Torn between NYMC and MCW, can anyone help?

[DTDLex]

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Hello all,
I've been accepted to Medical College of Wisconsin and this last week got off the waitlist over at New York Medical College. Having a hard time making a decision between them (I have a week :-( )

Eventually, I want to do a residency in California (I'm from So Cal) in ophthalmology, radiology, or anesthesiology. Any idea on which of these schools would be a good start?

When I was over at MCW, I loved the people, the staff made you feel really welcomed, and the students were really nice. The only problem was the cold. When I stayed over with a host, we had to shovel snow in the morning to drive to the school. I also don't know what I'm going to do in Milwaukee for four full years, possibly more. Checked the US News, MCW is 42nd in primary care and 50th in research. Couldn't find NYMC anywhere in the top 50, but I dunno how much imma base my decision on the rankings.

NYMC, on the other hand, the staff wasn't as inviting, but the students weren't bad. Still pretty cold, but it is one hour north of the NYC, which is pretty cool. One positive is that NYMC does have housing (in Vahalla for the first two years, and Manhattan for the last two). My brother is also in NYC, so that's another plus. Cost is about same for both, maybe a little bit more for NYMC for living in NY.

If anyone are going to either of these schools, or were accepted to both and choosing one, or have any advice on choosing schools in general, I'd love to hear from you. Sorry if this topic has already been brought up in another thread, I couldn't find the search feature anywhere.

Good luck to all of you

 

[idq1i]

We have a great record for matching people into radiology and gas. The school does not submit data to USNWR so you will not see it on the list. The opportunity to do clinical years in NYC is a big plus, IMO.

If you have any specific questions about NYMC, feel free to post/PM

 

[Alexander99]

If your ultimate motive is getting a residency in California, I don't think either school will give you a clear advantage over the other. Just choose the school that you think you'll enjoy attending the most. Good luck.

 

[theworst22]

Just a quick thought...MCW is only 1 or 2 hours (depending on traffic) north of Chicago, which can offer a lot to keep you busy. Also only an hour and a half from Madison if you like partying with undergrads. Milwuakee is also a lot more fun than most people think.

 

[Jet915]

I visited both schools for interviews and out the the two, I'd definitely pick MCW. People were great there, it has a good reputation, does alot of research, and the facilities are the best ive seen from any school (NYMC has pretty good facilities though too). The weather is gonna be cold at both places so I dont think that's a real factor.

 

[Odaroloc]

Ive only heard good things about MCW, people who went there are very loyal and have a lot of good things to say. I also think it has the better rep.

 

[LAkid]

If you like big city atmosphere- NYMC would probably be a better choice because even if it is in Valhalla, you will still be able to spend alot of time in NYC and having family there is a big plus. There is not a big financial or reputation difference between the two so go with the one that you feel most comfortable with.
Good luck

 

[Bosox]

I cannot speak about optho, radiology, or gas, but I do know Cedars-Sinai in LA receives a lot of IM residency applications from MCW. And this comes from an IM resident at Cedars-Sinai who went to NYMC. Furthermore, I know UCLA currently has at least one EM resident who went to MCW. So MCW is known in SoCal. That is not to say NYMC is unheard of in the Golden State. I hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[rgporter]

I visited both schools for interviews and out the the two, I'd definitely pick MCW. People were great there, it has a good reputation, does alot of research, and the facilities are the best ive seen from any school...

I loved MCW, it was tough for me to turn down my acceptance there. I agree they had the best facilities of all the schools I visited. I would go with MCW.

 

[BigRedPingpong]

We have a great record for matching people into radiology and gas. The school does not submit data to USNWR so you will not see it on the list. The opportunity to do clinical years in NYC is a big plus, IMO.

If you have any specific questions about NYMC, feel free to post/PM

Could you elaborate some more about how clinical year locations are assigned at NYMC? Is it really a 50/50 toss up between NYC hospitals and Westchester? Also, where do students live if they get to go to a City hospital but don't get to live in NYMC student housing? Remove arm and Leg for private apartment in the City?

