NYU or UVA

[vicinihil]

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I just got in off the WL to NYU and am now debating between UVA and NYU.

Ignoring cost of living and location, where would you guys go? Sorry for the lame yet simple post. 😕

 

[UVAbme2009]

Well, I know nothing about NYU, but don't you want to play in the Med School Football League (MFL)?

 

[whoisthedrizzle]

Cost, location >> everything else

 

[flip26]

Cost, location >> everything else

I agree. Might even add a few more >>>>>

This is probably a huge differential for the OP - he must be rich since he said not to consider it.

Even if they cost about the same, I would still probably pick UVa.

 

[icarus8]

I feel like this should be entirely about location - they could not be more different.

 

[chad5871]

I vote NYU. If cost/location are a non-issue, I think the clinical experience at NYU trumps that of UVA.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Even if they cost about the same, I would still probably pick UVa.

Me too but I may be a bit biased. The 'ville is a wonderful place to live.

 

[chad5871]

I think it does all come down to location and cost. Would you rather be in Charlottesville, or NYC? If you'd rather be in NYC, are you willing to pay the extra cost to be there? Tough choice, but like I said earlier, I would probably choose NYU.

 

[vicinihil]

I think it does all come down to location and cost. Would you rather be in Charlottesville, or NYC? If you'd rather be in NYC, are you willing to pay the extra cost to be there? Tough choice, but like I said earlier, I would probably choose NYU.

I really want to be in NYC but I just don't know how the teaching at NYU is compared to UVA. I also already had everything set to move to C'ville as well so it will be a hassle to rescind my acceptance. UVA is ranked higher...but the main thing is that I'm a city guy and I feel that NYC has much more to offer me. In terms of medical school and curriculum, I have no idea which is stronger, but I hear that it's all what you make of it.

 

[Adnama]

I really want to be in NYC but I just don't know how the teaching at NYU is compared to UVA. I also already had everything set to move to C'ville as well so it will be a hassle to rescind my acceptance. UVA is ranked higher...but the main thing is that I'm a city guy and I feel that NYC has much more to offer me. In terms of medical school and curriculum, I have no idea which is stronger, but I hear that it's all what you make of it.

Congrats on two amazing offers! If I were from Virginia I would probably go to UVa - since it is a great school and it would save so much money and then go to NYC for residency. It would be much more exciting to live in NYC with a paycheck.

 

[stixx]

I really want to be in NYC but I just don't know how the teaching at NYU is compared to UVA. I also already had everything set to move to C'ville as well so it will be a hassle to rescind my acceptance. UVA is ranked higher...but the main thing is that I'm a city guy and I feel that NYC has much more to offer me. In terms of medical school and curriculum, I have no idea which is stronger, but I hear that it's all what you make of it.

If you had received the acceptances at the same time, where would you have gone? In my opinion, the few weeks of hassles/cancellations/set-up would be more than worth 4 years without worrying about "what if?"

 

[dog0]

Since I'll be your classmate next year, probably UVA 😛 And if you're ignoring cost and location, I think it's safe to assume that you're going strictly based on rankings and prestige; I think UVA >>>> NYU in that aspect. I also consider myself a 'city guy,' and also loved Pitt, but I was very satisfied with what C-Ville has to offer.

 

[inkare]

I say NYU because I am a "cityguy" myself. And, as you already know, NYC is the king of all cities. I've lived here for 2 years now, and there are so many stuff to do. And the great thing about this city is, you keep discovering new activities/places to go. I've taken people who have been living here for years to places they didn't know about.

The clinical training you will get at Bellevue is probably one of the best in the country. The grading system is P/F, so that makes the atmosphere better and helps to learn towards the boards. Also, NYU is in the best location compared to other NYC schools. I live around the Columbia Medical Center right now, and I tell you, its a true hassle to go downtown everytime. I can't wait to finally move downtown to NYU. Another thing I've really loved about NYC is that you don't need a car here and it really is nice that way. I came here from LA so the change was drastically good for me. Imagine, no parking, no tickets, no increasing gas prices. You don't have to have a designated driver for when you go out. It's wonderful.

