Mt. Sinai vs UPenn - Need to Decide Soon!

[NarcolpticRusty]

I was accepted off the wait list at Penn and have about 48 hours to decide. Below are the pros and cons I've written so far. I would appreciate any additional information that might help me decide...

Sinai

Pro:
* Serious relationship with SO who will be studying in NYC for 4 years
* I like NYC a lot more than Philly
* My cost of attendance over four years: 25k loans (~6,500/yr), including living expenses
* Flexibility of exams (exams open for several days, take at home on honor system)
* Central Park/ Harlem diversity and patient population
* I have an easy job that pays ~$500/month for ~12 hours of work per month

Con:
* 2 year preclinical less appealing than Penn's BUT entirely P/F
* NYC more expensive to live in
* Lower research footprint in my area of interest (I am very research oriented)

Penn:

Pro:
* 1.5 year preclinical curriculum more appealing BUT Honors/P/F after 1st semester
* Research GIANT in my area of interest (I am very research oriented)
* I liked the students I met more than those I met at Sinai
* Better/more prestigious dual-degree opportunities (not interested in MBA, however)

Con:
* My cost of attendance over four years: ~100k loans, including living expenses: This is very significant- I paid for undergrad with loans and have 120k already
* New, unknown city- I've been in NYC for 5 years and know it extremely well

Other Info:
Interested in surgical specialties/ENT/Urology/peds/oncology
Interested in research
Interested in public health

I would like to hear from anyone that may have been in a similar situation or has insight into how much going to Penn could help me more than Sinai career-wise. Are there other factors that I may be forgetting?

Thank you all for your help.

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[Shmemifly]

Easy! Sinai.

Where two schools are fairly similar I would rank factors in this order of significance:

1. Personal Life (Sinai)
2. Cost! (Sinai)
3. Location (Sinai - for you, anyway)
4. Prestige (Penn)

The two are not so different that one will significantly change your career. And you'll find strong enough research in your field at Sinai.

 

[CardiologyJosh]

wow. I wished I had your problems lol

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Looking at your pro/con list it looks like you'll be happier at Sinai in the long run. Go for it and don't look back! 🙂

 

[protonate]

I was in a similar situation a couple of weeks ago. What sold me on Penn was how down to earth the students were and how well the school wants their students to succeed. Going to Penn will open many doors for you in the future. The 1.5 years pre-clinical, followed by a year of clinical rotations, and then taking step 1 is critical in my opinion (Penn has the highest step 1 averages in the country for a reason). Penn is arguably the best medical school in the country- at second look, people were deciding between Penn, Harvard, and Hopkins. From what I've heard/read, more people choose Penn over Hopkins and its 50-50 between Harvard and Penn. Philadelphia is only 1.5-2 hours away from NYC so I'm sure you could visit often. That being said, I don't have a SO so I'm probably not in the best position to judge whether or not the distance is significant. What held me back from Penn was the H/P/F after the first semester, but everyone can get honors so it's not like there's any competition between students. I really can't speak for Mount Sinai, didn't even apply there, but I think that Penn is a very good opportunity that few people would pass on.

 

[capn jazz]

sounds like sinai would be a better choice unless theres NO research opportunities in your field of interest. but even then, you're in nyc! im sure you can find a connection somewhere.

 

[Huskies88]

wow. I wished i had your problems lol

+1

 

[kpcrew]

it sounds like sinai has more pros for you. even if none of the professors there have what you're looking for, there are many research opportunities within new york city at places like nyu or rockefeller university which are less than 30 minutes away.

 

[theWUbear]

You'll be able to get research in pretty much every field at just about every med school you go to in the country as long as you get in touch with the department. Maybe your research will have a 5% lower shot of getting into Nature at Sinai vs Penn but other than that, I assure you you'll be able to do great research there as well.

 

[CardiologyJosh]

You'll be able to get research in pretty much every field at just about every med school you go to in the country as long as you get in touch with the department. Maybe your research will have a 5% lower shot of getting into Nature at Sinai vs Penn but other than that, I assure you you'll be able to do great research there as well.

Meh; cardio at MSSM isn't as compelling or comprehensive as it is at other schools in New York city....just one example, but still.

 

[kautionwirez]

it sounds like sinai has more pros for you. even if none of the professors there have what you're looking for, there are many research opportunities within new york city at places like nyu or rockefeller university which are less than 30 minutes away.

great place to do research.

