- Joined
- May 12, 2015
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 37
Please do not quote!
I am in a fortunate position between these two schools. At first, I was sold by Loyola's program, but I am having more doubts about the decision and would like input and some advice. I am heavily committed towards pursuing academic medicine. I can envision myself pursuing ophthalmology, internal medicine + sub-specialty, or orthopedics, but most likely the former (still open for interests to change during medical school, of course). I really feel like I really fit in with Loyola's sense of clinical traditions, but I'm not sure if I should set that aside if my overall goal is to go into academia.
UIC Pros:
+ Close to family
+ Research - many labs and mentors available
+ Top ophtho residency program (IEEI) - letters might carry more weight and higher likelihood of landing an academic residency position
+ Solid residency match lists
+ Solid clinical program
+ A bit cheaper than Loyola
+ More prestigious than Loyola, though margins might be negligible for some
UIC Cons:
- City - not used to it too much
- Very old buildings and facilities
- Did not like interview day / second look as much
- Haven't heard good things about administration from current students
- Very poor communication with applicants post-interview (the U of I thread is still a mess unfortunately)
- Longer commute or will have to find an apartment
Loyola Pros:
+ Close to family
+ Strong clinical traditions with incorporated Jesuit values
+ Very strong support system, students are extremely happy and prideful for being at Loyola
+ Fit in well during second look - administration was extremely organized
+ Brand new facilities
+ Suburban, not inside Chicago
+ Medical Spanish courses
Loyola Cons:
- Research is available but not as well funded (NIH)
- Limited labs in specialties that I am interested in, other than IM
- More expensive than UIC but marginal difference (~25k over 4 years)
- Unknown STEP scores, but this is more of a product of the student than anyone else
- Match lists aren't available: when I did request though, administration gave me them for the last three years and it does not seem like too many students go into academic centers for residencies.
I am in a fortunate position between these two schools. At first, I was sold by Loyola's program, but I am having more doubts about the decision and would like input and some advice. I am heavily committed towards pursuing academic medicine. I can envision myself pursuing ophthalmology, internal medicine + sub-specialty, or orthopedics, but most likely the former (still open for interests to change during medical school, of course). I really feel like I really fit in with Loyola's sense of clinical traditions, but I'm not sure if I should set that aside if my overall goal is to go into academia.
UIC Pros:
+ Close to family
+ Research - many labs and mentors available
+ Top ophtho residency program (IEEI) - letters might carry more weight and higher likelihood of landing an academic residency position
+ Solid residency match lists
+ Solid clinical program
+ A bit cheaper than Loyola
+ More prestigious than Loyola, though margins might be negligible for some
UIC Cons:
- City - not used to it too much
- Very old buildings and facilities
- Did not like interview day / second look as much
- Haven't heard good things about administration from current students
- Very poor communication with applicants post-interview (the U of I thread is still a mess unfortunately)
- Longer commute or will have to find an apartment
Loyola Pros:
+ Close to family
+ Strong clinical traditions with incorporated Jesuit values
+ Very strong support system, students are extremely happy and prideful for being at Loyola
+ Fit in well during second look - administration was extremely organized
+ Brand new facilities
+ Suburban, not inside Chicago
+ Medical Spanish courses
Loyola Cons:
- Research is available but not as well funded (NIH)
- Limited labs in specialties that I am interested in, other than IM
- More expensive than UIC but marginal difference (~25k over 4 years)
- Unknown STEP scores, but this is more of a product of the student than anyone else
- Match lists aren't available: when I did request though, administration gave me them for the last three years and it does not seem like too many students go into academic centers for residencies.
