Hello! I would appreciate any advice. For context, I'm born and raised in NYC. Decently strong interest in primary care, although not a lock. This is what I'm thinking/seeing right now:
Upstate
Pros:
- COA - Financial aid and cost of living differences will save me and my family $35k over 4 years. (Family will probably only be able to contribute 10k - 15k in assistance a year, rest I will take in loans).
- They have a diverse student body (for a medical school) and more than twice as many URMs as Stony Brook. (I'm URM)
- A more relaxed and chill student body based on people who I've spoken to.
Cons:
- SYRACUSE: Granted I wasn't even there for a full 24 hours, but I'm apprehensive about going up there. I haven't really heard anything positive about Syracuse, except from upstate administrators, including a personal college friend who transferred from 'Cuse because he hated the city. It seems like it would be a boring place to live to be completely honest. I'm not really into the outdoor activities. It is far enough from home/NYC that I couldn't conveniently visit my support systems. The flight is quick tho, but inconvenient and I won't have money laying around. Also, those winters sound like they are miserable and not ideal for stressful medical school.
- Not overly enthusiastic about Upstate overall although I recognize it is an affordable, established medical school.
Stony Brook
Pros:
- Close to family and friends. 2 hours one way by transportation, 1 - 1.5 hour drive to home. I will have my support system within a weekend trips visit for me during this grind.
- Stony Brook has more research opportunities and slight prestige advantage (unless I'm wrong?). I didn't pursue too much research as an undergraduate, so I' not sure how much this should matter. Should give me a better chance matching back into nyc as a resident.
- Seems to be an exciting time at Stony Brook med with the new innovations and upgrades going on. During my interview, I got a good feeling from the school.
Cons:
- The immediate neighborhood is very suburban and boring.
A lot of other criteria were equal in my eyes. I liked the curriculums for each school about equally. Hospitals connected to the med schools. In reflection, the biggest difference between these two schools is the location, with cost being a factor as well. I'm interested in matching back into nyc one day, although not sure. I would love to hear any opinions!
Upstate
Pros:
- COA - Financial aid and cost of living differences will save me and my family $35k over 4 years. (Family will probably only be able to contribute 10k - 15k in assistance a year, rest I will take in loans).
- They have a diverse student body (for a medical school) and more than twice as many URMs as Stony Brook. (I'm URM)
- A more relaxed and chill student body based on people who I've spoken to.
Cons:
- SYRACUSE: Granted I wasn't even there for a full 24 hours, but I'm apprehensive about going up there. I haven't really heard anything positive about Syracuse, except from upstate administrators, including a personal college friend who transferred from 'Cuse because he hated the city. It seems like it would be a boring place to live to be completely honest. I'm not really into the outdoor activities. It is far enough from home/NYC that I couldn't conveniently visit my support systems. The flight is quick tho, but inconvenient and I won't have money laying around. Also, those winters sound like they are miserable and not ideal for stressful medical school.
- Not overly enthusiastic about Upstate overall although I recognize it is an affordable, established medical school.
Stony Brook
Pros:
- Close to family and friends. 2 hours one way by transportation, 1 - 1.5 hour drive to home. I will have my support system within a weekend trips visit for me during this grind.
- Stony Brook has more research opportunities and slight prestige advantage (unless I'm wrong?). I didn't pursue too much research as an undergraduate, so I' not sure how much this should matter. Should give me a better chance matching back into nyc as a resident.
- Seems to be an exciting time at Stony Brook med with the new innovations and upgrades going on. During my interview, I got a good feeling from the school.
Cons:
- The immediate neighborhood is very suburban and boring.
A lot of other criteria were equal in my eyes. I liked the curriculums for each school about equally. Hospitals connected to the med schools. In reflection, the biggest difference between these two schools is the location, with cost being a factor as well. I'm interested in matching back into nyc one day, although not sure. I would love to hear any opinions!
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