Nontrad Dream Schools

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Veritas86

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2012
Messages
135
Reaction score
1
Points
4,571
Location
Paris. TX
  1. Pre-Medical
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Didn't see this one on the list of polls, but its not so much a poll. More a game of "Would you rather?"

NYU or Mt. Sinai?

And you have to explain why. No cheating!
 
Didn't see this one on the list of polls, but its not so much a poll. More a game of "Would you rather?"

NYU or Mt. Sinai?

And you have to explain why. No cheating!

Mt. Sinai. Across the street from Central Park. Dorms for cheap housing.

Dartmouth or Stanford?
 
Dartmouth.

They're renaming it to the Theodore Geisler School. Dr. Seuss SOM for the win!
That and Dartmouth tried to recruit me in high school. Them and Columbia. Ah, life. How you've gotten in the way.

UT Southwestern or Louisiana State?
 
Stanford. Better class size and structure, amazing weather in California. Dartmouth is in the frigid north, almost too selective in their selection, and weak in some key areas.

(Also, as for the top post I'd say NYU because of direct access to Bellevue and Skirball. I toured their facilities and fell in love).

Emory or Baylor?
 
Emory.

Even though I'm a native Texan, not much love for Baylor. Or south Texas.

LSU was New Orleans, btw. Sorry 🙂

Mayo or Rush?
 
Emory.

Even though I'm a native Texan, not much love for Baylor. Or south Texas.

LSU was New Orleans, btw. Sorry 🙂

Mayo or Rush?

Mayo. It's MAYO!

Also, hooray for native Texans! I rather like Houston and Austin but cannot stand Dallas. Still though, Emory gets my vote over most TX schools.
 
Mayo. It's MAYO!

Also, hooray for native Texans! I rather like Houston and Austin but cannot stand Dallas. Still though, Emory gets my vote over most TX schools.

Haha I prefer Dallas (Actually Fort Worth and the midcities) over Houston, but Austin wins every time.
 
Mayo or Rush?
Obviously Mayo, except that I just read a memoir by Rush's new chief medical officer about his decades at Cook County. Politics and activism and grant funding and overcrowding and budget slashing and not quitting...oh my. Rotating with that guy as an attending would be AMAZING.

But really, Mayo.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Obviously Mayo, except that I just read a memoir by Rush's new chief medical officer about his decades at Cook County. Politics and activism and grant funding and overcrowding and budget slashing and not quitting...oh my. Rotating with that guy as an attending would be AMAZING.

But really, Mayo.

That's pretty slick. I'd love to be able to just talk to that guy, let alone study under him.

Back on topic.

Cleveland Clinic or Ohio State?
 
Haha I prefer Dallas (Actually Fort Worth and the midcities) over Houston, but Austin wins every time.

Fort Worth is a blast I just can't really get over the commercialism and small city feel of Dallas. It usually works like that though, what with Houston/Dallas being rivals.

Here's a good one: University of Washington or University of California San Francisco
 
Fort Worth is a blast I just can't really get over the commercialism and small city feel of Dallas. It usually works like that though, what with Houston/Dallas being rivals.

Here's a good one: University of Washington or University of California San Francisco

That is a good one. I'd probably lean more toward UW. Have a friend who went there for undergrad, and Seattle seems like a better environment than SanFran for me.
 
Here's a good one: University of Washington or University of California San Francisco
UCSF. I've lived in Seattle for 20 years and I did my prereqs at UW. The health sciences building(s) are miles long and are what you would get if you crossed a rabbit warren with a penitentiary built in the 60's. Packed classrooms, packed hallways, packed public transportation, long lines for everything, and that's when there's *not* a football or basketball game about to start. The only part I remember fondly is the Harborview ED. I'd pay OOS tuition for UCSF over staying instate at UW.

Being at a med school that doesn't have a massive university attached to it is a big plus, imho.

Here's one that should get folks riled: UCSD or UCLA?
 
I would really love to attend my state school UofA Phoenix campus. Mayo may take spot of my dream school if they open new campus here by the time I apply. I really can care less about going anywhere else, prestigious or not, and getting into UofA would be a dream come true.
 
That's pretty slick. I'd love to be able to just talk to that guy, let alone study under him.

Back on topic.

Cleveland Clinic or Ohio State?

😏
I'll take this one (since I had full-tuition scholarships to both, money was NOT my reason :d)
Cleveland Clinic SURPRISE!!
- you get to rotate at 5 different hospital systems (VA, Metro, Univ. Hosp, Kaiser, and Cleveland Clinic)
-very nontrad friendly (mandatory, but minimal class time in the first two years)
-they emphasize collaboration (no grades, tests, or rankings - ever.)
-they treat you like a professional, and in return give you many, many privileges
-you get rights of essentially residents at CCF PLUS all the rights of a large private university at Case down the street (two gym memberships, counseling services, student health clinic)
-super-individualized attention
-much more research friendly

[/Promoting my school]

Northwestern vs. Michigan?
 
Last edited:
Nice. Didn't know that about Cleveland. 🙂

And for my (near future) fellow ruggers...

a6cd0a37-b943-d1fc.jpg


/threadjack

Northwestern.

Partially because of the location, partially because I'm part of an OSU family. And as we all know, they don't give a d*mn for the whole state of Michigan (whole state of Michigan...)

*ahem*

UVA or Alabama? (Birmingham)
 
Nice. Didn't know that about Cleveland. 🙂
Northwestern.

Partially because of the location, partially because I'm part of an OSU family. And as we all know, they don't give a d*mn for the whole state of Michigan (whole state of Michigan...)

