RFUMS vs SIU vs waiting a year

[Jaconda78]

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My boyfriend is applying to medical schools, and I'm trying to do all the research I can to help him out in this process, so forgive me for not being terribly knowledgeable about the medical field.

Ok, disclaimer aside: he has gotten 6 rejections, 2 acceptances, and 6 schools that have yet to reply (we're viewing these as rejections, but rude ones). The two schools he got into are SIU and RF. So, while to us at first glance it appears that RF is the better school (though his father appears to be on a crusade against it for a number of difficult-to-ascertain reasons, which when pressed on he says are his "gut feeling" or the "amalgamation of facts that I simply can't put into words"). So the question is, should he go to SIU, RF, or wait a year, strengthen his resume (with clinical work), and try again a year later hoping for a top tier school? It seems to me that waiting a year is needlessly risky, and would look very bad on his reapplications (adcom members at Harvard saying "hang on, he already got in somewhere but turned it down? What an ungrateful prick!" come to mind). Would RF be the best option here?

Thanks in advance for the help, guys.

 

[Lshapley]

I don't know enough about those two schools to draw a comparison, but it universally (at least in the SDN universe) considered foolish to not matriculate if you already have an acceptance in hand. Your boyfriend would have to indicate this on his app next year and that just looks bad. He is going to have to choose.

 

[bcat85]

I don't know enough about those two schools to draw a comparison, but it universally (at least in the SDN universe) considered foolish to not matriculate if you already have an acceptance in hand. Your boyfriend would have to indicate this on his app next year and that just looks bad. He is going to have to choose.

Yes, he's lucky to have not one but two acceptances that other people would LOVE to have. He should matriculate. As to where... its up to him really... I liked SIU, but I would rather eat the computer monitor in front of me then do PBL for 4 years... it may be good for him if he likes it.. Don't know much about RF though.

 

[146233]

Agreed. I'd also recommend SIU over RF, but he should go with his gut. (As long as his gut isn't saying "wait a year".) The odds are that admission will be even more competitive next year and he'll be virtually assured not to get an acceptance at either SIU or RF next cycle.

 

[Mobius1985]

Your boyfriend will get an excellent education at either institution. SIU will be significantly less expensive. Rosalind Franklin will be closer to the big city environment of Chicago, if that is important to him. SIU has a Problem Based Learning curriculum and their students do year two and clinical years in Springfield (with Year One in Carbondale). RFUMS folks will need to travel into Chicago for their clinical experience and have more choices for rotation sites. Without knowing your boyfriend's statistics, we cannot comment on chances of future success in applying to a "top tier" school, but it is true that he would be discriminated against if he turns down both acceptances.

He will have to choose. Maybe he should take a second look at each.

 

[146233]

He will have to choose. Maybe he should take a second look at each.

👍

 

[flip26]

OP: how many interviews did he have? When you say 6 rejections and 6 non-replies, do you mean he interviewed at these schools and got 6 rejections, 6 still to be heard from, or is his reality at the other end of the spectrum...he had 2 interviews and 2 acceptances...

It matters, because you haven't given us much to go on...but, no offense, it sounds like he is extremely fortunate to be in this position...don't blow it.

 

[appleplshr]

Fine school, amazing tuition. At 22,000 (approximately) + low living expenses per year you simply cannot go wrong. Even U of I is ~28,000 x 2 and then ~38 x 2 years, w/ varied living expenses depending on if you're chicago or the Urbana/Rockford/Peoria track.

RFU~44,000 + living expenses = yearly student budget of 65,000 X4 years.

Doable, but much more difficult to pay off than SUI. That being said, if RFU was his only option, it's also a fine school. It has a reputation in the chicago-land area because of the high tuition, slightly lower than average admit stats, former probabtion for financial stuff, and (mostly) because of a special masters program (now discontinued) that was considered a "back door" into medical school for applicants who were less qualified in some way.

All of that garbage aside, I know a few very smart, very happy RFU students who are thrilled to be pursuing their dream of becoming a physician.

Still, I would guess that many RFU students would prefer not to be in the kind of serious debt RFU requires.

 

[Jaconda78]

I should clarify a little, it appears. First of all, he's really not seriously considering waiting a year (it's mostly his father). He had a 35 MCAT, and 3.98 GPA (which has dropped a bit since he applied), as well as a year of research. He had no clinical experience this time around, but if he waited a year (again, very unlikely) he would work in a hospital for the year to strengthen the resume. Also, he applied late this year.

When I say 6 schools he hasn't heard from I mean that he got a total of 2 interviews, and 6 schools that never responded at all - either to offer an interview or to reject him - after the secondary applications were sent in.

I do know of the reputation of RF, and I understand why they were on probation. Honestly, the reputation they have in Chicago seems undeserved, as we have yet to see any of these horrible negatives you guys speak of. Tuition is a relatively minor concern, but certainly not something to completely ignore.

To those saying SIU is a better school, could you tell me why? I know much more about RF than SIU, and it appears to have very good board scores and residency matches. Are SIU's better, or is cost the main reason for the suggestions?

 

[Jaconda78]

Also, what exactly is "problem based learning?" I'm generally not a fan of new-fangled approaches to teaching, so this makes me a bit wary. Even more so because nobody seems to like it.

 

[DBR]

My boyfriend is applying to medical schools, and I'm trying to do all the research I can to help him out in this process, so forgive me for not being terribly knowledgeable about the medical field.

