UCLA (Full COA) vs Cornell (Full COA) vs UMich (Full Tuition) vs Pritzker (Full Tuition) vs Northwestern

[dermhopeful123]

Hi all! Super stoked to have such great options. I am interested in derm and would like to work in private practice. Thus, I’ll only be discussing my T-20 A’s since I know it helps when applying to competitive specialties.

I am also on WL at Columbia, Vandy, and WashU. If I got off at Columbia, I would be super excited. Though, I really prioritize a program that is minimally stressful and “hand holdy” so to speak. UCLA from what I’ve heard is that, but I’m not sure Columbia’s vibes are exactly that. But anyway, this is what I’m working with now! Tell me what y’all think

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine (Cost: $0, Full COA Scholarship)

Pros:

• Weather
• P/F preclinical and probably core clerkships are P/F as well.
• Vibes seem chill and friendly.
• Match a lot into derm

Cons

• Traffic lol
• Heard admin can be slow at times to communicate
• 1 yr preclinical does seem a bit fast

Weill Cornell (Cost $0 more than likely since EFC is 0)

Pros:

• Ivy name
• Know people who go here already
• P/F preclinical

Cons:

• NYC seems overwhelming
• Housing options are poor. I can't live in the dorms/student housing and the housing market sucks.
• Didn’t get a “wow” vibe on second look.
• Weekly quizzes seem meh
• Cold weather

UMich (Cost: $0, Full tuition + 18k/yr stipend)

Pros:

• Ann Arbor is cute
• Student body is very friendly
• P/F preclinical

Cons

• Heard many times clinicals are stressful due to cap/curve.
• 1 yr preclinical seems especially stressful here for some reason
• Cold weather
• Not sure stipend will cover all my expenses.

Northwestern (Cost: $268k)

Pros:

• Great Derm program
• Chicago is cool, and this is in the nicer part.
• Like the school’s colors (lol)
• P/F preclinical
• AOC seems helpful

Cons

• Heard can get quite competitive
• Don’t really want a 2 yr preclinical (1.5 seems ideal)
• Cold weather
• Student body was amicable, but nothing really stood out to me about them
• Most expensive option

Pritzker (Full tuition)

Pros:

• Student body seemed most energetic here
• Social justice oriented
• P/F preclinical
• Gives funding for summer research after M1

Cons

• Would have to take out a loan for living expenses.
• Not really sure I want a 2 yr preclinical program, as that makes applying to residency more time crunched.
• Cold weather

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[showkayaker]

Based on your pros/cons it sounds like UCLA is a great fit for you

 

[cj_cregg]

Not familiar enough with any of these schools to give specific recs, but absent any extremely compelling personal reasons, don't you DARE take out >$200k in loans when you have multiple excellent options that will get you where you want to go for pretty darn near free

 

[deleted1118591]

Agreed on UCLA but just as a note for anyone else watching this thread, Pritzker is moving to a 1.5 year preclinical this year

 

[deleted1095841]

UCLA!
It's the only with with P/F clerkships (less stress, more time for wellness and derm research) and it's free!
Even if you got into Columbia, UCLA is probably better.

 

[EArlyBirdGetsTheWorm]

 

[rizzologist]

Hi all! Super stoked to have such great options. I am interested in derm and would like to work in private practice. Thus, I’ll only be discussing my T-20 A’s since I know it helps when applying to competitive specialties.

I am also on WL at Columbia, Vandy, and WashU. If I got off at Columbia, I would be super excited. Though, I really prioritize a program that is minimally stressful and “hand holdy” so to speak. UCLA from what I’ve heard is that, but I’m not sure Columbia’s vibes are exactly that. But anyway, this is what I’m working with now! Tell me what y’all think

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine (Cost: $0, Full COA Scholarship)

Pros:

• Weather
• P/F preclinical and probably core clerkships are P/F as well.
• Vibes seem chill and friendly.
• Match a lot into derm

Cons

• Traffic lol
• Heard admin can be slow at times to communicate
• 1 yr preclinical does seem a bit fast

Weill Cornell (Cost $0 more than likely since EFC is 0)

Pros:

• Ivy name
• Know people who go here already
• P/F preclinical

Cons:

• NYC seems overwhelming
• Housing options are poor. I can't live in the dorms/student housing and the housing market sucks.
• Didn’t get a “wow” vibe on second look.
• Weekly quizzes seem meh
• Cold weather

UMich (Cost: $0, Full tuition + 18k/yr stipend)

Pros:

• Ann Arbor is cute
• Student body is very friendly
• P/F preclinical

Cons

• Heard many times clinicals are stressful due to cap/curve.
• 1 yr preclinical seems especially stressful here for some reason
• Cold weather
• Not sure stipend will cover all my expenses.

Northwestern (Cost: $268k)

Pros:

• Great Derm program
• Chicago is cool, and this is in the nicer part.
• Like the school’s colors (lol)
• P/F preclinical
• AOC seems helpful

Cons

• Heard can get quite competitive
• Don’t really want a 2 yr preclinical (1.5 seems ideal)
• Cold weather
• Student body was amicable, but nothing really stood out to me about them
• Most expensive option

Pritzker (Full tuition)

Pros:

• Student body seemed most energetic here
• Social justice oriented
• P/F preclinical
• Gives funding for summer research after M1

Cons

• Would have to take out a loan for living expenses.
• Not really sure I want a 2 yr preclinical program, as that makes applying to residency more time crunched.
• Cold weather

Some pritzker students told me they're switching to a 1.5 year preclinical this year

 

[milesofmedicine]

based on discussions w nu students, u can def get nu to match ur costs up to full tuition, but they don’t match up to full COA

 

[dermhopeful123]

based on discussions w nu students, u can def get nu to match ur costs up to full tuition, but they don’t match up to full COA

ohh okk. thanks!

 

[dermhopeful123]

Idk why you even put Northwestern on here other than to flex. But for that reason - i vote Northwestern!

I got close to Dr. Kundu and she's a pretty big name in Derm. So that's why

 

[wysdoc]

I got close to Dr. Kundu and she's a pretty big name in Derm. So that's why

so go to one of your "free" med schools and hit her up to join her residency in 4 years