IUSM vs Cincinnati vs UCF

[Medicineandbasketball]

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Hey everyone! Decision day is coming closer and I am very nervous. I am so thankful for the acceptances to these great schools and would like your advice to which one I should choose. I am out of state for all 3 schools and wasn't able to attend second look for any of them. The specialty I am interested in is internal medicine and I hope to subspecialize in cardiology, but I will keep my mind open for other specialties.

Indiana
Pros:

• Nationally recognized and main medical center in the state
• Ranking: 50 on US News
  
• P/F Grading (though I do not know if there are internal rankings)
• Seem to have a strong Internal Med Dept/Residency Program
• Numerous research opportunities and centers in the state

Cons:

• OOS Tuition all 4 years (Cannot re-classify after M1)
• Not sure which of the 9 campuses I will be placed in for M1-2 and I think M3-4 is in a different campus
• No family/friends in the state

Cincinnati
Pros:

• Established program/one of the oldest med schools in the midwest
• Ranked 44 on US News
• High Step 1 Scores (like 241 average)
• In-State tuition after M1 (making it the cheapest out of all my options)
• Very welcoming in Interview Day and loved the city
• I have some family and friends here.
• Lot of research going on in the campus and has well known Children's Hospital

Cons:

• Although it is P/F, there are rankings by quartiles
• I have not heard much about its Internal Med/Cards programs (please let me know if you have more info regarding this)
• Competition from other Ohio med schools like Case Western and Ohio State

UCF
Pros:

• Very impressive Match List
• High Step Average (240 range)
• Facilities are brand-new and campus is beautiful
• Lake Nona is a growing medical system with new hospitals planned in the area
• I have a family member in the Orlando area
• Florida weather
• Research component in curriculum during M1-2

Cons:

• Letter Grades (not P/F)
  
• OOS Tuition all 4 Years (although I got a scholarship which should make it cheaper than IUSM)
• Newer so not as highly ranked as IU and Cincinnati
• Seems to be isolated from main city and housing complexes so may need to drive quite a bit

This has been a tough choice for me. I would like to go to the school that would best prepare me to match into a great IM residency and has accessible cardiology/IM research opportunities. Cost is a consideration but research opportunities are the biggest factor for me. Thank you everyone for the help!

 

[sss1219]

It sounds like Cincinnati is the best option for you, cheapest and support systems nearby as well as the highest ranked (although among those 3 it really won't matter, beyond t20 is relatively unimportant). The only real con I see is the quartile p/f but I think that's relatively benign compared to letter grades at UCF and the high cost/no supports systems at IU

I'm not sure what you mean by 'competition from CWRU and OSU students' as a con but I don't think you will have any problem finding opportunities for furthering your goals at Cincy

 

[Medicineandbasketball]

It sounds like Cincinnati is the best option for you, cheapest and support systems nearby as well as the highest ranked (although among those 3 it really won't matter, beyond t20 is relatively unimportant). The only real con I see is the quartile p/f but I think that's relatively benign compared to letter grades at UCF and the high cost/no supports systems at IU

I'm not sure what you mean by 'competition from CWRU and OSU students' as a con but I don't think you will have any problem finding opportunities for furthering your goals at Cincy

Thanks so much for the reply! I should have clarified that point. I was just worried if the reputation of those other Ohio med schools would overshadow Cincy if I do intend to stay in Ohio for residency and beyond. It was mainly a point of comparison to IUSM, which is the major medical system in Indiana.

 

[Dr. Meliodas]

By your pro and con list Cincinnati seems to be the front runner.

Also UCF's average Step 1 last year was a 236 not 240. I know the year before it was 238

 

[foxm1]

Hi, I'm an M2 at UCCOM. Might be my bias, but I think Cincinnati is the best choice for you 😉

Could you clarify what you mean by competition from other OH schools being a con? And honestly, I don't find the ranking system to be all that bad. Everyone's so collaborative here that I haven't come across any toxic competiveness. Also, you don't have to bank on getting a residency here at UC -- many people do, but you could really go anywhere after graduation!!

My advice is to focus more on the overall med school experience. Don't worry so much about the match at this point. You'll do just fine with an education from any of these schools.

 

[Medicineandbasketball]

Hi, I'm an M2 at UCCOM. Might be my bias, but I think Cincinnati is the best choice for you 😉

Could you clarify what you mean by competition from other OH schools being a con? And honestly, I don't find the ranking system to be all that bad. Everyone's so collaborative here that I haven't come across any toxic competiveness. Also, you don't have to bank on getting a residency here at UC -- many people do, but you could really go anywhere after graduation!!

My advice is to focus more on the overall med school experience. Don't worry so much about the match at this point. You'll do just fine with an education from any of these schools.

Hey I just meant if I do plan on staying in Ohio, I was just worried about the overshadowing by other med schools in the state for top residencies/fellowships in Ohio. I was contrasting it with IUSM, which is the only med school in Indiana I think and thus has a large hospital catchment area. This is probably not that important.

 

[foxm1]

Hey I just meant if I do plan on staying in Ohio, I was just worried about the overshadowing by other med schools in the state for top residencies/fellowships in Ohio. I was contrasting it with IUSM, which is the only med school in Indiana I think and thus has a large hospital catchment area. This is probably not that important.

Ah, okay. I have never heard of that being an issue, but then again I'm only in my second year here. IMO it's more important to go to a school in which you think you could succeed, and it sounds like you have a strong support system in Ohio.

 

[willow84]

Sounds like Cincinnati based on your pros and cons!

 

[Medicineandbasketball]

Ah, okay. I have never heard of that being an issue, but then again I'm only in my second year here. IMO it's more important to go to a school in which you think you could succeed, and it sounds like you have a strong support system in Ohio.

One other question I had-- Do you know about the availability/accessibility of research opportunities in IM (especially cardiovascular disease)? I know Cincy is amazing for pediatrics, but haven't heard much about IM. I imagine there is a lot of collaboration between departments.

 

[foxm1]

One other question I had-- Do you know about the availability/accessibility of research opportunities in IM (especially cardiovascular disease)? I know Cincy is amazing for pediatrics, but haven't heard much about IM. I imagine there is a lot of collaboration between departments.

Lots of opportunities for research! Plenty of students get funding through MSSRP.

There are many scientists in the Cardiovascular Research Center that you could potentially reach out to.

 

[tekkenman11]

What was the cost of attendance for IU?