- Joined
- May 19, 2017
- Messages
- 57
- Reaction score
- 74
Alright everyone. This is it. The big Kahuna. I was set to go to IU, was pretty happy about the decision, felt like things were falling into place. Then, rather unexpectedly, I got into OHSU a few days ago. Here goes:
Indiana Pros:
- Close to family and friends
- huge support network
- existing relationships with physician preceptors, university administration, and community leaders
- cheap (could graduate debt-free with the combo of scholarships I have)
- Fairly strong program. Ranking seems low but residency match is somehow always strong
- diverse patient population for clinical rotations (important to me, hope to work with Urban Underserved)
- spend first two years in Bloomington, Indiana. Small town, cheap COA, lots of good coffee shops, friends, and a great climbing gym where I'd have a free membership
- clinical rotations in Indianapolis (Large population, lots of hospitals)
- relatively pretty area for preclinical years (Bloomington has parks nearby, beautiful lakes, etc accessible w/in 10-15 minutes)
-P/F preclinical, non-mandatory lectures, class only 1-5pm each day
- seems like students actually have a fair amount of free time
Indiana Cons:
- Just feels sort of stale. I've grown up in Indiana and went to IU for undergrad.
- I've had some students tell me that the curriculum seems like a joke at times
- normal pre-clinical years. (two years of didactics)
- could be distracted by non-med friends in the area
- feel like I'd be getting stuck in Indiana
- Wasn't particularly excited about the school until it became my best choice.
OHSU Pros:
- Portland has been a dream of mine for years
- OHSU facilities are beautiful,
- students seemed very relaxed, outgoing, and fun
- Quick Access to all of the outdoor activities I love to do (even though I won't have that much time to do them)
- Somewhere new and fresh, can step outside my comfort zone for really the first time in my life
- New curriculum with 1.5 years of didactics (extra 6 months in clinicals)
- P/F preclinicals
- was accepted to combined MD/MPH, which is a goal of mine.
- higher ranking (29 vs 46)
- OHSU was my absolute dream school
- lots of emphasis on structural competency, social determinants of health, etc.
OHSU Cons:
- expensive, would graduate with about 100K in debt even with the funding I've locked down.
- Far from family, friends
- Only know 2 people in the entire city
- Very High Cost of living
- Doesn't seem like I'd have that much free time to enjoy the natural beauty. OR natural beauty could be a huge distraction
- Match list is supposedly (?) lackluster (not sure what I want specialty I want)
- Lower STEP 1 scores
- Portland is 80% Caucasian
- Long days with no summer break
Indiana Pros:
- Close to family and friends
- huge support network
- existing relationships with physician preceptors, university administration, and community leaders
- cheap (could graduate debt-free with the combo of scholarships I have)
- Fairly strong program. Ranking seems low but residency match is somehow always strong
- diverse patient population for clinical rotations (important to me, hope to work with Urban Underserved)
- spend first two years in Bloomington, Indiana. Small town, cheap COA, lots of good coffee shops, friends, and a great climbing gym where I'd have a free membership
- clinical rotations in Indianapolis (Large population, lots of hospitals)
- relatively pretty area for preclinical years (Bloomington has parks nearby, beautiful lakes, etc accessible w/in 10-15 minutes)
-P/F preclinical, non-mandatory lectures, class only 1-5pm each day
- seems like students actually have a fair amount of free time
Indiana Cons:
- Just feels sort of stale. I've grown up in Indiana and went to IU for undergrad.
- I've had some students tell me that the curriculum seems like a joke at times
- normal pre-clinical years. (two years of didactics)
- could be distracted by non-med friends in the area
- feel like I'd be getting stuck in Indiana
- Wasn't particularly excited about the school until it became my best choice.
OHSU Pros:
- Portland has been a dream of mine for years
- OHSU facilities are beautiful,
- students seemed very relaxed, outgoing, and fun
- Quick Access to all of the outdoor activities I love to do (even though I won't have that much time to do them)
- Somewhere new and fresh, can step outside my comfort zone for really the first time in my life
- New curriculum with 1.5 years of didactics (extra 6 months in clinicals)
- P/F preclinicals
- was accepted to combined MD/MPH, which is a goal of mine.
- higher ranking (29 vs 46)
- OHSU was my absolute dream school
- lots of emphasis on structural competency, social determinants of health, etc.
OHSU Cons:
- expensive, would graduate with about 100K in debt even with the funding I've locked down.
- Far from family, friends
- Only know 2 people in the entire city
- Very High Cost of living
- Doesn't seem like I'd have that much free time to enjoy the natural beauty. OR natural beauty could be a huge distraction
- Match list is supposedly (?) lackluster (not sure what I want specialty I want)
- Lower STEP 1 scores
- Portland is 80% Caucasian
- Long days with no summer break
