I recently got in to Jefferson Medical College. Since that time, I've gotten interviews at both the University of Illinois as well as George Washington University. What do you guys think? I love the clinical focus of Jefferson, and loved the people at my interview, but should I attend the GWU/UIC interviews? On the one hand, I feel as if I should cancel the interviews and let someone else have a shot, but on the other hand, I don't want to be missing out. Can anyone compare them to Jefferson?
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Jefferson vs UIC vs GWU
Started by ToasterThief
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I don't think it's worth it to go to the interviews. If you really liked Jefferson, Philly, and the people at Jefferson then what more do you need? Plus, it's not as if the other schools are considered a "tier" above Jefferson. In the end, just do what feels right for you.
I interviewed at both GW and Jefferson, and I attend Jefferson. Are there any specific questions you have? Both are relatively similar in focus, I found the student body at Jeff warmer and more accomadating, but I'm also a Jeff homer. Both are in cities, do you prefer one over the other?
I will say, if you feel like you're "missing out", why don't you go to the interviews? Unless you are 100% absolutely certain you want to attend Jeff, I would keep an open mind. If you are certain, then you would be thinking very courteously to withdraw and allow a few other people opportunities for interviews.
Good luck.
I will say, if you feel like you're "missing out", why don't you go to the interviews? Unless you are 100% absolutely certain you want to attend Jeff, I would keep an open mind. If you are certain, then you would be thinking very courteously to withdraw and allow a few other people opportunities for interviews.
Good luck.
just know that the UIC chicago campus has already been filled
Thanks for your help. I guess my specific question revolves around the differences between going to a med school that has an undergraduate university associated with it in the area, and the resources that it provides (gyms, etc). Do you feel that the Jefferson campus ever feels too small?
I agree it would be helpful if you posted what some of the things are that you're looking for in a school, or that you really liked about Jefferson. Also, what is your state of residence? If it's not IL, isn't UIC around $52,000 for OOS? Anyway, I haven't interviewed at Jefferson, but I've read great things about it. Here are some quick cliff notes on UIC and GWU (where I've received acceptances):
GWU: Traditional curriculum, lecture from around 8-5 everyday except Thursdays, when it ends mid-day. Juggling a bunch of classes (i.e., not block/systems based). Students I spoke to said that they only had one or two hours a day outside of studying and classes to themselves, and seemed a little over-worked. The student body seemed friendly. Facilities and technology are very good and the hospital is only a few years old and very very nice. Great sim labs. Amazing global health opportunities (they said 33 M1 students went abroad last year), and health care policy opportunities. They have a track system with a couple of focuses like global health and health care policy, where you go to seminars on the issues and I think eventually do some kind of research. Bench research isn't done much at GW, but students interested in research do great research nearby at NIH (at least, I think that's what I remember them saying). DC is great, but it's incredibly expensive. Apparently a studio near the med school is around $1300. My suggestion is that if you really want to live in DC or if you have a real interest in global or health care policy, I think you should go to the interview. Otherwise, you could probably pass.
UIC: Ridiculously expensive for OOSers. I think that's definitely something to take into consideration here. They have a traditional curriculum, I think 9-5, juggling classes. Students didn't seem thrilled with the curriculum, but they have been making some changes to it in recent years. The facilities are very old and the technology is not great (you only use microscopes for histology, instead of the monitors I saw in classrooms at most other schools I interviewed at). I also don't recall seeing any sim labs. The med school building felt dark and old, and the student facilities (lounge, etc.) were in the basement with very low ceilings with exposed pipes. Not a big deal, but definitely a different feel from other facilities I've seen. They do, however, have a very nice state of the art gym they share with Rush, and have a very nice campus feeling. While I don't think the first two years stand out at UIC, the research opportunities and funding are supposedly excellent, and the clinical years (and rotations at Cook County Hospital) are phenomenal, with first-rate clinical training. Also, UIC had one of the most diverse student bodies I've seen at a med school. 👍 Keep in mind that it's also one of the larger med schools, and that most of the students are IL residents.
