Rush/Loyola vs USC

[banana_phone]

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I am lucky enough to be holding acceptances to several great schools. At this point, I'm trying to decide between Rush, Loyola, and USC Keck. My heart is telling me to go with Rush, as it felt like the best fit and Chicago is far and away the best situation for my fiance, but I feel like I may be making a mistake passing up an offer from a well respected/recognized school such as Keck. From some perusals of the boards here, it seems Rush and Loyola are similarly respected so that choice would come down to personal preference/financial aid. I want to do primary care pediatrics, so nothing too competitive, but do want to attend residency or at least ultimately practice in Oregon, my home state. Seeking any and all advice on whether I would be mistaken to pick Rush over Keck.

Rush Pros:
- location (fiance's current company has an office in Chicago, he wouldn't need to find a new job)
- social situation (we have friends in Chicago, including fiance's best friend, as well as his extended family)
- I have a family friend/mentor who is very involved at Rush (very well respected professor, involved in many aspects of the school --> great letter of rec)
- Commitment to service/easy to get involved
- Affiliation with Cook County --> excellent clinical education
- No required research (I hate research)
- I loved every person I met there
- New curriculum/flipped classroom/NO lecture time

Rush Cons:
- weather (I'm a west coast girl who has been in Minneapolis for several years for my fiance -- sooo over the winters)
- limited financial aid/high CoA
- far from my family
- new curriculum (our class would be guinea pigs)

Keck Pros:
- West Coast location; my favorite uncle/aunt/cousin live in LA; direct flight to my hometown in OR
- the. weather.
- better opportunities for west coast residencies
- affiliation with LAC; excellent clinical education
- commitment to service
- more well known/higher ranked

Keck Cons:
- totally transplanting our lives - fiance would need to find a new job, new social circle
- very expensive CoA and cost of living
- required research all 4 years (big for me)
- did not connect with the students there as well as at Rush/didn't feel as at home
- more traditional curriculum/lots of lecture time

 

[theNDhopeful44]

Reading through your pros/cons lists for both schools, imho, it sounds like you (and your fiancé!) would be happier at Rush. Keck is a phenomenal program, but you'll also get a fantastic education at Rush (they just revamped their curriculum). They're also significantly (arguably more?) dedicated to service than Keck is (@Goro can attest) and the clinical training you'll get will expose you to a very diverse patient population (you train at Rush Medical Center and Cook County).

Also, I'll probably be at Rush next year, so there's that 🙂

 

[watermelon master]

Sounds like rush is the better fit. While USC might be ranked higher in no way does attending Rush make it so that you will have a harder time going into peds.

 

[banana_phone]

I think it is the better fit. I guess my concern is being able to land a west coast residency after attending Rush?? I think with Rush's emphasis on service (Id' be highly involved) as well as my mentor/connection at Rush, I'd be competitive, but I am unsure of how things work in that regard. Can any of you wise experts ( @Goro , @gonnif , @gyngyn ) comment on this?

 

[slippydubloons]

I think it is the better fit. I guess my concern is being able to land a west coast residency after attending Rush?? I think with Rush's emphasis on service (Id' be highly involved) as well as my mentor/connection at Rush, I'd be competitive, but I am unsure of how things work in that regard. Can any of you wise experts ( @Goro , @gonnif , @gyngyn ) comment on this?

I'm pretty sure that having ties to the area is impt as part of your residency app (at least according to my boss who is a PD) and if you're from Oregon and want to go back, you have those ties so you should benefit from that.

IMO it seems like you'd fit at Rush, honestly I think yeah the weather may not be amazing from november-march but it honestly isn't too bad either. it's not like it's never warm in the midwest! 🙂

 

[gyngyn]

I think it is the better fit. I guess my concern is being able to land a west coast residency after attending Rush?? I think with Rush's emphasis on service (Id' be highly involved) as well as my mentor/connection at Rush, I'd be competitive, but I am unsure of how things work in that regard. Can any of you wise experts ( @Goro , @gonnif , @gyngyn ) comment on this?

Do well and PD's are happy to interview you on the West Coast.
It is the reverse where PD's are skeptical.

 

[Goro]

Where do Rush's grads go?

I think it is the better fit. I guess my concern is being able to land a west coast residency after attending Rush?? I think with Rush's emphasis on service (Id' be highly involved) as well as my mentor/connection at Rush, I'd be competitive, but I am unsure of how things work in that regard. Can any of you wise experts ( @Goro , @gonnif , @gyngyn ) comment on this?

 

[banana_phone]

@Goro I really struggled to find their match lists but went into the accepted student portal and finally did. Lots of Chicago area/mid-west/east coast residencies, but with a solid showing of CA residencies sprinkled in. No OHSU in the class of 2016, though not sure if that matters -- you know better than I. OHSU for residency is the dream (I think, but clearly have a ways to go until then).

For peds, which is my future specialty, I was pleasantly surprised to find 2 students go to UCLA and Stanford, respectively. 4 students stayed at Rush.

I've all but decided I'm going to Rush at this point, but don't want to be hindered getting west coast residencies if I opt to be in the midwest for medical school.

 

[banana_phone]

As an aside, Loyola recently offered a small merit scholarship that makes it slightly more affordable than Rush for tuition ($6000 per year). Is this amount of money reason enough to choose a school I feel less strongly for? $24,000 total over 4 years is no joke, but in the grand scheme of things, I think I'd be happier at Rush....I guess I will have to see what their FA letter looks like.

 

[Goro]

That's something you're going to have to think about long and hard. There are a good number of people on SDN who can give you far better advice on finances than I.

As an aside, Loyola recently offered a small merit scholarship that makes it slightly more affordable than Rush for tuition ($6000 per year). Is this amount of money reason enough to choose a school I feel less strongly for? $24,000 total over 4 years is no joke, but in the grand scheme of things, I think I'd be happier at Rush....I guess I will have to see what their FA letter looks like.

 

[Gibbward]

Hey! I know you've been struggling with this decision for a bit, but I'm glad you're finally getting all the right pieces together and it sounds like you're making the best decision for you and your fiancé!

Also have you looked into the away rotations in the west coast that you could do if you attended Rush/Loyola? That might get you the connections you need for a CA Or OR residency match.