Rush v Penn State- Long Sorry!

[Obstacle1]

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I'm from Maryland outside of DC. I loved both of the schools and I’m having a very hard time deciding.

RUSH
Pros
•Location: I've never been to Chicago before I went to this interview and I loved it. I really want to live in a city at some point (lived in large suburban areas mostly)

•Patient Population: I want to learn and train in an urban center as I think I'm inclined towards emergency medicine

•Facilities: Rush medical center seems like a nice place to train in. It is a designated hospital for CDC emergencies. I just thought it was cool. Also the county hospital seems like a great place to work with many different people. Also they seem to be willing to teach which I know can be an issue.

CONS
•Distance: It is very far from home and I have my large family (oldest of four and multiple cousins) all in the DC Baltimore area. Also my fiance is based out there. His parents are older but he does have flexibility with his job- he's a consultant but his current job is the best he has had.

• Harder to match back home ?: I'm worried about not being able to come back to the DC metro area if I go to a school in the midwest.

• New curriculum: They changed the curriculum to all PBL and I know there's been some issues. The current students have said the administration is receptive but who knows. I honestly like the not having lecture bit but not sure they are doing the PBL the best way.

•Higher cost of living

Penn State
PROS
• Easier to match back home? many premeds from my undergrad have went here and have loved it. They match to places in the DC/ Baltimore metro area.

•Close to home: I will be closer to home so my life with my family and friends won't be as disruptive. I know I'll probably won't see them anyways since its med school lol but not having to buy expensive tickets for holidays would be nice

•Facilities: The hospital attached to the school seems great and I just hear great things from the students I know.

•Curriculum is more standard with lectures all recorded.

•really low cost of living since its in Hershey

Cons

•very rural and there's nothing to really do in the immediate town- been told I will need to drive up to 20 min for more diverse area and food. I'm Black/Nigerian (I got a burger from red robin that still had paper on the cheese still mad about it lol)

• Patient population: they do get the more complicated cases from around rural Penn but it's not Chicago

I don't know my financial aid from either school. I feel my heart is set on Chicago but if I can't come back to Maryland it is not worth it. I also have a special needs brother who I plan to take over his care when my mom gets older and it would just be easier to have my other siblings and relatives around for support. I also don't know enough about the Match so it is a real concern. My mother works at a teaching hospital as a nurse for more than 15 years - not sure if that can help me later. She works with IM residents often and knows program directors.

I was also accepted at Howard but I didn't get good vibes from the administration and facilities / training sites attached.

Thank you so much. I'm going to the second look days for both schools.



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[icedude2010]

It sounds like with your familial concerns and wanting to be close to home, Penn State might be a good option for you. I'm a Rush homer and think that the new curriculum isn't nearly as big of a problem as people have said, and it is very reassuring that administration has been supportive and receptive to feedback. But again, it is a bit of an unknown factor.

I also think that Chicago is a phenomenal place, and the COL is actually not that high compared to other big cities. You said you were interested in emergency medicine in an urban setting and I think Rush would be a fantastic place for this. I have similar interests, and Cook county ER and Rush ER are really exciting prospects. I think you would miss out a bit on this.

I would imagine you would be able to match back near home, however the match list is pretty Midwest focused (not in a bad way.. any match list is pretty regional). I think it would be much easier to match on the east coast from penn state. Again, I don't think Rush would prevent this at all (there are east coast matches on the list).

Great options either way, and I will see you at Rush's second look day! 🙂

edit: just looked at penn states match list and it is super PA and MD heavy. Begrudgingly, I think Penn state would be the way to go haha

 

[CUatthefinishline]

I got accepted to Rush & love it, and it is going to send me farther from family. I also have a special needs sibling so I really relate to this. I wish you the best & I think Rush is awesome, but Penn state might be the move for you.

That being said, I'm a Black female that has also been to Hershey, PA, and you should be prepared to spend some of the money you save on that low COL on traveling to more diverse locals during your matriculation at Penn.

 

[cassyfrog]

I would pick Rush. It seems like you would be happier there.

 

[raffalaffi]

Im in a very similar situation as you. I have been accepted to Rush and EVMS, but all my family is in the Baltimore area. EVMS would be a drive home (4-5 hrs), but a plane ride from Chicago would be 3 hours (including navigating the airport). The tuition saved by attending Rush more than makes for any plane tickets I'd buy over 4 years. I also want to match back to the DMV area.

May I ask what you ended up picking?

 

[Obstacle1]

I was all ready to go to Rush but got a scholarship to Penn State last min so I’m going there. I really wish I was going to Rush tho but hey money lol.


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[raffalaffi]

I was all ready to go to Rush but got a scholarship to Penn State last min so I’m going there. I really wish I was going to Rush tho but hey money lol.


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That's awesome! I have a small scholarship offer from Rush, but my EVMS acceptance came off a waitlist, so I can't see any financial aid offers until after I make a decision. That makes this even more difficult.

 

[icedude2010]

did you ask rush to match your scholarship?

I asked Rush to match my scholarship, which wasn’t particularly large, and they didn’t. So I don’t think they are particularly fond of it.