UMich vs. Baylor vs. Pritzker

[majestic red]

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I've been seeing a lot of these threads popping up lately, so I thought I'd get some advice on what people thought about these schools. I'm lucky to have received as many acceptances as I have, and now I'm torn as to where I should go. Just so you know, I'm neither a resident of Michigan or Texas and all of these schools are about equally far away from home for me.

UMich:
Pros: I got a great vibe from the people here. The admissions staff was very friendly and organized, and I really felt like they did a great job of making the application process as painless as possible. P/F grading is also a big plus, and I like that they make such an effort to be tech-savy. It's also attached to an undergrad campus, so that opens up a lot of opportunities for taking random classes, etc.
Cons: I'm a big city type of girl. I know there are many people who love Ann Arbor, but I can't imagine how living there could possibly compare to some place like Chicago or Houston. I'm also not into sports, which I hear is a big part of the culture here.

Baylor:
Pros: I haven't really spent much time in Houston, but it seems like a great city with a lot to explore. The TMC is amazing, and the 1.5 year preclinical curriculum is pretty cool. One of my best friends also lives in Houston, and it'd be nice to have someone I know going in. After living in Chicago for the last few years, I can also appreciate the warm weather.
Cons: Grades. I'm also a little turned off by the fact that ~70% of the class is composed of Texas residents. As a non-resident from the Northeast, I'm a bit afraid that I'll have a hard time fitting in. I'd also prefer to have a little more diversity in my class.

Pritzker:
Pros: Chicago is a great city and, since I went to the U of C for undergrad, I have lots of friends in the area. Pritzker's admissions staff was also great in the application process, and I like the P/F grading system. I hear that the medical school is a lot more chill than the college, which would be great. The campus is also gorgeous.
Cons: I went to the U of C for undergrad, so I'm not sure I want to stay for another 4 years. Also, while Chicago is great, Hyde Park is a little depressing-- I have no problem with the fact that it's a "bad area," it's just that there's a complete lack of interesting stuff to do around here. The winters are also quite brutal.

 

[drmonti]

if weather is a concern, michigan weathers are much worse than chicago ones. 🙁 I'm from around that area and let me say, the winters are so cold sometimes its unreal. I'm talking, -12 and such. The winters are also really long. Chicago has comparable weather, but there is so much to do in the city that avoidance of seasonal depression is more feasible.

 

[Redd66]

I can't say anything about Michigan or Chicago, but I can say that you shouldn't be afraid of a class composed mostly of Texas residents. Your Texas classmates at Baylor will be smart folks who went to good schools both in Texas and abroad (a little Texas humor), and will have a variety of backgrounds, viewpoints, and interests. They'll also be VERY friendly. I grew up in Houston and went to school at Texas, so I have an idea of what I'm talking about. Don't worry, we don't have secret state-issued decoder rings or anything like that.

Congratulations and good luck making your decision.

 

[majestic red]

if weather is a concern, michigan weathers are much worse than chicago ones. 🙁 I'm from around that area and let me say, the winters are so cold sometimes its unreal. I'm talking, -12 and such. The winters are also really long. Chicago has comparable weather, but there is so much to do in the city that avoidance of seasonal depression is more feasible.

I was actually thinking that, since I'll likely have a car if I go to Ann Arbor, I'll probably spend less time outside, as opposed to having to walk for 20 minutes every morning to go to class. In Chicago, I tended to spend as much time as I could in my apartment in order to avoid walking in the cold. So even though there was plenty to do, the idea of going outside and trying to do anything was too daunting most of the time.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Though humidity is a bit annoying in the summer, I'd take Houston weather over the bitter cold winters of Chicago or Michigan in a heartbeat. There's really only a handful of days where it freezes at all, and it'll get up into the 60s even in the middle of January, meaning you can do things outdoors all year-round. Also, tuition is a slam dunk in favor of Baylor- a difference of almost 20k/year even as OOS, which gets even larger if you become a Texas resident as an M3 and M4, and I'm almost positive that you'd find that housing is a lot cheaper in Houston than at least Chicago (maybe a bit more than Ann Arbor). Furthermore, though it looks like Baylor might be merging with Rice soon, which is literally right across the street, giving you the connection to the undergrad campus. And like you said, I think the 1.5 year pre-clinical curriculum is pretty much the coolest thing since sliced bread. And I swear, us Texans really aren't THAT different from the rest of the country 🙂

