PLEASE HELP ME CHOOSE: GW vs. UVA

[Yogurt the Kid]

---

Members do not see this ad.

hey folks,

i am trying to decide between matriculating at GW or at UVA. I have been at uva for 4 years undergrad already and have had an absolutely amazing time. the school is obviously well ranked, has a solid (though intensely rigorous) MS1-2, and places its students in great residencies. GW is not ranked, it's far more expensive as well. yet, the culture at GW is very appealing--a very honest and genuine group of students, DC provides a medium in which there are REAL health care and community needs. uva is in a posh, fairly affluent southern city (Charlottesville) and much of the culture there can often be "bubble-wrapped." As can happen anywhere, organizations are sometimes created for the sake of having organizations. additionally, UVA sends you to Roanoke, Salem, Norfolk, and Richmond...all sorts of places for 24 weeks of your 3rd year for rotations. it is clearly not the center of clinical care medicine and cannot provide the concentrated rotation experiences that GW can. uva is big on research which is not a major factor in my consideration. i feel that a change in education perspective would be great and did feel genuinely happy at GW. but my friends insist: UVA. my interests lie in going into a surgical specialty and UVA would definitely help place me in a solid residency. but then again, i'm not necessarily interested in getting that big time Hopkins residency--i know i will excel as a physician wherever i train and would ultimately like my career and educational decisions to be based off of the ability to meet the real needs of my community, family, and profession and my personal fulfillment (not based on a list of ranking and perceived prestige) like I said, the prestige and reputation matter less to me than the quality of education and fulfillment during my training as a physician. I would GREATLY appreciate your objective comparisons of GW and UVA, and factors that would help you to make this decision and lean one way or the other?

yogurt

 

[jon_jon]

They are both excellent programs and you will become an excellent doctor wherever you decide to go.

Having said that, in general, UVA grads seem to be of higher caliber than GW grads. Obviously this is an over-generaliztion and you can't compare individuals from either school. However reputation-wise, UVA is more highly regarded.

However if location is important and you want to be around DC, then go to GW. Charlottesville is not DC, but it's only 2 hours away and during your first 2 years, you will have plenty of weekends off that you can get away if you want to.

In terms of financing med school, if you are a Virginia resident, I would definitely go to UVA. GW is very over-priced and it will make a difference later when you start re-paying your med school loans 7-10 years later.

 

[gwyn779]

I don't really know anything about GW, but I can tell you my perspective on UVA. The students here are supportive of each other but like to try to have fun.
Going to Roanoke/Salem etc. provides exposure to "REAL health care and community needs." I don't see why DC's needs are any more real than Charlottesville's or, especially, SW Virginia's. We do, in fact, have a significant migrant population which I'm sure you're not aware of as a college student. Also, since you have fewer specialists to compete with, you tend to be able to do a lot during surgery rotations there. We don't have any clerkships in Richmond of Norfolk, but people go there during our 1 week preceptorship during 2nd year, usually if they have family there. Most people get sent out to rural practices. Also, some of the clerkships that are technically at UVA, are in fact in surrounding communities, not in the "posh," specialized environment of the hospital.
Then there is the added advantage of in-state tuition, which can't be denied. I admit, it was one of the things I considered when I decided to come here. But I also really liked the atmosphere and I haven't regretted my decision.

 

[Enkindu]

yogurt-
Tough decision isn't it? If you substituted EVMS for GW I could have written your post word for word. I was also undergrad at UVA and I understand how monochromatic Charlottesville can be. It's a bit like a 5 star restaurant that only serves one dish- great, but gets old fast. I am fairly certain that I would be happier at a lesser know school in a new city but there is tacit pressure from every direction (parents, fiance, hell even myself sometimes!) to go to the RANKED school. And then there is the fear "what if I get to match day and get shafted and think..if only I'd gone to UVA...."

In the end most people seem to recommend that I head for the environment that makes me happiest, reminding me that the process is difficult and that I shouldn't make it any harder by immersing myself in an environment that I'm not happy with. Like you, research doesn't interest me...and I've actually heard that EVMS may do a better job (like GW) teaching clinical skills than UVA. I'm really leaning away from UVA at this point, but then I don't have the same tuition problem you're facing (both schools cost about the same).

I just wanted to let you know you're not alone and wish you luck. Do you sometimes wish the choice had been made for you? Then you could never second guess yourself.

Cheers- I still may see you in August 🙂

By the way (just have to get this in) why does a world class school like UVA have to send people to ROANOKE!!?? This may be the single point that changes my mind....😕

 

[mduser24]

GW vs.. UVA? If you MUST live in DC, then go GW. I"ve heard bad things about GW. There is very little in place in terms of student needs. I know someone who transferred from UVA to GW then took some time off and transferred elsewhere...

 

[gwyn779]

UVA sends people to Roanoke because you actually do more there, since there aren't as many people standing around waiting for a chance to do something. It also gives you a taste of medicine in an environment other than world-class super-specialized hospital. Some people also get sent to Fairfax, but much fewer. I think the away clerkships are a good idea...you get to see medicine in a different setting.