Really Urgent, need help!!! Tulane vs TCOM

[hopefulblackpremed]

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I am beyond grateful to have been accepted to both programs but need some advice. Coming from a family with no physicians, being in this position means the world to me. I am someone that doesn't come from a well off family so finance does matter to me. I am also fairly interested in a wide range of specialties.

School UNTHSC TCOM
Pros

• Much cheaper COA (Around 240k+ total)
• Closer to Family
• Matches pretty well for a DO school
• Nice city
• Higher COMLEX and STEP pass rates
• Familiar environment
• Established connections within Texas hospital systems
• P/F first two years

Cons

• DO stigma (not necessarily bad but since I am trying to be open to specialties, it may be harder to match)
• Have to take both COMLEX and STEP
• Less centralized academic “home hospital” identity
• Graded 3rd year onwards, H/P/F
• Less opportunities for research

School Tulane
Pros

• MD school
• Matches very well from what I've seen (basically all specialties are open)
• Vibrant city(who doesn't want to live in New Orleans)
• More national mobility / broader recognition
• More opportunities for research and academic networking
• Home academic system/residencies
• P/F first two years

Cons

• Very expensive COA (around 500k+). I don't come from a rich family so I am solely dependent on loans, and with the cap in public loans, will need to take out like 230k+ in private loans
• Further away from family
• New city for me
• Slightly lower STEP pass rate
• Graded from third year onwards H/HP/P/F

I love both of them and don't know which to pick.. need all the help, please! Thank you SDN for all the help I've received.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

DO's did very well in the match this year; overall their match rates were comparable to MD's.

There's nothing wrong with going with the cheaper option.