UAB vs South Alabama

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UAB

Pros:

• Research powerhouse
• "Higher prestige"
• Better competitive specialty match opportunities
• The go-to academic hospital in Birmingham
• Live in Birmingham (great city with lots to do)
• Familiar with faculty
• Well regarded faculty and clinicians at UAB with great connections
• P/F preclinical

Cons:

• Large class size
• Spent my whole life in Birmingham (change of scenery may be nice)
• Step scores hover around the average

South Alabama

Pros:

• Emphasis on clinical experience and exposure very early
• Reputation for being well-prepared for residencies.
• A collaborative, tight-knit community feel to the school
• P/F preclinical
• Service oriented
• A new city would be nice (close to New Orleans and the beaches in Alabama and Florida)
• Step scores are above the national average and UAB
• Smaller class size, emphasis on TBL
• Main Hospital system in Mobile and surrounding regions

Cons:

• Fewer research opportunities than UAB
• Fewer students match into the very competitive specialties
• Would have to pay a little for housing
• "Lower ranked"

I feel like I can't go wrong with either school. Both schools have great match lists and similar CoA. I thought South was a better "fit" when I interviewed there.

 

[9blade]

I've heard good things about UAB, so that's where I would go. Also, I prefer Birmingham over Mobile, but that's just my preference. At the end of the day, if both schools have residencies in specialties you are interested in, go where you think you will be the happiest. I would only sacrifice happiness for free tuition.