Maryland vs. Penn State?

[JustSomePreMed]

I'm using my friend's name to ask this question....I lurk here but have never posted. I'm sorry if you guys hate these threads, but I'd like your help!

I'm a PA resident and have been accepted to both Maryland and PSU. I'm still waiting on financial aid packages, but I hope you guys can help clarify the decision! Are they roughly equal in "prestige"? (whatever that means.) I know the locations are polar opposites, so that's a huge thing. I'm from rural PA so I'm cool withPSU's location, but I've lived in large cities before and enjoyed that too.

The price difference is probably "only" about $8,000 a year, with PSU being cheaper.

I've never been huge into research, but wouldn't mind getting involved. I know at PSU it's mandatory. I don't have a certain specialty I'm dead-set on (nor should I at this point) . . . I could see myself in FP, Ortho, EM, and probably just about anything else!

Anyway, I'm mostly interested in hearing your opinions/comparisons on these two schools! Is one an obvious choice over the other? Does one have much more name recognition over the other? Does that even matter?

Thanks in advance!

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[se2131]

I don't know anything about PSU, so I'll just talk about UMD. Also, congrats on getting both acceptances! I was put on hold at UMD (probable waitlist, see MDApps), but I'll go ahead and vouch for it.

First, while Baltimore as a city is generally not the best place to live, UMD is in a pretty good location being near the Inner Harbor (you've got your Camden Yards + Ravens Stadium + Aquarium), though it does border the inner-city (boundary = MLK Blvd.). But I wouldn't worry too much about the safety in the areas that you'll be in, UMD's campus is definitely not in the same type of location as Hopkins' campus

The biggest draw for me was the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Easily one of the best in the country, and you will see EVERYTHING there. All major cases from MD + parts of DE, DC, PA, and VA get sent to this center. Rumor has it that some of the attendings can identify the caliber gun from the wound...

I don't think that you could get that same experience at PSU, but the experience that you do have at PSU you won't get at UMD. Do consider this as a strong deciding factor either way.

Facilities are some of the best I've seen personally, only Emory had better facilities.

Low amounts of lecture time (I seem to recall it being 8-10 and then 10-12 small-group, but someone correct me if I'm wrong) is a big draw for me also.

Oh, something else that may be nice: I think UMD considers you independent of your parents in determining financial aid, or at least that's how I interpreted it. If so, you may be in for a cheaper deal there than at PSU (depending on how PSU does things). But I can almost guarantee you that you will NOT be able to declare Maryland residency for many many years...

Downsides for me personally: Grades in MI&MII (not sure how big of a deal this is), traditional curriculum (as in, not organs-based), R&B is expensive for a city that's not all that fantastic. At least for those first two points, it's more a matter of individual preference.

 

[87138]

I was also accepted to these schools (and a few more) and am deciding between UMD and PSU. PSU has an awesome sports med research center which I'm into, but UMD's location is pretty exciting. I'm leaning more towards UMD at this point, for many of the reasons the previous poster listed. But I'm not 100% sure yet, it's still a very difficult choice.

 

[Textuality]

I was seriously impressed with the facilities at UMd. And with the people I me t as well. The Dean was a really nice, honest guy, and my faculty interviewer was a really personable and funny radiologist. I think I'd take UMd over PSU just because of it being in a larger city, but that's personal preference. I just feel like big cities have more opportunities.

 

[87138]

se2131 - that's crazy you got waitlisted at UMD. Sorry to hear that, but you've obviously got some great acceptances.

Textuality - congrats on Pitt . . . I love that city. I assume that's where you're headed at this point?

 

[Bacchus]

I was told to apply to PSU but not UMD by my advisor. I'm a PA resident, the rest of the stats are in the profile. I'm believe UMD's averages. Anyone have a take on this beside rogerwilco 😉?

 

[Textuality]

Textuality - congrats on Pitt . . . I love that city. I assume that's where you're headed at this point?

Darn Skippy! I love the school and the city. If only the weather weren't so bad.. 🙁 I have a touch of seasonal affective disorder, so the grey days really get to me unfortunately.

 

[87138]

I was told to apply to PSU but not UMD by my advisor. I'm a PA resident, the rest of the stats are in the profile. I'm believe UMD's averages. Anyone have a take on this beside rogerwilco 😉?

