Loyola Stritch vs UW SMPH

[rave-rebel]

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For context, I am interested in competitive specialties and money is a non factor.

Loyola Stritch
Pros:
- Have siblings and other relatives that live in the city, would heavily prefer to live here
- Loved the vibe of the school and students
- Jesuit values really fit with my mission
- would like to do residency in Chicago

Cons:
- Not as ample research opportunities
- Not as highly ranked as UW SMPH


UW SMPH
Pros:
- highly ranked
- better research opportunities
- pre-clinical years shorter + enjoy the curriculum more
- attended here for undergrad so familiar with city and such

Cons
- not a fan of living in Madison for 4 more years
- don’t have friends and family still in the area/no support system

Summary: I would very much prefer to live near Chicago, but am worried that passing up on a higher ranked school could hurt my chances at competitive specialties. Think dermatology, surgery, anesthesia, etc.

 

[hwisc1207]

UW all day, public and much better program IMO

 

[pigsinacloth]

if you're going to be truly miserable at one and not the other,. pick the one where you will be happy.

 

[Basalganglia4life]

What’s the coa difference?

 

[rave-rebel]

What’s the coa difference?

COA difference is negligible. Both roughly the same. assume cost is a non factor

 

[rave-rebel]

UW all day, public and much better program IMO

Any insight into the program? Do you go there now?

 

[rave-rebel]

if you're going to be truly miserable at one and not the other,. pick the one where you will be happy.

I don’t think I’d be miserable at UW, I loved my undergrad there, just would really prefer to live in Chicago over Madison again.

 

[BigDawg101]

Yeah, UW-Madison is a solid school, great at research, and a good deal above Loyola which is more primary-care focused. I don't think UW-Madison will stop you from matching into Chicago, and it will give you a bit of a leg up for more competitive specialties. Find yourself a boyfriend/girlfriend or whatever you're into in Madison and you'll be fine. If this was MCW, I would say take Loyola, but UW-Madison is a good school. My PI taught there and worked there on faculty for several years. Remember, your support system isn't that far away, and regardless you'll be busy anyways. Better curriculum, better research, shorter pre-clinical, the choice is obvious.

 

[scottsterling]

I believe Wisconsin will send you for three months during clerkships to a random site in the state, which I didn’t like. The patient population of Madison is not as diverse as Chicago either Just some of the reasons why I turned down WI. I’d pick Loyola

 

[BigDawg101]

I don't see, personally, how a diverse patient population will impact medical education. There's bound to be a free clinic somewhere if you have a particularly strong itch to scratch. Diverse student body yes, but patient population, please. People can disagree, but you're there to get an MD and move on. Who cares. You'll see everything you need to see in Madison. Your residency and where you actually practice is where diversity should play a bigger role. Madison is a great city, and Loyola isn't exactly in the best area of Chicago. Please take UW-Madison. It will be a much better environment for matching to a competitive specialty! And let's face it, if you want a competitive specialty, then your patient population will naturally end up being more affluent and "less diverse."

 

[MoveUp221]

For what it's worth, UW SMPH is also super "Jesuit-y" in its focus and mission, as well, since it's a public school that puts a big emphasis on public health and health equity. You also have the ability to rank/prefer where you would like to go for the clerkship you are supposed to do outside of Madison, and you can go to Milwaukee. You can also to TRIUMPH, where you will do all of your clerkships and electives in clinics and hospitals in Milwaukee, if the bigger city vibe is really what you're looking for. I think there is also an advantage to taking Step 1 and 2 after core clerkships . . . but hey, if your heart is telling you Loyola, go there!