 

[kito]

Could you elaborate some more about how clinical year locations are assigned at NYMC? Is it really a 50/50 toss up between NYC hospitals and Westchester? Also, where do students live if they get to go to a City hospital but don't get to live in NYMC student housing? Remove arm and Leg for private apartment in the City?

I think NYMC peeps have a choice whether to train at WMC or SVCMC. I am under the impression that they always get their choice. They typically have a residence hall on the upper West side that people commute from but in the event that they fill the dorms they have to scramble (though I bet people could actually take Metro North from Valhalla if they really wanted to). I think they have a few specialized facilities too like NYEEI where students can rotate. Idq, Vinoy and Zwei are the experts though.

 

[idq1i]

I think NYMC peeps have a choice whether to train at WMC or SVCMC. I am under the impression that they always get their choice. They typically have a residence hall on the upper West side that people commute from but in the event that they fill the dorms they have to scramble (though I bet people could actually take Metro North from Valhalla if they really wanted to). I think they have a few specialized facilities too like NYEEI where students can rotate. Idq, Vinoy and Zwei are the experts though.

Basically correct. We also have Metropolitan Hospital on ~100th and 2nd. The apartment building that NYMC owns is actually on the upper East side - 95 and 3rd https://www.nymc.edu/depthome/housing/nyhous.asp

 

[jaydee2004]

I just graduated from nymc. I can tell you that our school matches well in California. Everyone in my class who wanted to go back to Cali did. We have 3 or 4 people doing IM at Ceders-Sinai. And one doing a prelim there. Several people are in San Diego as well as the bay area.

Re: where you end up 3rd and 4th year. for the most part, most end up where they want to be. I was city based. I did most of my rotations at St. Vincents. I had one rotation at Met and rotations at Our Lady of Mercy in the Bronx and St. Vincent's in Bridgeport, Ct (the latter two were my choice.) If you head to CT or Staten Island, the school provides housing for you.

Re: 95th Street housing, on the East side, it's done by lottery and there are only enough for 30 people in each class to get it. There is a landlord on 82nd and York who provides housing for nymc students at good prices. If you don't live at either of those places, most live with roomates on both the east and west sides of the city. I know people who lived alone also. RE: communting to Valhalla from the city, most people carpool. There is always one person who has a car and everyone is usually generous in giving rides to classmates that they are doing rorations with. Metro North is expensive to use everyday.

feel free to PM me.

 

[no-see-um]

On a side note... Where in NY is Vahalla? 😕
How far away is it from the City? I'm guessing it is somewhere near White Plains?

 

[jaydee2004]

THe hamlet of Valhalla is located ~10 minutes outside of White Plains in Westchester County, the first county north of NYC.

~30 min drive to manhattan depending on traffic and how fast you drive.

 

[rgporter]

Also MCW is the ONLY school I have ever been to where parking is both free and plentiful.

 

[Maple]

🙄

Also MCW is the ONLY school I have ever been to where parking is both free and plentiful.

....and about 5-8 min walk (jog-depending how late you are! 😉 ) from the campus, which coincidentally, is long enough to turn you into a popsicle! 😱 😀 Nah......JUST KIDDING! 😀 I love my school...and the parking situation is fine too. The lot is huge and accomadates both M1/M2 classes (M3/M4 get to park across the street from campus/hospital!....LUCKY BASTARDS!).

School is awesome...really work you hard, but as I watch my sister plow through STEP1 review, I am realizing how important that is. So...the long class hours and cumulative final exams are worth it(though I'll never admit it if you catch me in person before finals! 😛 🙄 )

good luck with your decision.

