Stony Brook vs. Buffalo vs. USF vs. Case Western

[TPWK2024]

Hi all, I have been fortunate enough to have a few choices of where to go, and I would appreciate some input on helping me decide. I'm not sure whether or not I'd pursue a competitive specialty as of this moment.

Stony Brook
Pros
* Did my undergrad and masters there, have connections to attendings (could translate into opportunities?)
* In-state tuition would make it a pretty affordable option
* Closer to my significant other, would be able to visit her more often
* New MART/ Good match list
* Non-mandatory lecture- this is a big plus as I believe in being responsible for my own time
* NBME exams
* Free housing- would not have to worry about rent/major living expenses. My only expenses would be tuition, and I'm currently waiting on financial aid.

Cons
* Want to change my environment. I know a few of the med students already, so I’m unsure about being around the same people for another 4 years
* H/P/F; could be a cause for stress
* Dreary facilities
* Heard that there could be a “gossipy” vibe amongst students.

Buffalo
Pros
* Students seemed happy (granted I interviewed early on when classes were just starting)
* New medical school building
* Buffalo would be a cool switch of scenery
* Lots of hospitals to rotate through
* P/F
* Cheap housing

Cons
* 8+ hours away from all my support networks; would be hard to visit SO
* Lowest ranked
* Didn't get the safest vibe from the city

USF- SELECT
Pros
* New medical school building
* Tampa would have nice weather
* Tampa General/ Moffitt
* Focus on leadership which is cool and something I care about
* SELECT students had a STEP 1 average of something like 244 last year
* Admin seems to care about the students

Cons
* Would have to relocate to Allentown PA for 3rd and 4th year
* Matching into NYC/LI would be harder
* Much more pricy than the instate schools

Case Western
Pros
* T25 school
* Beautiful new building, with insane Step 1 scores
* You graduate with publications, which is useful if I decide to do something competitive
* Students seemed to be happy to be there

Cons
* While Cleveland is cheap to live in, the school itself is EXPENSIVE. 91K COA?!
* The furthest from my family; wouldn’t be able to see my family/ SO nearly as much as I could at the other two
* Test weeks every 2-3 months, could lead to lots of stress
* Mandatory PBL

Goals: Match into NYC/LI, consider that my SO has 230K of debt as well when we live together after medical school. SBU would be about 150-180K cheaper than Case.

Summary: Overall, as someone who wants to match into NYC/Long Island, Stony seems the easy choice. However, I’m trying to see if going somewhere else is worth it. Cost matters to me as well, since I’d have my loans and my significant other’s loans to pay off so I wish to minimize my debt. Case would overall cost me an extra 80-100K for 4 years. Thank you!!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[kingdomheart]

Personally I'd go with Stony 🙂. SO+Cost+Still a very well regarded program, especially since you want to practice in LI

 

[himalayansaltlamp]

I would wait on financial aid information from the other schools to see which works out best financially.

For now, Stony seems like the best choice in terms of support network/finances, and even though it's lower ranked than Case, it's a pretty decent research school. I also can't find the match right now, but I know it does pretty well, especially for NYC/LI

 

[TPWK2024]

I would wait on financial aid information from the other schools to see which works out best financially.

For now, Stony seems like the best choice in terms of support network/finances, and even though it's lower ranked than Case, it's a pretty decent research school. I also can't find the match right now, but I know it does pretty well, especially for NYC/LI

I’ve attached the match list; you’re right they have solid matches in the area.

 

[Yorick]

Case Western IMO, prestige and opportunities will make you more competitive for matching than at SBU and you absolutely will not have any more difficulty in matching back at NYC/LI from CWRU than at stony brook

 

[TPWK2024]

Case Western IMO, prestige and opportunities will make you more competitive for matching than at SBU and you absolutely will not have any more difficulty in matching back at NYC/LI from CWRU than at stony brook

I also have been thinking about the point you’ve made, but my only, and I mean only negative is the extra 180K Case would cost me

 

[TPWK2024]

@Goro @LizzyM would you say that prestige in this case overshadows the debt?

 

[LizzyM]

There is something to be said for a change of scenery and something to be said for being close to one's support network. I took loans to be close to my support network and regretted it 120 times but once the debt was paid, and I could see in hindsight the paths that opened up for me based on the school I attended, I believe it was money well spent. (How much of that is a mental game we play to justify our past decisions, I couldn't say.) Take a look at the estimated monthly payment you'll have with each choice. Decide if direct withdrawal from your account every month is going to make you glad you had the opportunity to attend that school or sad that you are paying money that your future self could be spending on whatever your priorities will be at that point (nicer housing, a better car, kids, pets, a nicer vacation, philanthropy, whatever).

