doctordentist444
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Hey guys, I'm a PA resident. COA is pretty similar between both schools so I will not be using that as a deciding factor (thank god).
School 1: OHSU - OOS
Pros:
Pros:
There is probably more I am missing that I am forgetting right now, but most of the big things I like about both schools make them pretty darn similar like the pass/fail, cost, and small classes are huge for me so that doesn't help me decide. The cons are where they start to differ. I'd say the biggest thing that could sway me one way or the other is knowing if I will graduate feeling ready or if I will feel like I need a general residency to feel comfortable to practice. If general residencies are more common after one school than the other, please let me know bc I will be choosing the one that prepares students well without this. I'm not opposed to one, but would hate to have to do one bc the school I'm going into so much debt for doesn't prepare me enough. I'm not sure what to really choose but id love any input.
School 1: OHSU - OOS
Pros:
- Pass/fail
- Mild summers - huge for me bc I hate intense heat
- Great transit system and don't need a car
- Small class size
- Have 7 residency programs (pro and con) - as of rn I don't plan to specialize but nice to know the pipeline to doing so is a little easier bc they have them if I want to.
- Can explore new regions, never been to Washington, Nevada, California, etc so could be cool. Idk how much time I'll have to explore but it is a cool thought.
- Explored Portland and it was a lot of fun and very charming. Really nice people and a lot to do. I'm not super athletic and outdoorsy so having things in the city to do is really nice for a balance.
- Inconvenient grocery stores, like a 20 min transit to the closest one.
- Inconvenient travel, no direct flights to Pitt or Philly so will be a minimum of an 8hr travel day for the holidays.
- Of course very far from home, I'm not opposed to a new city but I don't have any family nearby.
- Relatively strict on attendance - understandable but it makes it difficult to miss for a family occasion or something.
- (pro and con) Bc of the residency programs, complex cases get passes to residents. Im not sure if this compromises clinical experience at all.
Pros:
- Pass/fail
- Mental health days offered to support students and give a break if necessary. They also have strict-ish attendance but its nice to have these offered too.
- Small class size
- Begin clinic in D2. This is really really attractive to me.
- No residency programs (pro and con) - get to do more complex cases and probably a better clinical experience. Would love someone to confirm if this assumption is true or not though.
- I went to undergrad at a small, more rural school and LOVED it so I am sure I would be comfortable here and in this environment (I live in Philly for work now tho and wonder if I will miss being in a city… but 4 years will fly by, right?)
- Also milder summers
- Can explore a new region, never been to North Eastern US states so could be cool.
- Have to wear business casual clothes for lecture..yikes.
- Also inconvenient travel - random layovers making it long or really expensive direct flights to Philly but home home is in western PA. Could travel home with sister from Philly for holidays but such a hassle.
- (slight con - not a deal breaker) Will need a car - I truthfully prefer to drive but I'm sure shoveling off my car in the winter will be annoying sometimes. I think I would love having a car the rest of the year though.
- No residency programs (pro and con) - if I want to specialize won't have the opportunity to do it here. But if I really want to ik I can specialize out of anywhere.
- I loveee going to concerts and no one does tours in Maine - at least not my favorite artists. I would be sad to give this up for 4 years bc I can't be driving 2hrs to Boston each way if I have class early and a strict attendance policy. This is clearly more of a personal one rather than ab the school itself.
There is probably more I am missing that I am forgetting right now, but most of the big things I like about both schools make them pretty darn similar like the pass/fail, cost, and small classes are huge for me so that doesn't help me decide. The cons are where they start to differ. I'd say the biggest thing that could sway me one way or the other is knowing if I will graduate feeling ready or if I will feel like I need a general residency to feel comfortable to practice. If general residencies are more common after one school than the other, please let me know bc I will be choosing the one that prepares students well without this. I'm not opposed to one, but would hate to have to do one bc the school I'm going into so much debt for doesn't prepare me enough. I'm not sure what to really choose but id love any input.
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