Michigan vs. Northwestern

[confused_applicant]

Having a really difficult time deciding between Michigan and Northwestern. I got some advice to write a pro/con list, hoping to get other people's input. Financially, both schools are basically the same other than living expenses.

Michigan:
- Ann Arbor is just okay. Not sure if I'm a "college-town" type of person, but I think that I could become one.
- Michigan is probably more prestigious inside of medicine (I want to do academic medicine)
- Michigan has more of the research that interests me & a highly-ranked public health school
- Not sure how I feel about weekly tests (Actually... I don't like that)
- Step 1 average is only 232 or something (Because of in-state students?) I'm OOS.
- Michigan supposedly has awesome clinical training and has a lot of the top residencies/fellowships. Helpful for letters/matching although I don't really see myself staying in Michigan past medical school
- Students here were really chill in general
- The "White Coat" apartments that the 1st year students live in are kind of gross

Northwestern:
- Chicago is awesome
- Northwestern is definitely way more prestigious outside of medicine. I am contemplating doing something entrepreneurial in combination with practicing as a physician, so this might be important.
- Less of the research that has interested me as an undergraduate
- Not sure how I feel about PBL
- Step 1 average is 240, which is good!
- I would like to end up in NYC or Chicago (probably...), so starting in Chicago might be helpful
- Crazy expensive living in Streeterville
- Slightly smaller class than Michigan (Positive)
- Facilities are way "prettier" than at Michigan (Not that it's actually important)
- I think in general I know much less about this school.

It's really hard to tell who has a better match list. I'm tempted to say Michigan. Perhaps the fact that they're similar despite Michigan's Step 1 average being lower says something?

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[premed2000]

First of all, congrats on the amazing acceptances!

I don't think I'll be able to contribute much to your decision making because I know nothing about Michigan. However, I do know that after attending Northwestern's second look a few days ago, I have never been more sure that Northwestern is the place I want to be and will be matriculating in the fall. I can see myself being very happy (Chicago is just awesome!) and succeed there.

Did you attend second look btw?

 

[confused_applicant]

First of all, congrats on the amazing acceptances!

I don't think I'll be able to contribute much to your decision making because I know nothing about Michigan. However, I do know that after attending Northwestern's second look a few days ago, I have never been more sure that Northwestern is the place I want to be and will be matriculating in the fall. I can see myself being very happy (Chicago is just awesome!) and succeed there.

Did you attend second look btw?

No, unfortunately I couldn't attend the second look weekend. What made you sure about Northwestern after second look?

 

[jturkel]

I looked at both of these programs for residency and matched into one of them for medicine (as my #1 choice). From the perspective of cost of living, Ann Arbor isn't too cheap if you want a nice place but likely less than Streeterville, though you could always live further out like in Lincoln Park. While I like Ann Arbor (I loved college towns/sports), Chicago is an unreal city. One of my favs. Do you have to live in the "first yr apartments" or can you live elsewhere as a first yr?

Reputation, Michigan > Northwestern, esp for academic medicine (it's in a different tier). Also great business (good at both UM and NW), law, public health, grad schools etc if you want to get a dual degree or exposure to other fields.

This may not be something that will matter much as a medical student, but lack of clinical diversity at Northwestern was my biggest concern about the RESIDENCY program. I have a friend who is a third yr resident who hasn't seen endocarditis. I have a current attending/research PI who did medical school at NW and, while loving his experience, said he never saw "unusual" things like TB until he was a resident and wish he had more exposure to these as a medical student. I would imagine that it's a little less hands-on as a medica student at NW, but that's what I would imagine (not sure).

I honestly dont think class size matters (my graduating class size is 180 and I know most everyone and it doesnt bother me that i dont know everyone). Im not familiar with either school's step1 score, but if Michigan's is 232, i dont think that it's because of IS students (again, could be wrong). I THINK it is just as difficult to get in from IS (maybe a LITTLE less so) than from OOS.

I like PBL, but everyone is different. Weekly tests sound rough, but maybe that'll keep you on your toes?

lastly, do not make your decision based on match list. as a premed (and this is not meant to sound like i'm belittling you), you have no idea what goes into ranking programs. a better way to analyze a match list is to see what percentage of students got one of their top3 choices and then somehow weigh that with specific reputations of programs/fields. you can go to either program and match to a great medicine program if you do well at either one.

