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Hi everyone! I feel super lucky to have been accepted to both these schools, but I’m having a really hard time deciding between them and would really appreciate any advice. I did not receive a scholarship at either school, so cost of attendance is likely going to be similar. As a NY resident, I hope to eventually match in the NE for residency, likely IM since I am interested in pursuing oncology. Thanks so much!
Vanderbilt:
Pros:
-Pass/fail curriculum throughout all 4 years, no AOA
-Students seem very happy
-Better research opportunities, lots of NIH funding
-Lower COL
-Love the music/artsy vibes of Nashville
-Administration seems much more organized than tufts
-Will likely take a research year to couples match with partner, and Vandy provides a fully funded year + 30k stipend
Cons:
-Far from home
-Hope to match into NE for residency, and Vandy's match list seems pretty south/midwest heavy although students have told me I shouldn't have a problem matching in the location I want
-Harder to network with hospitals in the NE unless I do away rotations, which I heard can be pretty expensive and not worth my time if I'm applying into IM
-Far from partner and likely wherever his med school will be after his gap year, which will make long distance challenging
-Nashville isn't as exciting of a city to me as Boston
Tufts
Pros:
-Love Boston, hope to match here for residency as I am not a huge fan of NYC
-4 year MD/MPH program, lots of opportunities to explore how to integrate public health into my career
-Students seem to match well across Boston hospitals like MGH, BU, etc.
-Many opportunities to build connections across the Boston hospital system
-Able to serve a lot of Asian patients
-Heard that being in Chinatown makes food and living expenses slightly cheaper
-Administration seems very nice and supportive
-Partner will be in NYC for his gap year (will be applying to med school this year), which will make long distance easier
-Closer to family
Cons:
-Higher COL
-Less prestigious
-Much bigger class size may make opportunities like clinical rotations difficult
-Graded clinicals (although I have never heard it being a significant source of stress for students)
-Research year is free tuition but does not offer a stipend like Vandy
-Less opportunities within the Tufts system, would have to go out of my way to network with other Boston hospitals through things like away rotations
Vanderbilt:
Pros:
-Pass/fail curriculum throughout all 4 years, no AOA
-Students seem very happy
-Better research opportunities, lots of NIH funding
-Lower COL
-Love the music/artsy vibes of Nashville
-Administration seems much more organized than tufts
-Will likely take a research year to couples match with partner, and Vandy provides a fully funded year + 30k stipend
Cons:
-Far from home
-Hope to match into NE for residency, and Vandy's match list seems pretty south/midwest heavy although students have told me I shouldn't have a problem matching in the location I want
-Harder to network with hospitals in the NE unless I do away rotations, which I heard can be pretty expensive and not worth my time if I'm applying into IM
-Far from partner and likely wherever his med school will be after his gap year, which will make long distance challenging
-Nashville isn't as exciting of a city to me as Boston
Tufts
Pros:
-Love Boston, hope to match here for residency as I am not a huge fan of NYC
-4 year MD/MPH program, lots of opportunities to explore how to integrate public health into my career
-Students seem to match well across Boston hospitals like MGH, BU, etc.
-Many opportunities to build connections across the Boston hospital system
-Able to serve a lot of Asian patients
-Heard that being in Chinatown makes food and living expenses slightly cheaper
-Administration seems very nice and supportive
-Partner will be in NYC for his gap year (will be applying to med school this year), which will make long distance easier
-Closer to family
Cons:
-Higher COL
-Less prestigious
-Much bigger class size may make opportunities like clinical rotations difficult
-Graded clinicals (although I have never heard it being a significant source of stress for students)
-Research year is free tuition but does not offer a stipend like Vandy
-Less opportunities within the Tufts system, would have to go out of my way to network with other Boston hospitals through things like away rotations
