Mayo AZ vs. WashU vs. OSU

[lcloser]

Mayo Clinic AZ
Pros

• Class Size (50)
• Prestigious
• Everyone at the interview was really nice
• good research opportunities
• Able to rotate at MN and FL hospitals
• Haven't received financial package yet but they give out good scholarship
• P/F unranked

Cons

• hospital 20 minutes from the school
• far from home, need to take a flight

WashU
Pros

• Hospital/research buildings/medical school are all clustered together
• Lower cost of living than the other two places
• Non-mandatory lecture (recorded)
• Closer to home (6 hr drive and cheap direct flights)
• P/F

Cons

• very research focused... not sure if I see myself in academic medicine
• Read on here that it can be pretty cutthroat?
• Don't think my SO would want to live here

OSU
Pros

• would be the cheapest option and closest to home
• I love the school and have my entire support system here including SO, family and friends

Cons

• I think it might be good for me to move away and see something new
• Least prestigious of the 3 schools
• Parking sucks

Summary: Trying to decide between staying close to home and paying less and 2 prestigious schools

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[deleted972488]

Mayo and WashU are both known for being generous with scholarships, so I'd wait and see how that plays out.

 

[gopher1997]

If you aren't too concerned with prestige/academic medicine (which it seems like), I would choose the school that is the best fit for you. You seem to weigh family importance pretty heavily based off of your pros/cons, so really ask yourself the question of where you're going to have your best support system. I feel like users downplay the importance of that, but in reality it could be what helps you get through your education.

Imagine during your 3rd year - your busy, burnt out, tired, stressed, etc. and all you want to do is see your family. It is much more realistic to do that when they live close instead of a flight away. Better yet, they can visit you more often and support you through this journey. Imagine just a short visit from your parents that includes a tupperware container full of cookies.

Also, do you want to marry your SO/see them being a lifelong partner? Regardless of what you decide, there will be a new normal for you and your SO. What is going to be the least stressful on you guys? Ask yourself that too.

All 3 schools are good/great programs. Based off of your list, I would head to OSU.

 

[Morc]

I’d go to OSU for love and affection, but that’s just me

 

[lcloser]

If you aren't too concerned with prestige/academic medicine (which it seems like), I would choose the school that is the best fit for you.

I don't necessarily want a career in academic medicine but do want to pursue a competitive residency so I feel as though going to OSU would make that tougher for me.

And yeah, I do care about proximity to family but maybe thats just because I don't know any different... i know they will come visit me wherever I go so I feel like I should take a chance and go to one of the more prestigious places.

 

[undecidedpremed]

I don't necessarily want a career in academic medicine but do want to pursue a competitive residency so I feel as though going to OSU would make that tougher for me.

And yeah, I do care about proximity to family but maybe thats just because I don't know any different... i know they will come visit me wherever I go so I feel like I should take a chance and go to one of the more prestigious places.

For competitive specialty, now it’s a no brainer to pick either Mayo or WashU.

Support system is all temporary compared to a lifetime career, especially now step 1 is not going to help you bridge the difference in prestige and ranking.


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[Khamyleon]

I chose Mayo-AZ over WashU and would be happy to give my two cents on that choice. I originally thought STL was going to be cheaper overall with lower CoL but have found the opposite to be true in PHX so far. Mayo also beat out WashU's aid for me as well. Shoot me a message if you'd like to pick my brain about anything.

 

[seeinghowitgoes]

Fellow Midwesterner here, couple thoughts.

First, I think WashU is the most prestigious place of the three. I say this having gone through the match and having seen how Mayo Az is just not viewed like Mayo MN. The Med school may be viewed differently and exactly the same as Mayo MN, and I have no idea how lay people vs program directors will view Mayo Az, but if you’re going to go for prestige I’d personally just go for WashU - other are obviously free to disagree and I probably wouldn’t argue too hard. Maybe I’m getting to the age where I’m considered the old guard and not up with the newest schools.

With that in mind, I think the fact that there is even a small part of you that wants to get a different perspective means you should leave the comfort of OSU. I love the Midwest and will likely return, but I had always been told I needed other perspectives and now that I’m out getting them I’m more confident than ever that being back “home” is ultimately what I want - had I never left I may have always second guessed that. For people who don’t ever even think they may need to leave home/comfort for a while I wouldn’t give this advicle, but if it’s even a thought I think one should embrace it. Leave and come back for residency or as an attending - in the long run you’ll have broader frameworks to pull from and peace of mind you’re living in the right area long-term.