Obviously, I can't say much about Pritzker or Michigan... but I love Baylor and I'm thrilled to be going there next year. Two of the most important things in choosing a med school for me were cost (duh) and weather (I'm just miserable when it's cold), and I think that Baylor is a great choice for both of those reasons 🙂

 

[drjm1]

Although Michigan gives P/F grades, it also ranks its students = stress + competition

Pritzker is true pass/fail with no rankings = less stress.

 

[radi0headfan]

Although Michigan gives P/F grades, it also ranks its students = stress + competition

Pritzker is true pass/fail with no rankings = less stress.

so at pritzker, class rank doesn't come into play at all?...hmmm, i figured almost every school somehow ranks students by the time they apply for residency programs-- not necessarily by labeling them with their exact numerical rank, but maybe an adjective in the dean's letter suggesting what percentile they fell into?

anyway, here's an old post discussing grading systems:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=91623

 

[guestdoc]

It seems like you hit it off with the people in Michigan pretty well, are quite comfortable at Chicago, but are afraid you might not fit in at Texas. All of the schools are awesome, so this choice might be a matter of fit.

Good luck with the decision!!

 

[87138]

Although Michigan gives P/F grades, it also ranks its students = stress + competition

Pritzker is true pass/fail with no rankings = less stress.

The majority of "pass/fail" schools, I believe, rank students.

 

[BlueElmo]

Congrats, OP. Those are some truly nice acceptances you have. 👍

 

[Jolie South]

I can't say anything about Michigan or Chicago, but I can say that you shouldn't be afraid of a class composed mostly of Texas residents. Your Texas classmates at Baylor will be smart folks who went to good schools both in Texas and abroad (a little Texas humor), and will have a variety of backgrounds, viewpoints, and interests. They'll also be VERY friendly. I grew up in Houston and went to school at Texas, so I have an idea of what I'm talking about. Don't worry, we don't have secret state-issued decoder rings or anything like that.

Congratulations and good luck making your decision.

agreed. The class is very diverse and talented.

 

[drizzt3117]

The majority of "pass/fail" schools, I believe, rank students.

any school with AOA ranks students (for obvious reasons, how can they tell who is in the top 15% without ranking students?) That doesn't necessarily translate to more stress, though, to be honest, I don't know why it should.

 

[BlueElmo]

any school with AOA ranks students (for obvious reasons, how can they tell who is in the top 15% without ranking students?) That doesn't necessarily translate to more stress, though, to be honest, I don't know why it should.

Shouldn't it? You are competing against each other for better rankings, right?

 

[drizzt3117]

Shouldn't it? You are competing against each other for better rankings, right?

You are competing against every med student in the country for residency spots already. Are you going to work LESS hard because you don't have rankings?

 

[airca12]

The University of Chicago Hospitals recently laid off about 500 employees and supposedly cut their budget by 7%. Do things like this have any impact on the affiliated med school?

 

[CourageKid]

As for weather, it depends on what you like. I grew up in Texas and personally can't think of anything more miserable than 95 degree weather with ridiculous humidity. So I moved out east. The really cold weather isn't horribly pleasant either, but I'll take it over summer in Texas any day.

I think that all of the schools are good. Really, would you rather live in Ann Arbor, Chicago or Houston? For me, Houston was pretty far down on the list.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Baylor>Umich>pritzker

My opinions.

