NYU vs Columbia vs UPenn

[RoMan1516]

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Hi everyone! Blessed to be making this choice, but it's definitely tough right now

NYU Grossman
Pros
-- Accepted to their 3-year MD Directed Pathway program with guaranteed residency in a DOPEN surgical subspecialty
-- Removes uncertainty of an increasingly competitive match process
-- Earlier attending timeline (by ~1–2 years vs 4–5 year path + research year)
-- Close to home (~20 min) → strong family/support system during both med school and residency
-- Very strong residency program with strong case volume and institutional continuity
-- Opportunity for longitudinal projects over a 10-year span within one system


Cons
-- Limited flexibility if interests change (though not a concern in my case, i'm 100% sure this is the specialty I want to do)
-- Compressed preclinical/clinical timeline → potentially less time for extensive research output during med school
-- Research infrastructure not as strong as the other two, which is important to me
-- Slightly less prestige (?) than traditional ivys
-- Slightly higher annual cost (~35k/year vs Columbia ~20k/year)

​

Columbia VP&S
Pros
-- Strong personal fit; really enjoyed the environment/culture. Always a dream to go to Columbia
-- Close to home (NYC) → still excellent proximity to family/support system (20 mins away_
-- Established mentorship with an attending I’m very close with in my goal specialty → meaningful for guidance, research, and networking
-- Strong academic reputation and research ecosystem, particularly for neuroscience/translational work
-- Lower cost (~20k/year)


Cons
-- No guaranteed residency → must go through standard match (probably requires research year?)
-- Likely 4–5 year timeline before residency
-- Reintroduces uncertainty despite strong institutional support
-- Opportunity cost of delayed attending income/training progression


UPenn Perelman
Pros
-- Extremely strong research environment (arguably strongest of the three)
-- Excellent match outcomes across competitive specialties
-- Significant opportunities for interdisciplinary work


Cons
-- Farther from home (~2.5 hours) → less day-to-day family support
-- Highest cost (~70k/year currently)
-- No guaranteed residency pathway
-- Less personal connection compared to Columbia

TLDR: NYU offers certainty, proximity, and a faster path to my dream (very competitive) specialty; Columbia offers strong mentorship, lower cost, a better culture fit, and a more traditional (but uncertain) path; Penn offers maximal research resources but is weaker on cost and proximity.

I will say that out of these, I'm pretty close to eliminating Penn since it's way more expensive and I want to stay in NYC. Thanks everyone!

 

[fakeeagle]

Congrtas on a amazing cycle. The guarantee to your DOPEN at NYU seems too good to pass up imho.

 

[Invisible_sun332]

I think nyu is actually your best option with the guaranteed DOPEN match and quicker timeline. Especially because you want to stay in nyc.

 

[riv_jordan]

I always forget that NYU has this "Direct Progression" program that includes guaranteed matching into even the most competitive specialties they offer. That and free tuition in NYC. It's a truly a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity, I can't imagine passing that up.

 

[polymerization]

The only question worth asking yourself is whether you truly, in your heart of hearts, care about research enough to extend your degree program by 1-2 years in order to engage with it.

I know what we said in our applications, but, for what it's worth, most students looking to match DOPEN are not exactly churning out breakthroughs one after the other. It's mostly BS. I feel like that only becomes apparent from the inside, because we assume research will be something that gets baked into the medical school experience. It doesn't. It gets baked into what would otherwise be your personal time.

If NYU is telling you they will fast track you to residency, no song-and-dance necessary, I think they are doing you a huge, major solid—especially if you are someone that primarily wants to practice clinically once school is over.

I am usually a person who loves the ivory tower and would probably tell you to go Ivy wherever possible. I think this would be the exception. I think future you would be thankful to not have to participate in the Match like everyone else. It's peace of mind that very, very few schools offer.

Personally, I couldn't imagine passing that up.

 

[eyeeye_captain]

You seem hung up on research, which can help you some in maybe 4 cases:

1. Personal craving for it (I think you’re crazy, but won’t yuck your yum)
2. Getting into residency (not applicable here)
3. Getting into fellowship (if even desired)
4. Getting a job in academics (see thoughts on #1)

If you go to NYU, you’re in the real world at least 1 year quicker, and you’re still close enough to Columbia to keep a pretty easy relationship with your mentor. Additionally, if you’re talking neuroscience and competitive, I’ll assume you mean neurosurgery or ophtho - both have only about a 70% match rate.

A guaranteed residency and extra attending dollars are worth more than papers.

 

[rob120]

NYU, no question. but also what is DOPEN

 

[RoMan1516]

NYU, no question. but also what is DOPEN

Acronym for some of the more competitive specialties (dermatology, orthopedics, plastics, ent, neurosurgery)

 

[RoMan1516]

The only question worth asking yourself is whether you truly, in your heart of hearts, care about research enough to extend your degree program by 1-2 years in order to engage with it.

I know what we said in our applications, but, for what it's worth, most students looking to match DOPEN are not exactly churning out breakthroughs one after the other. It's mostly BS. I feel like that only becomes apparent from the inside, because we assume research will be something that gets baked into the medical school experience. It doesn't. It gets baked into what would otherwise be your personal time.

If NYU is telling you they will fast track you to residency, no song-and-dance necessary, I think they are doing you a huge, major solid—especially if you are someone that primarily wants to practice clinically once school is over.

I am usually a person who loves the ivory tower and would probably tell you to go Ivy wherever possible. I think this would be the exception. I think future you would be thankful to not have to participate in the Match like everyone else. It's peace of mind that very, very few schools offer.

Personally, I couldn't imagine passing that up.

Thank you so much! That’s kind of where I’m caught up too, will not having the Ivy name at any point potentially take away opportunities down the line?

But talking to people, NYU for my specialty is a top top program, and with it being guaranteed one year early, too good to pass up all around. Thank you for your advice!

 

[RoMan1516]

You seem hung up on research, which can help you some in maybe 4 cases:

1. Personal craving for it (I think you’re crazy, but won’t yuck your yum)
2. Getting into residency (not applicable here)
3. Getting into fellowship (if even desired)
4. Getting a job in academics (see thoughts on #1)

If you go to NYU, you’re in the real world at least 1 year quicker, and you’re still close enough to Columbia to keep a pretty easy relationship with your mentor. Additionally, if you’re talking neuroscience and competitive, I’ll assume you mean neurosurgery or ophtho - both have only about a 70% match rate.

A guaranteed residency and extra attending dollars are worth more than papers.

Tbh research is very important to me. But thinking more on it, it may actually balance out at NYU, since I know I’ll be spending 9-10 years at one institution (I can engage in fewer projects but go way deeper and more high impact with them).

Not to mention all the other perks of NYU. Thank you for your help!