I’m having trouble deciding between one of my state schools, UCR, and UMass. I’m also on a couple of waitlists but I need to decide between these two before April 30th. I feel like I would be happy at both schools for different reasons and could use some help deciding. Also, money isn’t a huge factor. Not sure how important this is, but UCR is ranked USNWR #93 and UMass is ranked #46. Thanks in advance!
UCR:
Pros: Close to family and SO, want to do residency in SoCal, good weather, IS tuition (~50k COA), location (I don’t mind living in riverside since it’s a short drive home and to LA & SD), seems like a close and supportive community with faculty and students
Cons: part of me wants to go outside of CA for med school to become more independent but I want to come back here for residency and I understand that it’s difficult to get a CA residency spot, relatively new school (only 2 graduating classes), lack of large teaching hospital with home residency programs, seems like a primary care oriented school but I’m interested in EM/anesthesiology/derm though keeping an open mind, lack of research opportunities and would need to search for these at other schools
Neutral: small class size (70). Not really sure if this is a pro or con, USNWR #93
UMASS:
Pros: absolutely fell in love with the school during my interview and second look days, extremely supportive faculty, excellent match list to prestigious Boston hospitals (I would definitely be happy to match to MGH or Brigham and Women’s if I can’t go back to CA but I don’t know how difficult it would be from UMass. If i do well, then UMass will set me up to match to MGH or Brigham and Women’s which would be a dream. If not, then this may hurt my chances on coming back to CA), accepted to PURCH track which is a smaller cohort of 25 students who spend the last 2 years at Baystate hospital in Springfield so more hands-on clinical experience and interactions with attendings, ample research opportunities
Cons: COLD compared to SoCal, high OOS tuition (~75k COA), will be more difficult to match back to CA
TLDR; Really love UMass but I believe I would be happy at both schools. Support system is in CA and I would like to do residency in CA.
UCR:
Pros: Close to family and SO, want to do residency in SoCal, good weather, IS tuition (~50k COA), location (I don’t mind living in riverside since it’s a short drive home and to LA & SD), seems like a close and supportive community with faculty and students
Cons: part of me wants to go outside of CA for med school to become more independent but I want to come back here for residency and I understand that it’s difficult to get a CA residency spot, relatively new school (only 2 graduating classes), lack of large teaching hospital with home residency programs, seems like a primary care oriented school but I’m interested in EM/anesthesiology/derm though keeping an open mind, lack of research opportunities and would need to search for these at other schools
Neutral: small class size (70). Not really sure if this is a pro or con, USNWR #93
UMASS:
Pros: absolutely fell in love with the school during my interview and second look days, extremely supportive faculty, excellent match list to prestigious Boston hospitals (I would definitely be happy to match to MGH or Brigham and Women’s if I can’t go back to CA but I don’t know how difficult it would be from UMass. If i do well, then UMass will set me up to match to MGH or Brigham and Women’s which would be a dream. If not, then this may hurt my chances on coming back to CA), accepted to PURCH track which is a smaller cohort of 25 students who spend the last 2 years at Baystate hospital in Springfield so more hands-on clinical experience and interactions with attendings, ample research opportunities
Cons: COLD compared to SoCal, high OOS tuition (~75k COA), will be more difficult to match back to CA
TLDR; Really love UMass but I believe I would be happy at both schools. Support system is in CA and I would like to do residency in CA.