 

[TPWK2024]

There is something to be said for a change of scenery and something to be said for being close to one's support network. I took loans to be close to my support network and regretted it 120 times but once the debt was paid, and I could see in hindsight the paths that opened up for me based on the school I attended, I believe it was money well spent. (How much of that is a mental game we play to justify our past decisions, I couldn't say.) Take a look at the estimated monthly payment you'll have with each choice. Decide if direct withdrawal from your account every month is going to make you glad you had the opportunity to attend that school or sad that you are paying money that your future self could be spending on whatever your priorities will be at that point (nicer housing, a better car, kids, pets, a nicer vacation, philanthropy, whatever).

Thank you for your response! After factoring in my UG loans, I’d probably have to pay back 300K+ for Case, and about 180K for Stony, so having to make like 3500 a month payments vs something like 1600 is a BIG deal for me.

 

[LizzyM]

Thank you for your response! After factoring in my UG loans, I’d probably have to pay back 300K+ for Case, and about 180K for Stony, so having to make like 3500 a month payments vs something like 1600 is a BIG deal for me.

That's what I mean. A top choice is nice but when you are going to be spending $1900/mo, every month for years, you may feel that you made a bad bargain and there were other things you wish you could be doing with that cash.

 

[DevinBookerMD]

after today's news...run to case

 

[TPWK2024]

after today's news...run to case

Today just threw me for a loop 🙁

 

[DevinBookerMD]

Today just threw me for a loop 🙁

same pal

 

[DevinBookerMD]

@LizzyM would you go to UCI, BU, or Einstein if you were me. I’m a CA resident interested in a competitive specialty.

 

[LizzyM]

Despite the news about Step 1, I do think that much of your future is on you and how you do in clerkships and auditions and not the name of the school you attended. If you are gunning for a career in academic medicine, having less debt is a huge help because, believe me, docs in academic positions do not make bank.

 

[Goro]

Hi all, I have been fortunate enough to have a few choices of where to go, and I would appreciate some input on helping me decide. I'm not sure whether or not I'd pursue a competitive specialty as of this moment.

Stony Brook
Pros
* Did my undergrad and masters there, have connections to attendings (could translate into opportunities?)
* In-state tuition would make it a pretty affordable option
* Closer to my significant other, would be able to visit her more often
* New MART/ Good match list
* Non-mandatory lecture- this is a big plus as I believe in being responsible for my own time
* NBME exams
* Free housing- would not have to worry about rent/major living expenses. My only expenses would be tuition, and I'm currently waiting on financial aid.

Cons
* Want to change my environment. I know a few of the med students already, so I’m unsure about being around the same people for another 4 years
* H/P/F; could be a cause for stress
* Dreary facilities
* Heard that there could be a “gossipy” vibe amongst students.

Buffalo
Pros
* Students seemed happy (granted I interviewed early on when classes were just starting)
* New medical school building
* Buffalo would be a cool switch of scenery
* Lots of hospitals to rotate through
* P/F
* Cheap housing

Cons
* 8+ hours away from all my support networks; would be hard to visit SO
* Lowest ranked
* Didn't get the safest vibe from the city

USF- SELECT
Pros
* New medical school building
* Tampa would have nice weather
* Tampa General/ Moffitt
* Focus on leadership which is cool and something I care about
* SELECT students had a STEP 1 average of something like 244 last year
* Admin seems to care about the students

Cons
* Would have to relocate to Allentown PA for 3rd and 4th year
* Matching into NYC/LI would be harder
* Much more pricy than the instate schools

Case Western
Pros
* T25 school
* Beautiful new building, with insane Step 1 scores
* You graduate with publications, which is useful if I decide to do something competitive
* Students seemed to be happy to be there

Cons
* While Cleveland is cheap to live in, the school itself is EXPENSIVE. 91K COA?!
* The furthest from my family; wouldn’t be able to see my family/ SO nearly as much as I could at the other two
* Test weeks every 2-3 months, could lead to lots of stress
* Mandatory PBL

Goals: Match into NYC/LI, consider that my SO has 230K of debt as well when we live together after medical school. SBU would be about 150-180K cheaper than Case.

Summary: Overall, as someone who wants to match into NYC/Long Island, Stony seems the easy choice. However, I’m trying to see if going somewhere else is worth it. Cost matters to me as well, since I’d have my loans and my significant other’s loans to pay off so I wish to minimize my debt. Case would overall cost me an extra 80-100K for 4 years. Thank you!!

They're all fine schools. In the end, it's not going to matter. Your attending salary will be the same no matter what school you go to. Getting into a nice residency? That's more on you. My advice? Go with the cheapest tuition and what's closest to your support system.