UIC vs OSU

[jellocat]

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Having a really hard time deciding between UIC and OSU. I am an IL resident. Could anyone share insight? These are my impressions:

UIC pros:
-Chicago - wide variety of hospitals, urban
-Relatively close to home, where support system is
-Built-in frequent testing and free resources for Board prep
-A strange gut feeling that I should stay in Chicago
-Students seem to match well

UIC cons:
-expensive (~$288,000 COA over four years)
-Did not have a good impression on interview day
-Traditional curriculum
-Some students seem meh about it, I have heard described as "sink or swim" twice

OSU pros:
-Innovative systems curriculum - flipped classes (read material at home, come to class with questions), built-in prepping (competency-based) for residencies
-The James Cancer Center has a patient-centered design
-Collaborative atmosphere, invested faculty, students seem happy here
-Seems to have a good built-in community due to Brutus the tree nut
-Relatively affordable (in-state after 1 year, ~$267,000 over four years)

OSU cons:
-Somewhat far from home
-Fear that I will need time to adjust to a new community
-Fear that I will not be able to end up in Chicago again
-Vibe kind of felt off on interview day, but felt more comfortable at second look day
-I'm not sure how comfortable I'll be even though I felt like I fit in during a visit

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[md-2020]

My thoughts: OSU. Chicago is great and all but chances are once you get out and see the world you won't be so averse to practicing somewhere else. Also OSU should not impact you ability to match. I've highlighted some things I perceive to be problematic at UIC. Cost isn't an issue here, right?--your analysis puts the overall 4 year difference at $21k, which I tend to round towards a non-factor.

UIC pros:
-Chicago - wide variety of hospitals, urban
-Relatively close to home, where support system is
-Built-in frequent testing and free resources for Board prep
-A strange gut feeling that I should stay in Chicago
-Students seem to match well

UIC cons:
-expensive (~$288,000 COA over four years)
-Did not have a good impression on interview day
-Traditional curriculum
-Some students seem meh about it, I have heard described as "sink or swim" twice

OSU pros:
-Innovative systems curriculum - flipped classes (read material at home, come to class with questions), built-in prepping (competency-based) for residencies
-The James Cancer Center has a patient-centered design
-Collaborative atmosphere, invested faculty, students seem happy here
-Seems to have a good built-in community due to Brutus the tree nut
-Relatively affordable (in-state after 1 year, ~$267,000 over four years)

OSU cons:
-Somewhat far from home
-Fear that I will need time to adjust to a new community
-Fear that I will not be able to end up in Chicago again
-Vibe kind of felt off on interview day, but felt more comfortable at second look day
-I'm not sure how comfortable I'll be even though I felt like I fit in during a visit

 

[GrapesofRath]

I knew UICs OOS tuition was horrendous but didnt realize even for IS youre looking at much.

Without knowing you it's hard to really comment on how much you might need a "support system" or what is going behind that "Gut feeling" to stay in Chicago and what to make of it. Reading this from afar though, Im inclined to say the two con's md2020 highlighted are pretty real and I dont consider any of the cons you listed as particularly concerning. Ohio State is also a really good school. But again, only you can really gague what's going behind that gut feeling and whether it's just the usual fear everybody has of leaving home that's largely inconsequential or if by chance there is something with greater meaning to it.