Stony Brook vs. Miami Miller

[ACE Inhibitor]

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Hey everyone, thanks for the help. I'll start this off by saying that while I want to keep my options open with regards to specialty choice, I think I'm leaning towards IM both in terms of interests and realistically. That being said I'd still like to explore specialties. Ideally in the future I would like to do residency in NYC (I'm from NY) and am trying to decide between Stony and Miami.

Miami

Pros

• 14 month preclinical curriculum
• Great match list - looks like they match in every specialty
• Diversity in patient population
• Students seemed happy and had a good sense of student community
• A lot of research opportunities

Cons

• Expensive (95k per year)
• Miami in general is an expensive city
• Curriculum is new and Step 1 and 2 are both taken in 3rd year within 3 months
• Far away from family (NY)

Stony Brook

Pros

• Close to home (would still be living on my own)
• 1.5 year P/F preclinical curriculum
• Match this year was great and in general it has a good match back to NY especially into the city
• Cheaper than Miami (~70k per year)
• Great research opportunities
• Perhaps a more recognized name in NY than Miami? (not sure about this part)

Cons

• Living in Stony Brook
• Patient population not as diverse
• Long Island is still expensive
• Will have to get a car so cost might be closer to Miami
• Ranked lower than Miami but I don't know if it's a big enough difference
• Preclinical is a few months longer

Just looking for thoughts in general. My main concern is that if I go to Miami, it might limit my chances to do residency in NY so I'm wondering if going to med school in NY would help that. If it's important, I have lived in NY my whole life so I'm wondering if my ties to NY would balance out going to med school in Miami. Weather is a plus but it's not a main point that would make me go to Miami. Also wondering with Step 1 pass/fail now, if going to either school would provide an advantage in terms of matching. Thanks in advance!

 

[traveler15]

I would say even with a car in Stony Brook, Miami will still cost a lot more since many students live in Brickell which is very expensive. Also, many Miami students end up needing cars for clinical years. If cost is a big concern I would definitely say Stony Brook. If cost isn't as big of a concern then I would say Miami.

 

[Shunsui]

Stony Brook

Close to home, cheaper (~$120,000 @ 6% over 4 years), and making NYC connections for the match will be easier.

 

[ACE Inhibitor]

Thanks to everyone who responded. Would your answers change if I was considering a surgical specialty? Like I said I'm not set on anything and don't want to go to a school that would limit my options especially with step 1 being pass/fail now and probably more focus on step 2. Thanks!

 

[chilly_md]

I don’t think it would change. Stony Brook is a good school, the ranking difference you are looking at is arbitrary.

 

[traveler15]

Stony Brook is the best state school in New York, with a really great match list. The MCAT and GPA requirements I believe are higher for Stony as well, so my answer would not change.

 

[cheer2021]

Stony Brook matched 6 to neurosurgery, 5 to orthopedic surgery, 2 to optho, 2 to Uro and 2 to plastics just to name surgical some sub specialities. I think saving your coin and being close to family is worth it, and Stony Brook will get you pretty much anywhere if you put in the work!

Can you please post Stony Brook Match list here? Thank you.

 

[MedSD123]

Unless you’re particularly looking to leave NY for med school, I’d do Stony Brook. The pros/cons lists don’t look too different but Stony Brook is cheaper and increases your chances of matching in NY