Careful, my friend. You don't know who was born-and-raised in Michigan (the state), went to Michigan (the school), and is also a moderator on SDN. :meanie:

Fun fact: #1 feeder school to OSU's med school (At least the year I applied) outside of Ohio is Michigan. #1 location for residencies outside of Ohio was also University Hospitals. Much love/respect for both medical schools and hospitals. You never know where you might end up. In short - be careful saying things you might regret later -like "Oh, how I hate Ohio State!"
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Haha it was said tongue in cheek. Honestly, if I get into a med school anywhere in the states, I'll be happy 🙂

To me, OSU and UMich are rivals for a reason. They're both really strong, similar schools. And not just in the ballin' sense.

I have a lot of family in Ohio, so I just lean that way. Sorry if I came across as offensive.

----

And for me? UCSF. Stanford seems more research oriented, and cost of living around Stanford is nuts.
 
University of Minnesota or Mayo?
 
And for me? UCSF. Stanford seems more research oriented, and cost of living around Stanford is nuts.

Yeah, I was surprised to learn living expenses in SF were actually less than Palo Alto. Then again, Palo Alto being expensive makes sense considering all the tech companies in the area.

--
Harvard or Stanford?
 
Yeah, I was surprised to learn living expenses in SF were actually less than Palo Alto. Then again, Palo Alto being expensive makes sense considering all the tech companies in the area.

--
Harvard or Stanford?

Harvard Harvard Harvard. Boston is an amazing city and the area around the school itself is really breathtaking.

Plus, I could stalk my favorite physician writer.

Hopkins or UPenn?
 
Harvard Harvard Harvard. Boston is an amazing city and the area around the school itself is really breathtaking.

Plus, I could stalk my favorite physician writer.

Hopkins or UPenn?

UPenn, all the way! I didn't interview at JHU and was waitlisted at UPenn, but I loved UPenn! Loved the people, the campus, the city. The school had a very casual and friendly vibe and the students seemed really happy.
 
University of Minnesota or Mayo?


Seems like we missed this one, so I'll take it since I actually know a thing or two about these schools.

Mayo. The U of MN seems great, but the environment at Mayo is something else entirely. Good access to faculty who love to teach and resources, happy students, nice curriculum setup, better financial support. The U seems to have some of these as well, it just seems more pronounced at Mayo. The U might have better diversity in research even though Mayo likes to talk up it's research quite a bit and some at Mayo have drunk a little too much of the kool-aid. The U also has better diversity of hospitals to rotate at. I'd still pick Mayo though.


As an outdoor junky, what about U of Colorado vs. Oregon?
 
Last edited:
Stanford. Better class size and structure, amazing weather in California. Dartmouth is in the frigid north, almost too selective in their selection, and weak in some key areas.

Emory or Baylor?

This. CA is awesome plus the name Stanford carries some pretty heavy weight.

Can't comment on Emory or Baylor. Unfamiliar with both.

University of Miami or University of Florida?
(No football reasons. 🙂)
 
Am I the only one with dreams of Wisconsin? New glarus spotted cow, excellent trail running, a green college town plus all the football and hockey you could watch! Not to mention, this is where the onion was founded!
 
As an outdoor junky, what about U of Colorado vs. Oregon?
That's a tough one. Might be a tie. With either one, you're a bit of a drive from the mountains. I don't how how to choose between PCT & CDT.

OHSU as a school though is hugely appealing. It looks like it was built from Legos. Not one but two childrens hospitals. The VA building looks like it was built in Miami or something - it's blue and it has a fountain. It's way up on a hill next to a massive wooded hilly reserve that has amazing trails. So much friendlier than UW.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Seems like we missed this one, so I'll take it since I actually know a thing or two about these schools.

Mayo. The U of MN seems great, but the environment at Mayo is something else entirely. Good access to faculty who love to teach and resources, happy students, nice curriculum setup, better financial support. The U seems to have some of these as well, it just seems more pronounced at Mayo. The U might have better diversity in research even though Mayo likes to talk up it's research quite a bit and some at Mayo have drunk a little too much of the kool-aid. The U also has better diversity of hospitals to rotate at. I'd still pick Mayo though.


As an outdoor junky, what about U of Colorado vs. Oregon?

OHSU all the way. But I hate freezing, cold winters, so I'm biased. Also, I can't resist the microbrew options in Portland.

How bout this: Wake Forest vs. Tulane?
 
OHSU all the way. But I hate freezing, cold winters, so I'm biased. Also, I can't resist the microbrew options in Portland.

How bout this: Wake Forest vs. Tulane?

Gots to be Tulane just for the atmosphere.

Duke vs Northwestern?
 
But I hate freezing, cold winters, so I'm biased.

Methinks you have not been to Colorado, which has over 300 days of sunshine a year. Even when it snows, it's not cold for very long.
 
OHSU all the way. But I hate freezing, cold winters, so I'm biased. Also, I can't resist the microbrew options in Portland.

How bout this: Wake Forest vs. Tulane?

OHSU all the way. I am a huge outdoor addict and looking at the OHSU facilities makes me die inside. Dream school! Now I just wish it wasn't so expensive for OOS!

Tulane but only because I have a lot of friends in NO, love the city, adore the culture, and think that hot weather is my style.
 
Methinks you have not been to Colorado, which has over 300 days of sunshine a year. Even when it snows, it's not cold for very long.

Methinks you'd be right. I expected someplace a mile high to have a colder climate.
 
Yale.

Can't say enough awesome and probably annoying things about this place.
 
My vote is for Stanford. Gorgeous campus and location. Awesome school.
 
Top Bottom