Should rankings really affect your decision?

[monkiejens]

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There's a lot of threads about the silliness of that usnews ranking. I'm really thinking of going into primary care, and between Oregon and U of Maryland, how much should that ranking affect going into Oregon over M just cuz it's higher? Seeing as how I've got an Asian fam, I've been brought up on that rankings are the bible that you go to when in need, but I do have a lot of reservations with that particular custom. Should rankings be a factor? And if you get a chance, what do you think about either of the schools? 🙂

 

[Heal&Teach]

Rankings are the product of a corporate payoff to US News to recognize schools that receive the most research money. Rankings serve to keep students competitive and forges that "I go to a better school" syndrome.

Honestly, those rankings are so subjective, and going to a "top school" is all relative (besides what we'd commonly label as the most prestigious Ivies). Wherever you go, you have to make the most of your medical education. If you really want to go to the "best" school, per se, look at the match lists and then decide whether or not you'd be able to get a competitive residency (which is probably much more important than the actual school you go to). But even match lists aren't completely reliable since, from year to year they change.

As far as the two schools you've mentioned, go where you'll feel the most confortable. The major difference I see between both is that one is middle-Atlantic and one is in the Northwest. Would you be happy at one or the other for four (or more) years? Would one or the other better fit your learning style? Try to think about how each school fits you as an individual, and try your best not to make it an issue of this is ranked higher than that (although this may be difficult to do with familial pressures).

Just my $0.02.

 

[finnpipette]

Rankings matter somewhat, but they're not the end all. For example, if you go into private practice, many people will seek out Harvard/Stanford, etc. med school graduates because they believe the best docs come from there. I know because my parents and the people around me do this. However, for internal medicine, especially if you're not going into research, there is virtually no difference between oregon and u mary. You might get a little more rural med at oregon. I'd go to the cheaper one. In regards to rankings, most people outside of the med community has heard of either. Most folk think Wash U is a state school. I bet most of your parents' asian friends know don't even know that a UCSF exists or that UCSD is almost as highly ranked as UCLA. Get over it.

 

[Indebt4Life]

Lots of politics go into rankings of medical school...and the rankings that everyone goes by are based on research...if you don't plan on going into academic medicine/research then don't worry about it. If you are then it is a different story. Go with your gut feeling and where you think that you will be happiest. But do keep rankings in mind and use it to make close calls. Anybody that tells you that ranking don't matter is lying to you.

 

[hakksar]

For primary care it really does not matter at all. Primary care specialties tend to be the least competitive residencies so as long as you are a good student you should be able to match at a top primary care residency no matter where you go. In addition, the rankings provide even less info for the primary care list. There is still a small return rate for both peer and residency director ratings, they factor in how many students go into primary care (which tells you little), and there really is no way of evaluating the quality of the primary care education (as opposed to research where money does matter).

 

[idq1i]

Ranking = BS

It relies on a school to provide information. If the school doesn't participate in the survey, the school doesn't get ranked

 

[patzan]

Ranking = BS

It relies on a school to provide information. If the school doesn't participate in the survey, the school doesn't get ranked

people who go to unranked schools tend to think less of the rankings and vice versa. 😉

 

[idq1i]

people who go to unranked schools tend to think less of the rankings and vice versa. 😉

People that don't go to any school tend to think too much of it 😉

 

[patzan]

People that don't go to any school tend to think too much of it

agreed. Let's not start the never-ending rankings thread again.

 

[Alexander99]

There's a lot of threads about the silliness of that usnews ranking. I'm really thinking of going into primary care, and between Oregon and U of Maryland, how much should that ranking affect going into Oregon over M just cuz it's higher? Seeing as how I've got an Asian fam, I've been brought up on that rankings are the bible that you go to when in need, but I do have a lot of reservations with that particular custom. Should rankings be a factor? And if you get a chance, what do you think about either of the schools? 🙂

Had no idea that the obsession with med school rankings was an asian thing. 😕 Are subscribers of U.S. News and World Report predominately asian or something??

 

[elias514]

Don't worry about the rankings, my friend. Go where you think you'll be happy. Every accredited medical school in the country offers an excellent education, and you can get into just about any residency program in the country from any medical school. Rankings are a pile of horse dookie--ignore them.