I'll throw my two cents into this thread cuz I got into both RFUMS and NYMC and decided on going to NYMC.
I really think the two schools although similar in terms of their emphasis on primary care, are totally different in their strengths. RFUMS has tremendous clinical training if you're interested in Emergency Medicine especially. Their students rotate thru Cook County Hospital, which to me is like no other hospital in the world. Its ED sees about 100,000 patients a year and more. So if Emergency Medicine is something you're considering (which I was too) Chicago Med trains its students well. It's no surprise their match list routinely has 20+ students in EM. Tremendous in terms of clinical exposure. I don't know about their curriculum but it is fairly traditional like NYMC's.
I think where the schools differ really lies in their grading system. I was leaning towards RFUMS more because I felt their student body fit more of what I would prefer, more mature and untraditional. I had a great interview group and my student interviewer really sold me on the school. But then I had my reservations about their grading system. I think ABCDF in some ways is similar to Honors, High Pass, Pass and Fail but to me there is a big difference in mentality.
Getting a C versus getting a pass in terms of percentage points probably same but to me the stigma of getting less than a B and passing are totally different. I've heard the grading system is rough on the students. What also really dettered me from going there was their postbacc program. I admire what they're doing and think it's a great idea. I know their grading is separate from the med students but I saw the size of their lecture hall. Essentially their post bacc program + med school- you have 200+ students in one lecture hall. It wasn't for me. I wanted something smaller.
The foot school, nurse students, and physical therapists also share the anatomy lab with the med students at RFUMS. I've learned, now after completing anatomy, it's best to have a smaller ratio of people per body. Less people going over the same body and dissecting before you or after. I know the med students aren't working with the other schools at the same time but they have to share the lab.
North Chicago is not Westchester. I think the biggest misconception about where NYMC is located. You think oh suburb = desolated. Westchester or Valhalla, where NYMC is located, has amazing shops, malls, and things to do. It's as rich suburbia as you can get. Crime has never been an issue and the area during the fall and summer time- absolutely gorgeous in Westchester. North Chicago is nice but to me it's on par of Maywood. Suburbia but not as nice as Westchester nice.
I think where NYMC shines is the professor's willingness to make sure the students learn the material. If any of ya interviewed with our basic science profs (Dr. Passo, Dr. Pravetz, Dr. Lerea or Dr. Peters) you'll know what I mean. They're there to teach us and to make us succeed. I've never met professors as caring, dedicated to teaching. Dr. Pravetz, our anatomy professor has been here for 10 years plus. There is continuity with the teaching. A lot of the same profs have been teaching at NYMC for a long time.
Overall, it was real hard for me to turn down RFUMS because of my interests in Emergency Medicine and especially because I was from Chicago but NYMC was a clear better fit for me. I ended up doing a second visit to both schools to get a better feel for the students. Both admissions office are more than willing to provide one. Their official stance is they don't have a second look weekend organized but they'll give ya another tour and provide you an opportunity to talk to someone from the admissions office. I felt after a second look, NYMC had more of a complete package for me.
I'm glad everyone is keeping an open mind about RFUMS here. Instead of the stupid "Are they like accredited or what? Like I've heard from my friend they're on probation." or "Where is RFUMS? NOrth Chicago? Is that like in chicago?"
RFUMS and NYMC are definitely improving and both their match lists are a testament to it.