Balancing prestige and seeing something new, for me the choice would be WashU.

 

[StormPhoenix]

I say this having gone through the match and having seen how Mayo Az is just not viewed like Mayo MN. The Med school may be viewed differently and exactly the same as Mayo MN, and I have no idea how lay people vs program directors will view Mayo Az,

Mayo Clinic AZ hasn't matched their first class yet, have they? So what/who exactly are you basing this perspective on? If you don't mind expanding on this, I'd appreciate it. Currently considering Mayo AZ among my acceptances. I'd hate to get shafted if this is remotely true

Also, OP. I'd say #1WashU, #2Mayo AZ (As a fellow AZ potential matriculant) and #3 OSU as far as your potential going into the future. It says "don't think" for your SO as far as the SL living situation, so I'd get that sorted out ASAP. If she really can't do Saint Louis (Can't blame them, Mississippi overall is awful IMO) than Mayo.

More on the support thing, I'm a firm believer in growth happens outside of your comfort zone. It'll be tough, but remember that for years students have been transplanted across the US to get their medical education. Often times because they don't have too many choices about where to go because of how competitive the process is lol. But if you feel like you/your SO will be actively unhappy anywhere else, then by all means stay home. Especially if you're one of those people who doesn't mind remaining there for the rest of your foreseeable future (MD in Ohio --> Match in Ohio --> Continue living in Ohio after residency)

 

[seeinghowitgoes]

Mayo Clinic AZ hasn't matched their first class yet, have they? So what/who exactly are you basing this perspective on? If you don't mind expanding on this, I'd appreciate it. Currently considering Mayo AZ among my acceptances. I'd hate to get shafted if this is remotely true

I’m speaking mostly about the perception of the residencies - the Mayo AZ programs are just considered a tier lower than the MN ones, and I generally just think “satellite” hospitals (I know Mayo AZ is large so I say that with respect) just aren’t viewed the same as the mothership, don’t have the same quality residents, don’t have the same famous faculty, etc. Add to it it’s new compared with WashU’s established reputation and I just don’t think it is/will be though of in the same class of prestige. If you were comparing Mayo AZ to say a good but not elite program (Case, UPitt, whatever) then maybe I wouldn’t have felt strongly enough to have said anything, but compared to one of the more elite schools out there I think the difference is likely large enough to comment on (if one is going to care about prestige, which is a whole different conversation).

But again, prestige is subjective and I’m not an expert in newer schools, so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[SleazySalesMed]

I'd generally agree with the satellite comment. It'll be interesting to compare how the two campuses match since AZ campus is aware they're under a fine microscope.

Though I would disagree that UPittsburgh doesn't qualify as an elite program. At least it is a cut above Case Western, which is also reflected on USWNR/PD rankings over the last decade. UPMC is well ranked, residency prestige wise, on basically every list per Doximity as well. Only schools that are a true cut above it (Let's say "Super Elite") is the T5 batch + a few others like WashU

Go to WashU, or get OSU to pony up some serious scholarship money

 

[Aleaz]

AS A RETIRED DOC WHO QUIT MAYO...here is my 2cents... What are you interested in? surgery? Trauma? IM? etc...Mayo looks 'good on the wall' and if you want research and not 'hands on' medicine--fine. But that said, you get VERY LITTLE hands on training in Residency @ Mayo. I left and had to repeat the YEAR because my procedure and patient load numbers were so LOW. Mayo has Residents/Med students knee deep WATCHING the 'famous docs' people travel from all over to see...I got really bored watching...ended up in Detroit and WV (got blacklisted too😉...and learned far more than I ever could have at Mayo. Medical school will be far superior than a Residency there but WasU is great too. Medical School is NOT nearly as important as most of you guys think. You can go to a lower Caribbean med school, rotate thru Mayo or WashU as a 3/4th year, and if you SHINE, study hard and show it, you have great shot at a slot for Residency. You must have FACE TIME and shine no matter where you are coming in from medical school wise.