Tulane vs VCU vs Wake Forest

[cosmicstevie]

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Hey everyone, I feel so lucky to have the choice between 3 strong medical programs but am really stumped. I have barely anything saved for med school, so I plan on taking out a lot of loans. I get in-state in Virginia but want to do my residency in Northern California. I am not sure which specialty I want to choose yet.

Also, I am still waiting on many schools and financial packages, but I am assuming that at this point in the cycle these are my options.

Okay here we go, I would really appreciate advice and insight! Thanks 🙂

Tulane

PROS: great match list, very unique city, great student culture, exposure to a variety of patient populations, seems fun?

CONS: far from home, will I love or hate living there for 4 years, $$$

VCU

PROS: great match list, IN-STATE TUITION, close to home, I know people in Richmond, seems like a good mid-sized city, strong health system

CONS: Will I like living in Richmond for 4 years, is it known on the West Coast for matching?

Wake Forest (I've already mentally kind of crossed this one out but want to include it in case)

PROS: great match list, drivable to home

CONS: not crazy about NC, $$$


So clearly, I'm mostly stuck between VCU and Tulane, I just don't know if paying double for a super unique experience is worth it? And for matching on the West coast? Would appreciate any insight, thank you!

 

[wysdoc]

VCU Match List here: VCU Match 2024

 

[m1redsox]

You gotta take the money. Tulane and VCU are both mid tier med schools. Neither one is getting you into UCSF more than the other. That will depend on your performance. Sure, perhaps fewer people match the west coast from VCU compared to Tulane, but that’s because you are comparing a private school with a public one, and students want to be near family. The residency match is heavily dependent on student preference, especially now that there is region and program-specific signaling.

 

[Hollow Knight]

My vote is VCU. Tulane isn’t Harvard and loans aren’t Monopoly money, you’ll have to pay them off at like 8-10% interest

 

[coffeelover347]

Hey everyone, I feel so lucky to have the choice between 3 strong medical programs but am really stumped. I have barely anything saved for med school, so I plan on taking out a lot of loans. I get in-state in Virginia but want to do my residency in Northern California. I am not sure which specialty I want to choose yet.

Also, I am still waiting on many schools and financial packages, but I am assuming that at this point in the cycle these are my options.

Okay here we go, I would really appreciate advice and insight! Thanks 🙂

Tulane

PROS: great match list, very unique city, great student culture, exposure to a variety of patient populations, seems fun?

CONS: far from home, will I love or hate living there for 4 years, $$$

VCU

PROS: great match list, IN-STATE TUITION, close to home, I know people in Richmond, seems like a good mid-sized city, strong health system

CONS: Will I like living in Richmond for 4 years, is it known on the West Coast for matching?

Wake Forest (I've already mentally kind of crossed this one out but want to include it in case)

PROS: great match list, drivable to home

CONS: not crazy about NC, $$$


So clearly, I'm mostly stuck between VCU and Tulane, I just don't know if paying double for a super unique experience is worth it? And for matching on the West coast? Would appreciate any insight, thank you!

What made you rule out Wake Forest already?

 

[cosmicstevie]

What made you rule out Wake Forest already?

I love their program too, but New Orleans I think could be worth paying double for to live in because it would be such a unique experience, but I honestly don't feel the same about Winston-Salem.

 

[coffeelover347]

I love their program too, but New Orleans I think could be worth paying double for to live in because it would be such a unique experience, but I honestly don't feel the same about Winston-Salem.

That makes sense. Thanks!