I have reason for asking....Yale or Umich?

[kreno]

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Obviously acceptances/rejections aren't being given at yale yet. But, if accepted at Both... where would you go? Please give me your insight - i'm not asking this just 'cuz i'm bored - it's really something I need some insight into. Assume in-state tuition at Umich.

Thanks!

 

[Adcadet]

have you interviewed at either? If so, then I bet you can tell where you'd fit in better than anyone here.

What, do you have friends who owe you major favors on the admissions committees at both Yale and Michigan?

 

[kreno]

I knew I'd get people who would give me trouble on this. Dude, it's simple - I obviously interviewed at both and am seriously considering both... but I'm looking for some outside perspective - that's all.

 

[scootad.]

Pick whichever school US News tell you to.

 

[souljah1]

Kreno,

I don't know why these cats are acting like chodes, but I think I have a reason why.

I personally can't help you out very much with the comparison (I didn't apply to either last year). I suggest you do some searches. I know that many threads last year discussed Yale, but I don't recall many discussing UM's curriculum, opportunities, etc.

 

[14931]

yale is in new something, michigan is in michigan, i think 😕 where would u like to be?

thats one question.

 

[SunnyS81]

I haven't been to yale, but michigan is an excellent school + instate tuition makes it a winner in mind.

good luck,

 

[deleted9493]

Personally, if I was choosing between the schools....I would go to Michigan. I too am a Michigan resident and I could never pass up in-state tuition to a top ten medical school. In my mind's eye, that would border the absurd.
Yale is definitely a prestigious school but so is Michigan. New Haven sucks...ann arbor is awesome. Both schools send many students off to prestigious residencies. To me, the choice is obvious....but you can't know for sure until you've been to both schools yourself.

 

[standoc]

Hey Kreno,

I'm also considering both Yale and U of M, and I too am a Michigan resident. My opinion is, if you want a very traditional and hard core curriculum, than Michigan is great. Even more so if you want to stay in Michigan. Yale offers a lot of flexibility, you can do a 5th year without tuition or even a dual degree, and its pass/fail so you can choose where to put your effort. I imagine its probably as good or better than michigan for east coast residencies. Also..yale requires an honors thesis, so if research isn't your thing, stick to Michigan.

I think basically it boils down to structure - if you like the Michigan track and do everything the administration says you should do, you'll end up in a good residency in Michigan or elsewhere.....if you want a lot more personal freedom, and have the initiative to do without much structure and still pass USMLE's and learn the material, than Yale is great.
Good luck on your choice bud, I'll let you know how it turns out for me (Currently have Umich interview, waiting on Yale)

Standoc

 

[nero]

i haven't been to eitehr place, so i might be of little use, but i would choose yale.....reason being is i like the fact that you are an independant, no pressures of tests, etc, you can just study, if you dont go to class its ok.....you do what you want, i like that kind of freedom.......just a thought........residency wise, i'd say both schools will get you an awesome residency.......i'd say go to mich only if $ is a huge factor


nero

 

[UMgrad]

I would say Yale, but who am I to say...

 

[goldenbears18]

In defense of New Haven: despite its much misaligned reputation, it really is a great city - for those who truly take the time to get to know it. Many people (admittedly, including most Yale students) are quick to write off New Haven and its surrounding community without realizing that the city really does offer great nature, history, culture, restaurants, and social events (not to mention proximity to New York). The intellectual atmosphere is undeniable, and the growing biotechnology industry offers a new and interesting dimension to town-gown relations. For students who want to go to medical school in a city where they can really become involved in the local community, I would argue that New Haven trumps Ann Arbor.

 

[DukeBluDevl02]

I don't give a damn for the whole state of Michigan, the whole state of Michigan, the whole state of Michigan. I don't give a damn for the whole state of Michigan, 'cause I'm from OHIO!!!

GO BUCKS!!!

Go to Yale!

 

[kreno]

Souljah you rule... thanks. Yeah, i knew i'd get **** for asking this question - people are so weird when a "compare schools" thread comes on - they get cynical... as if I'm doing this to entertain myself 'cuz I couldn't think of anything better to write about and was somehow in NEED of creating a thread.


