Tulane vs. Hofstra

[ruphmeeks]

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Hey everybody,

I have been an active (obsessed?) lurker for the last year and am finally stepping up and making my first post. Really grateful for this community and all the help I've received during this arduous process.

At the moment I am leaning slightly towards Tulane (admittedly some of my reasons are superficial):

- more established
- very interested in MD/MPH program
- loved the warm vibes of both the students and the city as a whole
- many opportunities for early clinical experiences at student-led clinics
- more traditional curriculum which I think I would like more

I did, however, really like my experience at Hofstra. There was an excitement about everything being new and everyone being a part of something unique that stuck with me. Seemed like a very supportive atmosphere and the access to the wealth of facilities in the LIJ system ain't too shabby either. I also would like to do my residency/be an adult in New York/East Coast which I would assume is an advantage for Hofstra.

Thus I am still torn. If anyone could provide any guidance, I would sincerely appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

Hey everybody,

I have been an active (obsessed?) lurker for the last year and am finally stepping up and making my first post. Really grateful for this community and all the help I've received during this arduous process.

At the moment I am leaning slightly towards Tulane (admittedly some of my reasons are superficial):

- more established
- very interested in MD/MPH program
- loved the warm vibes of both the students and the city as a whole
- many opportunities for early clinical experiences at student-led clinics
- ostensibly more traditional curriculum which I think I would like more

I did, however, really like my experience at Hofstra. There was an excitement about everything being new and everyone being a part of something unique that stuck with me. Seemed like a very supportive atmosphere and the access to the wealth of facilities in the LIJ system ain't too shabby either. I also would like to do my residency/be an adult in New York/East Coast which I would assume is an advantage for Hofstra.

Thus I am still torn. If anyone could provide any guidance, I would sincerely appreciate it. Thanks.

Where are you from originally? Do you want to do residency/eventually practice in the South, or in the northeast? That would probably be my first consideration. It's much easier to match into residency programs in your immediate locale.

Edit: Just saw that you want to do residency in New York/East Coast. In that case, I think the choice is pretty clear. Just my $.02.

 

[ruphmeeks]

I am from California and while I like New Orleans a lot... I don't anticipate staying in the South post-med school.

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

I am from California and while I like New Orleans a lot... I don't anticipate staying in the South post-med school.

Have you ever lived on the east coast? If not, how can you be sure that's where you want to live your adult life?

 

[ruphmeeks]

That's a fair question... I am not sure. I have lived on the east coast, much of my family lives there as well and wouldn't be opposed to living there or moving back to the west coast.

 

[sstackhouse]

have you checked out tulles match list? they seem to match people all over the country not just the south

 

[ruphmeeks]

I have and it's awesome. That's why location does not really play a huge role for me and I am still leaning towards Tulane. Didn't intend for it to come off as such. That said, I would still think Hofstra would have a slight, perhaps more slight than I had thought, advantage in that department.

 

[cyberchicken001]

I am from California and while I like New Orleans a lot... I don't anticipate staying in the South post-med school.

I didn't get great vibes from Hofstra, and it just seemed a little too brand new for my liking. I also prefer to have more lecture time and less PBL, which Hofstra seemed to be the antithesis of....
But to each his/her own, and these could be things you would like in a med school. But my vote goes to Tulane.

 

[Leoz M Jiliums]

I didn't get great vibes from Hofstra, and it just seemed a little too brand new for my liking. I also prefer to have more lecture time and less PBL, which Hofstra seemed to be the antithesis of....
But to each his/her own, and these could be things you would like in a med school. But my vote goes to Tulane.

Dude, Tulane's in New Orleans. Maybe you're thinking of Emory.

 

[cyberchicken001]

Dude, Tulane's in New Orleans. Maybe you're thinking of Emory.

Lol yeah I misread at first... Edited that out.

 

[BlackBox]

It's New Orleans! This isn't even a question... haha

 

[ruphmeeks]

Thanks for all the replies! Can anyone speak to Hofstra's advantages? At this point the concensus appears to favor Tulane pretty overwhelmingly...

 

[BlackBox]

Hofstra's super new. It's actually difficult to make an argument for the school without any data.

 

[Serous Demilune]

Thanks for all the replies! Can anyone speak to Hofstra's advantages? At this point the concensus appears to favor Tulane pretty overwhelmingly...

I wouldn't underestimate the strength of North Shore-LIJ's hospital system. It has had every residency imaginable long before Hofstra was a medical school, so I'm sure the academics during the clinical years are excellent. They also have tons of money and their residents get amazing benefits, if you plan on matching there.

 

[DermViser]

I wouldn't underestimate the strength of North Shore-LIJ's hospital system. It has had every residency imaginable long before Hofstra was a medical school, so I'm sure the academics during the clinical years are excellent. They also have tons of money and their residents get amazing benefits, if you plan on matching there.

Well in that case, the OP should take an unneeded risk, even GutOnc, a Heme/Onc doctor, has said North Shore-LIJ would still be considered a community type program, which is only now "affiliated" with a med school.

 

[rock2doc]

I too was making this choice 1 year ago. This is how I thought about it:

Tulane:
+NEW ORLEANS
+option to self-study and watch lectures at home the first 2 years (I love this so much)
+great community
+people match all over the country and many to great programs
+so much community service and so many student run clinics
-expensive

Hofstra:
+small class size
+Unique curriculum with PBL type stuff
+Affordable for a private school (especially those institutional loans they mentioned at the interview)
+large hospital system with all sorts of residencies (so it might be easier to match to North Shore-LIJ for something competitive? )
-location (debatable because it is near NYC)
-new/ unproven blah blah

I am at Tulane and love it. But Hofstra seemed great too. Good luck and congrats!