- Joined
- Feb 26, 2022
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Hey guys! I have been fortunate this cycle to have these wonderful acceptances, and looking for any insights/advice people might have! I am interested in pursuing Optho/ENT/Plastics/Derm/Rads & working with underserved populations, but I know my interests can change, and I am open to that! I am not against pursuing academics. However, I envision working in a private practice setting.
I will preface that I am a URM (Black) and value the diversity of the patient population and being in an accepting area of who I am (despite knowing negative sentiments exist everywhere at some level). If it helps, I am from the east coast, so most of these schools would be away from my support network. I also will be paying for school myself/without my family's financial support.
Edit: I am also pending a decision from Harvard and Wash U, but I don't think I will get in as I thought those interviews weren't my best. I will update the list if this changes and I am proven wrong.
U Mich: Cost is unknown at the moment
Pros:
1.) 1 year pre-clinical
2.) Very strong home programs in fields I am interested in
3.) U Mich has the strongest community regarding how close/tight nit they present themselves as. I don't know if this is true, but I wrote this in my post-interview notes.
4.) Flex quizzing, which allows for flexibility in when to take assessments
5.) Awesome graduate departments should I choose to pick up an MPH
6.) Prestige
Cons:
1.) It's cold lol (Maryland born and raised, so this would be a change of pace).
2.) Large class size of ~170 students; I prefer a smaller class size of ~100 and having professors know my name
3.) Most people come from very prestigious places; kind of intimidating as I came from a state school
4.) AOA + Graded Clerkships (in comparison to Vandy)
5.) Graded on a curve in regards to clinical year
6.) Concerns with patient diversity in Ann arbor and diversity of the class
Vanderbilt: Cost is Unknown at the moment
Pros:
1.) Ideal class size of ~100 people (I think it's 94, to be exact)
2.) 1 year preclinical
3.) Prestige
4.) P/F Clerkships. I consider this a huge +++ ,but I am not entirely sure how much it matters/worth using to decide where to go.
5.) Student-run free clinic is very robust
6.) School places a huge emphasis on student wellness
7.) Built in 3-6 months of dedicated research time, which is nice since it allows one to focus on it.
8.) Really strong home programs as well.
9.) Hot Chicken! (Kind of a joke haha)
Cons:
1.) Not exactly leaping out of my chair with the idea of going to Tennessee/down south as a Black man. Also concerned about patient diversity, but this is more so a product of me never visiting here.
2.) Diversity of the class.
3.) Worst interview day vibes, according to my notes, but that is more because it was my first one, and I feel like I bombed it.
4.) Most people come from very prestigious places; kind of intimidating as I came from a state school
UMSOM: Unsure about Cost at the moment
Pros:
1.) Merit Scholarship for 20k a year (80k total), and this is my state school so it looks to be the cheapest option as of now
2.) Close to home and support group, so that is a big +.
3.) Diverse class/larger URM representation in comparison to other schools on the list
4.) Strong school academically (perhaps not as much as the other schools on this list but still very much up there).
5.) Many of my friends are going to matriculate here. At the same time, I know I can make friends (hopefully lmfao) at these other schools, so not a deciding factor.
Cons:
1.) Baltimore. Not entirely thrilled about the area. Additionally, I prefer the idea of leaving the state to see and live in a different part of the country rather than being in Maryland longer (I love the state, but I don't know if I want to stay here for an additional four years).
2.) Tiered grading in preclinical years (so not P/F preclinical).
3.) AOA + Graded Clerkships (in comparison to Vandy)
4.) Prestige in respect to the other options. With P/F Step 1 I wonder if going to a more prestigious program would help me reach my goals a bit easier.
Northwestern: COA is 300k (based on financial aid package)
Pros:
1.) Merit Scholarship. Currently negotiating to see if I can have COA further reduced.
2.) Longer preclinical potentially allows for more time to breathe compared to a one-year preclinical (from what I have heard).
3.) Prestige
4.) Location and by extension, patient population in Chicago. The huge underserved patient population and the chance to work with them aligns with my goals.
5.) Early and longitudinal clinical experience with ECMH.
6.) Best interview day vibes.
7.) Would not need a car since I could rely on public transportation.
8.) Large URM representation in the class (according to a student I talked to) matters a lot to me and helps establish community.
9.) Strong Home Programs!
Cons:
1.) Most people come from very prestigious places; kind of intimidating as I came from a state school
2.) AOA + Graded Clerkships (in comparison to Vandy)
3.) Expensive!
