Picking a Med School

[Saluki]

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Does anyone out there have an opinion about whether going to Cleveland Clinic or Vanderbilt would give the better edge as far as competitiveness for top ranked residency programs (I want to do academic medicine, probably peds, but everyone says you change your mind a bunch once you're actually in school)

BTW- I'm not going to pick based solely on this, but the fact that so many people argue that where you go to school does make a difference scares me (though I know several people always post that prestige doesn't matter if you do well where you go)

 

[trouta]

Vanderbilt has a more established name as a med school. Both are good schools though and should set you up pretty well for residency.

Do you know where you want to end up for residency? If you want to end up in the SE then you should look at Vandy and if you want to end up in the midwest you should look at CCF. Regionality makes a big difference when it comes time to apply to residency.

 

[Saluki]

Vanderbilt has a more established name as a med school. Both are good schools though and should set you up pretty well for residency.

Do you know where you want to end up for residency? If you want to end up in the SE then you should look at Vandy and if you want to end up in the midwest you should look at CCF. Regionality makes a big difference when it comes time to apply to residency.

My dream would be Hopkins or Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, but other than that I'd probably want to stay in the Midwest- St.Louis, Mayo, Northwestern, etc.

 

[miko2005]

Does anyone out there have an opinion about whether Cleveland Clinic or Vanderbilt would give the better edge as far as competitiveness for top ranked residency programs (I want to do academic medicine, probably peds, but everyone says you change your mind a bunch once you're actually in school)

BTW- I'm not going to pick based solely on this, but the fact that so many people argue that where you go to school does make a difference scares me (though I know several people always post that prestige doesn't matter if you do well where you go)

I would definitely pick Vanderbilt, especially if you want to do academic medicine of any kind.

 

[Saluki]

I would definitely pick Vanderbilt, especially if you want to do academic medicine of any kind.

Why?

 

[no oxygen]

The reputation of your med school isn't nearly as important as you may think. Go where you feel you are most comfortable...and then work your A$$ off.

 

[trouta]

Given that you are likely to want to stay in the Midwest, I would pick CCF. But that's me and Im sure there are other factors playing into your decision.

I have to disagree about the med school reputation issue. Granted it isnt a huge thing, but it definately helps and can tip the balance one way or another. Think about it... AOA from a top school probably means more than AOA from a small/local/no-name school.

That being said, there are always stars at even the no-name schools and happiness really should trump all of this.

 

[cardsurgguy]

I have to disagree about the med school reputation issue. Granted it isnt a huge thing, but it definately helps and can tip the balance one way or another. Think about it... AOA from a top school probably means more than AOA from a small/local/no-name school.

True, but it's probably a lot harder to get AOA from a top school than AOA from a small/local/no-name school.

I would imagine, all else being equal, it's better to graduate AOA from the small no name school than graduate without AOA from the top level school.

What do think?

 

[Saluki]

True, but it's probably a lot harder to get AOA from a top school than AOA from a small/local/no-name school.

I would imagine, all else being equal, it's better to graduate AOA from the small no name school than graduate without AOA from the top level school.

What do think?

Would you characterize Cleveland Clinic as a no name program?

 

[cardsurgguy]

Would you characterize Cleveland Clinic as a no name program?

No of course not.

I was talking in general replying what Trouta said, not about your situation specifically.

Yeah, Cleveland Clinic is certainly not no-name...