MCO vs. Albany

[sharsky]

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I know you guys must be sick of these threads but I really need some help. I just got off the waitlist at MCO and I already have an acceptance to Albany. Personally I liked the facilities and curriculum at MCO better but I'm not too keen on living in Toledo. Not that Albany is such a great city either. Which would you guys pick? What have you heard about these schools? Thanks!

 

[exmike]

I know you guys must be sick of these threads but I really need some help. I just got off the waitlist at MCO and I already have an acceptance to Albany. Personally I liked the facilities and curriculum at MCO better but I'm not too keen on living in Toledo. Not that Albany is such a great city either. Which would you guys pick? What have you heard about these schools? Thanks!

I would go to MCO. You get in state after a year too, so it'll be MUCH cheaper. MCO is arguably a better school too. It has higher avg. stats. 3.6 GPA vs. 3.4ish at Albany. Same MCATs i believe.

 

[Mr. Obsessive]

I loved Albany. In particular, it was the students. Every single time a student walked by they asked if they could help me in any way. Then they offered their take on the school. It seemed like I would really fit in there. However, it is so easy to over analyze these schools. Realistically, I felt the same way about most of the other schools that I interviewed. There was a post in here about what really mattered when choosing a school and it had more to do with the third and fourth years. The hospitals that are affiliated, how much scut work involved, the type of ancillary staff in regards to administration and rotations are just some examples. I will be attending there in the fall unless some waitlist stuff opens up for me. The only negative information I've heard and agree with is the price tag. Good luck with your decision.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

MCO. Toledo has ~350,000 people in the city. It has every amenity you could need as a college grad student (sorry, very little in the way of clubbing; at least to my knowledge), plus the faculty are pretty chill.

I also second the in-state tuition after the first year. A definate bonus on the pocket book. Plus they have been doing an integrated curriculum for eleven years now, which means that they aren't testing any new educational methods on you. i.e. the kinks have been worked out for the most part.

Cost of living is dirt cheap and housing is not a problem. If you can swing it, you might even be able to take your student loans and by a house instead of rent--approximately the same monthly price.

Trust me, go to MCO and you won't regret it, at least for the most part, when compared to Albany.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

There was a post in here about what really mattered when choosing a school and it had more to do with the third and fourth years. The hospitals that are affiliated, how much scut work involved, the type of ancillary staff in regards to administration and rotations are just some examples.

That is also a good point. MCO, since it is in Toledo (not to knock on it), is not the primary hot spot for residency, so as a result most of the 3rd and 4th year students that I have talked to said that they gain experience almost as if they were an intern and not just a med student. i.e. there is less competition for getting experience at performing procedures etc--you don't have to step aside for other residents, interns and other fellows that take priority in getting experience over you.

Holy Toledo!

Toledo is not small, it just doesn't have the name that attracts residents. In my opinion it offers an excellent and very personalized education (from my indirect experience as a summer researcher). And yes, the students and faculty also meet and greet you if you look lost, and/or like an interviewee. On the whole it is a nice place to be.

 

[exmike]

Sharsky, i noticed you're from Cali. You'll find plenty of cali people there. There are at least 10 or so each year so you wont feel completely foreign. I liked everything about MCO except my interviewer #2. Grrr.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

Sharsky, i noticed you're from Cali. You'll find plenty of cali people there. There are at least 10 or so each year so you wont feel completely foreign. I liked everything about MCO except my interviewer #2. Grrr.

For example, I would be one of the ten matriculating this year.

Go two for ten?

I'm not trying to solicit you or anything... hehe

In reality the weather here isn't exactly like Cali, but neither is Albany. That is one thing that will take a little getting used to for me.

 

[sharsky]

hey thanks for all your feedback...MCO is beginning to sound more and more appealing to me especially in terms of cost =) it's 20K for the first year then 10K for the last 3 years so roughly 50K compared to albany's 38K a year...hmmm...hehe.
how's the weather in toledo like? i hope the winters are not as harsh as albany coz i had my interview at albany in april and it was still snowing!
what about residency match? do you know if MCO has a good match list? i don't even know how to decipher what a good match list is supposed to be.

 

[exmike]

hey thanks for all your feedback...MCO is beginning to sound more and more appealing to me especially in terms of cost =) it's 20K for the first year then 10K for the last 3 years so roughly 50K compared to albany's 38K a year...hmmm...hehe.
how's the weather in toledo like? i hope the winters are not as harsh as albany coz i had my interview at albany in april and it was still snowing!
what about residency match? do you know if MCO has a good match list? i don't even know how to decipher what a good match list is supposed to be.

I dont think you'll have a problem matching in comparison to Albany. My friend who happens to be from CA who also happens to be at MCO has a brother that is graduating from MCO this year. He is doing internal med. at UC Davis next year.

Oh yeah, he did almost his entire 4th year rotations away in CA. Cool huh? Think of it as 3 years in Toledo, not four.

 

[sharsky]

hey exmike,
cool that is definitely very encouraging as i would love to come back to sunny california =). did your brother like it there? curriculum? students? faculty?
also what is the rule with holding on to more than one acceptance after may 15? i just received an email from MCO but i don't have the packet yet. do i have to withdraw from albany right away or can i wait 1-2 weeks?

 

[exmike]

hey exmike,
cool that is definitely very encouraging as i would love to come back to sunny california =). did your brother like it there? curriculum? students? faculty?
also what is the rule with holding on to more than one acceptance after may 15? i just received an email from MCO but i don't have the packet yet. do i have to withdraw from albany right away or can i wait 1-2 weeks?

i dont know. my friend and her brother are both currently at MCO.

You probalby have some time. i have no idea how long you can hold it though.

Hey maybe you got my spot. I withdrew last week. You're from cali. Im from cali. intriguing!!

 

[Prozach]

I live in Albany, and Albany Medical Center and College have great reps in Upstate New York. That being said, I can't wait to get the hell out of this God-foresaken city. Making the transition from LA to Albany would be hard to say the least.

 

[Jet915]

Yeah,
I'd definitely choose MCO over Albany. It's cheaper, facilities are nice.............Toledo isn't great but neither is Albany so that's a wash. MCO all the way.

Jetson

 

[sharsky]

hey thanks for all your feedback! i am definitely choosing MCO now =) well i was leaning towards it to begin with.
now if i get off the waitlist from temple...i'm not sure where to choose but i might pick temple since my sis lives in philly.
thanks guys!

 

[sistahnik]

congratulations on your acceptances sharsky!!! I have heard some awesome things about MCO, and yes you get in-state tuition after a year so that's an awesome deal. good luck on your decision!! 👍 👍

 

[sharsky]

hey sistahnik! thanks! what great things have you heard exactly about them? =)