Penn State vs. University of Utah

[Cellochick0528]

I am between University of Utah and Penn State. Which would you choose??!

Facts: in-state Utah applicant. LGBTQ female. ADHD and very extroverted. (hence, my preoccupation w/ the curriculum style). Tuition money is not a concern since they are priced about the same.

1. University of Utah:
Pros:

1. Top 40 school
2. I have great connections here with some of the doctors who wrote my letters and who I did research and worked with
3. close to wife's family who live in Utah county, around an hour away
4. Hunstman Cancer center. I am big into the personalized medicine/genome/ cancer scene.
   1. They are doing a huge AML trial right now. My dad died from this cancer. Would be awesome.
5. cool possibility of MD/PhD program linkage... which means free tuition. I know the director, she knows me by name. Something I may be interested in joining!
6. wife can finish her undergrad at the same time I'm in med school

Cons:

1. high cost of living, relatively speaking. May need to take out loans or live w/ wife's family and do an hour commute. UGH.
2. Potentially highly lecture based, could be a challenge for ADHD and extroversion. I don't know if it will be an issue for me to not be in a PBL format.
3. Not much to do here since I'm not a huge hiking person
4. Terrible Utah. I realize SLC is a lot better than typical Utah (in terms of diversity and non LDS white straight Trump-flag bearers... god help this awful state!) but many of my classmates will be... typical Utah LDS guys. 🙄
5. Much less frequent testing. I'm no learning expert but I feel like this could be harmful to learning compared to other schools w/ more frequent testing.

Seems like the logical choice, right? Could be absolutely dreamy. Except I've been praying for the chance to get out of Utah for so long!

2. Penn State:
Pros:

1. Love the area--very close to candy-themed Disneyland aka Hershey Park. I LOVE roller coasters!
2. great reputation, amazing residency match.
3. very affordable cost of living to put a down payment on an adorable townhome
4. LOVED the curriculum. Blend of PBL and lectures. Tested frequently, all free response (no multiple choice). true P/F even in clinical rotations.
5. Good for ADHD/learning style: University Park curriculum is me and 11 classmates working directly with attending physicians. NO LECTURES. All PBL. Students looked seriously chill and said how prepared they felt for boards and not stressed they were.
6. Big genome and big cancer center connected to the medical school
7. get to leave terrible Utah.
8. A new experience
9. chocolate factory. Fun for family to visit (they probably never will lol)
10. required research component, plethora of publications and opportunities (probably at the U also...)
11. could possibly open up more location choices for residency since it shows I "stretched myself" outside my comfort zone. Right?
12. Learning specialists designed this curriculum. Seriously.

Cons:

1. About 10K a year more expensive in tuition
2. far away from wife's family, would make her a bit sad but she's willing.
3. don't have the MD/PhD option
4. depending on which campus I choose, wife wouldn't be able to do her undergrad b/c the medical school is in Hershey and the undergrade campus is in state college, PA.
5. not a "true city"
6. still very homogenous in diversity

Penn State seemed like the dream until I got the call from the U of U dean yesterday. It's certainly different and exciting and I could see myself chilling at Hershey Park every Friday night, getting some good roller coaster therapy.


Any advice or insight would be appreciated!!! I am so unbelievably torn....

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[Banco]

Do you hope to match in Utah/West? East Cost? Maybe that can help to decide. Sounds like you want a change of scenery overall.

 

[Cellochick0528]

Thanks, I think you're right. Trying to stay objective about it lol. But maybe it's just too obvious that I hate Utah! No preference on match I guess. looking at the match lists they both do east and west about equally.

 

[Idahomie]

Coming as an undergrad from a certain Utah university, I think you might really enjoy the break from Utah. I was super happy to get out of Utah, and I don't even have the same background as you. I mean, not every white mormon male is THAT bad, but I get what you are saying. That being said, you know the LGBTQ counter-culture in SLC is actually pretty good, and there will plenty of like-minded students at Utah to associate with. But, nothing wrong with a new adventure across the country if it's better for your mental health.

 

[Putkernerinthehall]

How does your wife feel about Utah ? Does she dislike it as much as you do ? Enough to venture off to PA ?

 

[m1redsox]

I always say the most important factors are family/SO, cost, and prestige. The U sweeps all three categories and should be the clear winner IMO. Although idk how much that means to you coming from a male BYU grad lmao (granted I’m from CA and was also happy to leave UT for med school). My wife would have been ticked if I had gotten into the U and we had chosen to leave her family in Sandy for a worse, more expensive school. Luckily I didn’t get in (to one of their 10 OOS with ties spots), but that’s definitely something to consider for your wife. I would just set the ground rule that you don’t live with the in-laws. That would suck and an hour commute on I-15 is absolutely worst case scenario. If you have to take out more loans to get a place in SL county, do it. I’m betting the $10k/year you save in tuition will make up for it.

 

[floridaheatkills]

It sounds like you're craving change. I personally would go for Penn State for that reason alone, especially given their unique curriculum as you mentioned. Given your partners situation, I think the UPark option may suit both of your needs better, but then you will both be an "in the middle of nowhere" college town. I feel like with Hershey at least there's Harrisburg near by. Also, Penn State does give out merit aid but I know those emails/decisions don't really come out until May/June.

I'm not too familiar with Utah, but if you are interested in staying closer to your partner's support system, I think that may be the better choice. I don't think it's feasible to live with them and commute an hour, though. Plus, you're going to want the independence in medical school anyways.

You can't really go wrong with either. I'd hold off until second looks until finalizing your choice though. In my case, I feel like vibing with the class is something really important, especially as a fellow LGBTQ+ female.