 

[PremedIowa]

I can't say anything about Michigan or Chicago, but I can say that you shouldn't be afraid of a class composed mostly of Texas residents. Your Texas classmates at Baylor will be smart folks who went to good schools both in Texas and abroad (a little Texas humor), and will have a variety of backgrounds, viewpoints, and interests. They'll also be VERY friendly. I grew up in Houston and went to school at Texas, so I have an idea of what I'm talking about. Don't worry, we don't have secret state-issued decoder rings or anything like that.

Congratulations and good luck making your decision.

Lonestar: The National Beer of Texas

 

[WaterBird]

I've been seeing a lot of these threads popping up lately, so I thought I'd get some advice on what people thought about these schools. I'm lucky to have received as many acceptances as I have, and now I'm torn as to where I should go. Just so you know, I'm neither a resident of Michigan or Texas and all of these schools are about equally far away from home for me.

UMich:
Pros: I got a great vibe from the people here. The admissions staff was very friendly and organized, and I really felt like they did a great job of making the application process as painless as possible. P/F grading is also a big plus, and I like that they make such an effort to be tech-savy. It's also attached to an undergrad campus, so that opens up a lot of opportunities for taking random classes, etc.
Cons: I'm a big city type of girl. I know there are many people who love Ann Arbor, but I can't imagine how living there could possibly compare to some place like Chicago or Houston. I'm also not into sports, which I hear is a big part of the culture here.

Baylor:
Pros: I haven't really spent much time in Houston, but it seems like a great city with a lot to explore. The TMC is amazing, and the 1.5 year preclinical curriculum is pretty cool. One of my best friends also lives in Houston, and it'd be nice to have someone I know going in. After living in Chicago for the last few years, I can also appreciate the warm weather.
Cons: Grades. I'm also a little turned off by the fact that ~70% of the class is composed of Texas residents. As a non-resident from the Northeast, I'm a bit afraid that I'll have a hard time fitting in. I'd also prefer to have a little more diversity in my class.

Pritzker:
Pros: Chicago is a great city and, since I went to the U of C for undergrad, I have lots of friends in the area. Pritzker's admissions staff was also great in the application process, and I like the P/F grading system. I hear that the medical school is a lot more chill than the college, which would be great. The campus is also gorgeous.
Cons: I went to the U of C for undergrad, so I'm not sure I want to stay for another 4 years. Also, while Chicago is great, Hyde Park is a little depressing-- I have no problem with the fact that it's a "bad area," it's just that there's a complete lack of interesting stuff to do around here. The winters are also quite brutal.

These are all comparable schools, so I think the incidentals like weather, curriculum details, proximity to home etc start to matter.

Does class size matter to you? I loved Pritzker's small class feel, and UM's big class felt more cliqueish to me (but some people were enthusiastic about the greater distance the larger class size gives you from your classmates).

I used to live in an area near a university that, like Hyde Park, is not at the center of where stuff happens in its city. I observed that the grad students left the neighborhood more than the undergrads (maybe because it's easier to do stuff off campus once you and all your friends are over 21?)

Michigan will be 50% from Michigan, which is probably a similar reduction in diversity as 70% from Texas, since Texas is a bigger state. BUT OOS students are sizable minorities in both schools. My guess from the tone of your posts is that you are leaning to Baylor.

Can you go to revisit weekends?

 

[majestic red]

Michigan will be 50% from Michigan, which is probably a similar reduction in diversity as 70% from Texas, since Texas is a bigger state. BUT OOS students are sizable minorities in both schools. My guess from the tone of your posts is that you are leaning to Baylor.

I actually feel like I'm leaning towards Michigan, but since Baylor is so much cheaper, I don't know if I'd be justified in choosing Michigan over Baylor. I haven't eliminated Pritzker entirely, but it's definitely a bit lower on my list than the other two.

I'm definitely going to Michigan's revisit, but I haven't heard anything about Baylor's... do they have one?

