Background
I am a nontraditional student matriculating into medical school at age 32. I have worked as an EM PA for the last 4 years. My fiancée is a fourth year neurology resident currently looking for attending jobs. I am trying to decide between Pritzker and Thomas Jefferson.
My ultimate goal: IM residency--> GI fellowship, all post medical training ideally in Pennsylvania while minimizing debt as able.
Jefferson Pros
- Close to fiancée's and my family, she wants to have kids during med school but can wait until fourth year/intern year
- Slightly cheaper cost of living and rent compared to Chicago
- Access to DC, MD, Baltimore and NYC
- Great food options
- Warmer winters compared to Chicago
- Collaborative, chill student environment
- JEFF Hope and Diversity Council
- access to Jeff Alumni network
- Good reputation in Philly which is where I want to match IM
- Time off before and after exams
- 1 week off prior to exams
- Favorite interview day due to positivity of students
Jefferson Cons
- Roughly 300 persons per class
- Internal ranking. Class is ranked in thirds
- Lower likelihood of getting financial aid that is not loan-based
- Mandatory class 7-10 hours weekly
- Clerkships, will need a car and it is expensive to park in city
- research more difficult to find compared to UChicago
- Less diverse student population compared to UChicago
- Total COA 95K
- 76% receive some form of aid
- Average grad indebtedness 222K
UChicago Pros
- **Generous scholarship program. School received an endowment that gives full COA to around 60% of attendees**
- Strong health equity, community health and social justice focus built within curriculum
- Research essentially handed to you
- Advocacy focused, Education on op-ed writing built in curriculum
- Smaller class size (90) students
- T20, potentially opens research doors for my fellowship goals
- Great food options
- Last opportunity to live somewhere not on East Coast, new city
- More prestige, access to UChicago Alumni network for life
- Pass/fail
- more diverse cohort of students
- most free clinics in the nations
- E harmony letter: mentorship matching
UChicago Cons
- Colder climate
- Fiancée will be physically away from family, friends for four years, she is very family-oriented but willing to sacrifice
- Total COA 90K
- Safety concerns: south side of Chicago
**asterisk indicates a tilt factor**
I am a nontraditional student matriculating into medical school at age 32. I have worked as an EM PA for the last 4 years. My fiancée is a fourth year neurology resident currently looking for attending jobs. I am trying to decide between Pritzker and Thomas Jefferson.
My ultimate goal: IM residency--> GI fellowship, all post medical training ideally in Pennsylvania while minimizing debt as able.
Jefferson Pros
- Close to fiancée's and my family, she wants to have kids during med school but can wait until fourth year/intern year
- Slightly cheaper cost of living and rent compared to Chicago
- Access to DC, MD, Baltimore and NYC
- Great food options
- Warmer winters compared to Chicago
- Collaborative, chill student environment
- JEFF Hope and Diversity Council
- access to Jeff Alumni network
- Good reputation in Philly which is where I want to match IM
- Time off before and after exams
- 1 week off prior to exams
- Favorite interview day due to positivity of students
Jefferson Cons
- Roughly 300 persons per class
- Internal ranking. Class is ranked in thirds
- Lower likelihood of getting financial aid that is not loan-based
- Mandatory class 7-10 hours weekly
- Clerkships, will need a car and it is expensive to park in city
- research more difficult to find compared to UChicago
- Less diverse student population compared to UChicago
- Total COA 95K
- 76% receive some form of aid
- Average grad indebtedness 222K
UChicago Pros
- **Generous scholarship program. School received an endowment that gives full COA to around 60% of attendees**
- Strong health equity, community health and social justice focus built within curriculum
- Research essentially handed to you
- Advocacy focused, Education on op-ed writing built in curriculum
- Smaller class size (90) students
- T20, potentially opens research doors for my fellowship goals
- Great food options
- Last opportunity to live somewhere not on East Coast, new city
- More prestige, access to UChicago Alumni network for life
- Pass/fail
- more diverse cohort of students
- most free clinics in the nations
- E harmony letter: mentorship matching
UChicago Cons
- Colder climate
- Fiancée will be physically away from family, friends for four years, she is very family-oriented but willing to sacrifice
- Total COA 90K
- Safety concerns: south side of Chicago
**asterisk indicates a tilt factor**