I know I don't fit the "besides Rogerwilco" criteria, but did your advisor tell you not to apply to UMD because he/she has a low opinion of the school, or because he/she thought your chances there weren't good, or what?

 

[Bacchus]

Hah. She said that they favor instate candidates. I'm not a stellar OOS candidate so I don't really think its worth it.

 

[nick_carraway]

Hah. She said that they favor instate candidates. I'm not a stellar OOS candidate so I don't really think its worth it.

They actually seem to like ppl from out of state. A lot of their students come from Pennsylvania according to my 4th year tour guide. At my interview, there were a handful of CA residents too but obviously the vast majority were from MD.

 

[87138]

Hah. She said that they favor instate candidates. I'm not a stellar OOS candidate so I don't really think its worth it.

They definitely do favor in state. I don't think I'm particularly stellar (PM me for my mdapps). I almost left UMD off my app list simply because my MSAR said something like only 22/150 matriculants were OOS. But now UMD is probably where I'm headed. The risk paid off . . . for me at least.

 

[JustSomePreMed]

Bump🙂.

I only have a day or two to finally decide . . . anyone have any last minute input? I know, this is a choice I and I alone should be able to make, but I'm really at a stalemate.


PSU will be like $188,000 total after 4 years, Maryland roughly $250,000 to $260,000 . . . obviously the money is in favor of PSU, but I think I'd prefer an urban environment to Hershey's seclusion. Anyone else have any good input here? Is the painfully obvious answer "go with the cheapest?"

 

[186321]

If you go to Maryland you will get shot and killed. If you go to Penn State, then I will get into Maryland and will get shot and killed. Do you want the blood on your hands.. or your face?

Honestly though, I would go with the cheapest.. Thats exactly why I want to go to UMD because I'm IS. I actually don't prefer the city at all (and I've lived 10 minutes from it all my life). Go with what you think is best for you in the long run though. Good luck!

 

[87138]

Well, since I weighed in on this thread a while back, I'll throw in my two cents.

I eventually chose Maryland (sorry cottenr), although like you it was very difficult. The money issue made it harder. Overall I think I decided I'd get a more "exciting" clinical education in Baltimore . . . whether that's actually true remains to be seen. And you can't beat the schedule, 8-12 most days.

Anyway, I've had people ask me what "tipped the scales" in favor of Maryland and it's tough for me to come up with a lot of solid reasons, since both schools were ranked very similarly in my mind.

Sorry, that might not help much.

 

[nick_carraway]

Well, since I weighed in on this thread a while back, I'll throw in my two cents.

I eventually chose Maryland (sorry cottenr), although like you it was very difficult. The money issue made it harder. Overall I think I decided I'd get a more "exciting" clinical education in Baltimore . . . whether that's actually true remains to be seen. And you can't beat the schedule, 8-12 most days.

Anyway, I've had people ask me what "tipped the scales" in favor of Maryland and it's tough for me to come up with a lot of solid reasons, since both schools were ranked very similarly in my mind.

Sorry, that might not help much.

I was wondering when you'd decide. I saw your posts in the Maryland c/o 2012 allo thread and I was like... rogerwilco's still deciding?

I'm sure that you'll be happy with your decision! Unique schedule indeed.

 

[87138]

I was wondering when you'd decide. I saw your posts in the Maryland c/o 2012 allo thread and I was like... rogerwilco's still deciding?

I'm sure that you'll be happy with your decision! Unique schedule indeed.

Haha, yeah I tend to put off big decisions until the last minute. I hate telling you that I decided on Maryland since I know how much you've been looking forward to attending . . . here's hoping that others drop their acceptances to Maryland!

 

[nick_carraway]

Haha, yeah I tend to put off big decisions until the last minute. I hate telling you that I decided on Maryland since I know how much you've been looking forward to attending . . . here's hoping that others drop their acceptances to Maryland!

Oh no problem. I'm pretty comfortable with my plans for the next year or two anyway.

I'm actually happy to see when people choose Maryland because it reassures me that I'm not the only one who thought the school/location was pretty exciting.

 

[Golden Hour]

Bump.