Rush vs GW

[nikfikimiki]

Hey guys -- I have to choose by April 30/May 1st. Right now deciding between Rush vs GW.

GW
Pros:
-public health emphasis
-great research opps
-DC seems like a great area - I am visiting for second look day. I have never been. I do not have family out there but know of one friend who currently lives there lol.
-Well-regarded throughout the US
-great match list

Cons:
-expensive area (COL higher)
-Kind of got the vibe that students are in class all day and don’t have much flexibility - is this true?
-incoming class seems like a lot of recent college grads and im a non-trad.

Rush
Pros:
-affiliated to a top 20 hospital
-flipped classroom curriculum, students seem to like it and have a good amt of flexibility
-Chicago is a great city - I've lived here for the last 2-3 years. My family lives in the northwest suburbs.
-boyfriend also at rush, know people at the school
-community service -focused
- cheaper than GW
- great match list

Cons:
-all my friends (support system) are leaving, kind of feel pushed to leave too? i get that this is not a genuine con but something i've thought about
-less research opps?

I really feel like I can't go wrong. Have yet to receive my financial aid package from both.
I do want to do derm, unsure if either going to rush or gw would better prepare me or boost my chances of matching into derm (in addition to getting high board scores + comp residency app). Unsure where I'd want to do residency honestly - not tied to the midwest or northeast.

Any input would be great 🙂

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[deleted1158770]

I don’t think that you can go wrong with either. For GW I think that you would be fine as a non trad, I feel like all medical schools have a mix of different ages. I would probably lean towards rush though based on your bf and family being in Chicago. But GW would be a solid choice too if you wanted to do something different and could do long distance with your bf.

 

[nikfikimiki]

I don’t think that you can go wrong with either. For GW I think that you would be fine as a non trad, I feel like all medical schools have a mix of different ages. I would probably lean towards rush though based on your bf and family being in Chicago. But GW would be a solid choice too if you wanted to do something different and could do long distance with your bf.

Could you speak to cost of living in GW vs Chicago? Or would I have a better chance at matching derm if I went to one vs the other?

 

[nikfikimiki]

I don’t think that you can go wrong with either. For GW I think that you would be fine as a non trad, I feel like all medical schools have a mix of different ages. I would probably lean towards rush though based on your bf and family being in Chicago. But GW would be a solid choice too if you wanted to do something different and could do long distance with your bf.

Thanks for your input 🙂 🙂

 

[ayoooooosauce]

From your list it seems like you are leaning more towards Rush for many factors including support system, relationship, financial situation, familiarity with the area, learning style. I feel like they have similar match vibes but if you are thinking slightly of more midwest during residency I would go with Rush. GW tends to match mainly east coast

 

[deleted1158770]

Could you speak to cost of living in GW vs Chicago? Or would I have a better chance at matching derm if I went to one vs the other?

I would talk to current students or the financial aid office to see the COL. Along with maybe looking at prices of housing online. I don’t necessarily think one would give you a significant edge for derm. Probably whatever school you think would allow you to develop the most connections and strong extracurriculars. You should also compare the grading between the two schools, as well as whether they have internal rankings or AOA. A more competitive grading/ranking scheme may allow you to separate yourself if you think that you would thrive under that environment.

 

[nikfikimiki]

I would talk to current students or the financial aid office to see the COL. Along with maybe looking at prices of housing online. I don’t necessarily think one would give you a significant edge for derm. Probably whatever school you think would allow you to develop the most connections and strong extracurriculars. You should also compare the grading between the two schools, as well as whether they have internal rankings or AOA. A more competitive grading/ranking scheme may allow you to separate yourself if you think that you would thrive under that environment.

I just went to Rush's second look day and I met the coolest people ever. I am interested to see how GW's second look day will compare. I think housing in DC is more expensive -- average from what I've been told is like 1800-2700. Chicago is slightly cheaper -- 1300-2000. Grading is both pass fail but unsure about internal rankings. Rush's vibe seems a lot more chill, less competitive - more community centered. You brought up good points thank you!!

 

[pumalegs]

i think u should go to rush

 

[deleted1158770]

I just went to Rush's second look day and I met the coolest people ever. I am interested to see how GW's second look day will compare. I think housing in DC is more expensive -- average from what I've been told is like 1800-2700. Chicago is slightly cheaper -- 1300-2000. Grading is both pass fail but unsure about internal rankings. Rush's vibe seems a lot more chill, less competitive - more community centered. You brought up good points thank you!!

No problem! Glad to hear that! Based on your assessment of the COL and the awesome experience that you had at rush’s second look day it sounds like you would love it more there! But I agree it would be worth going to check out GW’s second look day as well!

 

[nikfikimiki]

No problem! Glad to hear that! Based on your assessment of the COL and the awesome experience that you had at rush’s second look day it sounds like you would love it more there! But I agree it would be worth going to check out GW’s second look day as well!

just got my financial aid package for M1 year for both-- covered in full for both obvi but rush is 92,900 vs gw is 100,000 - not too much of a difference. hoping i potentially get scholarship from rush (i applied for a handful) to make the decision more clear cut haha