UIC (Peoria) vs KCU (Kansas City)

[sunnyfrogcat]

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Hello,
I know people are very serious about always choosing MD over DO, but I'm pretty committed to primary care (I'm in my 30s, I know myself pretty well, and also don't really have time for a long residency/fellowship!) and I truly think OMM is valuable and would be sad not to learn it. Both of these schools are well-established, pass/fail, and generally seem like they are going to be a good place to learn to be a doctor. Again, I'm non-trad and probably going primary care so I don't particularly care a lot about research.


UIC Pros:

• Close to family
• Personal medical reasons- this city is closer to the clinic I go to for specialized care
• Good teaching hospital
• Don’t have to move for rotations
• Small class size

Cons:

• Tuition (I’m out of state)
• Won't learn OMM

KCU pros:

• Lots of resources for student well-being
• OMM (but not a crazy amount!)
• Cheaper tuition

Cons:

• Far from family
• Probably will have to move for rotations
• Double boards

I know it seems like UIC is an obvious choice but the tuition is a pretty significant con, and I really feel sad about saying goodbye to OMM. Does anyone have any perspective that I'm not considering?

 

[Basalganglia4life]

UIC sounds like the best option minus cost. It is close to family and has access to an academic teaching hospital. You can always pursue an omm fellowship/certificate program after residency if you go this route. Oos tuition for UIC is unreal (80k a year). You are looking at a +20k per year delta by going to UIC. Have you looked into whether you can change your residency status to instate after your first year? IS uic tuition is far more affordable. Any likelihood UIC could give you a scholarship?

 

[DoneDone3451]

UIC and dont think twice. MD will keep so many more doors open, I would pay the difference in tuition between the two just to go MD. Not to mention you say that the MD option, UIC, is closer to family and has a smaller class size (IE: way better to stand out and excel and make connections etc). IMO, UIC takes it easily just from what you mentioned, id have withdrawn from KCU instantly if I were in your shoes.