MCW vs MADISON vs TUFTS

[lexy10]

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K...so I live in wisconsin, have three acceptances..MCW, Madison, and Tufts...btw I lived in boston for 6 years... simply can't decide between the schools..keep going back and forth..just want to hear perspectives

MCW: loved it, down the street from my current apartment, know many of the professors who are GREAT, really comfortable for me

MADISON: ranked higher, beautiful new building, down side: thought that the students were a little "upitty" while i was there

TUFTS: Love boston, love the program! really matches my goals, downside: expensive!!!

what would you do?

 

[owenmichael]

K...so I live in wisconsin, have three acceptances..MCW, Madison, and Tufts...btw I lived in boston for 6 years... simply can't decide between the schools..keep going back and forth..just want to hear perspectives

MCW: loved it, down the street from my current apartment, know many of the professors who are GREAT, really comfortable for me

MADISON: ranked higher, beautiful new building, down side: thought that the students were a little "upitty" while i was there

TUFTS: Love boston, love the program! really matches my goals, downside: expensive!!!

what would you do?

Madison hands down, although I loved tufts. Madison is my state school too, and I would say it is one of the best deals and most under-rated schools.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

For once, I agree with OWENMICHAEL. I've heard good things about the UW med school, and Madison as a place to live. But then again you couldn't pay me to live in either Boston or Milwaukee.

 

[OMFSdoc]

For once, I agree with OWENMICHAEL. I've heard good things about the UW med school, and Madison as a place to live. But then again you couldn't pay me to live in either Boston or Milwaukee.

All depends on if money is a big issue. If it's not that tight, GO TO TUFTS!!! Boston is one of the best towns in the country to live in. I wish I were there just thinking about it. However, if the dollar is tight, you may have to give up Beantown until residency where they pay you.

 

[SirTony76]

go to MCW

 

[shantster]

I'd say Madison, unless you are planning on going into pediatrics. Then, go the MCW. Children's there is ranked as the 3rd best hospital in the nation, and having experience there would be hard to pass up.

 

[psychedoc2b]

K...so I live in wisconsin, have three acceptances..MCW, Madison, and Tufts...btw I lived in boston for 6 years... simply can't decide between the schools..keep going back and forth..just want to hear perspectives

MCW: loved it, down the street from my current apartment, know many of the professors who are GREAT, really comfortable for me

MADISON: ranked higher, beautiful new building, down side: thought that the students were a little "upitty" while i was there

TUFTS: Love boston, love the program! really matches my goals, downside: expensive!!!

what would you do?

Madison, of course!

Good school, great research, great clinical experiences, and if you are Wisconsin resident, your tuition should be the cheapest of all three.

psychedoc2b

 

[CerealBox]

My best friend is at UW's med school... and she is super-cool and not "upitty"
its a big school. you'll find a group of friends you like. and you'll be happy because you're in wonderful Madison.

 

[Hawkeye Kid]

Thoughts from an M4:

MCW (my school): great school. i love the people and feel that i've gotten a great education. not much more expensive than madison (20K/5 yrs last i knew). even though moving sucks, i wouldn't let that factor in too much unless you have other reasons to stay in MKE.

Tufts: it sounds like this is your TRUE #1. if the only negative is the cost, and you don't have other financial responsibilities, ie. family, etc, then i'd suck it up, take the loans and go where you clearly really want to go.

Madison: also a great school. i haven't spent much time there, but most people love the city. i can't speak to the student body, but you, my friend had that "gut feeling" that everyone talks about in this process. your gut told you that you didn't mesh well with the students you met. maybe they're not uppity at all (that could just be your way of explaining something you didn't like); maybe the few that you met are and they're not representative of the student body as a whole. BUT, you had the gut feeling that everyone is looking for (i wish i'd had it on a few of my residency interviews--it would make ranking easier). if you go to madison and end up not liking it you'll wish you would've trusted your instincts. i followed my instincts to MKE; it sounds like your's are pushing you back to Boston.

 

[owenmichael]

For once, I agree with OWENMICHAEL. I've heard good things about the UW med school, and Madison as a place to live. But then again you couldn't pay me to live in either Boston or Milwaukee.

haha have we disagreed before?
Yeh Madison is an awesome place to live.......perfect if you arent chasin an huge urban area, but a big and nice enough city with lots to do and alot of new people to meet

 

[DropkickMurphy]

No, sorry.....we haven't. I had you confused with someone else.