- a ~potential~ future classmate if you choose Penn State

 

[NY_Med]

It sounds like you're craving change. I personally would go for Penn State for that reason alone, especially given their unique curriculum as you mentioned. Given your partners situation, I think the UPark option may suit both of your needs better, but then you will both be an "in the middle of nowhere" college town. I feel like with Hershey at least there's Harrisburg near by. Also, Penn State does give out merit aid but I know those emails/decisions don't really come out until May/June.

I'm not too familiar with Utah, but if you are interested in staying closer to your partner's support system, I think that may be the better choice. I don't think it's feasible to live with them and commute an hour, though. Plus, you're going to want the independence in medical school anyways.

You can't really go wrong with either. I'd hold off until second looks until finalizing your choice though. In my case, I feel like vibing with the class is something really important, especially as a fellow LGBTQ+ female.

- a ~potential~ future classmate if you choose Penn State

Not to hijack but is Penn State even doing second looks? I emailed them asking if they are allowing the potential students to come down to take a look and they are not allowing students to come down and visit to check out the school, so I don't know if second looks will even be a thing.

 

[floridaheatkills]

Not to hijack but is Penn State even doing second looks? I emailed them asking if they are allowing the potential students to come down to take a look and they are not allowing students to come down and visit to check out the school, so I don't know if second looks will even be a thing.

I didn't mean in person but I think they'll do something virtual to have all accepted students back. Isn't there also an FB page? Tbh even if they don't ~allow~ you to go visit, I would still go scope out the area and nearby towns if you are serious about attending/its within a 1-2 hour drive from where you're currently at. At least that's my plan.

 

[Cellochick0528]

How does your wife feel about Utah ? Does she dislike it as much as you do ? Enough to venture off to PA ?

Yes she does! 🙂

 

[Cellochick0528]

I always say the most important factors are family/SO, cost, and prestige. The U sweeps all three categories and should be the clear winner IMO. Although idk how much that means to you coming from a male BYU grad lmao (granted I’m from CA and was also happy to leave UT for med school). My wife would have been ticked if I had gotten into the U and we had chosen to leave her family in Sandy for a worse, more expensive school. Luckily I didn’t get in (to one of their 10 OOS with ties spots), but that’s definitely something to consider for your wife. I would just set the ground rule that you don’t live with the in-laws. That would suck and an hour commute on I-15 is absolutely worst case scenario. If you have to take out more loans to get a place in SL county, do it. I’m betting the $10k/year you save in tuition will make up for it.

This is excellent advice!!!! Thank you. Yeah she might be ticked, lol. 😉

 

[Cellochick0528]

It sounds like you're craving change. I personally would go for Penn State for that reason alone, especially given their unique curriculum as you mentioned. Given your partners situation, I think the UPark option may suit both of your needs better, but then you will both be an "in the middle of nowhere" college town. I feel like with Hershey at least there's Harrisburg near by. Also, Penn State does give out merit aid but I know those emails/decisions don't really come out until May/June.

I'm not too familiar with Utah, but if you are interested in staying closer to your partner's support system, I think that may be the better choice. I don't think it's feasible to live with them and commute an hour, though. Plus, you're going to want the independence in medical school anyways.

You can't really go wrong with either. I'd hold off until second looks until finalizing your choice though. In my case, I feel like vibing with the class is something really important, especially as a fellow LGBTQ+ female.

- a ~potential~ future classmate if you choose Penn State

You're choosing Penn State??! Or still deciding? Would be awesome to be a fellow classmate! 😀

 

[Cellochick0528]

Wanted to post a resolution: I chose the U! Here's why:

I actually attended all the second look and diversity events and was very impressed with how LGBTQ and diversity-friendly the program is. It really surprised me to learn how affirming they are.

They offered 6 full-ride scholarships this year to those who show a clear passion for advocating for diversity, for example, so they are clearly trying very hard. There are pride flags everywhere in SLC, and they say the attendings at the hospital are mostly all wearing rainbow pins with pronouns on their coats. Got to talk with some LGBTQ students at the U right now. They said overall no one ever made them feel uncomfortable (in particular no bias at all during 3rd-year rotations) and that they really truly love the vibe at the U.

My friend who is an MS1 they said the only downside is that there are like 3 people in the class with the whole white LDS BYU guy vibe with irritating politics and opinions. But they got into the U, so they must have something unique about them to have gotten in. They said that it's actually NOT popular to be churchy in SLC... the people who do that will get all the backlash from the liberals. Basically: SLC is super liberal so I wouldn't worry too much.

I chose the U because it's worth it for the program.

The more I got thinking about it, I saw how much easier it will be on my wife to be near her family, which will ultimately take pressure off of me when I'm trying to study and she's bored lol.

THE RESEARCH! I already got into contact with a lab at the Huntsman to do research. I know I will be extremely well supported here, they assign you so many mentors, make "failing" impossible, and provide free couples therapy, customized learning plans from psychologists, anything you could want. There are all the subspecialties (ophthalmology @ Moran Eye Center?! hello!) to observe that you can imagine. I LOVE all the free clinics they have, there's a dermatology one, an HIV clinic. I've been on the campus before so I can speak to this. The atmosphere is SUPER inspiring and academic.

Maybe Penn State could have had those too? Maybe so. But for me, I decided to go with my gut and what felt right. I feel really... comfortable at the U, and I think that's important. Don't want to make the transition any harder than it already will be.

I view Utah as a stepping stone, not a place to settle down by any means (unless I live right in SLC). I know of several Utah grads who went to Stanford or top-tier places for residency

From what I've learned, I certainly think the U would open all the doors we could ever want and would not close any doors at all.

 

[Putkernerinthehall]

Sounds like you made the right choice!