OHSU vs. Case Western

[nahdog]

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I have been really fortunate to receive several acceptances this cycle, and am in the process of narrowing things down. It is looking unlikely that I will get too much financial aid to any institution (I'll probably give it a shot/see if I can negotiate, but its a long shot), so sticker price is most likely! For context, my soon-to-be husband owns a home in Portland. If we were to move to Cleveland, we would probably rent it out which while not the end of the world, is extra work/another thing on our plates. I went into the cycle assuming that OHSU was it for me since its my in state option, but was really, really impressed by Case in a way that surprised me. I don't know what I want to specialize in. I am older (closer to 30) so I really question whether or not I will want to dedicate the effort/time to compete for a super competitive specialty. Its hard to know what I will like and how much I will like it! I am also originally an East Coast-er, so my family is all physically closer to Ohio than the West Coast. Granted, my significant other is from the west coast, so his family is here. I love them, but its definitely not the same as having your own family nearby (though it would still be a 7 hour drive for them to get to Case, so realistically its not like I would see them every weekend, maybe like once or twice more a year than I see them now).

Cost differential: tuition is 44k for in state OHSU/year and tuition is 67k/year at Case. Over 4 years thats about 92k.

Case
+pretty flexible/independent learner curriculum, means that first 2 years are maybe less stressful
+P/F
+competitive match
+research is ABUNDANT
+ample opportunities (Cleveland Clinic, exposure/connections available for basically every residency in existence)
+low cost of living
+beautiful facilities
+less frequent tests (I think that this is positive? Each tests weighs more, but I feel like I may prefer that over frequent exams).
+I actually like Cleveland, probably because I'm old lol
+Cleveland is a diverse city

-92k more expensive
-moving sucks
-wouldn't have the wonderland that is the PNW as my stress relief
-SO knows no one in Cleveland... so I would basically be moving him there and then abandoning him to study lol

OHSU
+also P/F, and allegedly now is P/F for clinical as well
+rural rotation where I could go be in Bend or central Oregon (beautiful, outdoorsy areas) for a month or two during MS3
+that sweet, sweet IS money (92k cheaper)
+seems like research is possible, maybe less abundant than Case
+no moving, stay in the home we own
+support system for my husband
+I have friends here outside of medical school, which might be nice during this process to have an escape
+the outdoors here are amazing, wonderful stress relief during a stressful time

-weekly tests seem to stress out the students
-seems like the match list is comparatively not as strong in some of the more competitive specialties; they do have some folks matching competitively every year but the numbers tend to be much lower than Case. that could be a sample bias since OHSU has a strong primary care focus, but it also just means that there are likely more established primary care/IM pathways for students than for competitive specialties. So less community if you decide to do something competitive.
-curriculum seems more structured/less independent
-Portland is very, very white which is kinda jarring and has been a part I dislike about living here (there is certainly some diversity but extremely minimal comparitively, which I think about effecting my training environment).

I think at the moment, I am leaning towards OHSU because I know it would make my partner the happiest. If it was just me to consider, I would probably be leaning more towards Case. Any input yall have would be great

 

[JohnJacobJingleheimer]

While Case has many strengths and is an option I too am strongly considering, this one seems like a no brainer to me. While Case is likely the better school here, the difference isn’t enough to justify choosing it, given all of the reasons you have to choose OHSU.

First and foremost, cost. Sticker price for Case..? Let me say that again; sticker price price for Case!?!?!?! Please don’t go 400k+ in debt (assuming ur taking loans) when you’re not sure you even want to do a competitive specialty that would make the case leg up worth it/ make it feasible to pay off such a grotesque amount of money. Case doesn’t have 100k worth of a difference to offer IMO. If you choose to do something competitive, OHSU has the resources and reputation to make that possible; the rest is on you. The same applies to Case. OHSU has $200m+ in federal research funding per year; you will have no trouble finding research to get involved in. Sure, Case probably has better research facilities and affiliations with beter hospitals, but not enough so that it’s going to offer you a future that OHSU cannot.

You also cannot overlook the importance of your SO’s happiness. While I might be dragging my SO to Cleveland w/ me in the end, that is w/ much reluctance and only because money and career prospects make it the sensible move. I’m still inviting my other options to give me the aid to make it logical to stay local and let my SO stay where she’d be happiest. You have the option to not have to sacrifice your SO’s potential happiness for the next 4 years… nothing on the other side of the aisle quite outdoes that, IMO. OHSU seems like the clear choice here, to me.

Congrats and good luck!!

 

[PeteytheFish]

I'm an MS2 at OHSU and would be very happy to answer any questions if you want to DM me.

Addressing one of your cons, in my opinion, the weekly exams are AWESOME. They're stressful for the first block, until you realize that they are seriously low stakes and that they really just are a means of helping you keep up with the material. And since they are always on Fridays, that leaves your weekends absolutely clear to relax and have fun. I only ever studied for an hour or so on Sunday evenings (except on weekends before final exams, in which I had to up my study game).

Anyway, I'm having a great time at OHSU and would love to chat, if you'd like.

I'm also an older student with an SO who I dragged to Oregon, so I know all about the challenge of making my SO move to a new state for me to go to school. It was tricky.

 

[chilly_md]

I think the fact you can stay at the home you both own is huge. It’s a bigger pain from just moving out of a place you are renting since you probably have many more things to pack as well as the hassle of finding a realtor, showing the place, selling and then going back to renting in Cleveland while you try to find someplace you would like to live. And both of you would be on your own because as you said, you family is on the East Coast and is still a very long drive away.

 

[seeinghowitgoes]

In this situation the only way Case would be worth it is if you knew you wanted to move away from the west coast for residency and go to particular programs in particular specialties (for example - if you wanted to maximize chances of getting an ortho residency on the east coast, or maximize chances of matching to a top 10 IM program). Case would make sense then because you’re right it has more research, you rotate through bigger more well known institutions (more opportunities for mentorship from bigger names in the fields), it has a better more diverse match list (residency programs like to take from med schools they have taken from in the past as they know what they’re getting), etc.

But sounds like you aren’t sure you want that, so I’d say the costs of case are worth it. I think the fact that you have a house, the cost will be so much less, and you’ll at least have his family nearby (vs Cleveland where nobody’s family will be nearby) suggest you should go with OHSU.

 

[Jsjnduendn]

OHSU is a great school where you’ll have a stronger support system and it also is cheaper. I think you’ll be happier there!