Temple vs GW vs Toledo

[MomJeansandDadJorts]

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I am WL at GW and Toledo and Waiting to hear back from Temple. I have a current acceptance to Drexel and I really liked the school but my main concern is the hospital having current money problems. Besides that, I am coming from a large public school so class size doesnt scare me and both GW and Temple will hit me with a huge debt like Drexel. Im currently on the WL at Wright State but didint include them because I received my rank (middle 3rd) and there is no way to influence my chances vs a LOI to one of the other schools may add some benefit (and I am only writing a LOI to my very top choice)

Toledo
+IS tuition is way cheaper and so is COL
+Close to family support and partner
+Promedica merger means $$$$ for research, school resources, and other stuff
+Not many mandatory activities
-Has a higher indebtness than Temple and GW despite having a lower COA
-Toledo as a city is boring and also patient population seems pretty heterogeneous
-Matches a lot in the midwest (they may want to accept students who want to stay in Ohio. Im trying to get to the PNW/Colorado/Utah)
-Less home residency programs than my other options
-$7mil research funding is tiny
-MSAR says 16 WL offers went out to the 200 person list so not very hopeful

GW
+DC is awesome
+Shortened curriculum and more STEP studying
+Lots of research options at the school and also around DC
+Ability to work with urban underserved populations (interest of mine)
+Lower indebtness=more scholarship possibilities? (or people with rich parents)
+Sister just moved to DC so support system in place
+I like the scholars programs they have and how you can kinda mold your medical education via that
+Most residency options
-COL in DC is insane
-Seemed a little more rigid than the other schools. Tour was conducted by an admin which may have been why it felt that way. Only interacted with 1 student the entire time.
-If no scholarship are given, would probably be my most expensive option
-Some students have complained about the testing format at the school and the exams in general

Temple
+Location of the hospital makes it amazing for clinical training and working with urban underserved populations
+Philly is a very diverse city and north philly sees a lot of cases you wouldnt see at other schools
+71% of students get a scholarship (Still planning on getting nothing)
+Block systems are set up so you do normal the first year then do a second pass 2nd year to cover abnormal (they do well on STEP so this may contribute to it). So the curriculum is almost like you do 1/2 of each block the first year and the second half the second year.
+Emphasis on clinical education which IMO is more important than pre clinical. Students get their hands dirty and are really involved 3rd and 4th year
+Has a lot of research funding and also close to Penn for additional research opportunities
+MA in Bioethics without having to take an additional year
+Best overall vibe from the school. Seemed everybody was really involved in the school community and the surrounding community with outreach.
+Addressing medical student/physician burnout more than any other school
+New building was built around student suggestions and seems like the school takes student feedback very seriously
-Probably not the best area to live in and would have to live near public transportation cuz my car died on the way back from my interview
-Lots of other schools in Philly means more competition for resources
-Maybe selling Fox Chase to Jefferson (hospital having money problems because they care for a lot of patients who are unable to pay)


Let me know what you all think in terms of how to rank the school. I have an interest in psych, IM, and surgical subspecialties (depending on if I decide I can handle the lifestyle and training). Right now my tentative rank if I was offered admissions to every school would be Temple=GW>Drexel for the Privates and Toledo>WSU for IS schools. As a reapplicant, Im very happy with having even 1 acceptance. Im just wondering if I should write a LOI to one of the 3 listed and see what happens. Temple releases its decisions in about 1.5-2 weeks and the committee hasnt met yet to discuss our applications.

 

[phillyapple]

-Maybe selling Fox Chase to Jefferson (hospital having money problems because they care for a lot of patients who are unable to pay)

Fox Chase will be swallowed up by Jeff (like pretty much every hospital in the area lol) but it should really have no effect on Temple students. I got the email sent to Jeff staff about the acquisition and they said "Jefferson and Temple would also enter into a long-term oncology-related academic affiliation agreement that would expand access for Temple residents, fellows and students to academic and research resources.". I know a physician at Fox Chase and he also said it shouldn't be an issue for students. Temple's hospital system always will be in a tough financial position just given it's role of being the city's de facto public hospital and its reliance on state funds but it has actually turned a profit recently. Regardless, it isn't going anywhere because the city needs the hospital.

-Lots of other schools in Philly means more competition for resources

I think it might be the opposite actually. With the amount of medical schools in Philly there are tons of opportunities. Hopefully someone else can chime in on this point since I don't really have anything to back this up.

-Probably not the best area to live in and would have to live near public transportation cuz my car died on the way back from my interview

Most Temple students live in or around center city and there are tons of great neighborhoods in Philly! As long as you are close to the broad street line you can get to campus in roughly 10-20 minutes. I definitely prefer Temple's location to Drexel's because East Falls is pretty removed from the rest of the city and to me it's almost the suburbs. Compared to DC, COL is definitely better here in Philly.

If you want to work with urban undeserved populations, both Temple and GW are great fits. Between GW and Temple it probably comes down to cost, where you had a better feeling on interview day, and if you would rather be in DC or Philly (hint: Philly is better, go birds 😉).

 

[puahate]

Fox Chase will be swallowed up by Jeff (like pretty much every hospital in the area lol) but it should really have no effect on Temple students. I got the email sent to Jeff staff about the acquisition and they said "Jefferson and Temple would also enter into a long-term oncology-related academic affiliation agreement that would expand access for Temple residents, fellows and students to academic and research resources.". I know a physician at Fox Chase and he also said it shouldn't be an issue for students. Temple's hospital system always will be in a tough financial position just given it's role of being the city's de facto public hospital and its reliance on state funds but it has actually turned a profit recently. Regardless, it isn't going anywhere because the city needs the hospital.



I think it might be the opposite actually. With the amount of medical schools in Philly there are tons of opportunities. Hopefully someone else can chime in on this point since I don't really have anything to back this up.



Most Temple students live in or around center city and there are tons of great neighborhoods in Philly! As long as you are close to the broad street line you can get to campus in roughly 10-20 minutes. I definitely prefer Temple's location to Drexel's because East Falls is pretty removed from the rest of the city and to me it's almost the suburbs. Compared to DC, COL is definitely better here in Philly.

If you want to work with urban undeserved populations, both Temple and GW are great fits. Between GW and Temple it probably comes down to cost, where you had a better feeling on interview day, and if you would rather be in DC or Philly (hint: Philly is better, go birds 😉).

So temple students have to compete with jeff students for FCCC resources now? Kinda sucks.

 

[phillyapple]

So temple students have to compete with jeff students for FCCC resources now? Kinda sucks.

The fox chase physician I spoke to about it said that students shouldn't notice a difference or have to "compete" for resources. Jeff already has its own NCI designated cancer center right on its campus.

 

[MomJeansandDadJorts]

Bump. Just got the WL from Temple.

 

[MomJeansandDadJorts]

Also in my situation, do you think the cost of the private schools would outweigh the cost of the IS public schools? I prefer to be in a city and Toledo/Dayton are very small and not too LGBT friendly compared to Philly/DC. Though the difference between IS and the private schools would probably be close to 100k over the 4 years. I am interested in a couple competitive specialties and would realistically want to end up out on the west coast/rockies area.