Here are some stuff I found from class of 2011 thread which was useful to me.

You can contact me if you have any other questions. You can also contact Dakota, from the quote below. I've contacted him before and he is a great resource.

Good luck on your decision !

I had no idea where I wanted to go, so I applied and interviewed everywhere. After attending a bunch of second looks, etc I basically decided I liked really big medical centers. The reason is there are lots of physicians in every specialty. This is important because the medical students never overwhelm the physicians. Thus far I've observed surgeries, spent time in the ER, etc, etc and I'm not competing with my fellow students for opportunities and attention, there's plenty to go around for all. You are really only limited by your desire/ability to put yourself out there and make opportunities.

However, I discovered most large medical centers are in neighborhoods in which you don't want to live (think Miami and LA). So, the students all commute 30 minutes, maybe even an hour each way. Everyone scatters into the city.

I really like that I have Bellevue, Tisch, and the VA all within a few blocks. I live in a great neighborhood in Manhattan. My commute to class is shorter than any other medical students in the country with the exception of the people living on the floors below me.

Want to go over a few things in anatomy lab with your friend at 10pm? No problem, b/c it's inside the building in which you live. Have a question about the material you're studying? Knock on the door of the guy living next to you. And if he's not in, hit up the next door. Curious about 2nd year? Ask the MSII living across the hall.

I didn't choose NYU based on US News rankings. In the end the advantages of the location and living situation really sold me. What cemented the decsion was all the great people I met at revisit weekend. No, not everyone who attends revisit will attend NYU, but it gives you a good idea of the type of people interested in NYU. In the end I stayed in touch with a few people from revisit and the three of us all came to NYU.

And living in a dorm at NYU is a lot cheaper than an apt in any city I was considering.

If you guys have any questions don't hesitate to PM me, I'm not great about checking all the NYU threads regularly.

I really enjoyed the second look. The students were amazing, both the fellow applicants and the current NYU medical students. They really stressed that this is a place where you can both learn a lot, get great clinical skills, and have fun (something I really didn't think would happen a lot in medical school!) The tour of Bellvue was great (besides for the prisoner that tried to vomit on me in the ER, talk about real patient contact), but what really convinced me was talking to the 3rd and 4th years in small groups and then the 1st and 2nd years at the muesum reception. The things you get to do on the wards are incredible!! One girl told us about how she had to cut into somone's leg in the trauma center one night to relieve pressure (like Cali from Grey's anatomy!) At Bellevue, we'll see everything and participate in (almost) everything procedure wise too. Also, I was really impressed on how much the school encourages the students to have fun and experience everything the city has to offer. I'm about 99% after revisit weekend that NYU is where I'm going to end up 🙂 Anyone else here going to be my future classmate?

My impressions from second look weekend

Dorms: Obviously, this is the weakest link at NYU. Even though many consider it a negative it is easy to turn into a positive. Dorm life is great as a first year because you have the opportunity to meet and get involved with 90% of your first year class (and a lot of second years). It can really be an icebreaker for the shy ones. The rooms are big enough to live in, but the bathrooms can be cramped. Like tch said the first floor rooms are larger.

Student Life: NYC and all the opportunities it provides as a city - need I say more? Students are on the younger side and there is a work hard/play hard atmosphere. However, the class is large enough that you can find your niche group and hang out with them.

Academics/Research: The professors are very accessible. NYU provides great research opportunities in vary degrees of commitment. You have the option of getting into MD/PhD after your first year, taking a year off to be an HHMI fellow, or doing research in the summers (Honors program). Students are encouraged to pursue any of these paths and there seems to be plenty of positions available. Bottom line: If you want to go into a specific specialty and are motivated to do so NYU will help you and you will match well.

Clinical: Tisch, Bellevue, and the VA combine to provide unbeatable clinical experiences. Tisch is a private hospital - learn good bedside manners and use high end equipment. At Bellevue the first years have the opportunity to get their hands dirty and participate in many surgical procedures many students don't get to do until their clinical rotations. Not to mention the patient diversity (you can look up these stats yourself). At the VA you can spend hours practicing your H&Ps and reap all the other benefits a VA hospital has to offer.

