SLU v. Penn State

[megastale]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I have been trying to decide for the past few days between Saint Louis and Penn State, and I am still at a deadlock. Here are my general comparisons between the schools:

Pros of SLU
Higher Rank on US News
More students from California/my undergrad
Slightly more/better California matches for residency (both have matched back)
More urban immediate environment

Pros of Penn State
Not on LCME probation
Better research opportunities (both have research)
Connected well with faculty (not really exposed to faculty at SLU during interview day)
More innovative program
Higher competitive residency match rates
Closer to East Coast cities (I prefer)

Same for both
Student communities are awesome
Similar cost

Key Difference between both (not sure which is better)
SLU takes STEP 1 after second year, Penn State takes STEP 1 after third year

Any thoughts about what I should be weighing/experiences at either school/opinions on which is better? Thank you everyone.

 

[CUatthefinishline]

I have been trying to decide for the past few days between Saint Louis and Penn State, and I am still at a deadlock. Here are my general comparisons between the schools:

Pros of SLU
Higher Rank on US News
More students from California/my undergrad
Slightly more/better California matches for residency (both have matched back)
More urban immediate environment

Pros of Penn State
Not on LCME probation
Better research opportunities (both have research)
Connected well with faculty (not really exposed to faculty at SLU during interview day)
More innovative program
Higher competitive residency match rates
Closer to East Coast cities (I prefer)

Same for both
Student communities are awesome
Similar cost

Key Difference between both (not sure which is better)
SLU takes STEP 1 after second year, Penn State takes STEP 1 after third year

Any thoughts about what I should be weighing/experiences at either school/opinions on which is better? Thank you everyone.

Is there anything that you prefer outside of east coast location & the probation thing? Maybe include what kind of medicine you want to end up in, if both are p/f, if either has a curriculum that you like more.

Additionally, I'm not sure how close Penn is to larger cities (I think it's like 3 hours to Philly?), but PA is an interesting and beautiful state if you're in to driving. However, SLU is also relatively close to Chicago. Also, I think SLU is in a larger city overall. The probation issue is concerning but seems to be being handled well. They also do like and match CA students well.

Edit: Anyway, your concerns are valid and it looks like your leaning towards Penn.

 

[Lawpy]

Penn State seems to be a better fit for you personally, and so it gets my vote.

 

[Kingsmen2018]

Slu

 

[ciestar]

PSU

 

[ciestar]

Is there anything that you prefer outside of east coast location & the probation thing? Maybe include what kind of medicine you want to end up in, if both are p/f, if either has a curriculum that you like more.

Additionally, I'm not sure how close Penn is to larger cities (I think it's like 3 hours to Philly?), but PA is an interesting and beautiful state if you're in to driving. However, SLU is also relatively close to Chicago. Also, I think SLU is in a larger city overall. The probation issue is concerning but seems to be being handled well. They also do like and match CA students well.

Edit: Anyway, your concerns are valid and it looks like your leaning towards Penn.

1.5 hours to Philly and Baltimore. Probably 2.5 to DC and NYC. 3.5 hrs to Pittsburgh.

All in all, if you’re into traveling it isn’t a bad location.

Hershey also has Chocolate World

 

[gottabeMD17]

Interviewed and was accepted at both. I got a really weird vibe at SLU. No one mentioned the probation thing and when I asked about it it was entirely downplayed. I only spent a few hours in St. Louis and was at a Starbucks down the block before and my Uber driver made me promise not to walk the 3 blocks away to the campus on my own which made me think it wasn't a safe area. Penn State is P/F and I like that they take Step after year 3 as its shown scores are much higher when you postpone a year.