School A vs School B

[emraldragon]

I have been very fortunate to receive two acceptances this application season--WMed and TCMC. I also had two surprise super late (March) interviews that I am assuming are going to result in waitlists or rejections--Temple and Penn State.

While I liked both schools, I felt more strongly about WMed even though I am IS for PA. The only thing holding me back from withdrawing my acceptance is the fact that WMed hasn't graduated a class yet. They haven't even had a class take the Step 1 yet.

So I thought I would throw the question to the SDN gods:
Is it risky to choose a brand new medical school when you hold an acceptance from a more established school?

I don't have the financial aid packages for either yet, so that is not a determining factor; and I don't envision myself staying in either area of the country for residency, but if I had to pick only from those two I would choose the mid-Atlantic states area where I am from.

 

[NickNaylor]

I dunno if I would say that it's "risky," but it's certainly true that residency programs will be unfamiliar with a new school and the quality of its graduates because there obviously haven't been any. Whether that's enough for you to affect your decision making is something you need to decide.

 

[ridethecliche]

You still have time to mull this over. The other two schools will be getting back to you shortly as well.

 

[emraldragon]

Turns out I got pulled off the waitlist at Penn State. I was quite shocked.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Turns out I got pulled off the waitlist at Penn State. I was quite shocked.

So which Die Hard movie is Penn State equivalent to?

 

[emraldragon]

Hahah, good question. Acceptance sure beats a poke in the eye so it can't be that last one. I guess it has to be the third one. It wasn't written to be a Die Hard movie so it was completely unexpected, like an acceptance after interviewing in the last (or second to last) week of interviews. It was a very nice surprise.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Hahah, good question. Acceptance sure beats a poke in the eye so it can't be that last one. I guess it has to be the third one. It wasn't written to be a Die Hard movie so it was completely unexpected, like an acceptance after interviewing in the last (or second to last) week of interviews. It was a very nice surprise.

So does Simon say Penn State?!

 

[mmmcdowe]

Moving to SSD

 

[emraldragon]

So does Simon say Penn State?!

I say Penn State. It is closer to my parents who are older and not in the best of health and I like the people and research opportunities at Penn State. I loved both schools though, and the decision was not easy.