OUWB vs Penn State

[GamerGoat]

I saw a thread about this from 2017, but I think it might be worth making another one now 8 years later lol. Leaning OUWB, but what's ultimately guiding my decision is pretty much what gives me a better chance to match into a competitive specialty (which from what I can tell from previous match days is OUWB? But I want to make sure I am not missing something)

OUWB
Pros

• Half off tuition (renewable)
• Pretty solid match list
• More familiar with the area
• Association with corewell

Cons

• Not true P/F preclinical
• Newer

Penn State
Pros

• Bigger name/more established
• True P/F preclinical

Cons

• No financial aid
• Not a big fan of the area

Just gave some basic pros and cons and I get these are both low-mid tier schools anyways, but I just don't want to make a decision without making sure I didn't miss something important. From everything I can see online, OUWB seems to send more students to competitive specialties than Penn State. If there is a significant difference, then I am pretty much willing to pay any price. Any help would be appreciated!

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[CheeesyBoi]

How much would full COA be at each of these schools?

 

[GamerGoat]

How much would full COA be at each of these schools?

244K at OUWB and 270K at Penn State. I do have a scholarship for OUWB though so it would be half that for four years

 

[CheeesyBoi]

My opinion is that there is not enough of a difference between the two to justify spending ~150k more at Penn state. Enjoy OUWB and significantly less debt!

 

[GamerGoat]

My opinion is that there is not enough of a difference between the two to justify spending ~150k more at Penn state. Enjoy OUWB and significantly less debt!

Makes sense lol. This was my thinking too, figured I throw a post out in case Penn state is just actually way better (in which case I’d think a lot more about paying that additional 150k). Doesn’t seem to be the case

 

[Fire978]

If your main goal is to match into a competitive specialty, I’d lean Penn State. The name carries more weight nationally, and having a true pass/fail preclinical curriculum gives you more breathing room to focus on research, Step scores, and things that really move the needle for competitive matches. Although it’s more expensive it might be a more worthy investment for your future.

 

[cytomegalovirus123]

If your main goal is to match into a competitive specialty, I’d lean Penn State. The name carries more weight nationally, and having a true pass/fail preclinical curriculum gives you more breathing room to focus on research, Step scores, and things that really move the needle for competitive matches. Although it’s more expensive it might be a more worthy investment for your future.

I would like to add to this. Oakland William Beaumont school of medicine matches very well. Why is this? Because the school is connected to Beaumont hospital system ( now corewell). So many students match into competitive specialties. It is not a well known school, but they do match very well. They have home residency programs in virtually every specialty and there is a considerate effort for students to work with these faculty and do research. So honestly if you are a michigan resident it is a good idea to go to Oakland and it will be cheaper. The differences between the schools are marginal. Only con for Beaumont is the in house exams, no nbme exams, and a non pass fail curriculum.