- Joined
- Oct 7, 2021
- Messages
- 271
- Reaction score
- 479
Tulane
Pros
Cons
University of Houston
Pros
Cons
Summary: I am going to rank UH first in TMDSAS and have prematched there so these are the final results of my application cycle. I am very fortunate to have extended family support to finance my education without loans, but I still want to make a well-informed decision that's respectful of their investment in me.
If these two schools were the same cost, I would pick Tulane largely due to its deeper connections.
I have always preferred in-person instruction and working closely with others, which is required by UH. That said, most medical students I talk to have told me that mandatory in-person instruction and group-based learning can be a waste of time and take away from your limited free time in medical school. UH also has a weekly longitudinal primary care requirement where students must drive to the same clinic all 4 years of medical school for 5 hours a week. This sounds like an incredible learning opportunity to me, but the time commitment and commute has me somewhat concerned. Although I enjoy primary care, I am also concerned about closing doors on other options down the road.
What are your thoughts? Is Tulane worth the extra cost? I have been discussing it thoroughly with medical students, residents, and attendings (I work in an academic hospital). The medical students strongly favor saving money at UH while the attendings always favor Tulane.
Pros
- Well established, matches broadly
- Has a fair amount of research activity
- Curriculum allows much more free time for clubs, research, leisure, etc.
- I have many family members in New Orleans but none in Houston
- I would enjoy being in New Orleans more overall
Cons
- Very high cost of attendance
- Large class size (190 versus 60)
- No bike trail (I like to bike)
University of Houston
Pros
- Saves a ton of money (I would estimate around $200k)
- Access to TMC and research in Houston
- More social and in-person, which I think appeals to me
- Closer to my friends and immediate family in Austin
- Bike trail
Cons
- No match list - brand new and strongly pushes students towards primary care
- Would need to drive all around Houston for research and clinicals
- Rotations are all with HCA and majority outpatient
- Huge emphasis on mandatory in-person instruction
Summary: I am going to rank UH first in TMDSAS and have prematched there so these are the final results of my application cycle. I am very fortunate to have extended family support to finance my education without loans, but I still want to make a well-informed decision that's respectful of their investment in me.
If these two schools were the same cost, I would pick Tulane largely due to its deeper connections.
I have always preferred in-person instruction and working closely with others, which is required by UH. That said, most medical students I talk to have told me that mandatory in-person instruction and group-based learning can be a waste of time and take away from your limited free time in medical school. UH also has a weekly longitudinal primary care requirement where students must drive to the same clinic all 4 years of medical school for 5 hours a week. This sounds like an incredible learning opportunity to me, but the time commitment and commute has me somewhat concerned. Although I enjoy primary care, I am also concerned about closing doors on other options down the road.
What are your thoughts? Is Tulane worth the extra cost? I have been discussing it thoroughly with medical students, residents, and attendings (I work in an academic hospital). The medical students strongly favor saving money at UH while the attendings always favor Tulane.