 

[majestic red]

Sorry to revive this thread, but I've revisited all three schools and still feel torn. Here's the breakdown.

Cost:
Pritzker > Baylor > Michigan
Pritzker gave me substantial financial aid to the tune of $150,000 over 4 years. Baylor didn't give me anything, but their tuition is cheap to start with, so the cost would be comparable to Pritzker. Michigan is mostly high-interest loans.

Location:
Baylor > Michigan > Pritzker
Houston has great food and a lot to explore. One of my best friends also lives in Houston, so that'll make it easier for me to get settled. Ann Arbor is also quite charming. As for Chicago, I went to U of C for undergrad. It's a great city, but I'm ready to see something new. Plus, I don't like Hyde Park. Ideally, I'd like to match to the east coast for residency. I don't know if any of these schools have an advantage over the others in terms of that.

Gut Feeling:
Michigan > Pritzker > Baylor
I had a great time at the second looks for both Michigan and Pritzker, but Michigan gets the advantage here because I don't really want to stay at Chicago for another 4 years. Baylor didn't have an official second look, so I feel a bit like I would be diving in blind if I decided to go there. I'm also a little weary of the grades.

Any thoughts?

 

[sunset823]

I would say in your situation go to Michigan. Here is my reasoning:

Chicago - I totally understand you not wanting to stay in the same place for 8 years, and I found out on another thread that when you apply for residencies if your ug and med school are the same ALL your grades will show up on your transcript - I'm sure this is fine for you (i.e., you had good grades), but still it's a pain.

Baylor - the cost is good; I can't imagine living in Houston (hate hot weather), but the advantages are a large city and I'm guessing good clinicals with a diverse patient pool. I've heard for Baylor you pretty much HAVE to know Spanish, so that may be a consideration.

Michigan - my vote goes here, not just because I love the school, but I think it's got a great culture. Ann Arbor has a LOT going on for a medium sized city - major artists like Yo Yo Ma and the Royal Shakespeare Company come here regularly, and there are hundreds of restaurants in a 5 mile radius. The campus is gorgeous, especially in the spring and fall, and the winters are usually not that bad, actually - having lived here 5 years, it does get cold, but there isn't as much snow as other parts of Michigan.

The school is incredibly supportive and there is a lot of camaraderie (although there is some cliquishness too, but that happens anywhere). I know a few first years who went on a trip to Peru fully funded by the med school, and they have some great opportunities for whatever you are interested in. Also, if you want to match out East, I think UMich is a better bet than Baylor, cuz I'm guessing BCM'ers mostly stay in the south (or maybe Cali) - many people at UM match out to the best hospitals in the east.

Sports are big here, but not as big as they used to be (since, frankly, our football team sucks now and it'll take them a while to get back their reputation), and I have friends who were totally apathetic to sports who managed quite well 🙂

I can gush on and on about UMich, but seriously, I think you'll be really happy here. Good luck with your decision

 

[searun]

Frankly, Baylor is the obvious choice. You are tired of Chicago and Baylor and Pritzker are about the same price. So leave Chicago. That leaves Michigan and Baylor. Both are great schools but Michigan will be extremely expensive for you. Why would incur a ton of debt when Baylor offers a fantastic medical education at low cost. It is a no brainer - go to Baylor. You are going to medical school and not selecting the city where you will live for the rest of your life.

 

[GoSpursGo]

In an interesting article that went up yesterday here on SDN, it is reported that:

Many students believe that their grades in the preclinical years are very important. With the exception of a course failure, preclinical grades are not important.

So while preclinical grading seems like a downside, in reality I don't think it's that big of a deal; as long as you don't fail your classes, you'll be fine.

