UCR vs OHSU vs CU

[nryder]

UCR vs CU vs OHSU
Hey all! I’m currently trying to decide between UCR, CU denver, and OHSU. A little about me, I’m from southern california, and have an SO of many years who will likely move wherever I choose to go. I’m interested in academic medicine, global health, neuroscience related research, and working with the (mostly urban) underserved, but not really committed to anything. As far as specialties go, I’m currently interested in psychiatry, EM, anesthesiology, and radiology. I’m on a handful of other waitlists that I would probably go to over these schools, but figured I need to decide.
UCR pros
-very close to home and family
-cost(estimated 69k/year, still not that great)
-UC with easier matching to CA
-small class size? not sure how important this is for me
- focus on social justice
-greater diversity in patient population
UCR cons
-lower rank -> harder to go into academics?
-lack of home teaching hospital
-research is discouraged during the year
-somewhat strange schedule for clinical rotations
-riverside
-not really a new experience
-fewer job opportunities for SO
-I believe they require that we withdraw from our waitlists by the end of May, and I don’t know if I will have heard by then
CU pros
-love colorado (I’m into outdoorsy things)
-solid rank
-better research opportunities
-a couple of my best friends might attend as well
-good job prospects for SO
-have some extended family in the area
-like the medical campus and children hospital a lot
CU cons
-very expensive (95k/year)
-large class size? again, not really sure how important this is to me
-far from immediate family
-somewhat harder to match in CA? probably not too significant
OHSU pros
-LOVE Portland and the NW, probably my favorite part of the country
-solid rank
-solid research opportunities (6 month and 12 month physician-scientist experience)
-sister lives in the area
-somewhat closer to the rest of my immediate family/home
OHSU cons
-i’m okay with the rain, but can’t be sure how having it year round would treat me
-job prospects for SO are not as good as in denver, but are probably doable.
-also very expensive, around the same as CU
-lack of diversity in student body and patient population
-i've heard OHSU has more mandatory lectures/etc.

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[lalalallala]

What does your SO want? Like would they rather be in Denver for the job prospects regardless of the extra cost? I think if they are moving to where you want to go then you should ask their preference. Also you put greater diversity in patient population in UCR cons?

 

[nryder]

LOL yeah that was definitely meant as a pro, I edited it.

Ultimately, i think this is more of a OHSU vs CU debate than anything, unless there is an overwhelming consensus that that neither school is worth the extra money. SO would rather be in Denver or Portland vs Riverside. On her end, she probably likes Portland a bit more than Denver, but job market wise likes Denver a bit more than Portland.

Its tough because both schools are similar in a lot of ways in my eyes, and neither my SO can easily decide between the pros and cons of the two locations.