NYMC (with $$) vs. SUNY Upstate

[whiteorchid37]

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Hey - I need some help deciding what to do!

Recently accepted to SUNY Upstate-'Cuse campus, but was also accepted to NYMC.

Cost is the SAME for me for BOTH - so pleaseeeeee don't let cost be a factor if you reply.

I want to go into Ophthalmology (I know this will be extremely competitive and hard to get at either place). My second choice would probably be Rads (which I know that NYMC matches a higher number of Rads each year).

Some pros/cons of each school that I can think of:


NYMC
pros - location, mini-boards, more choices of where to rotate, less competitive?
cons - less prestigious, haven't heard the best things about the administration, would have to live on campus w/ roommates if i went (and i haven't had roommates in the past 3 years)

Upstate
pros - nice administration, more prestigious, cost of living is probably cheaper.
cons - location (i've lived in upstate ny forever...being closer to a city would be a good change of pace).


Please - any advice would helpful, I just really ask that you keep the cost-factor out since that isn't a factor in my case.

Thank you.

 

[Rzarecta]

Hey - I need some help deciding what to do!

Recently accepted to SUNY Upstate-'Cuse campus, but was also accepted to NYMC.

Cost is the SAME for me for BOTH - so pleaseeeeee don't let cost be a factor if you reply.

I want to go into Ophthalmology (I know this will be extremely competitive and hard to get at either place). My second choice would probably be Rads (which I know that NYMC matches a higher number of Rads each year).

Some pros/cons of each school that I can think of:


NYMC
pros - location, mini-boards, more choices of where to rotate, less competitive?
cons - less prestigious, haven't heard the best things about the administration, would have to live on campus w/ roommates if i went (and i haven't had roommates in the past 3 years)

Upstate
pros - nice administration, more prestigious, cost of living is probably cheaper.
cons - location (i've lived in upstate ny forever...being closer to a city would be a good change of pace).


Please - any advice would helpful, I just really ask that you keep the cost-factor out since that isn't a factor in my case.

Thank you.

I don't think there is a significant difference in perceived prestige between the two institutions. If cost is the same and you do think you would like being closer to NYC then I say go NYMC.

 

[DoctorJ1001]

Hey if money is not a factor, I would probably have to say go with NYMC. The location is absolutely beautiful, not to mention I have plenty of first year friends there who have only great things to say. In addition i do feel that they have a much better match in rads like you said, and if you did want to do optho, i heard it can very easily happen if you went to NYMC. I also feel the intra class competition at NYMC is extremely low as opposed to that of Upstate. Not too mention the weather is something you have to consider, granted you will be studying, but Syracuse winters are pretty harsh. Just my opinion...NYMC!!! best of luck with your decision.

 

[whiteorchid37]

thanks for the input! =)

i know there was initial hesitation about the touro merger - while they say nothing will change, it is a little disheartening that a not so great school's name is now attached to NYMC - it just sort of brings down NYMC's rep a little...but of course i am not going to let this be a deterrent. (at least there will be more days off due to jewish holidays!) haha

also harsh winters don't bother me so much (lived upstate for the past 22 years and went to undergrad at UB)...but then again i never drived at UB and that hill in 'Cuse would be treacherous! lol

so i should admit that there is a slight money differential with suny upstate being a little cheaper - but my parents are going to help me out and i'm fine with having loans, etc. the money thing isnt a huge difference - i just didn't want people to write "upstate, it's cheaper...duh" lol - anymore input would be great!!

what about % of people that get into 1st choice residency, usmle scores, social life, etc??

 

[gplex86]

NYMC is affiliated with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmiry in Manhattan. That one is quite well regarded and you should research it. NYMC has the Manhattan pipeline IF that's something you're interested in.

Touro may eventually be a good name. Don't laugh - ask middle-aged people how poorly NYU was regarded 20 years ago. Mt Sinai used to be City College. Einstein started out without Montefiore. Things change in big ways over time.

Having to live on campus at NYMC is a myth. Many of us do not. Get a roommate in Tarrytown and your expenses will be very similar. You'll be on the Hudson with a town and a metro train nearbyWorking it out on your own is no different than having NYMC pick your roomies at random.

Upstate may or may not be the best option for you. But I wouldn't be so down on NYMC. There's a reason why 28 people got into rads. It is not a state school - people filter in from all over the country with the intention to kick some serious ass.

 

[whiteorchid37]

yeah - i think because NYMC matches so well in Rads and because of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmiry it would probably be the better choice. I also really like the location.

I guess you are right about the Touro thing - and like I said I'm not going to let the merger be a deterrent (it's not like NYMC is shutting down or is magically going to disappear, lol). It is still a good school and well-known, AND has an amazing match-list.

For the living on campus thing - I mean to say that personally I would probably have to live on campus (not because it is requried by NYMC) but because it would be the easier option to live in a furnished apt that is walking-distance from the campus. (cost-effective since I don't own furniture - lived in dorms for the past 4 yrs)...and I'm a terrible driver so if I didn't have to commute everyday it would probably be easier for me, haha.

sooo reflecting back - maybe the housing arrangement should have been put in the pro list? gah.


how are the study spaces at NYMC??? We didn't see the library on our tour - but they mentioned a lot of people study on the 2nd/3rd floor rooms. Are there other spots people like to study?

 

[gplex86]

I really hope Touro re-invents the NYMC tour. They don't show much! And they put you guys here on days that we are too busy to talk (perpetuating the myth that we're stressed all the time).

The library is open until midnight most days. Some people prefer it there - it's big enough for the number of students we have. Others live in the mods, open 24/7. In addition, many of us study in the cafeteria, which is also open 24 hours (it's the service area that closes). The cafeteria is where you can have noisey discussions late at night. I also run into people at the public libraries. There are a lot of them, but hours vary. Some people study at the grad school building (SHSP), which also has a sizeable computer lab and VERY nice printers!

 

[whiteorchid37]

thanks for all the input!!! i ended up choosing Upstate over NYMC (shocker, I know), but a won't actually be attending Upstate, since I was accepted to NYU a few weeks ago!!! Good Luck to everyone!!!

 

[JJMrK]

Congrats OP. 👍