Ok, disclaimer aside: he has gotten 6 rejections, 2 acceptances, and 6 schools that have yet to reply (we're viewing these as rejections, but rude ones). The two schools he got into are SIU and RF. So, while to us at first glance it appears that RF is the better school (though his father appears to be on a crusade against it for a number of difficult-to-ascertain reasons, which when pressed on he says are his "gut feeling" or the "amalgamation of facts that I simply can't put into words"). So the question is, should he go to SIU, RF, or wait a year, strengthen his resume (with clinical work), and try again a year later hoping for a top tier school? It seems to me that waiting a year is needlessly risky, and would look very bad on his reapplications (adcom members at Harvard saying "hang on, he already got in somewhere but turned it down? What an ungrateful prick!" come to mind). Would RF be the best option here?

Thanks in advance for the help, guys.

SIU is a hickish piece of **** school. Dont know about RFU though.

 

[crazy4clana]

To those saying SIU is a better school, could you tell me why? I know much more about RF than SIU, and it appears to have very good board scores and residency matches. Are SIU's better, or is cost the main reason for the suggestions?

I don't think SIU is better than RFU, but I would go there because of the low tuition. At the end of the day, your going to get your MD. There's no use in being picky about it if you're lucky enough to have two acceptances. I like RFU's location way more than SIU though, even though it's more expensive cost of living.

 

[flip26]

I should clarify a little, it appears. First of all, he's really not seriously considering waiting a year (it's mostly his father). He had a 35 MCAT, and 3.98 GPA (which has dropped a bit since he applied), as well as a year of research. He had no clinical experience this time around, but if he waited a year (again, very unlikely) he would work in a hospital for the year to strengthen the resume. Also, he applied late this year.

When I say 6 schools he hasn't heard from I mean that he got a total of 2 interviews, and 6 schools that never responded at all - either to offer an interview or to reject him - after the secondary applications were sent in.

I do know of the reputation of RF, and I understand why they were on probation. Honestly, the reputation they have in Chicago seems undeserved, as we have yet to see any of these horrible negatives you guys speak of. Tuition is a relatively minor concern, but certainly not something to completely ignore.

To those saying SIU is a better school, could you tell me why? I know much more about RF than SIU, and it appears to have very good board scores and residency matches. Are SIU's better, or is cost the main reason for the suggestions?

Only 2 interviews for someone with those stats is a red flag. He should NOT go through another cycle...he is very lucky to have 2 acceptances in hand...

As for RFU and the "reputation" and the probation - the probation is a dead issue - do some research if you must, but that was dealt with. There are RFU threads on SDN with comments from current students who will allay any fears about this old news or any "reputation." Personally I would pick the school with the lower cost, but RFU is a perfectly good school...

 

[pretenda]

🙄

SIU is a hickish piece of **** school. Dont know about RFU though.

🙄

He would be better off cutting the umbilical cord and going to one of those two schools. I hope his dad realizes how unkindly schools look on people that were accepted one year and did not go to school simply b/c they felt they were better than that. I go to RFU and its a great school. There are people in my school who got 35+ on their MCATs and are brilliant students. Its definitely easier to get into and on the lower end of rankings but its definitely not plugging out mediocre doctors. Our curriculum is extremely tough and in depth as evidenced by our board scores and match list. Its got its history, which is not ALL bad. Some important discoveries were made at RFU when we brought over brilliant Holocaust survivors in the 50's. Have your boyfriend send me a pm if he wants more info.

Im sure SIU is a fine school too. Lets be honest, Med schools cannot afford to be mediocre.

 

[DBR]

Later you will marry me and bear my children for my mother and father to raise for me until they are no longer a burden upon my self and others.

 

[pretenda]

Later you will marry me and bear my children for my mother and father to raise for me until they are no longer a burden upon my self and others.

touche

 

[nu2004]

Rosalind Franklin, all the way. Even though North Chicago is no great shakes, it is orders of magnitude better than anything south of Urbana-Champaign. Trust me, I grew up down there.

And waiting another year would look REALLY bad, and probably be stupid, since not much is going to change in his app in the next year unless he ups his MCAT score by at least 6 points.

 

[Jaconda78]

Later you will marry me and bear my children for my mother and father to raise for me until they are no longer a burden upon my self and others.

Well when you put it this way, suddenly the choice seems so easy...

Pretenda, I will mention to my boyfriend your offer of speaking to him via PM, and thank you for your help.

 

[nu2004]

Also, what exactly is "problem based learning?" I'm generally not a fan of new-fangled approaches to teaching, so this makes me a bit wary. Even more so because nobody seems to like it.

You can find some info with a little bit of Googling. The people who hate on it around here are *****s who don't like to actually think about problems, they just like to regurgitate facts. PBL is essentially throwing a bunch of information at a student and then, in real time, watching how they deal with it. It's not only a superior method of learning, it's a great step forward in US medical education.

 

[nu2004]

sorry for the multiple posts

In addition to my location preference for RFU, i have to think that the students there will be brighter. have you looked at the MSAR? RFU's median MCAT is a 31 (was a 29 in 06-07)... not sure what SIU's is, but I'm going to guess 28 or so (it was 26 in the 06-07 MSAR... 26!!! that **** is LOW). if that made-up number is correct (i think it is, but i don't have the new MSAR) that's a pretty giant difference.

 

[absurdrhythm]

For what it's worth, SIU ranks higher than Rosalind Franklin in U.S. News & World Report. I don't even think Rosalind Franklin is ranked.