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Hi all,
Currently deciding between UCLA/Vanderbilt for normal MD admissions; however, I've been considering attempting to transfer in to the respective MSTP programs. Even if I don't, I'm interested in a research career and will probably take a research year at least.
I know that UCLA and Vanderbilt have similar residency director reputation scores and are probably on a similar tier in general. However, for my interests at least (neuroscience, neuroimaging) it seems that UCLA offers advantages for research reputation, number of relevant faculty, and achievement level/pull of those faculty.
My question is: how important are these smaller differences in reputation? Is it adequate to train at a reasonably strong institution with reasonably strong faculty, with a focus on developing a broadly applicable understanding of how to be an independent investigator? Or is it worth it to try to gain every possible advantage and find someone with slightly more connections/suction, who can train you in slightly more innovative methods and get your papers into slightly higher impact journals?
Currently deciding between UCLA/Vanderbilt for normal MD admissions; however, I've been considering attempting to transfer in to the respective MSTP programs. Even if I don't, I'm interested in a research career and will probably take a research year at least.
I know that UCLA and Vanderbilt have similar residency director reputation scores and are probably on a similar tier in general. However, for my interests at least (neuroscience, neuroimaging) it seems that UCLA offers advantages for research reputation, number of relevant faculty, and achievement level/pull of those faculty.
My question is: how important are these smaller differences in reputation? Is it adequate to train at a reasonably strong institution with reasonably strong faculty, with a focus on developing a broadly applicable understanding of how to be an independent investigator? Or is it worth it to try to gain every possible advantage and find someone with slightly more connections/suction, who can train you in slightly more innovative methods and get your papers into slightly higher impact journals?