 

[alpinism]

I looked at both of these programs for residency and matched into one of them for medicine (as my #1 choice). From the perspective of cost of living, Ann Arbor isn't too cheap if you want a nice place but likely less than Streeterville, though you could always live further out like in Lincoln Park. While I like Ann Arbor (I loved college towns/sports), Chicago is an unreal city. One of my favs. Do you have to live in the "first yr apartments" or can you live elsewhere as a first yr?

Reputation, Michigan > Northwestern, esp for academic medicine (it's in a different tier). Also great business (good at both UM and NW), law, public health, grad schools etc if you want to get a dual degree or exposure to other fields.

This may not be something that will matter much as a medical student, but lack of clinical diversity at Northwestern was my biggest concern about the RESIDENCY program. I have a friend who is a third yr resident who hasn't seen endocarditis. I have a current attending/research PI who did medical school at NW and, while loving his experience, said he never saw "unusual" things like TB until he was a resident and wish he had more exposure to these as a medical student. I would imagine that it's a little less hands-on as a medica student at NW, but that's what I would imagine (not sure).

I honestly dont think class size matters (my graduating class size is 180 and I know most everyone and it doesnt bother me that i dont know everyone). Im not familiar with either school's step1 score, but if Michigan's is 232, i dont think that it's because of IS students (again, could be wrong). I THINK it is just as difficult to get in from IS (maybe a LITTLE less so) than from OOS.

I like PBL, but everyone is different. Weekly tests sound rough, but maybe that'll keep you on your toes?

lastly, do not make your decision based on match list. as a premed (and this is not meant to sound like i'm belittling you), you have no idea what goes into ranking programs. a better way to analyze a match list is to see what percentage of students got one of their top3 choices and then somehow weigh that with specific reputations of programs/fields. you can go to either program and match to a great medicine program if you do well at either one.

Agreed.

Also, OP the NW name isn't going to help you with any entrepreneurial endeavors any more than Michigan.

This isn't Harvard, Hopkins, UCSF, Stanford (top 5 schools) we're talking about.

 

[runnergirl6]

I interviewed at Michigan and will be attending Northwestern. Both are great schools, so I feel like you can't make a wrong choice. I did not get into Michigan, but I am pretty sure I would have still picked Northwestern even if I had been accepted to both schools. I love Chicago, and while I did like Ann Arbor when I was there for the interview I felt like I would get bored there after 4 years. I also prefer the Northwestern curriculum, I think way they integrate the normal and abnormal physiology into systems makes a lot of sense. I was not sure how I felt about PBL, but the students I met at second look said it is well done and doesn't take up a huge amount of time. The students seem great in general, I had a lot of fun meeting them at second look and they all seem happy at NW. Michigan may have a better reputation than NW, but NW has a great reputation as well, especially in the Chicago area. I feel like prestige should not be the primary factor in picking a school, pick where you think you will be happiest and where you think you can succeed. Good luck with your choice!

 

[confused_applicant]

Also, OP the NW name isn't going to help you with any entrepreneurial endeavors any more than Michigan. This isn't Harvard, Hopkins, UCSF, Stanford (top 5 schools) we're talking about.

Yeah idk. Honestly in business lots of people haven't even heard of UCSF. Talking to friends/family most of them think Northwestern is on the same level as Hopkins because of its undergrad/business/law programs, which they may have heard about and are historically way better. I guess this is kind of a stupid issue and is impossible to quantify. Probably also a terrible way to pick a school 🙂

Is anyone else making this decision?

 

[yoyohomieg5432]

I'd go with Michigan if I were in your shoes. You say you want to get into academic medicine, so the prestige at UMich is certainly a plus. Also, for academics, research is really important. To succeed in research it makes sense to do research you most enjoy and thus you give it your all. You said that the research at Michigan is more interesting to you, so that's another big plus for them.

Going to Mich. would not hinder your end goal in ending up in Chicago or NYC, you could pretty much go anywhere you want

 

[premed2000]

No, unfortunately I couldn't attend the second look weekend. What made you sure about Northwestern after second look?

A couple of reasons really.