I'm sure I've missed plenty of things, I hope others feel free to add and comment as necessary.

 

[dog0]

I think Charlottesville has plenty to do also. It has it's share of national parks, and I think Downtown is really nice. It's somewhat of a pseudo city vibe without the skyscapers and Guidos NY has to offer 😛 Plus, DC and Richmond aren't too far away if ever you want to escape to metropolitan life. You won't need a car in C-Ville either. I'm going to be living directly on The Corner; thus, I'm 3 minutes away from the Hospital, bars, and restaurants.

But again, my opinion is biased since I'll be attending UVa in the Fall. Plus, I'm a South Florida boy and we aren't too fond of New Yorkers. If you are going to NY for the night life, reconsider your motives. If you like clubs, you're not going to be able to get in anywhere unless you know promoters and roll with a girl to guy ration around 4:1. I mean, NY is beautiful; when I lived in Philly as a child, my mom held a job in NYC, and I would always visit. There is a lot to do, but I highly doubt you'll have enough time to enjoy NYC to its full potential as a medical school student.

 

[spyderracing32]

You won't need a car in C-Ville either.

You can't afford a car in NYC

 

[chad5871]

So what did you end up deciding?

 

[vicinihil]

So what did you end up deciding?

I think the majority of the decision is UVA due to cost.

I think I'm leaning towards UVA because as someone previously said...what fun is NYC if you can't afford it 👍. Hopefully I'll end up in a larger city for residency, but I have 6 days to decide...waiting on acceptance package.

Thanks everyone for the useful input. SDN folks are the bomb-shnizzle.

 

[medstudent122]

I just got in off the WL to NYU and am now debating between UVA and NYU.

Ignoring cost of living and location, where would you guys go? Sorry for the lame yet simple post. 😕

I would go to NYU. More research opportunities and better (more exciting) place to live. Also, UVA is very expensive for an instate school anyways.

 

[inkare]

I think the majority of the decision is UVA due to cost.

I think I'm leaning towards UVA because as someone previously said...what fun is NYC if you can't afford it 👍. Hopefully I'll end up in a larger city for residency, but I have 6 days to decide...waiting on acceptance package.

Thanks everyone for the useful input. SDN folks are the bomb-shnizzle.

I don't know why people keep saying that you can't enjoy NYC due to living cost. I've done it with grad school stipend and I paid more rent. I'm pretty happy that I will be moving to the NYU area and pay less rent. NYU gives you very affordable housing ($620/month) in a great part of the city, accessible to the nightlife/bars/theater.

As far as cost of enjoying the nightlife, it's pretty much the same as any other big city, but with much more variety. I know this because I've lived in LA and SF as well. You have the bars where it cost $2 for a yuengling, and other where they will charge you the typical $5. You have the clubs where it's very hard to get in, and the ones where they let you in for free, have open bar for an hour. Free drinks !!! (these are very good clubs btw, you need to know the promoter and go there at the right time, before 11pm). If you want to have fun in nyc, you can, even with a really low budget. I actually believe its easier and cheaper to go out for the nightlife here than other big cities, due to the extreme variety and proximity of the different venues (it was much harder for me in LA). Also, NYU gives you discount tickets to many of the broadway shows and other stuff going on in the city. They had an office for that if I remember correctly during my interview.

You will be pretty busy during medical school and you wouldn't be able to go clubbing 2 nights a week in any medical school you chose to attend. The difference is that during times that you do want to go and let it all out, you are in the greatest city in the world, rather than a place which is dead with nothing to do. Priceless 😉

 

[cavalier329]

as an undergrad who currently goes to UVA and lives in NY--right outside NYC....id say go to UVA!

The medical center is outstanding, research is top notch, we just ranked really well in US News and World report. Id stay here another 4 years if it works out that way.

NYU is an excellent school, however, thomas jefferson certainly did not establish NYU...haha

this place is SURROUNDED by history and tradition. You come here you will not only get an amazing education, but you will also get UVA athletics, the lawn, foxfield races, EVERYTHING!

