UMaryland vs Case Western vs Virginia Tech

[SCOOPEER]

1. University of Maryland (UMD) School of Medicine​

For context I am aiming to match into a competitive specialty (CT Surgery), so that will weigh heavily on my decision. Also got into Vermont Larner, Tulane, and EVMS so far, but those are out of the question unless they offer me a lot of $$.
Pros:

• Close to home in Norhtern VA (40 min) – Can visit family easily, lower travel costs. Maybe I can commute??
• $80K scholarship + IS tuition after Year 1 → major cost savings.
• Strong clinical training at Shock Trauma and great CTS program/fellowship.
• Diverse patient population – Exposure to underserved, urban, and high-acuity cases.
• Research opportunities – Strong in translational research and public health.

Cons:

• Baltimore safety??
• Grading system? – Could be more competitive than a true P/F school.
• Commuting from NOVA?

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2. Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine​

Pros:

• Pass/Fail preclinical – Lower stress early on.
• Strong match list – CWRU is well-respected in both research-heavy and clinical residencies.
• Affiliation with Cleveland Clinic – High-powered research & top-tier clinical training especially for CT Surgery.....one of the best programs in the world.
• Flexibility in curriculum – More time for research, electives, or personal interests.
• National name recognition – Strong outside the Midwest as well.

Cons:

• Expensive tuition & COL – No IS tuition option like UMD, and no mention of scholarships.
• Cleveland winters – Cold, gray, and not the most exciting city.
• Not as close to home – Would require flights or long drives to visit family.

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3. Virginia Tech Carilion (VTC) School of Medicine​

Pros:

• Smaller class size (~50 students) – More faculty attention, more close-knit.
• Research focus
• Pass/Fail grading – Low stress compared to tiered grading.
• Virginia ties
• Lower COL than Baltimore/Cleveland – More affordable housing & living expenses.

Cons:

• Less prestigious than UMD & CWRU – Residency placement may not be as strong for ultra-competitive specialties.
• Fewer clinical sites – Primarily affiliated with Carilion Clinic, which lacks the diversity of big urban hospitals.
• Roanoke is small – Not a major city; limited nightlife & things to do and is about 4 hours from home despite being in state.

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[pedneuro6894]

You're not getting from NOVA to UMD in 40 min. At BEST 1.5 hours, but likely much more with traffic. The specific area around UMSOM isn't terrible safety wise, and there are always cops hanging around. You don't want to stray too far from campus tho. Also, I volunteered at the shock trauma center and let me tell you, coolest place ever. They see all kinds of things, and very busy. Great for what you want to do.

I'm always a fan of cost being number 1, so that scholarship is huge too.

Just adding details for you, I don't know much about the other schools.

 

[SCOOPEER]

You're not getting from NOVA to UMD in 40 min. At BEST 1.5 hours, but likely much more with traffic. The specific area around UMSOM isn't terrible safety wise, and there are always cops hanging around. You don't want to stray too far from campus tho. Also, I volunteered at the shock trauma center and let me tell you, coolest place ever. They see all kinds of things, and very busy. Great for what you want to do.

I'm always a fan of cost being number 1, so that scholarship is huge too.

Just adding details for you, I don't know much about the other schools.

I visited the other day and got there in around 45 mins, but that was off peak times because it is usually a fair bit longer with traffic. Thanks for your insight, I appreciate it!!

 

[m1redsox]

Case is a good school, but it’s not worth the extra money and moving away from your support system.

UMD is a great program. Congrats!