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- Sep 27, 2020
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Hi all,
I'm very grateful to be in a position where I get to decide between these five schools. I am almost shocked that I have the opportunity to go to medical school, let alone get to choose where I attend.
Some background: I have a strong interest in dermatology and psychiatry. I would like to get involved in research in both of these areas and find mentorship as well. I’d like to go to a school that has strong residencies in these specialties to maximize my chances of matching (especially into derm since it is competitive). I’m also a non-trad so would love to go somewhere that supports its students well.
I am also wait-listed at Duke 🙁 was my top choice but I am thankful to have these opportunities!
Pitt
Pros
Cons
Brown
Pros
Cons
Case Western
Pros
Cons
Boston U
Pros
OU
Pros
Summary: I’m torn. I feel like Pitt might be the best due to their NIH funding and strong research and clinical programs, but I don’t know if other schools would prepare me better for matching into competitive specialties.
Thanks in advance!
I'm very grateful to be in a position where I get to decide between these five schools. I am almost shocked that I have the opportunity to go to medical school, let alone get to choose where I attend.
Some background: I have a strong interest in dermatology and psychiatry. I would like to get involved in research in both of these areas and find mentorship as well. I’d like to go to a school that has strong residencies in these specialties to maximize my chances of matching (especially into derm since it is competitive). I’m also a non-trad so would love to go somewhere that supports its students well.
I am also wait-listed at Duke 🙁 was my top choice but I am thankful to have these opportunities!
Pitt
Pros
- Very strong Psychiatry research, one of top in nation
- Has a dermatology residency program, but I’m not sure about how strong it is
- Clinical training sounds amazing at UPMC
- Lots of NIH funding
- Longitudinal research project and mentorship
- Opportunities to learn point of care ultrasound
- P/F curriculum (pre-clerkships)
- Top ranked program in general
Cons
- Student I interviewed with said that Admin wasn’t very supportive and some students have had issues with that
- New curriculum - I believe we will be the second cohort of students to experience it
- Have seen some students complain about Pitt Med on reddit - not sure how much stock to put into this
- Don’t really know if I will like living in Pittsburgh. Weather seems dreary.
- Case based learning, some required in-person classes
- Cost - have not received financial aid yet
- Didn’t get the best vibes on interview day, but it was over Zoom
- Shockingly, I have been looking at apartments and they are expensive - comparable in price to where I live in Denver. COL is probably lower overall though.
- No support network although I do have an acquaintance who lives in Pittsburgh
Brown
Pros
- Opportunities to get involved with a researcher that I worked with in undergrad
- Lots of psychiatric hospitals, some are the oldest in the country
- Location is by the ocean, near other big east-coast cities, and I think I would like Providence
- Opportunities to take classes at the Rhode Island School of Design (e.g. anatomical drawing and things like that) which is super cool
- Had good vibes on interview day, interviewers seemed interested in me as a person and said they think I would be a good fit
- Has a dermatology & several psych residency programs
- P/F curriculum (pre-clerkships)
Cons
- No support network in RI
- Brown isn’t as highly ranked as Pitt
- Potentially cost - I have not received a financial aid package yet and I’m not really sure about COL in Providence. It’s a little lower than where I live in Denver.
Case Western
Pros
- Highly ranked dermatology residency
- Opportunities to possibly do rotations at Cleveland Clinic (but it’s not guaranteed)
- Got pretty good vibes on interview day, the student interviewer was really friendly and she also had a dog (kinda silly but we said we could set up playdates for our dogs which is super cute)
- COL is definitely lower and I could potentially even buy a home
- Great residency match - lots of students match into competitive specialties
- New medical school building
- P/F curriculum (pre-clerkships)
Cons
- Case based learning - not really sure I want to do this. I don’t think it fits my learning style. Sounds like lots of mandatory in-person learning.
- Location - Cleveland doesn’t seem like the most exciting place but it is by one of the great lakes
- Not so sure about strength of psychiatry research and mentorship at Case
- Haven’t gotten financial aid package yet
Boston U
Pros
- Ability to serve the underserved and unhoused population of Boston. Lots of emphasis on social justice which I love.
- Biggest city out of all the options and would be really fun to explore Boston!
- Lots of biotech companies in the area, and lots of opportunities for my partner to work in the city
- Has a derm and psych residency program but not sure about the strength of these programs
- P/F curriculum (pre-clerkships)
- Cost of living is highest out of all options
- I have a dog and will likely not have a backyard for them
- Some of the pre-clerkship courses are required/small group learning
- No support system in area, although a former coworker is a BU student
- Not as highly ranked as Pitt
- I didn’t get super great vibes from the students on interview day. They were nice, but when I asked about research, they said it was kinda hard to get involved?
OU
Pros
- My family lives 1.5 hours away from OU. My dad has Alzheimer’s disease and there is a lot of pressure from family to move back home.
- Received a $30k scholarship and will receive in-state tuition
- Have a lot of friends in the area, so strong support network
- Low cost of living, could buy a home
- I grew up in Oklahoma and I do feel like the residents in OK deserve better medical care, so it would be nice to give back to the community
- Near my partner’s family in Texas
- P/F curriculum (pre-clerkships)
- My family being close is a con as it may distract me from my studies (some of my family members do not support me going to medical school)
- No one on the 2023 match list went into derm
- Don’t really want to move back to Oklahoma due to politics and lack of opportunities
- Politics also leads to less resources for mental health care and abortion is banned (I am a woman so this is important to me, plus I have an interest in providing gender affirming care - which Oklahoma is definitely not the best place for)
- OU is ranked significantly lower than the rest of the schools I was accepted to, kinda seems like a downgrade?
Summary: I’m torn. I feel like Pitt might be the best due to their NIH funding and strong research and clinical programs, but I don’t know if other schools would prepare me better for matching into competitive specialties.
Thanks in advance!