Anyway, those are my impressions of the schools. Good luck with your decision.
GWU: Traditional curriculum, lecture from around 8-5 everyday except Thursdays, when it ends mid-day. Juggling a bunch of classes (i.e., not block/systems based). Students I spoke to said that they only had one or two hours a day outside of studying and classes to themselves, and seemed a little over-worked. The student body seemed friendly. Facilities and technology are very good and the hospital is only a few years old and very very nice. Great sim labs. Amazing global health opportunities (they said 33 M1 students went abroad last year), and health care policy opportunities. They have a track system with a couple of focuses like global health and health care policy, where you go to seminars on the issues and I think eventually do some kind of research. Bench research isn't done much at GW, but students interested in research do great research nearby at NIH (at least, I think that's what I remember them saying). DC is great, but it's incredibly expensive. Apparently a studio near the med school is around $1300. My suggestion is that if you really want to live in DC or if you have a real interest in global or health care policy, I think you should go to the interview. Otherwise, you could probably pass.
UIC: Ridiculously expensive for OOSers. I think that's definitely something to take into consideration here. They have a traditional curriculum, I think 9-5, juggling classes. Students didn't seem thrilled with the curriculum, but they have been making some changes to it in recent years. The facilities are very old and the technology is not great (you only use microscopes for histology, instead of the monitors I saw in classrooms at most other schools I interviewed at). I also don't recall seeing any sim labs. The med school building felt dark and old, and the student facilities (lounge, etc.) were in the basement with very low ceilings with exposed pipes. Not a big deal, but definitely a different feel from other facilities I've seen. They do, however, have a very nice state of the art gym they share with Rush, and have a very nice campus feeling. While I don't think the first two years stand out at UIC, the research opportunities and funding are supposedly excellent, and the clinical years (and rotations at Cook County Hospital) are phenomenal, with first-rate clinical training. Also, UIC had one of the most diverse student bodies I've seen at a med school. 👍 Keep in mind that it's also one of the larger med schools, and that most of the students are IL residents.
Anyway, those are my impressions of the schools. Good luck with your decision.
I'm a resident of PA, which doesn't help as far as tuition at Jefferson goes. The fact that UIC tuition for OOSers is so high is definitely a negative, as is the fact that the Chicago campus is all filled up.
As far as what I'm looking for in a med school: I love the community and collaboration at my current undergrad school. I came in to the pre-med thing fairly late in my undergraduate career, and hearing pre-meds arguing with professors for extra points on exams just made my blood boil. That arguments for another time however. I'm definitely looking for a school in/around a city. Research isn't a huge priority for me: I feel as if I've done enough of it as an undergrad to realize that I want to primarily focus on clinicianship (at least at this point). On the extracurricular side, access to some sort of gym would be nice.
As far as what I'm looking for in a med school: I love the community and collaboration at my current undergrad school. I came in to the pre-med thing fairly late in my undergraduate career, and hearing pre-meds arguing with professors for extra points on exams just made my blood boil. That arguments for another time however. I'm definitely looking for a school in/around a city. Research isn't a huge priority for me: I feel as if I've done enough of it as an undergrad to realize that I want to primarily focus on clinicianship (at least at this point). On the extracurricular side, access to some sort of gym would be nice.
Jefferson has a gym. Alternatively, you could run though the Italian Market, like Rocky, which is only a half-mile away.
Yes and no. No, because the entire city of Philadelphia is at your disposal - yes, Jefferson has a decent gym or two. But if you don't like it, there's a Bally's a few blocks away, 12th street gym is nearby (literally 2 blocks), Sweat, PSC, etc.
Yes, it can feel small - because there are so many Jefferson students and faculty that I seem to run into them wherever I go. Which isn't a bad thing - it makes the school feel quite neighborly and intimate - but if you want to REALLY escape, then you need to go a bit farther afield.
