Northwestern Feinberg v. UCLA

[deleted958920]

I am interested in specializing in hem/onc and am very likely to go into academia. Overall, if financial aid did not play a role in my decision my choice would be easy: UCLA. What do you guys think?

Northwestern Feinberg (approx $180k total debt)
Pros

• Great school with a great match list that looks like I could return to CA after schooling
• 75% tuition scholarship
• I have extended family in Chicago so definitely have the means to build a good support system
• Also enjoy the idea of the area of scholarly concentration in the curriculum

Cons

• My spouse does not like the idea of living in the Midwest but is willing
• I feel like I have some good connections that I would be leaving In LA

UCLA (Assuming no aid $300k)
Pros

• Great school with great match list
• I live in LA currently and love it/want to practice in CA
• Currently work in research at the medical school and have some great mentors
• It seems like the school gives you the space to find your own niche in medicine

Cons

• Cost may be the higher if I don't get financial aid (still negotiating)
• Curriculum change makes me nervous with M2 and M3s doing clinical rotations together

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[HingleMcCringleberryPSU]

I think you should seriously talk to your spouse to see if they would eventually be fine living in Chicago for at least a few years. They will need to be your rock during stressful times, and if they are unhappy, it will heap unnecessary stress onto you. If they feel like they could live with it, then PTE at Northwestern and see what happens at UCLA. While the cost is significant, your happiness is incredibly important, and assuming the worst case scenario at UCLA, I suspect NW will give you the best shot to make it back to CA for residency.

 

[deleted958920]

Bumping because I got off the WL at UCLA.

 

[strappysandals]

Cmon now.. you know you want to pick UCLA! Hopefully they can match or something, but if not I still think you should pick UCLA. You live in La and you love LA... and so does your spouse!