If you want to leave Chicago, then I think Baylor is the choice for the cost. Even if you didn't get to go on a second look, you should already know what you need: you have a 1.5 preclinical curriculum, it's dirt cheap, you kind of know what to expect of the city thanks to your friend, great connections (just an example: I'm going to be renting a condo from a couple who are taking a research year at Oxford this year), a great name, and it's not in Chicago. If you really want cold weather (Houston summers aren't for everyone), then UMich may be the place for you.

Good luck deciding.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Baylor - the cost is good; I can't imagine living in Houston (hate hot weather), but the advantages are a large city and I'm guessing good clinicals with a diverse patient pool. I've heard for Baylor you pretty much HAVE to know Spanish, so that may be a consideration.

That's not true. It's a definite plus, but not nearly a requirement.

Ann Arbor has a LOT going on for a medium sized city - major artists like Yo Yo Ma and the Royal Shakespeare Company come here regularly, and there are hundreds of restaurants in a 5 mile radius. The campus is gorgeous, especially in the spring and fall, and the winters are usually not that bad, actually - having lived here 5 years, it does get cold, but there isn't as much snow as other parts of Michigan.

Frankly, I have difficulty believing that Ann Arbor has more going on than Houston. Surely those same major artists would be stopping in Houston as well, and probably more often. And the food in Houston is just flat-out better than anywhere else in the country; I refuse to listen to arguments otherwise 😛 The choice of weather is really a personal thing; do you want to freeze half of the year, or do you want to endure the muggy summers of Houston?

The school is incredibly supportive and there is a lot of camaraderie (although there is some cliquishness too, but that happens anywhere). I know a few first years who went on a trip to Peru fully funded by the med school, and they have some great opportunities for whatever you are interested in. Also, if you want to match out East, I think UMich is a better bet than Baylor, cuz I'm guessing BCM'ers mostly stay in the south (or maybe Cali) - many people at UM match out to the best hospitals in the east.

I think that just about every school says that they're incredibly supportive and that they have camaraderie. And BCM definitely has a ton of international opportunities as well (see the Oxford thing I said above). I think the majority of people at BCM choose to stay in the south simply because that's where they want to live; however, for the people who want to then go east, I'm sure you wouldn't be hindered at all. And let's not forget that while you're at Baylor, you will be rotating through some of the best hospitals in the country as a medical student being in the middle of the Texas Medical Center. 🙂

I don't have anything against UMich, but I've gotta stick up for my school too 🙂 It's pretty clear that people are going to find reasons to back a school or area that they personally are attached to. I think Baylor really has a lot going for it, but I hope you wind up going with whatever school will make you most happy.

 

[drjm1]

I would say in your situation go to Michigan. Here is my reasoning:

Chicago - I totally understand you not wanting to stay in the same place for 8 years, and I found out on another thread that when you apply for residencies if your ug and med school are the same ALL your grades will show up on your transcript - I'm sure this is fine for you (i.e., you had good grades), but still it's a pain.

Baylor - the cost is good; I can't imagine living in Houston (hate hot weather), but the advantages are a large city and I'm guessing good clinicals with a diverse patient pool. I've heard for Baylor you pretty much HAVE to know Spanish, so that may be a consideration.

Michigan - my vote goes here, not just because I love the school, but I think it's got a great culture. Ann Arbor has a LOT going on for a medium sized city - major artists like Yo Yo Ma and the Royal Shakespeare Company come here regularly, and there are hundreds of restaurants in a 5 mile radius. The campus is gorgeous, especially in the spring and fall, and the winters are usually not that bad, actually - having lived here 5 years, it does get cold, but there isn't as much snow as other parts of Michigan.

The school is incredibly supportive and there is a lot of camaraderie (although there is some cliquishness too, but that happens anywhere). I know a few first years who went on a trip to Peru fully funded by the med school, and they have some great opportunities for whatever you are interested in. Also, if you want to match out East, I think UMich is a better bet than Baylor, cuz I'm guessing BCM'ers mostly stay in the south (or maybe Cali) - many people at UM match out to the best hospitals in the east.

