SLU vs UPitt

[repro_doc8]

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Personal Background: Dead-set on OB/GYN and planning to pursue a Fellowship in urogynecology or general MIGS. I want to be involved in impactful health systems / quality improvement research, as well as be involved in nonprofit and policy board work in reproductive health, throughout my career.

Saint Louis University
Pros:

• Half off tuition scholarship (~$150k less)
• Already know some of the faculty there
• Know the area well
• Close to family (potentially live at home first year)
• Have research and service opportunities that interest me

Cons:

• Much lower ranking (~100)
• Returning to my hometown
• Feeling like I "settled" for a lesser result and always wondering whether Pitt would be the greatest time of my life.

Pitt (UVA and UCSF have many of the same pros/cons as Pitt for me)
Pros:

• Higher rank (~16)
• Magee-Women's hospital and excellent clinical sites for OB/GYN
• Strong reproductive health equity research & funding
• New city that's supposedly great for young people
• Live with best friend

Cons:

• Cost (~$150k more than SLU)
  • Considering NHSC service to cover this
• Always wondering if ranking and prestige really matters for residency and fellowship placement, or whether students actually just self-select and I could have done great at SLU.

Summary: SLU $150k cheaper and familiar. Pitt higher rank/prestige, I can live in a new city, and might result in better placements for gynecological surgery??

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

As someone from around St. Louis, you probably know SLU's academic hospital network better than me.

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health

www.slu.edu

How will NHSC fit with your plans? Is there a reason why you couldn't do the same with SLU?

The one question I have is the state politics and support for OB/GYN. I don't know if it's as important at the UME level vs. residency/GME. But if you ultimately want to position yourself for surgery, the current political environment should be a factor. (I also don't how the "Catholic" element with SLU matters.)

 

[repro_doc8]

Welcome to the forums.

As someone from around St. Louis, you probably know SLU's academic hospital network better than me.

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health

www.slu.edu

How will NHSC fit with your plans? Is there a reason why you couldn't do the same with SLU?

The one question I have is the state politics and support for OB/GYN. I don't know if it's as important at the UME level vs. residency/GME. But if you ultimately want to position yourself for surgery, the current political environment should be a factor. (I also don't how the "Catholic" element with SLU matters.)

Thanks for your reply! I am interested in rural and underserved medicine, so NHSC makes sense IF I need it for additional funding. With SLU, that isn't the case, so I don't need to lock myself into a contract with the government. With Pitt, it would negate the cost worries.
As far as politics, SLU in my experience is still evidence-based in their practice of reproductive health, and Jesuit institutions tend to be more liberal in general. I'm not too worried about that factor.