Tulane vs. Minnestoa

[lauren2989]

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Hey guys!

I just got off the waitlist at Tulane. I have a previous acceptance to the University of Minnesota and I am having a difficult time deciding...I do not have any connections with students at Tulane, so if any current med students would not mind chiming in/PM'ing me I would be very grateful 🙂

University of Minnesota

PRO
-first interview, first acceptance, I have had a lot of time to get excited about Minneapolis
-in state tuition/scholarship money makes this the cheaper option
-Minneapolis reminds me a lot of home (I am from Seattle) and I think I would like the town a lot
-quality of life would be great
-very interested in special aspects of the curriculum/affiliated research institutions (i.e. Human Sexuality in the summer term)
-great facilities, liked everyone I met on revisit day

CON
-compared to New Orleans Minneapolis does not seem nearly as diverse :/
-match list slightly less interesting than Tulane (lots of people stay in Minnesota, which I might want to do, however I am not from the state so I do not want to be pigeon holed)

Tulane

PRO
-New Orleans is amazing, I would love the opportunity to live in a new place like this
-strong match list
-emphasis on tropical disease would be very interesting
-spending time in rural Louisiana would be an amazing medical experience during rotations

CON
-significantly more expensive
-I have not had time to get established there (no roommate, I have not been back to New Orleans since October, etc.) --> would be more of an unknown
-it seemed like their infrastructure took a big hit during the hurricane and they have not gotten 100% back on their feet yet...I had the impression that they shared a lot of resources with LSU med students

I would appreciate any and all input. I know that this is a decision that only I can make in the end!

 

[ace12345]

This thread is about to get moved, but for just about every reason (Money, prestige, opportunities) I would stay with 'Sota. Tulane is a great school - and I really hope students there don't see me as bashing them in recent threads - but instate at Minnesota is a much better opportunity.

Also, watch the movie Contagion. Makes the school look awesome.

 

[gettheleadout]

Moving to School-Specific Discussions.

 

[el_duderino]

Tulane does share a bunch of stuff with LSU, but I believe they sort of always have. The schools are literally across the street from one another.

Minnesota seems like the obvious choice, though.

 

[sazerac]

I'm probably the biggest Tulane blowhard on SDN right now. There are a lot of "Tulane VS" threads that are I think are close calls, given the student's personal motivations and what the other school can offer. But geez, I don't think Tulane can hold a candle to the opportunities you have up in MN.

I wouldn't worry about match lists so much. MN attracts a lot of nearby students who want to stay local. Tulane has most out-of-staters who want to return to their origins. But these factors aren't related to you, what you want, and what you are capable of.

Why not save some of that cash and go to school in MN and visit New Orleans during spring break or something? We're just a little downstream of you!