You guys are all sweet! Jeez, great arguments... nothing particularly new - i've thought of all the things mentioned, but definitily not in the *perspectives* some of you put it in.... so thanks! Helped me look at things in some new lights. Keep it rolling... it's really not easy.. i know.

First though, there is obviously no correct choice - the choice is never simple because it is inherent upon the type of student you are. So, it really just depends.

Nonetheless, there are clear DIFFERENCES between the school, which should, hypothetically, make the choice easier as long as you *KNEW* what you were looking for in a school. turns out, that little skill isn't that easy...

I wasn't expecting so many people to come to the defense of Yale, however. That i must admit.

Did you guys pick up any vibes from the students at the respective institutions - those of you that interviewed at both that is? Or those who interviewed last year maybe? I personally got the vibe that people at Umich were more competitive, and kinda arrogant.... kinda more nerdy in general compared to Yale. I don't know, at Yale I just had this aura of genuine learning... that's just me of course. you?

 

[Nefertari]

If i had to choose, it would depend on the financial aid package from Yale. Past apps have mentioned that they've been quite generous. If price is comparable, then you can compare the other aspects of the 2 schools & decide where you'd feel more comfortable.

 

[goldenbears18]

kreno,

i've interviewed at both places and also got the feeling that students at yale were incredibly laid back, more so than students at michigan. all of the yalies i talked to really believe in the Yale system and seem interested in learning not because of getting a good grade, but because they want to become good doctors.

I may be slightly biased because I'm at Yale undergrad. But even as a med student here, being able to take advantage of the fabulous opportunities on the undergraduate campus would be an amazing thing (not only undergrad/other grad school classes, but also interesting speakers, forums, and countless other intellectual/academic opportunities).

Michigan also seems like a great place. Ann Arbor is a really awesome college town, and there is just no comparing Big 10 vs. Ivy League sports! Admittedly, I don't know too much about the academic environment on campus, but I didn't get quite the same sense of excitement as when I visited Yale med. I'm not sure if residency matches are a factor for you, but Yale's list seems stronger than Michigan's (although Yale matches tended to be more bi-coastal, if you are looking to stay in the mid west perhaps this is a negative?).

Ultimately, I guess the best thing to do is go with your gut instinct about each school and where you think you would thrive the most. Good luck!

 

[Thewonderer]

I just cut and paste my reply in another thread here. Premeds are in general too impatient. Just sit back and relax and let the following algorithem decide for you. Your decision in 1) should override 2) which should overwrite 3).....

1) Wait PATIENTLY....until you get the financial aids from all the schools back. Choose the school that throws the most money at you!!!!!

2) Where ever your family, wife/husband, g/b-friends are......

3) big city, if you like people and, well, people (or rural area, if you like trees and no traffic).....

4) If it is a top 10 med school, maybe that can sway your decision a little... However, it does not matter if the school is ranked 23 v.s. ranked 48......

5) If it is between 150 students/class v.s. 100 students/class, choose the one with a bigger class. 150 and 100 are both pretty small numbers. Either way, both environments will be highschoolish with lots of gossip. But with 150 people per class, you will have 50% more chance meeting the "right" type of people whom you will fit in with and be your life-long friends, than if you have 100 people per class.

5) throw a coin!

Often times, pre-meds make the decision too hard for themselves. The truth is that you cannot get an accurate sense of what the curriculum is and how nice the people are from ONE SINGLE day of interviewing! Maybe you have a good time visiting a school but once you decide to attend there, you cannot predict 2 years down the road, you will get some jack-a$$ residents on both of your medicine and pediatric rotations and ruin your whole 3-year rotation! Or during 2nd year, your partner for pathohistology will be a supreme gunner and make everyone around him super-stressed out! The fact is that med students are goal oriented, and you will INVARIABLY get stressed out by your classmates at one time or another. Despite what med schools LIKE you to believe, there are gunners everywhere (more so at top 10 med schools than others). Some don't like to use the word, gunner, and prefer to call them, extremely goal-oriented. Whatever.... Just use the above criteria and try not to make the decision too hard. Remember, if you really cannot decide, just take the $$$ and run

