NJMS vs. Downstate

[deleted870424]

Hey all,

Not normally a poster but I'm having a bit of trouble deciding between Rutgers NJMS and SUNY Downstate (these are the two I've narrowed down to as of late). As one could imagine, since they're both state schools comparisons between these two aren't common - any insight would be amazing. Some things I've come to know/think:

Pros for both:
IS Tuition at both - cheap
Great clinical experience at both being in Newark/Brooklyn
Both close/in NYC
Both close to SO
Vast research experiences at both (NJMS may have slight edge though)
Both preclinical P/F
Students seem happy and say great things about both

NJMS Pros:
Better "feel" at interview
Slightly better match list
Cheaper area to live in

Downstate Pros:
Slight edge for clinical experience (correct me if I'm wrong)
Seems to be more highly regarded overall

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[deleted870424]

Bump

 

[monsieurpomfrey]

The differences between the schools don't seem too different from what you wrote. I don't think the research or clinical experiences are different enough to really shift your decision. If it were me, I would wait for the official financial packages from both which would help. But also, second look should give you a better view of the schools. If after all that, you feel equally torn and have no new pros and cons to consider, then the options are equally good in your eyes. So, if you get to that point, flip a coin?

 

[CivatteBodies]

Do you have any idea of what specialty you want to do at this point? If you think you want to do derm, avoid NJMS. Awful match prospects for derm due to the terrible reputation of the department. If you want to do PM&R, njms is your best bet. I go to njms and have friends at Downstate, and I think they're very similar otherwise. I think of downstate as the NJMS of new york city. They're similarly run-down and dysfunctional.

 

[humblethinker]

Do you have any idea of what specialty you want to do at this point? If you think you want to do derm, avoid NJMS. Awful match prospects for derm due to the terrible reputation of the department. If you want to do PM&R, njms is your best bet. I go to njms and have friends at Downstate, and I think they're very similar otherwise. I think of downstate as the NJMS of new york city. They're similarly run-down and dysfunctional.

what makes them dysfunctional?

 

[deleted870424]

I’ve talked to multiple people at both schools. Most just say essentially that they’re state schools so naturally there is some dysfunctionality. But, they’ve all said these issues are overall pretty minor.

 

[PugsAndHugs]

Downstate MS3, This is a list of what I thought to be the MOST IMPORTANT factors for choosing a medical school:

Objective: (Downstate has all of these, coincidentally)
- No mandatory lectures
- Recorded lectures
- NBME exams (step 1 style questions)
-P/F grading system preclinical
-1.5 year preclinical ORGAN systems curriculum (makes so much more sense than traditional 2 yr curriculum + gives you more time in clinical to fig out what you want to do for residency)



Subjective
-Will you be happy here?
-Cost
-Comfortable living area (Do you like living in an urban/suburban area, etc?)
-Beneficial for where you want eventually want to do residency
-Close to support system (SO, family, etc)