SLU SOM vs UMASS Chan

[fahr]

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Hello!

I'm having a tough time deciding between UMass Chan and Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Medicine, as I recently got off the waitlist for UMass. One of my biggest concerns is transportation. I currently don’t drive and don’t own a car, which would make first-year logistics especially challenging. I’ll likely need to rely on public transportation or carpooling/rideshare apps during my first year, especially when the weather is colder. Here are some pros/cons I also made, and I would appreciate any further opinions/insights into the schools

Saint Louis University School of Medicine​

Pros:
-Strong emphasis on service and working with underserved communities
-Solid match list in midwest and p/f
-Located in a city, provides opportunities for networking and research with potential access to research opportunities via WashU
-Lots of free and fun things to do on weekends, including museums, parks, festivals, and a food scene
-Saint Louis University I’ve found many willing classmates and potential roommates with whom I could share rides to class. Additionally, there are affordable housing options near campus within my budget, with rents in range 800-1,000.

Cons:
- heard negative things about the city's crime rate (but students have said not an issue)
- unsure about the perception/ranking of SLU locally, nationally
- history of accreditation issues in 2018, not sure if still problem

UMass Chan Medical School​

Pros:
-Strong reputation in the Northeast
-Access to Boston for networking, and research opportunities as well as strong alumni ties with strong research program at umass
-Solid match list in the Northeast and p/f
-Strong emphasis on serving the local community and improving population health

Cons:
-One of biggest cons is Worcester lacks a good public transportation network, so a car is considered necessary, even on the umass chan medical website they strongly recommend. Since I don’t drive yet, getting around during my first year would be logistically difficult.
-The city is not as urban as Saint Louis, with fewer entertainment or social activities available
-I’ve been having a hard time finding affordable housing with roommates so far and also housing that is closer to university as well to have less commute time

 

[LunaOri]

Hello!

I'm having a tough time deciding between UMass Chan and Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Medicine, as I recently got off the waitlist for UMass. One of my biggest concerns is transportation. I currently don’t drive and don’t own a car, which would make first-year logistics especially challenging. I’ll likely need to rely on public transportation or carpooling/rideshare apps during my first year, especially when the weather is colder. Here are some pros/cons I also made, and I would appreciate any further opinions/insights into the schools

Saint Louis University School of Medicine​

Pros:
-Strong emphasis on service and working with underserved communities
-Solid match list in midwest and p/f
-Located in a city, provides opportunities for networking and research with potential access to research opportunities via WashU
-Lots of free and fun things to do on weekends, including museums, parks, festivals, and a food scene
-Saint Louis University I’ve found many willing classmates and potential roommates with whom I could share rides to class. Additionally, there are affordable housing options near campus within my budget, with rents in range 800-1,000.

Cons:
- heard negative things about the city's crime rate (but students have said not an issue)
- unsure about the perception/ranking of SLU locally, nationally
- history of accreditation issues in 2018, not sure if still problem

UMass Chan Medical School​

Pros:
-Strong reputation in the Northeast
-Access to Boston for networking, and research opportunities as well as strong alumni ties with strong research program at umass
-Solid match list in the Northeast and p/f
-Strong emphasis on serving the local community and improving population health

Cons:
-One of biggest cons is Worcester lacks a good public transportation network, so a car is considered necessary, even on the umass chan medical website they strongly recommend. Since I don’t drive yet, getting around during my first year would be logistically difficult.
-The city is not as urban as Saint Louis, with fewer entertainment or social activities available
-I’ve been having a hard time finding affordable housing with roommates so far and also housing that is closer to university as well to have less commute time

Do you think you would ultimately like to live in the Midwest or the Northeast? Is there a significant difference in cost between the two schools?
There is definitely housing within walking distance of the UMass hospital campus, with several apartment complexes as well as shared houses. When it is time for clinical rotations, you would definitely need a car—although there are buses, it’s more convenient to drive (unless you do all your rotations on the Baystate campus; there you are housed across the street from the hospital).

 

[fahr]

Do you think you would ultimately like to live in the Midwest or the Northeast? Is there a significant difference in cost between the two schools?
There is definitely housing within walking distance of the UMass hospital campus, with several apartment complexes as well as shared houses. When it is time for clinical rotations, you would definitely need a car—although there are buses, it’s more convenient to drive (unless you do all your rotations on the Baystate campus; there you are housed across the street from the hospital).

There is not that much of a cost difference because I'm out of state for Umass and at the moment I'm not really sure which region I would want to live in. Thanks for taking the time to respond and all the information/suggestions with housing and the information on the clinical rotation.