-Location: I absolutely loved Chicago and the neighborhood NW is located. Yes, the living is expensive, but you can always live a little further away from the school if financial is a big issue. Otherwise, you can pretty much find anything you want in that area.

-Students: During second look, I really got a sense of what the students are like there. They are some of the most down to earth, hardworking, and FUN students than any other students I've met at any other med schools (this is not to say students at other institutions are not). If you are someone who really values having a social life outside of med school, it is hard to find another top 20 school that exceeds NW largely because of the location of the school. Most prospective students at second look got to attend a house party + bar/club event with current med students. Succeeding in school while having a social life is very important to me, so I think this is a big selling point to me. I am going to echo what I heard from a current student here: whatever you want to do, you will find it in Chicago (be it concerts, stand-up comedies, bars/clubs, sports, food, etc.), and you will definitely find at least one person in your class who's willing to do it with you.

-In terms of prestige, I think Michigan (#12 USNW) and NW (#18) is negligible. I think the opportunities at both places will be more than any medical students can ever ask for. I am pretty sure whatever research you are interested in, you can find them at both places. I don't know where you've heard that Michigan is more well-regarded in the medical community. But from where I am from (CA) and from all the medical professionals I have talked to, they are both equally regarded.

-I also really like the direction NW is heading towards. I don't know if you are aware of some of the expansions that NW is currently undergoing. But they are in the process of expanding their current Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) building and will be building a new, state-of-the-art research building. NW's current dean, Eric Neilson, has a pretty impressive track records during his time at Vanderbilt and is an ambitious dean who is definitely trying to take NW to the next level in the next few years (Top 10 is what I heard from current students within the next 5-10 yrs). (Articles: http://www.feinberg.northwestern.ed...rthwestern.edu/news/2013/04/RIC_Feinberg.html)

While these expansions probably will not be complete until our third or fourth years, if you want to eventually end up in Chicago, it doesn't hurt to get a head start at the institution you will probably want to work in one day. Again, this is just something to know about but not the reason I'd pick NW.


Again, many SDNers posted great comments/advice here. These are just a few of the reasons I decided to matriculate at NW over others. You've got great choices here and will not go wrong with either. At the end of the day, I'd say IMO personal happiness is what matters the most. Wherever you see yourself being the most happy and comfortable is where you should go. Two great schools, none will set you back from another.

 

[smile8888]

I'd go with Michigan if I were in your shoes. You say you want to get into academic medicine, so the prestige at UMich is certainly a plus. Also, for academics, research is really important. To succeed in research it makes sense to do research you most enjoy and thus you give it your all. You said that the research at Michigan is more interesting to you, so that's another big plus for them.

Going to Mich. would not hinder your end goal in ending up in Chicago or NYC, you could pretty much go anywhere you want

This coming from someone who is trying to get off the waitlist at NW

I am just picking on you

In all seriousness OP, they are both great institutions. They will both give you great education and the necessary tools/opportunity to succeed. Just follow your gut feeling🙂

 

[yoyohomieg5432]

This coming from someone who is trying to get off the waitlist at NW

I am just picking on you

In all seriousness OP, they are both great institutions. They will both give you great education and the necessary tools/opportunity to succeed. Just follow your gut feeling🙂

This is true, and of course NW is my top choice. However, if I were in his shoes I'd go to Mich. If he's interested in academic medicine, finding research that aligns with your interests is an important factor in picking a school. OP also isn't too sure about PBL which is an important part of the curriculum at NW.

Either way, both schools are incredible and will put you in a great position come residency

 

[kanzeon]

-I also really like the direction NW is heading towards. I don't know if you are aware of some of the expansions that NW is currently undergoing. But they are in the process of expanding their current Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) building and will be building a new, state-of-the-art research building. NW's current dean, Eric Neilson, has a pretty impressive track records during his time at Vanderbilt and is an ambitious dean who is definitely trying to take NW to the next level in the next few years (Top 10 is what I heard from current students within the next 5-10 yrs). (Articles: http://www.feinberg.northwestern.ed...rthwestern.edu/news/2013/04/RIC_Feinberg.html)

Yes the new research building really does look quite incredible (http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/giving/docs/nm-institutes/research-building-biomed.pdf). It's part of NU's $1 billion dollar commitment to research that they announced last year.