 

[RedSox10]

Sinai seems WAY cheaper and it seems like you'll be happier there, so I'd go with that. If all costs were equal, I'd consider Penn, but since they're not, go with the Sinai.

 

[orthocatz]

Honestly brotha, either everyone on this thread wants to get into Upenn or you've lost a brain cell or too?

UPenn is the best medical school in the world. Mount Sinai is a strong northeast medical school.

Upenn's endowment, academics and student body absolutely demolish Mount Sinai's.

There are rhode scholars at penn, some of the best names that have ever belonged to medicine are at penn. If you attend Penn, you will be one of the most elite physicians in the world and walk into Columbia U residency with no problems.

You will reign over NYC as a top physician (sounds like your pretty smart and accomplished). If you go to Mount Sinai, you will be like my cousin who is a normal dude with a 3.8 and 34, not ambitious or anything. I go to Weill, and kids from Penn destroy us in the match, have a better time at med school, and have a clarity of thought and jumping point to be the best doctors in their fields.

Take Penn, don't worry about NYC, your close enough and if you want to be there you will be in the future. Penn is a school where location goes out the window

yours truly

 

[jbz24]

Meh; cardio at MSSM isn't as compelling or comprehensive as it is at other schools in New York city....just one example, but still.

Actually quite the opposite. Cardiology at Sinai might be the best in the city for research. Columbia historically is the best but that might be changing. NYU is great as well but not quite as good in terms of funding, and I would guess Cornell is the worst of the bunch.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Honestly brotha, either everyone on this thread wants to get into Upenn or you've lost a brain cell or too?

UPenn is the best medical school in the world. Mount Sinai is a strong northeast medical school.

Upenn's endowment, academics and student body absolutely demolish Mount Sinai's.

There are rhode scholars at penn, some of the best names that have ever belonged to medicine are at penn. If you attend Penn, you will be one of the most elite physicians in the world and walk into Columbia U residency with no problems.

You will reign over NYC as a top physician (sounds like your pretty smart and accomplished). If you go to Mount Sinai, you will be like my cousin who is a normal dude with a 3.8 and 34, not ambitious or anything. I go to Weill, and kids from Penn destroy us in the match, have a better time at med school, and have a clarity of thought and jumping point to be the best doctors in their fields.

Take Penn, don't worry about NYC, your close enough and if you want to be there you will be in the future. Penn is a school where location goes out the window

yours truly

No, just no.

I was accepted off the wait list at Penn and have about 48 hours to decide. Below are the pros and cons I've written so far. I would appreciate any additional information that might help me decide...

Sinai

Pro:
* Serious relationship with SO who will be studying in NYC for 4 years
* I like NYC a lot more than Philly
* My cost of attendance over four years: 25k loans (~6,500/yr), including living expenses
* Flexibility of exams (exams open for several days, take at home on honor system)
* Central Park/ Harlem diversity and patient population
* I have an easy job that pays ~$500/month for ~12 hours of work per month

Con:
* 2 year preclinical less appealing than Penn's BUT entirely P/F
* NYC more expensive to live in
* Lower research footprint in my area of interest (I am very research oriented)

Penn:

Pro:
* 1.5 year preclinical curriculum more appealing BUT Honors/P/F after 1st semester
* Research GIANT in my area of interest (I am very research oriented)
* I liked the students I met more than those I met at Sinai
* Better/more prestigious dual-degree opportunities (not interested in MBA, however)

Con:
* My cost of attendance over four years: ~100k loans, including living expenses: This is very significant- I paid for undergrad with loans and have 120k already
* New, unknown city- I've been in NYC for 5 years and know it extremely well

Other Info:
Interested in surgical specialties/ENT/Urology/peds/oncology
Interested in research
Interested in public health

I would like to hear from anyone that may have been in a similar situation or has insight into how much going to Penn could help me more than Sinai career-wise. Are there other factors that I may be forgetting?

Thank you all for your help.

OP, the clear choice for you is Sinai. If it was just the money, perhaps, but as someone who has been in a long distance relationship throughout medical school I can say that it is not fun and can be downright lonely at times. Sinai has great research and a strong match list. If you want to do ENT/Urology and have a good application you will be fine.

 

[nadaba]

No, just no.

What, you don't think the OP will be the King of New York?

 

[CardiologyJosh]

What, you don't think the OP will be the King of New York?

