- Joined
- Sep 8, 2012
- Messages
- 599
- Reaction score
- 1,340
I was fortunate to be accepted to both Jefferson and MCW and am having issues deciding between them. Both seem like fantastic institutions! I'm planning to go to both second look weekends anyway, but figured I'd seek out opinions.
I'm hoping to go into academic medicine or have a research-oriented career back in CA (also, if anyone is familiar with the schools and sees anything incorrect I wrote, please let me know!)
Jefferson
Pros
Cons
MCW
Pros
Cons
I'm hoping to go into academic medicine or have a research-oriented career back in CA (also, if anyone is familiar with the schools and sees anything incorrect I wrote, please let me know!)
Jefferson
Pros
- Nice mix of lecture (M/W) and PBL (T/Th), as well as clinical skills practice a few times per month
- Get a week off to prepare for exams
- P/F preclinical years although clinical is not
- They have a research track and I can do research with anyone in the city of Philadelphia
- Students were incredibly happy here
- Tons of student organizations available to be a part of (and if not, you can create one easily)
- Lots of sporting events in the city
- Student housing available
- Most rotations done at Jefferson Medical Center
Cons
- Not a big of Philadelphia (or any urban environment -- I'm more of a suburban kinda person)
- Quiz every week (not a big deal since it can keep me on track of the material, but worth noting)
- New curriculum will only be in its second year (although students said a lot of the kinks should be worked out by then)
MCW
Pros
- Lectures/lab twice per week along with PBL/patient simulation once per week
- Lot of free time to study and do extracurriculars of interest
- Can do as much or as little research as I want (Faculty Collaboration Database exists so I can collaborate with faculty at other universities pretty easily)
- Facilities were hella nice
- Fantastic Chinese food within a mile of campus
- Students seemed like they really liked the school (although didn't seem as ecstatic as Jefferson) -- I'd rate it like an 8/10 in terms of student happiness
- Directly attached to a bunch of other medical centers
- Wauwatosa seemed like a pleasant place to be living
- Also have sports teams although Brewers/Bucks aren't that good
- Rotations primarily done at connected medical facilities
Cons
- MKE has poor public transportation so getting around not easy -- I'm likely to have a car though since it sounds like most students need one
- Grading is High Honors/Honors/Pass (not a dealbreaker, but again worth noting)
- MKE is pretty segregated according to the faculty I talked to and not particularly safe
- MCW dealing with this lawsuit: Medical College of Wisconsin knew doctor was accused of performing unnecessary surgery (does this matter at all?)
Last edited: