Loyola or Georgetown, which would you choose?

[GemPrincess]

Anybody have good reasons to chooose Loyola over Georgetown, or vice-versa?

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[imtiaz]

id pick loyola. but thats just me

 

[NUgirl]

if all other things were equal, i would choose Georgetown over Loyola because it has a better reputation. but that would be the only reason.

 

[gel1]

LOYOLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They actually have money (unlike Gtown). The students are incredibly friendly and laid back, the curriculum is great. The facilities are amazing! Easy choice....

 

[GemPrincess]

Thanks! I totally love Loyola too, the facilities are so amazing. The only downside is the location though....

 

[kmd2002]

Do you dislike the location because it's in the near suburbs or because of the geography (midwest)?
Yeah, it is not in the city, but I'd say at least half of the third and fourth years live in the city. And the L comes out to Oak Park, so getting downtown is easy.

Just FYI.

 

[Sammmeyeam]

Oh my god, don't go to Georgetown...

I wouldn't pick it just because of that lady "Mrs. Solomon"'s speech... don't like her.

Also, I heard that Georgetown is having financial problems.

 

[Cali-Girl]

I wish everyone would stop harping on Georgetown's financial situation. Being bought out by an HMO is not unique to G-town. Plenty of other schools have done it and will do it in the near future. Everyone always focuses on G-town because it is within the top 1/3 of schools, so it's sort of the "higher they climb, the harder they fall phenomenon". Personally, I've gotten into both schools and loved them both for very different reasons. I was born and raised in DC and I must say that living in Georgetown is absolutely amazing...much better than Maywood, IL. G-town does have a better reputation and a much much higher ranking with residency directors. All in all, I'm choosing Georgetown...and for all those who keep knocking G-town's supposed financial situation, you need to update your info.

 

[GemPrincess]

yeah, maywood kinda sucks. it's not the midwest that i mind, i've been born n raised in chicago, but after going to school in the city, i really don't want to move to a ghetto suburb. but, GU wasn't nearly as nice or impressive as loyola was....so i'm still not sure.

 

[bald]

i went to the interview at loyola not expecting much, and was _extremely_ impressed by their facilities. they dont come much newer than that. the workout facility was fantastic. It's funny that people harp on maywood, considering it's 12 miles west of downtown chicago. if you dont like the weather, i understand that, but there are schools in much less attractive locations. in any event, you're going to spend more time in the labs/library/hospital than you will in the surrounding area, so i say loyola > gt (i have visited gt)

 

[Doctor Wyldstyle]

I heard both are great, but if you've lived in Chicago for that long, why not try somewhere new? DC is awesome! I'd choose Gtown for a number of reasons including reputation, city. You do have a strong point for Loyola's facilities. Not many facilities are as new or even NICE as theirs. In fact, most med school facilities in general including ranked schools like georgetown, stanford..etc...all have facilities that are much to be desired. - wyldstyle

 

[SurgeonS4]

i would pick GT over loyola in a heartbeat . . . all of you impressed by facilities? Have u ever wondered why the NEVER show the library? Because hey dont have one! well they do but its from the 1800s and ghetto and small . . . oh and plus loyola doesnt have as great of reputation that GT has . . . plus there are more opportunities at DC . . . any kind of research, if you so choose, is at your doorstep . . . and im sure there are a tons more externships over there . . . well thats my opinion . . .

 

[Tuesday Weld]

Georgetown has the better reputation and name. No question.

•••quote:•••Originally posted by GemPrincess:
•Anybody have good reasons to chooose Loyola over Georgetown, or vice-versa?•••••

 

[slim_shanie]

I initially applied to Georgetown with a primary and it was the only school I didn't apply to in the secondary. My preprofessional advisor explicitly advised me not to because, and I quote, "they will be bankrupt within four years." Better not to take the chance... I did think it was weird that they required a credit report along with the secondary.

I thought they were in the clear financially too but I'm heeding the advice thrown in my direction, just in case.

Shaner

 

[GemPrincess]

yeah tuesday, i do agree about the credit report thing, because loyola asks for a credit report too. as do many other schools. however, i'm not sure about which weighs more...the fact that g-town has a "better name" or that loyola has tremendously better facilities.

 

[slim_shanie]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Tuesday Weld:
[QB] •••quote:•••Originally posted by GemPrincess:
i do agree about the credit report thing, because loyola asks for a credit report too. as do many other schools.••••Then that is a non-issue. ••••The reason anyone would ask you for your credit report is to ensure you will make good on your payments. Banks are not the only institutions that do this. Many medical school provide loans to students; that's why they ask for a credit report. All I am saying is that I thought it was strange that georgetown requires it upfront with the secondary. I'm through the interviewing process at loyola and they have yet to ask me for my credit report so I don't know about the validity of that... maybe they asked you after you were accepted, GemPrincess. That would be make more sense than asking for it with your secondary.

Aside from the financial issue... If you're going to decide between the two, I'd try to get info on the Match for this and previous years. I think georgetown probably did better on the match but I'm not sure. Did students predominantly get their first residency choice at one school or the other? Check this out...

Shaner

 

[GemPrincess]

thanks shaner. where does one obtain match info though? would it be on their website?

 

[none]

I'd go with Loyola just for the financial savings. D.C. is a horribly expensive place to live. Most of the MD/PhD students there were taking out loans!

 

[Darwin]

•••quote:••• All I am saying is that I thought it was strange that georgetown requires it upfront with the secondary. I'm through the interviewing process at loyola and they have yet to ask me for my credit report so I don't know about the validity of that... maybe they asked you after you were accepted, GemPrincess. That would be make more sense than asking for it with your secondary.••••G-town does NOT ask for it with the secondary. Re-read your paperwork. I've been accepted to g-town and have yet to send them one. You only have to send one if you're accepted.

 

[INeedAdvice]

GemPrincess,

I cannot believe you are even pondering this!!

Georgetown is the "Harvard" of parochial med schools. It's an easy decision.

If I would've gotten it, I would've gone in a heartbeat. :wink:

 

[Doctor Wyldstyle]

Hah hah, I thought that was quite funny, but heck..its somewhat true. There are 4 Jesuit med schools, Georgetown, Loyola, Saint Louis, and Creighton. Gtown is the oldest and probably most reknown.

•••quote:•••Originally posted by INeedAdvice:
•
Georgetown is the "Harvard" of parochial med schools. It's an easy decision.

If I would've gotten it, I would've gone in a heartbeat. :wink: •••••

 

[W]

Ok-

I did'nt apply to GTown, but I liked Loyola A LOT. Yes, the facilities were the best that I had ever seen, but the atmosphere, the welcome attitude, the happy students, and the overall stress on the student were even more impressive.

I cannot believe that this place is not ranked (this just goes to show how strange the rankings really are). Anyway, unless I get hit by lightning, this is where I will be happily spending the next four years of my life.

-My humble opinion

 

[slim_shanie]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Darwin:
• •••quote:••• All I am saying is that I thought it was strange that georgetown requires it upfront with the secondary. I'm through the interviewing process at loyola and they have yet to ask me for my credit report so I don't know about the validity of that... maybe they asked you after you were accepted, GemPrincess. That would be make more sense than asking for it with your secondary.••••G-town does NOT ask for it with the secondary. Re-read your paperwork. I've been accepted to g-town and have yet to send them one. You only have to send one if you're accepted.•••••Well then I guess I will stand corrected... (I still think it's weird though haha)

 

[ValleyGal]

I am from around Georgetown, and let me tell you, the area is REDICULOUSLY expensive. So if money is at all an issue, don't go there because you drop it like it is going out of style. Rent, food, clothes, going out, parking, haircuts, etc etc...
But Georgetown does have the better name, but you buy it.

 

[INeedAdvice]

•••quote:•••But Georgetown does have the better name, but you buy it.••••Students seem to panic when they think of educational cost.

Sometimes it's good to take a step back and see the forest for the trees. I think most of us are going to be in debt to some degree (no pun intended :wink: ), but if you don't have children to support, then it's just a matter of paying off your student loans. Students that go to the pricier schools, just have to take out more loans...Instead of paying off your loans for x number of years afterwards, you pay them off for x+y number of years. If you know how to live within your means, then it's no big deal. I went to a pricey undergrad school and I made good money when I got out (and took my debt into account when I figured out my budget). As doctors, we're all going to make fairly decent money, so I don't think anyone will end up an "out-of-work" doctor...that's a rarity (so we don't have to worry about not being able to feed ourselves or being out on the streets).