 

[snobored18]

As an in-state I don't see how you can turn down UW-madison...you won't find as good of an education for the price anywhere and the city is very livable...If I wasn't an iowan it is seriously where I would be headed because when you look at both the primary care and research aspects average Wisconsin is one of the top 5 comprehensive medical educations in the country...you'd be a fool to turn down that opportunity at an in-state price for Tufts or MCW. Oh and I really hate these threads...the decision is yours and it seems like these are turning into a forum for people who want to gloat about multiple acceptances...most qualified people have choices on where they want to go, but we don't need to rub it in the faces of people who are still playing the waiting game.

 

[lexy10]

As an in-state I don't see how you can turn down UW-madison...you won't find as good of an education for the price anywhere and the city is very livable...If I wasn't an iowan it is seriously where I would be headed because when you look at both the primary care and research aspects average Wisconsin is one of the top 5 comprehensive medical educations in the country...you'd be a fool to turn down that opportunity at an in-state price for Tufts or MCW. Oh and I really hate these threads...the decision is yours and it seems like these are turning into a forum for people who want to gloat about multiple acceptances...most qualified people have choices on where they want to go, but we don't need to rub it in the faces of people who are still playing the waiting game.

I am not gloating at all. I just wanted to hear what other people had to say about the schools. There hasn't been much said about Madison, a little about tufts, more about MCW. The cost difference between MCW and MADISON is nothing, infact it would be cheaper for me to go to MCW as my family live in milwaukee and i can pretty much live for free. I know the education at madison is top notch, but yes my gut feeling rather pushed me away from it...but again I've only been there once...thus i wonder if i am really in a position to scratch it off my list. I just like to hear what others have to say. If price was not an issue, Tufts would be my first choice...it has all the programing opportunities I desire and a match list that is great. But money is an issue...thus I have to weigh my option. In the end, YES THE DECISION IS MINE...I'm not asking anyone to decide for me...again just oppinions...

Thanks to all who have given those oppinions!

 

[Hawkeye Kid]

I know the education at madison is top notch, but yes my gut feeling rather pushed me away from it...but again I've only been there once...thus i wonder if i am really in a position to scratch it off my list. I just like to hear what others have to say.

Don't forget that you can always go back to visit Madison, arranged or otherwise. If you've been accepted you have nothing to lose by doing this. Either arrange a visit through the admissions folks or just show up. Try to talk to as many students as possible (lunch, tours, etc). If you're living in WI, this shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience and will likely give you the info you need to make a sound decision.

Also, if your heart is set on Tufts but cash is an issue, contact them to see what sort of fin aid packages they typically dole out. Lots of private schools have a LOT of money for this sort of thing and if they want you they may work hard to get you there. Nothing ventured nothing gained, and definitely nothing to lose.

Good luck making your decision. You still have some time so use it to make an informed one. Also, keep reminding yourself that, as much as it seems like it sucks, this is a good problem to have.

 

[45408]

I figured the poll would look the way it does before I saw the results. SDN likes research rankings, and UW is ranked pretty well. However, I thought their hospital was pretty much horrible in terms of the kind of place I'd want to spend two years at. The new building is very nice, yes, but remember that you've got gross anatomy at the old campus. MCW has a great building and a great campus, but less research recognition. I dunno a thing about Tufts. 😛

It's also pretty important how you view Madison. I'd never live there by choice but it does have quite the college atmosphere. State street was pretty sweet. My fiancee and I both have all of our family right in Milwaukee, so that's a big factor too.

 

[lexy10]

I figured the poll would look the way it does before I saw the results. SDN likes research rankings, and UW is ranked pretty well. However, I thought their hospital was pretty much horrible in terms of the kind of place I'd want to spend two years at. The new building is very nice, yes, but remember that you've got gross anatomy at the old campus. MCW has a great building and a great campus, but less research recognition. I dunno a thing about Tufts. 😛

It's also pretty important how you view Madison. I'd never live there by choice but it does have quite the college atmosphere. State street was pretty sweet. My fiancee and I both have all of our family right in Milwaukee, so that's a big factor too.

A total side comment, but your avatar freaks me out...

 

[pike1]

The only thing that I know about Tufts is that Dr. Robert Rey from Dr.90210 went there, so I can't really comment on that choice 🙂. However, I am also a WI resident who had a choice between MCW and Madison this year. I think they are both fantastic schools that are capable of providing you with many opportunties throughout med school and beyond. That is essentially what made this a tough choice for me. In the end, I choose Madison because of the summer anatomy option. I think that getting anatomy done in the summer before dealing with the rest of the M1 classes will allow me to have a little smoother transtion into med school. Best of luck with your decision! I don't think that you can make a bad choice in your situation.