Iowa ($$$) vs ECU ($)

[Okazaki Frag Grenade]

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I've currently been accepted at Iowa, and am on the waitlist at ECU. Apologies in advance for making a thread on a decision that I may not ever have to make, but the prospect of these options is stressing me out!

I really have no strong leanings on what I want to do long term as a physician. I like research and could be interested in academic med, but I wouldn't really miss it either if I end up in PP or a community hospital. Things like ophtho, ortho, ENT seem cool, but I don't know if I want something surgical, and I'm also realistic that I'm probably not a brainiac that's going to sail to a 250+ Step 1 either. Medicine will be my career, but I would like to have a good work/life balance down the road as well.

ECU
(+) In-state tuition, about 80k total for 4 years
(+) Very low cost of living
(+) Wife could keep current job, great financial stability for us for all 4 years
(+) Weather is awesome
(+) I would like to end up in NC (or the Southeast) down the road

(-) School is very focused on primary care. I'm not opposed to this, but I want to keep specialty options open
(-) Does not have departments/home residencies in several areas that I would at least like to explore (radiology, neurology, anesthesia, ENT, ortho, ophtho)
(-) Fewer opportunities in research

Iowa
(+) Loved the school/program
(+) Good mix of strong clinical training and tons of research opportunities
(+) Higher "ranked," but obviously neither one is a top 10
(+) Close to family supports

(-) Higher tuition (guaranteed 50k first year, potential to get IS years 2-4 @ 35k) = 155k ... or 200k worse case, meaning a difference of 120k between the two. Not a small chunk of change.
(-) Probably has more midwest emphasis on match (tough to know, though, as 67% of class is from Iowa and most likely want to stay around there if they can, which skews the results)
(-) Less financial stability for us moving, fewer contacts, wife's new job, etc
(-) SNOW SNOW SNOW

 

[Terror Billy]

I think Iowa is the much better school if you remove the finances. Depending on what you want (residency) ECU might not give you the same opportunities that Iowa can for applying into more competitive specialties. In addition, if you have family nearby that has to make it a bit more palatable to go out to Iowa.

 

[Okazaki Frag Grenade]

I think Iowa is the much better school if you remove the finances. Depending on what you want (residency) ECU might not give you the same opportunities that Iowa can for applying into more competitive specialties. In addition, if you have family nearby that has to make it a bit more palatable to go out to Iowa.

Yeah Iowa would definitely provide more opportunities to explore different specialties. But I just don't know when the potentially larger amount of debt becomes "worth it." Part of me feels like the lower tuition would free me up to choose a specialty that pays less as an attending if I like it because I wouldn't feel that push to match to something with a higher salary.

Also, I would still have support in NC, as other family members live across the state (about 5 hours, versus 1.5 hours for the ones in Iowa).

 

[Terror Billy]

Yeah Iowa would definitely provide more opportunities to explore different specialties. But I just don't know when the potentially larger amount of debt becomes "worth it." Part of me feels like the lower tuition would free me up to choose a specialty that pays less as an attending if I like it because I wouldn't feel that push to match to something with a higher salary.

Also, I would still have support in NC, as other family members live across the state (about 5 hours, versus 1.5 hours for the ones in Iowa).

yeah the fact you're married and have a stable life in NC would tell me at this stage in your life ECU is the better life fit. i think you make a very valid point about the debt/specialty argument, you can probably choose something that you're truly interested with not as much stress to pay back the debt.

***I had missed the you were married and want to stay in NC before 😉

 

[Okazaki Frag Grenade]

yeah the fact you're married and have a stable life in NC would tell me at this stage in your life ECU is the better life fit. i think you make a very valid point about the debt/specialty argument, you can probably choose something that you're truly interested with not as much stress to pay back the debt.

***I had missed the you were married and want to stay in NC before 😉

Thanks for your input! I appreciate it

 

[Cawolf]

Since we are talking money, how do the total COAs compare? I think you only noted the tuition at each school.

 

[Okazaki Frag Grenade]

Since we are talking money, how do the total COAs compare? I think you only noted the tuition at each school.

They're really pretty equal for both places, with it being maybe a little cheaper for ECU. The plan is that all our room/board/living expenses will come from my wife's salary. Obviously Iowa would have an adjustment period while she searches for a job, while ECU would just be a continuation of what we have now.

 

[naijacardriodoc]

ecu