MSU CHM (E.L Campus) vs SLU SOM

[sath26]

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Hi everyone, I have the privilege of choosing between MSU CHM and SLU SOM and need help. Currently am interested in specializing in some of the more competitive specialities (Ortho, Derm, ENT, Interventional Rad).

SLU SOM
Pros

• Has matches in Ortho, ENT, and Derm
• Higher ranked and better facilities (New Hospital)
• Home specialities in various specialities that I am interested which might make matching easier later on
• Bigger city, and more diverse patient population
• More research opportunities
• P/F
• Very good vibes from students, preached how they had decent amount of free time

Cons

• 68k tuition
• STL generally unsafe, however campus area appears to be safe

MSU CHM
Pros

• My Alma Mater (have connections here)
• 47k tuition
• Early Clinical Exposure
• New partnership with Henry Ford
• P/F

Cons

• No matches in Ortho, ENT, based on MSAR (limited match list in general)
• Seems more primary care focus (something I don't think I will be interested in), and current students stated its harder to find mentorship and support for more competitive specialities
• Research seems to be much harder to find especially EL Campus
• Seems to be too self-directed
• Lived in EL for undergraduate and would rather live in a bigger city
• rotations all over the state

Summary: Currently I am leaning towards SLU, as I think I'll have a much easier time finding support and matching into more competitive specialities. It is 20k more a year, however I think I am willing to look past that if it keeps my options open.

 

[cytomegalovirus123]

MSU CHM has matches in ortho. There is a home residency program over at the core well/spectrum in Grand Rapids. MSU CHM is also affiliated with Henry Ford, and there are multiple MSU CHM alums at Henry Ford. There is also a home ortho program at Ascension Providence. There is also McLaren Flint, who is an MSU Alumnus. For ophthalmology, yeah, SLU is better. Derm has a limited number of programs, but there are multiple CHM alums at Henry Ford's term program. SLU is also ranked 85, and MSU is ranked 88(not like either rankings matter much). You will only be in Lansing for two years during pre-clinical, and you will likely get whatever campus for your clinical years that you request within your top 2 choices if you choose MSU.
You would also borrow 20,000 more dollars annually to put that into perspective. Finding mentorship will mostly be dependent on you. Still, CHM has a program implemented to match students with faculty to conduct research. All students will perform some form of project that results in publications and posters because that is required at some point within the curriculum to have some project. For curriculums, they are changing it up for the incoming students, and it will be less self-directed than usual, but you will still have a lot of free time, similar to how you mentioned SLU. You would have the opportunity to live in a bigger city after pre-clinical if you choose to do so. MSAR will show little because MSU typically keeps its match lists internal, but if you look at the residencies across the state and the several home programs, you will find graduates in those programs, as I mentioned previously. But if ultimately it boils down to seeing more recent and consistent matches in those specialties you are interested in, you can choose SLU. But if you do not have any financial help and will borrow ultimately, you likely will clear 400k in loans or somewhere close to that. If those costs don't deter you, I will do it. But know that you could match into your desired specialties at CHM as well.