4.) Longer pre-clinical means less time on the back end for Sub-I's, away rotations and etc... which could be important
5.) Large class size of about 170. My preference is closer to 100.
I will preface that I am a URM (Black) and value the diversity of the patient population and being in an accepting area of who I am (despite knowing negative sentiments exist everywhere at some level). If it helps, I am from the east coast, so most of these schools would be away from my support network. I also will be paying for school myself/without my family's financial support.
Edit: I am also pending a decision from Harvard and Wash U, but I don't think I will get in as I thought those interviews weren't my best. I will update the list if this changes and I am proven wrong.
U Mich: Cost is unknown at the moment
Pros:
1.) 1 year pre-clinical
2.) Very strong home programs in fields I am interested in
3.) U Mich has the strongest community regarding how close/tight nit they present themselves as. I don't know if this is true, but I wrote this in my post-interview notes.
4.) Flex quizzing, which allows for flexibility in when to take assessments
5.) Awesome graduate departments should I choose to pick up an MPH
6.) Prestige
Cons:
1.) It's cold lol (Maryland born and raised, so this would be a change of pace).
2.) Large class size of ~170 students; I prefer a smaller class size of ~100 and having professors know my name
3.) Most people come from very prestigious places; kind of intimidating as I came from a state school
4.) AOA + Graded Clerkships (in comparison to Vandy)
5.) Graded on a curve in regards to clinical year
6.) Concerns with patient diversity in Ann arbor and diversity of the class
Vanderbilt: Cost is Unknown at the moment
Pros:
1.) Ideal class size of ~100 people (I think it's 94, to be exact)
2.) 1 year preclinical
3.) Prestige
4.) P/F Clerkships. I consider this a huge +++ ,but I am not entirely sure how much it matters/worth using to decide where to go.
5.) Student-run free clinic is very robust
6.) School places a huge emphasis on student wellness
7.) Built in 3-6 months of dedicated research time, which is nice since it allows one to focus on it.
8.) Really strong home programs as well.
9.) Hot Chicken! (Kind of a joke haha)
Cons:
1.) Not exactly leaping out of my chair with the idea of going to Tennessee/down south as a Black man. Also concerned about patient diversity, but this is more so a product of me never visiting here.
2.) Diversity of the class.
3.) Worst interview day vibes, according to my notes, but that is more because it was my first one, and I feel like I bombed it.
4.) Most people come from very prestigious places; kind of intimidating as I came from a state school
UMSOM: Unsure about Cost at the moment
Pros:
1.) Merit Scholarship for 20k a year (80k total), and this is my state school so it looks to be the cheapest option as of now
2.) Close to home and support group, so that is a big +.
3.) Diverse class/larger URM representation in comparison to other schools on the list
4.) Strong school academically (perhaps not as much as the other schools on this list but still very much up there).
5.) Many of my friends are going to matriculate here. At the same time, I know I can make friends (hopefully lmfao) at these other schools, so not a deciding factor.
Cons:
1.) Baltimore. Not entirely thrilled about the area. Additionally, I prefer the idea of leaving the state to see and live in a different part of the country rather than being in Maryland longer (I love the state, but I don't know if I want to stay here for an additional four years).
2.) Tiered grading in preclinical years (so not P/F preclinical).
3.) AOA + Graded Clerkships (in comparison to Vandy)
4.) Prestige in respect to the other options. With P/F Step 1 I wonder if going to a more prestigious program would help me reach my goals a bit easier.
Northwestern: COA is 300k (based on financial aid package)
Pros:
1.) Merit Scholarship. Currently negotiating to see if I can have COA further reduced.
2.) Longer preclinical potentially allows for more time to breathe compared to a one-year preclinical (from what I have heard).
3.) Prestige
4.) Location and by extension, patient population in Chicago. The huge underserved patient population and the chance to work with them aligns with my goals.
5.) Early and longitudinal clinical experience with ECMH.
6.) Best interview day vibes.
7.) Would not need a car since I could rely on public transportation.
8.) Large URM representation in the class (according to a student I talked to) matters a lot to me and helps establish community.
9.) Strong Home Programs!
Cons:
1.) Most people come from very prestigious places; kind of intimidating as I came from a state school
2.) AOA + Graded Clerkships (in comparison to Vandy)
3.) Expensive!
4.) Longer pre-clinical means less time on the back end for Sub-I's, away rotations and etc... which could be important
5.) Large class size of about 170. My preference is closer to 100.
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