And the best...when you graduate you can say, "Ive worn the honors of honor, Ive graduated from the University of Virginia"

 

[cavalier329]

C'ville is not dead! While there will always be a place in my heart for NYC...as ive grown up there...c'ville is an amazing place to be. There are things in c'ville youll never find in NYC. Just like there are things in NYC you cant find in c'ville.

At the end of the day, its really all about what youre looking for.

 

[Bradstein]

What's the curriculum like at the two schools? Differences?

 

[OCallag]

NYU is an excellent school, however, thomas jefferson certainly did not establish NYU

damn straight.

 

[rams36]

I would go to NYU. The most important issue is where you would be the happiest and where do you most want to be (i.e. "city guy"). NYU's location in the heart of Manhattan is a hard deal to pass up. Also, take into account the fact that you may not be able to go there for residency depending on the field you choose and how competitive it is that year. Also, it would be a dream to study and work at Bellevue (oldest and most famous hospital in the US) as well.

 

[mmmcat]

this is a tough one. if it were me, I'd probably go to NYU. So I mean you're from Virginia, so it would definitely be nice to experience some place new. Although UVA is ranked higher (not even sure what that means anymore), NYU will definitely be able to offer a much more diverse patient populaiton. New York is more fun than Charlottesville (middle of nowhere, USA). There really is no comparison. You're in a tough spot because it was so last minute. But suck it up, pack your stuff and get going. This is 4 years we're talking about! If you live in Richmond, you could drive to Cville if you really wanted to visit the forest.

 

[mmmcat]

Oh and come on, Thomas Jefferson? who was he? didn't he own slaves? enough said.

 

[inkare]

this is a tough one. if it were me, I'd probably go to NYU. So I mean you're from Virginia, so it would definitely be nice to experience some place new. Although UVA is ranked higher (not even sure what that means anymore), NYU will definitely be able to offer a much more diverse patient populaiton. New York is more fun than Charlottesville (middle of nowhere, USA). There really is no comparison. You're in a tough spot because it was so last minute. But suck it up, pack your stuff and get going. This is 4 years we're talking about! If you live in Richmond, you could drive to Cville if you really wanted to visit the forest.

It's actually not too hard, considering they guarantee you housing, and that the first day of orientation is about a month from now, on august 19th.

But OP, pick the school you feel you would be the happiest there. Both are great schools. At the end, it's a win-win situation.

 

[gold&black2005]

vicinihil,

long time no talk 😛

having just come off of third-year clerkships (and having friends at both uva and nyu), I can confidently say the following:

pre-clinical education:

uva>nyu (uva's faculty is stronger and it's shorter by half a year)

pre-clinical opportunities:

toss-up--uva>nyu (research opps), but nyu>uva (global health/public service/community service opps)

clinical education:

nyu>>uva (bellvue, tisch and the VA see some of the highest patient volumes in the country with a ridiculous diversity of pathology. uva kids get farmed out all over the state because the University hospital just doesn't see the kind of volume to accomodate 140 medical students/year...so basically, if you enjoy Salem, VA, then stay in virginia 😉 )

residency reputation:

toss-up, depending on where you want to match. the UVA name is respected everywhere and this past year's match list was sick...NYU, however, also has great placement, particularly if you're looking to stay on the East Coast (NYC, Boston, Philly, DC, Baltimore, NC, Pitt, etc.).

Intangibles:

This is where it gets tricky. UVa's med school definitely has a very typical college feel where life is centered around house parties, random med school events and life in the 'ville (the corner, wine country, local art stuff - c'ville is fairly cosmopolitan given its size, to be fair). As I've heard from some of my friends, however, UVa's a great place to study medicine...because there's not much else to do (and this is coming from kids who did undergrad in Richmond!). NYU is obviously a different experience, but it's not be as typically collegiate in experience as UVa would be. I have a feeling you went to an urban school for undergrad ;-) so the UVa feel might be nice; NYU, on the other hand, is the quintessential Urban experience in one of the world's greatest cities - but there's no grassy knolls and expanses of lawn on which to study. Both are good in their own right - it's just a matter of deciding what you value more.

