UCLA vs. NYU vs. Columbia MSTP Program

[hellopanda629]

Hi everyone,

I've been fortunate enough to be accepted to some amazing MSTP programs and am having a lot of difficulty deciding which to pick. All programs are fully funded with a stipend so cost is not really a factor. I've been on the west coast for undergrad (and love the weather), my family is in the midwest, and I have a lot of friends relocating to NYC post grad. I don't really know anyone in LA but it would be somewhat a close (~6 hours) drive to my undergrad where I'll have a few friends. I'm likely going to pursue a PhD in biochemistry or structural biology, and I'm thinking of a focus on cancer research/oncology (although this could definitely change). Here are the pros and cons I've been thinking of. Right now it seems like at NYU, I'd have a better support system of friends but worse housing (and harder to live with my SO). At UCLA, the environment is likely more stress-free and the housing would be better (and I could likely live with my SO). I'd appreciate any of your thoughts!!

NYU
Pros
All the friends I'll have in NYC, I won't feel alone
I really liked NYC when I visited; the city is exciting and there's great public transportation
Med school is ranked much higher after they started doing free tuition
Super diverse patient population, PI's are younger and more diverse

Cons
Not sure how reputable NYU is in terms of research
The subsidized housing wouldn't allow me to live with my SO, would likely have to get off campus housing which would be difficult

Columbia
Pros
Same NYC pros (friends, fun city)
Maybe more historically reputable university?
More relaxed area of NYC

Cons
Pretty far from the central part of NYC, more secluded and I'd have to make the trek to lower Manhattan to see people often
Doesn't seem to have much diversity in PI's in the department I'd want to join (almost all are old, white men)
When I talked to a student, didn't seem like the MSTP cohort was super close or had a good community
Dorm for first year students is pretty bad apparently (communal bathrooms, kitchen)


UCLA
Pros
Weather!! I do a lot of biking and running so this matters a bit to me
More calm and relaxed location relative to NYC
It seems like a pretty friendly class of MD/PhDs and med students; good community
The dorm would let me add my SO as a tenant so we could both live in subsidized housing (this is a big plus)

Cons
I'm not sure how the reputation compares to NYU or Columbia, maybe its worse?
Less friends in LA than NYC
Probably a less exciting city than NYC

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[KendallJennerSniperLady69]

Reputation is the same for all

Also, my 0.02 is that the students at UCLA actually seem pretty stressed relative to some of the other students I've encountered a similar-rep schools.

The fact that you can remain close to your SO and maybe even live with them is a no-brainer reason to choose UCLA though. I have one friend who actually skipped her NYU and some other interviews just because she got into UCLA and could stay with her boyfriend.

 

[Banco]

Are you sure NYU doesn't allow spouses in the student housing?

A friend of mine is currently living with his wife in the studio apartments in the main NYU med apartment building. You should make sure to inquire about that in detail to the school.

As you're MSTP, reputation is contingent on the PIs in the fields you are interested in - so make sure the school you goes to has active research in that.

 

[hellopanda629]

Are you sure NYU doesn't allow spouses in the student housing?

A friend of mine is currently living with his wife in the studio apartments in the main NYU med apartment building. You should make sure to inquire about that in detail to the school.

As you're MSTP, reputation is contingent on the PIs in the fields you are interested in - so make sure the school you goes to has active research in that.

My SO and I aren’t married and wouldn’t qualify as domestic partners (would need a shared lease, bank account, etc.) so that wouldn’t allow us to live together in NYU housing unfortunately. Definitely good to know that NYU has some couples housing later on down the road as an option though! As more of a west coaster, I just have no clue what the NY housing market is like haha. Thanks for letting me know!

 

[Moko]

All three options are great, but if I was in your situation, not being able to live with my SO would be an absolute deal breaker. Happy SO, happy life.

You can find decent non-luxury 1 BR/1BA apartments in Manhattan for around $2000-2500/month (and even cheaper if you are willing to sacrifice quality and/or location). How much does subsidized housing at UCLA cost? Assuming it costs around $1250/month, over the course of 7-8 years, you will be paying at most an extra ~$120k+interest to study in NYC. Minimizing debt is important, but ~$120k+interest is also easily serviceable within the first few years of independent practice.

Other considerations: how much debt from undergrad do you have? Will your SO be working while you are pursuing your MD/PhD? Do you have a geographic preference for residency?

Ultimately, do you believe that you will be happier in NYC than LA? If so, is that extra bump in happiness worth ~$120k+interest? I personally would go with UCLA, but there's no right or wrong answer here. Just my thoughts, and congratulations on your excellent options.

 

[BRTC200]

All three options are great, but if I was in your situation, not being able to live with my SO would be an absolute deal breaker. Happy SO, happy life.

You can find decent non-luxury 1 BR/1BA apartments in Manhattan for around $2000-2500/month (and even cheaper if you are willing to sacrifice quality and/or location). How much does subsidized housing at UCLA cost? Assuming it costs around $1250/month, over the course of 7-8 years, you will be paying at most an extra ~$120k+interest to study in NYC. Minimizing debt is important, but ~$120k+interest is also easily serviceable within the first few years of independent practice.

Other considerations: how much debt from undergrad do you have? Will your SO be working while you are pursuing your MD/PhD? Do you have a geographic preference for residency?

Ultimately, do you believe that you will be happier in NYC than LA? If so, is that extra bump in happiness worth ~$120k+interest? I personally would go with UCLA, but there's no right or wrong answer here. Just my thoughts, and congratulations on your excellent options.

To add to this discussion about differences in cost, couples' housing at NYU, even if you were to qualify for it, is approx. $1800/month. Assuming that the $1250 subsidized housing at UCLA allows you to stay with your SO, the difference between subsidized housing at UCLA and NYU will be at least around $6.5-7k per year. Coincidentally, the NYU stipend is about $7k more than UCLA's, so in some ways, you can call this a wash (yes I know there are still other cost of living differences).

But if you were to look at it this way, the "additional cost" to study in NYC only works out to the difference in NYU subsidized versus NYC off campus housing cost. Which, if we were to use the $2500/month estimate above, works out to a $700/month difference or about $67,000+interest over 8 years. The point being, perhaps the difference is even smaller.