 

[DTDLex]

Thank you everybody for your advice and words of encouragement. I will definitely take everything into consideration before i make a decision shortly. looks like both schools have their advantages and disadvantages

i didn't pay as much attention to the curriculum as i wanted to when i went over their to interview (way too nervous), can anybody who went their kinda break down their classes and exam schedule a little bit? maple mentioned that mcw had cumulative finals? is the grading system a little harder at mcw? i'd love to hear anything from nymc's system as well.

thank you for all of your help

i'm also still waitlisted at tufts, so i might have to this all over again pretty soon (well, i hope so)

 

[idq1i]

NYMC:

Trimester system.
1st: Anatomy + Histo/Cell bio (aug-nov)
2nd: Physio + Biochem (nov-march)
3rd: Behavioral Science + Neuroscience (march-june)

Class attendance is optional (most tend to show up). There is a scribe service. Tests are non-cumulative. The shelf exam is counted as the final cumulative exam
Grades are H/HP/P/F

The classes are generally 0900-1200, 1 hour for lunch, followed by 1 or two classes

1 week of Biostats (may change/may be integrated into biochem next year)
Throughout the year, 10 lectures on intro to primary care + 10 preceptor visits + 10 Community/preventative medicine lectures

Very Boards-directed curriculum that explains our very good performance on the USMLEs

 

[Maple]

Can't let NYMC have the last word here! 😀

MCW First year:

Fall: (Aug-December)Anantomy, Biochem, Embryology, Behavioral Science/Biostat, Clinical continuum

Spring: (Jan-End of May) Phyiology, Neuroscience, Cell-Tissue, Behavioral/Biostat, Clinical Continuum.

2nd Year:

Fall: Microbio, Pathology, Psych, Clinical
Spring: Pharmacology, Pathology, ethics, Clinical

I may have gotten the psych/ethic course time-line mixed up. Can't remember exactly which semester has which.

All courses run for the full semester,with the exception of Pathology which is a year long course.

Clinical continuum begins in October and runs until mid-may includes medical interviewing small groups (every other week), 5 mentor visits, Psych small groups(every week), Biostatistics(every week/lecture and small group alternate). Class is split in half and one group begins medical interviewing/psych and the other does Biostat. Mentor visits are done concurrently by both groups.

Hours for First year: 8-12 AM, Lunch from 12-1 PM and labs from 1-5 (ist sem) and 1-3 or 3-5 for CTB( 2nd sem) or physio 1-5 (2nd sem).

2nd year..classes begin at 9:00AM!!!!! finally! 😎 variable after that...and I don't know much either. 😛

Anyway....hope this was complete.. 🙂

 

[DTDLex]

Thank you for all the help, I really appreciate the speedy responses.
I am probably going to stick with MCW and turn down the NYMC offer. All the students look really excited to be there and I am pretty excited to be joining them soon.

Anybody going there next year starting to find a place to live yet? Need a roomate? 🙂

Oh, and another thing, can any current students reccomend a good cell phone service? I was thinking of getting a T-mobile phone, does it get pretty good reception in the school building and the area in general?

Thanks a million everyone

 

[45408]

I can put in a good word for MCW - they were recently rated very highly for their clinical program - I got this from my advisor:

? Private, Independent College
? 8th Largest Medical School in The U.S.
? 5th Fastest Growing Research Medical School In U.S. (ranked #2 in fMRI research)
? 107.4 Million Dollars In Research Grants
? 1,000 Full-Time Faculty
? Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
? Part of The Milwaukee Regional Medical Center
? Located 7 Miles West of Downtown

Milwaukee really isn't that bad - I live here and am doing my undergrad at UWM. It's not NYC, but it has a downtown, a trendy east side, etc. A lot of MCW grads stick around, so a lot of doctors you'd be working with went to MCW (MCW and Froedtert - the attached hospital - work very closely). All in all, I very, very rarely hear anything negative about the school. If you do go, I know a few other people starting this fall.

 

[Maple]

Most people I know have T-mobile and are happy with that But there are some areas some the school/hospital where they don't get service. I have cingular and get service everywhere. So I will be sticking with them.

See you in fall! 🙂 Be sure to attend the Big Sib/Little Sib picnic! 😎

 

[irvinedawg]

Thank you for all the help, I really appreciate the speedy responses.
I am probably going to stick with MCW and turn down the NYMC offer. All the students look really excited to be there and I am pretty excited to be joining them soon.

Anybody going there next year starting to find a place to live yet? Need a roomate? 🙂

Oh, and another thing, can any current students reccomend a good cell phone service? I was thinking of getting a T-mobile phone, does it get pretty good reception in the school building and the area in general?

Thanks a million everyone

sent you a PM