Either way, good luck with your choice - it's fantastic to have those two options. If it were me - I would go to NYU (personal reasons...I like cities), but UVa's a tough place to turn down. PM me if you need anything.

 

[What up doc]

vicinihil,

long time no talk 😛

having just come off of third-year clerkships (and having friends at both uva and nyu), I can confidently say the following:

pre-clinical education:

uva>nyu (uva's faculty is stronger and it's shorter by half a year)

pre-clinical opportunities:

toss-up--uva>nyu (research opps), but nyu>uva (global health/public service/community service opps)

clinical education:

nyu>>uva (bellvue, tisch and the VA see some of the highest patient volumes in the country with a ridiculous diversity of pathology. uva kids get farmed out all over the state because the University hospital just doesn't see the kind of volume to accomodate 140 medical students/year...so basically, if you enjoy Salem, VA, then stay in virginia 😉 )

residency reputation:

toss-up, depending on where you want to match. the UVA name is respected everywhere and this past year's match list was sick...NYU, however, also has great placement, particularly if you're looking to stay on the East Coast (NYC, Boston, Philly, DC, Baltimore, NC, Pitt, etc.).

Intangibles:

This is where it gets tricky. UVa's med school definitely has a very typical college feel where life is centered around house parties, random med school events and life in the 'ville (the corner, wine country, local art stuff - c'ville is fairly cosmopolitan given its size, to be fair). As I've heard from some of my friends, however, UVa's a great place to study medicine...because there's not much else to do (and this is coming from kids who did undergrad in Richmond!). NYU is obviously a different experience, but it's not be as typically collegiate in experience as UVa would be. I have a feeling you went to an urban school for undergrad ;-) so the UVa feel might be nice; NYU, on the other hand, is the quintessential Urban experience in one of the world's greatest cities - but there's no grassy knolls and expanses of lawn on which to study. Both are good in their own right - it's just a matter of deciding what you value more.

Either way, good luck with your choice - it's fantastic to have those two options. If it were me - I would go to NYU (personal reasons...I like cities), but UVa's a tough place to turn down. PM me if you need anything.

excellent post dude/dudette!

 

[vicinihil]

:sigh: you guys don't make this easy. Thanks for all the input! I think though I'm pretty torn, being at UVA would probably be a bit more conducive to my studying though the clinical experience is certainly a concern.

However, I have also heard that students are given many more opportunities to do hands on work at certain rural hospitals as opposed to Bellvue where you have more practicing residents/fellows/doctors fighting for the experience. I definitely want to move to a big city (NYC, Boston, Chicago, West Side) post-med school. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to do so.

Final decision by tomorrow (7 days to decide). I'll let y'all know! Thanks =)

 

[flip26]

:sigh: you guys don't make this easy. Thanks for all the input! I think though I'm pretty torn, being at UVA would probably be a bit more conducive to my studying though the clinical experience is certainly a concern.

However, I have also heard that students are given many more opportunities to do hands on work at certain rural hospitals as opposed to Bellvue where you have more practicing residents/fellows/doctors fighting for the experience. I definitely want to move to a big city (NYC, Boston, Chicago, West Side) post-med school. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to do so.

Final decision by tomorrow (7 days to decide). I'll let y'all know! Thanks =)

What is the projected diff in cost/debt over 4 years?

When otherwise undecided, follow the money...

 

[vicinihil]

about 10K difference per years...so cost differential is 40K

Current loan for UVA is 33K/year...43K for NYU...so 132K debt vs. 172K debt.

 

[flip26]

about 10K difference per years...so cost differential is 40K

Current loan for UVA is 33K/year...43K for NYU...so 132K debt vs. 172K debt.

That would be a no-brainer for me...

Good luck.

 

[Adnama]

about 10K difference per years...so cost differential is 40K

Current loan for UVA is 33K/year...43K for NYU...so 132K debt vs. 172K debt.

It might also help to move to a big city after med school with the smaller amount of debt.

Even though this is stressful - it is still a win-win situation!

Lots of luck to you and Congrats once again!

 

[vicinihil]

Chose UVA...hopefully that opens a slot for someone else =)