Northwestern vs. UChicago vs. Emory vs. Brown

[Blake333]

Hey all! I'm deciding between these schools. I'm ideally looking to match into a competitive IM residency program. I'm from the east coast and cost is pretty much the same for all them.

Northwestern
Pros:
- top 20
- perfect location
- I like the students here and they seemed chill
Cons:
- worried that it may be more cut throat

UChicago
Pros:
- top school
-strong connections to undergrad campus and other professional schools
- focus on health disparities
Cons:
- not a huge fan of location

Emory
Pros:
- great school, connections to CDC
-lots of global health opportunities
Cons:
- apparently clinicals are letter graded, and they don't have recorded lectures
- not used to the South but could adapt

Brown
Pros:
- great student and faculty supportive environment
- Ivy league prestige (?)
- great match list
Cons:
- would get really bored in providence

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[Suess]

How/why do you know you'd get bored in Providence?

 

[puahate]

How/why do you know you'd get bored in Providence?

Compared to the other school locations, Providence is pretty lame

 

[puahate]

Is money a concern?

 

[Suess]

I guess I just have a thing for it. It's a pretty little New England city with much more to offer than meets the eye. Less bustle than Chicago and Atlanta

 

[IgnazSemmelweis]

I interviewed at Emory and Brown, and I thought both were fantastic. I really liked the people and the environments/cities were super nice. Northwestern's location is super expensive, so that is a major turn off for me.

 

[metview]

I would say Uchicago > NWU > Emory > Brown. Uchicago is pretty big on IM and the majority of their students match in IM. Historically, they have sent a lot of people to harvard associated programs and other top east coast programs (duke, columbia, yale, penn). Their IM match list is better than the other schools you mentioned. South Chicago will be less $$ but not as nice. However, you can always live a little more north.

 

[puahate]

I'm personally leaning towards NW

 

[CarpeDiem1993]

I would choose NW. Amazing school, awesome city, awesome chance to get a top MBA with Kellog (if you're into it), and you could match just as well if not better than the rest.

UChicago next with pretty much all the same strengths haha.

 

[rball]

I’d vote for UChicago - significantly stronger record for matching into top IM programs compared to your other options (Pritzker is one of the strongest med schools for going into academic IM-it’s what they’re known for).

As far as location - Pritzker is in a quiet bubble of a neighborhood, relatively safe, alongside a world class research institution with ability to use its facilities/interact w/people there. Feinberg is exact opposite (though affiliated w/world class institution, bulk of that campus is in evanston not chicago). I’d personally prefer Pritzker’s location for these reasons, but of course feinberg is a “nicer/fancier” area. I think many assume feinberg is a better location, but thats really based on the individual preference.

In terms of vibe-feinberg is known for being more independent and cut-throat (bigger class size may play a role), with uchicago more nurturing and relaxed (smaller class size and the fact they do 3 interviews to try to weed out the gunners may play a role). These are generalizations and every class will have a different vibe.

As far as “prestige” - seems on sdn everyone assumes pritzker > feinberg, and though that may have been true 15 years ago, its just not true any more. In some competitive specialties (like ortho, derm), nw > pritzker. In IM, pritzker > feinberg. Either way both schools are highly respected and can’t go wrong.

 

[dodolol21]

In terms of vibe-feinberg is known for being more independent and cut-throat (bigger class size may play a role), with uchicago more nurturing and relaxed (smaller class size and the fact they do 3 interviews to try to weed out the gunners may play a role). These are generalizations and every class will have a different vibe.

did not get this feeling at all from interview day NW is totally P/F no internal ranking. Pretty sure 3 interviews weren't to weed out gunners -- just so you can meet multiple faculty and students.

 

[rball]

did not get this feeling at all from interview day NW is totally P/F no internal ranking. Pretty sure 3 interviews weren't to weed out gunners -- just so you can meet multiple faculty and students.

From my understanding, Pritzker admissions has a particular focus on making a class that fits well together and tries hard to only select "nice people," more so than most of its other peers. This is one of probably many reasons why they do so many one-on-one interviews. You'll get this vibe from students/faculty if you interview there, their culture tends to be a bit different than many of its peers.

You'll find in med school that many schools even with P/F and zero internal ranking have plenty of gunners. Unfortunately admissions committees can only do so much, especially with larger schools with lower yields where they have to admit so many. Even so it's all relative; not saying that the vibe at NW isn't great, just saying relative to Pritzker that tends to be the reputation of being more competitive/independent/rah-rah. Some may prefer it, find it more exciting/lively, etc. Entirely possible that different classes have different vibes.

Either way both schools are great and not trying to hate on Feinberg at all. Just addressing OPs comment based on my experiences.

 

[FamousLinen]

NW>UC>>Emory>>>Brown

 

[Dr_Omnicient]

Just to clarify, Emory is transitioning to recorded lectures. Their current M1s are the guinea pigs, and they continue to use recorded lectures for the incoming class. Doesn't seem like a huge factor, but a factor nonetheless. Also, as far as I know, most schools have graded clinical years

 

[Dwan]

NW>UC>>Emory>>>Brown

Difference between Emory and Brown is not that massive per match outcomes. Brown may even win out if you put extra stock in Harvard matches.