Now, with that being said, if you have children to support, then it's a whole other ballgame.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

 

[none]

I'm not that convinced that going to a better school (at least the degree of the betterness that separates Loyola from Georgetown) will really result in any meaningful increase in income later on, but I can definitely see the increase in debt.

 

[GemPrincess]

yeah...money IS an issue, as it is with all med students i'm sure, but not enough of an issue that i would actually choose a worse medical school because of it. i'm going to try to find those match lists and determine something from that. if anybody has seen them, can you please tell me where to get them?

 

[GemPrincess]

another thing.....W, are you going to loyola? i haven't heard from anyone on SDN going there, so far.

 

[oldman]

MCW asks for a credit report. they accidently asked for one when offering an interview. the school later emailed me and said we don't need it unless you are accepted...which i was.

 

[IlliniEMT1]

I havent seen Gtown, but I had it personally ranked pretty close to Loyola. Anyways, I interviewed at Loyola pretty early on, and got accepted there - I was so impressed by the atmosphere, the students and faculty, that I didnt even bother finishing the Gtown secondary. That was probably a little closed-minded, but since I already live near Chicago, I thought it was a waste to go so far, and pay so much more for something as inconsequential as ranking. Although the facilities are nice, that shouldnt be a deciding factor- I chose it because I got such a good feeling when I went there- the students i know or met are genuinely happy. Anyways, after seeing the school - the only other school Id rather go to is Pitt (from whom im still waiting for a reply), and even that is a tough decision. [Hopefully stay tuned for an upcoming Loyola vs Pitt? thread.]

 

[gel1]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by GemPrincess:
•yeah...money IS an issue, as it is with all med students i'm sure, but not enough of an issue that i would actually choose a worse medical school because of it. i'm going to try to find those match lists and determine something from that. if anybody has seen them, can you please tell me where to get them?•••••Hi, GemPrincess, when I went to the Loyola interview I got the 2001 and 2000 match lists from the admissions office, per special request. It was a pretty average list. There were several very impressive spots, but my guess is that these were their top students. Loyola has rankings from the first year on. If you want any specific details you can PM me, or you can always contact Loyola.

I thought you already mentioned somewhere that you had decided on Loyola...

 

[Dr. L]

I didn't apply to Loyola but my cousin went there and had a wonderful experience. I did interview at Georgetown and am now in the highly select pool, but I am going to withdraw. I liked Georgetown a lot while I was there, but then I started to think about it and the fourth year curriculum is hellish there. I'm not saying that med school should be or is easy anywhere, just that Georgetown's fourth year is miserable whereas most schools start to ease up in the last year. (this was stated in the mrs. soloman speech.) If you want to end up in the east coast the georgetown name will serve you better, but if you want to stay in the mid-west, I don't think there is a huge difference between the two schools reputations.

 

[Dr. L]

sorry, I meant in Mrs. Sullivan's speech...I knew something sounded wrong when I wrote that.

 

[GemPrincess]

yup, ms sullivan's speech about the 3rd/4th years scared the HELL out of me! g-town seems absolutely ridiculous in that regard. i thought i had decided on loyola, because i was placed in the highly select pool at g-town also, and then just got lazy to write the letter after my loyola accept came in. so now i'm just trying to decide what to do; i'm sure it's too late for the letter at this point anyway, so i think i'm just going to screw the g-town thing.

 

[W]

I'm almost positive that I'm going to Loyola.

 

[SurgeonS4]

from what it sounds like . . . they havent taken anyone from the highly select pool so i think you should send in that letter . . . may 15th is probably the day they decide . . . or whatever the d-day is this year . . . i think u should consider reputation more so than other factors . . . in every school you will make friends there is no question . . . but reputation is what will carry you . . . facilities are fine . . . but the truth is . . . youre only really going to be using them for only two years and even then . . . some people just study at home . . . so what facilities are u actually using? facilities doesnt really matter, to me at least, because in the end . . . the hospital is where we will be . . . and the 3rd and 4th year training is the most crucial and more heavily weighted . . . so what if its hellish . . . youll be more prepared for residencies than the other residents youll be working with . . . which means better recommendations for jobs and possible fellowships . . . just my opinion.