The OP can't be the king of New York. I'm the incumbent. lolol

 

[drizzt3117]

For the fields you're considering i'd definitely choose Penn. NYC is a short train ride from Philly and it's a much better school. You'll be able to do your rotations at better places and work with much better faculty in the specialties you're interested in. Penn students also wind up at better programs in those specialties.

 

[jesse120]

Honestly brotha, either everyone on this thread wants to get into Upenn or you've lost a brain cell or too?

UPenn is the best medical school in the world. Mount Sinai is a strong northeast medical school.

Upenn's endowment, academics and student body absolutely demolish Mount Sinai's.

There are rhode scholars at penn, some of the best names that have ever belonged to medicine are at penn. If you attend Penn, you will be one of the most elite physicians in the world and walk into Columbia U residency with no problems.

You will reign over NYC as a top physician (sounds like your pretty smart and accomplished). If you go to Mount Sinai, you will be like my cousin who is a normal dude with a 3.8 and 34, not ambitious or anything. I go to Weill, and kids from Penn destroy us in the match, have a better time at med school, and have a clarity of thought and jumping point to be the best doctors in their fields.

Take Penn, don't worry about NYC, your close enough and if you want to be there you will be in the future. Penn is a school where location goes out the window

yours truly

This post sounds like you are waitlisted at Sinai

 

[mmmcdowe]

For the fields you're considering i'd definitely choose Penn. NYC is a short train ride from Philly and it's a much better school. You'll be able to do your rotations at better places and work with much better faculty in the specialties you're interested in. Penn students also wind up at better programs in those specialties.

I would dispute the "much" part of that. Penn isn't a top ENT program and is top 10 for Uro. Just for giggles I pasted the match lists this year for each in these specialties. I think it demonstrates that a competitive applicant from Sinai is capable of getting into good programs.



Otolaryngology (5)
Hosp of the Univ of PA
Hosp of the Univ of PA
Hosp of the Univ of PA
Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary
NYP Hosp-Columbia & Cornell-NY



Urology (1)
NYU School Of Medicine

Sinai

Urology
Case Western
Johns Hopkins
Mount Sinai

Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai
Stanford
Wash U

 

[mistoffelees]

No vested interest, but come here! We (and NYC) love you! 🙂

ps. Also, I did a LDR this entire year. It really sucks (hopefully there's only one more year left)! Don't underestimate the emotion factor if you're committed and serious about the relationship.

 

[drizzt3117]

The OP also said peds, obviously Penn is affiliated with the best peds hospital in the country, and oncology for which it's much better as well.

I would dispute the "much" part of that. Penn isn't a top ENT program and is top 10 for Uro. Just for giggles I pasted the match lists this year for each in these specialties. I think it demonstrates that a competitive applicant from Sinai is capable of getting into good programs.



Otolaryngology (5)
Hosp of the Univ of PA
Hosp of the Univ of PA
Hosp of the Univ of PA
Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary
NYP Hosp-Columbia & Cornell-NY



Urology (1)
NYU School Of Medicine

Sinai

Urology
Case Western
Johns Hopkins
Mount Sinai

Otolaryngology
Mount Sinai
Stanford
Wash U

 

[mmmcdowe]

The OP also said peds, obviously Penn is affiliated with the best peds hospital in the country, and oncology for which it's much better as well.

Fair enough, I just jumped to the most competitive ones on his or her list. Peds isn't a super competitive field, and a quality applicant can go places regardless of school.

Sinai's match list also plays out the idea that a good applicant from there can get into top IM and peds residencies.

 

[NarcolpticRusty]

Thank you all who contributed. After speaking with friends, family, SO, advisers, doctors and everyone in between, I've decided to stick with my original choice- Sinai.

This was likely the hardest decision I've had to make and I appreciate everyone's opinion. Ultimately, as many pointed out above, I will be happiest (and thus more productive) at Sinai. I have officially declined Penn's offer (never thought I'd be typing THAT sentence at any point in my life...).

I hope one of you ends up with this wonderful opportunity.

Cheers.

 

[DocMom1]

Thank you all who contributed. After speaking with friends, family, SO, advisers, doctors and everyone in between, I've decided to stick with my original choice- Sinai.

This was likely the hardest decision I've had to make and I appreciate everyone's opinion. Ultimately, as many pointed out above, I will be happiest (and thus more productive) at Sinai. I have officially declined Penn's offer (never thought I'd be typing THAT sentence at any point in my life...).

I hope one of you ends up with this wonderful opportunity.

Cheers.

Congrats on making a decision!

How did you go about making your decision in the end? Which factors swayed you to choose as you did?