 

[punkin2]

First, a disclaimer - I'm a M1 at Michigan, so I may be just a bit biased. Also, I didn't even get an interview at Yale, so I may also be a bit bitter. That said, here is my 2 cents:

Michigan and Yale seem like almost polar opposites in terms of curriculum/ teaching style. Michigan is very traditional. Even though the curriculum is changing next year, I cannot image that the teaching style will change too drastically. We have very structured lectures, structured schedules, weekly quizzes, etc. This may be great or terrible for you depending on how you learn. If you like small group, learn on your own, work your own hours type learning , Michigan may not be the best place for you, and I would reccomend Yale. On the other hand, if you like more structured learning Michigan would be better.

Another thing to consider is that Michigan students are very highly regarded and recruited for residency. I'm not there yet, but I've heard that the third year here is a b!tch. Residency directors know that, and want us. I've also heard a completely unsubstantiated rumors that Yale students are blackballed by some resident directors because they are seen as lazy. Please don't flame me if this is not true. This could simply be trash talking by my classmates.

Good luck with your decision. I hope you get into the school you want to go to.

 

[GoodMonkey]

i'm in the same boat ... interviewed at both and they're my top 2 choices, and i'm from michigan. (went to umich undergrad as well)
i'm leaning towards yale, though, in the event of a being accepted at both. yeah, there will prolly be some negative attitudes about this thread, but kreno you expected that already, right. 🙂

besides that, i would just like to point out that umich has instituted curriculum changes that are starting with the entering '03 class. one of these changes is a research/thesis requirement. so the arguement of research/no research isn't really relevant beginning next fall. but that's the reason i'm interested in these 2 schools most - i want to do some research, just not at a phd level.

just wanted to add that bit to the discussion.

 

[relatively prime]

I would go to Yale. I love Yale. I didn't care much for UMich.

 

[uclachris]

I'll go to whichever takes me!

Wish me luck... The next two weeks are make or break... I just have to remember not to talk about Michigan basketball when I go to Michigan (i.e. self-imposed sanctions) or about "W" when I go to Yale (I'm not saying that he's not doing a good job; but to call the "executive branch" the "administrative branch" is a bit of a scary inditement on the education one gets...)

I think you can't go wrong with either. If I'm not mistaken, Yale's match list is mind-blowing...

Best of luck to you all!
C

 

[Tweetie_bird]

man!!

I went to a U Mich seminar and I found the school to KICK ASS!! They are starting up a new curriculum right now and putting all their notes/lectures on the net. All you have to do is download them and listen to them when ever you want....they are also compacting their curriculum to 18 months so you can jump into clinicals earlier. They are moving toward a very hi tech environment. I liked U Mich a lot.

No idea about Yale.

 

[exigente chica]

Originally posted by goldenbears18
kreno,

students at yale were incredibly laid back, more so than students at michigan. all of the yalies i talked to really believe in the Yale system and seem interested in learning not because of getting a good grade, but because they want to become good doctors.

I may be slightly biased because I'm at Yale undergrad. But even as a med student here, being able to take advantage of the fabulous opportunities on the undergraduate campus would be an amazing thing (not only undergrad/other grad school classes, but also interesting speakers, forums, and countless other intellectual/academic opportunities).

YALE rocks..u were right on goldenbears

 

[Random Access]

Originally posted by hudsontc
Yale is definitely a prestigious school but so is Michigan. New Haven sucks...

Uninformed opinion on the "New Haven sucks"... goldenbears said most of what needed to be said. I'll add that the restaurants (Ethiopian, Thai, Indian, Italian, you name it) are amazing. And there are tons of bars and clubs, so there's lots to do. Yale-New Haven is great, the biotech is thriving, and the residency matches trump Michigan.

And the Yale System is great. The Yale med schools students I've met are really cool and really love it.

And let's be honest, the Yale name draws a lot of big names to speak and teach on campus. You can shake hands with anyone from Jerry Springer to Michael Dukakis to Al Franken to Kofi Annan. And that's not to mention the Nobel Prize winners (including some from this year) and everyone else who comes to campus.