning money as a resident at yale, rather than paying $2000 a month to pay off her med school education.

There really seems to be evidence of a "designer education"...but you're really getting the same medical education for more money at these more prestigious schools. Go where you feel comfortable. As for looking towards where you want to do residency, you really can't predict what you will want in the future. So much can happen in the next 4 years (marriage, family etc.)...it's really not a plan that you can concretely adhere to if you want to live well. How well you do in med school will determine the opportunities available to you after graduation to a much greater extent than the name of the school you go to. Go where you will thrive and you'll be a lot happier.

 

[fakin' the funk]

how should we decide?... how important should location be? Should we be more worried about where we'd be happy living, or where we'd get the best patient exposure? Or should we be mostly worried about where our personality fits? How can we figure out where we'd get the best residencies??

Yes to all of the above.

On interviews I've definitely gotten a vibe from the student body. This reflects a lot: how happy the students are, how hard-studying or hard-partying they are, demographic stuff (age range, ethnic diversity, hometown, conservative/liberal, rich/not rich etc). The student vibe and the match list go a long way toward getting a good idea of what the student life is actually like there.

During the interview day you probably got good idea of what the school's strengths are. You probably also got to know the administration a little, get their attitude toward your education, research possibilities etc. Then there is the hospital and what kind of education you'll be getting there and what kind of patients you'll be seeing.

Location is probably last on the list, I would think, since most of your time is spent studying or in class (hopefully). But it obviously figures into cost and quality of life.

 

[skypilot]

Location is probably last on the list, I would think, since most of your time is spent studying or in class (hopefully). But it obviously figures into cost and quality of life.

I think location can be important. You have so little time off it is nice to be able to visit your family without driving 1000s of miles. Also if you want to be in an urban (Hopkins) or a rural (Dartmouth) location could be a factor if it will make a difference to you.

I think the bread and butter medicine that we do as a med student can be done anywhere. Residency is where an urban location might have a real advantage.

 

[MechE]

I agree with W222. Go to the school in which you'll be the happiest.

 

[DeterminedMD]

I am having the same issues....one school I really liked curriculum-wise, but the location was too rural(for me at least). Coming from a large city I dont know if I would be happy living there. I was there for 2 and a half days and was already having doubts about the location....but I think the curriculum is awesome. I am having trouble with my decision because I think my education should come first and I should suck it up and get over the location. But i dont want it to be a problem later on. Hmmm . . . not sure what to do! 😕

 

[Iamajew]

I am having the same issues....one school I really liked curriculum-wise, but the location was too rural(for me at least). Coming from a large city I dont know if I would be happy living there. I was there for 2 and a half days and was already having doubts about the location....but I think the curriculum is awesome. I am having trouble with my decision because I think my education should come first and I should suck it up and get over the location. But i dont want it to be a problem later on. Hmmm . . . not sure what to do! 😕

I sucked it up and lived in new haven to go to yale. Bad move. I got a great education here, but seriously would trade it for a better living experience. This is your life...and there is definitely more to it than the name of the school you go to. Being happy is what counts.

 

[roja]

Heed the warning. If you have a brain (and obviously you have one big enough to get into medical school) and a touch of motivation (repeat previous), you will get a good education wherever you go. sick people abound the world.

If you absolutely Hate where you are living or the people you are in school with, the four years of medical school are goign to suck ass and you are going to be miserable. So pick a place where you liked the students, you liked the town and got a good vibe from. You won't regret it. Whereas if you get sucked into the inane mentality of having to go to 'hot shot premiere school X' despite the fact that you hated the town the people and all things associated with it, you will have given yourself four years of torture for the possibility that maybe in some small place your school name impressed someone.

go to a school you like. Do well, make friends. youll be fine.

 

[Davina3000]

So pick a place where you liked the students, you liked the town and got a good vibe from. You won't regret it.

I like this advice. I think that a good education can be found at pretty much every school, so it's important to find the place that is the best fit personally.

That said, can you really figure out the "vibe" just from your interview day? I left all my interviews with definite feelings, but part of me is scared to make such a huge decision based on the random people I happened to interact with on my interview day and the parts of the school/town I was able to see during such a quick trip. If you are lucky enough to have options, do you recommend going back for a "revisit" or do you think first impressions are really key? Did you make an effort to get in touch with current students/faculty while you were making the decision?

Thanks for any thoughts on this!

 

[roja]

I like this advice. I think that a good education can be found at pretty much every school, so it's important to find the place that is the best fit personally.

That said, can you really figure out the "vibe" just from your interview day? I left all my interviews with definite feelings, but part of me is scared to make such a huge decision based on the random people I happened to interact with on my interview day and the parts of the school/town I was able to see during such a quick trip. If you are lucky enough to have options, do you recommend going back for a "revisit" or do you think first impressions are really key? Did you make an effort to get in touch with current students/faculty while you were making the decision?

Thanks for any thoughts on this!

It is scary. but at somepoint you just have to trust your gut. You get a good idea of what the personality of the school is. And you can gauge a city based on what you like. do you want urban? snow? how close to your family do you want to be?

You made the decision to got to medical school. which one is just gravy.

You can read about schools here as well. look at the interview summaries. you get a good feel for what the schools are like.

 

[kc123]

So much good advice on this thread! I like the advice...."go where you will thrive..." Medical school is hard enough.....Why not be someplace where you can enjoy the curriculum, other students, location? To the OP: I noticed you got into several great schools (lucky you!) -- BU, UVM, UMass -- These are all on my list as well (Well, I haven't gotten in to all of them like you!) -- are you leaning toward any of them at this point? Would be curious to hear your feedback on these schools -- I got a very different feeling at each of them.