Sports are big here, but not as big as they used to be (since, frankly, our football team sucks now and it'll take them a while to get back their reputation), and I have friends who were totally apathetic to sports who managed quite well 🙂

I can gush on and on about UMich, but seriously, I think you'll be really happy here. Good luck with your decision

Is this true??

 

[GoSpursGo]

Is this true??

Hmmm who knew? It would make sense, though; if you're ordering a transcript from Pritzker, I'd imagine they might not have a separate registrar for the med school and undergrad. In any case, I doubt any residency program would care what's on your UG transcript.

 

[BaylorLion]

I can't say more, but if the grades are the only thing bothering you about Baylor... I wouldn't let that keep me from there, because something VERY NICE is going to happen, and I only wish it'd happened 4 years ago when I'd been there.

 

[pianola]

I can't say more, but if the grades are the only thing bothering you about Baylor... I wouldn't let that keep me from there, because something VERY NICE is going to happen, and I only wish it'd happened 4 years ago when I'd been there.

You mean the merger??

And yeah, go to Baylor with all the cool kids 😉. Assuming you're a nice person.

 

[nerakium]

Although Michigan gives P/F grades, it also ranks its students = stress + competition

Pritzker is true pass/fail with no rankings = less stress.

During first and second years, Michigan grades P/F and does not rank. The students there say it is not competitive at all.

 

[BluntSurgeon]

Baylor>Umich>pritzker

My opinions.

Echoing this. I interviewed at both Umich and Baylor (lol waitlisted at both) and I was much more impressed with what Baylor had to offer in terms of clinical and research opportunities. Not to mention the "sub-tropical" climate. I wouldn't even consider pritzker if I were you.

 

[scarletgirl777]

Baylor definitely. Extra money for Michigan is not worth it (assuming the difference is more than 40k).

 

[WaterBird]

Sorry to revive this thread, but I've revisited all three schools and still feel torn. Here's the breakdown.

Cost:
Pritzker > Baylor > Michigan
Pritzker gave me substantial financial aid to the tune of $150,000 over 4 years. Baylor didn't give me anything, but their tuition is cheap to start with, so the cost would be comparable to Pritzker. Michigan is mostly high-interest loans.

Location:
Baylor > Michigan > Pritzker
Houston has great food and a lot to explore. One of my best friends also lives in Houston, so that'll make it easier for me to get settled. Ann Arbor is also quite charming. As for Chicago, I went to U of C for undergrad. It's a great city, but I'm ready to see something new. Plus, I don't like Hyde Park. Ideally, I'd like to match to the east coast for residency. I don't know if any of these schools have an advantage over the others in terms of that.

Gut Feeling:
Michigan > Pritzker > Baylor
I had a great time at the second looks for both Michigan and Pritzker, but Michigan gets the advantage here because I don't really want to stay at Chicago for another 4 years. Baylor didn't have an official second look, so I feel a bit like I would be diving in blind if I decided to go there. I'm also a little weary of the grades.

Any thoughts?

Have you talked to Michigan about money? They give out a fair amount of merit money and they gave SheMarty more money when she went to withdraw.
For you, I would say, Michigan if they give you money. And if not, Baylor, since it sounds like you really don't want to stay in Chicago. Baylor is really that cheap? It is the only one of these three that I did not apply to.
One last thing to consider for Pritzker is that it seems like a decent number of students live either in Regents (take the bus every morning, no walking in the cold) or in the south loop (if you're done with Hyde Park but otherwise have warm feelings about the school). But it sounds like you're pretty set on leaving Chicago, so prob one of the others.

 

[Spiker]

Furthermore, though it looks like Baylor might be merging with Rice soon, which is literally right across the street, giving you the connection to the undergrad campus.

If you read the following it now seems may not be a good idea for med students..

The state of Texas underwrites undergraduate medical education more than any other state in the nation. It’s a beautiful thing if you’re a medical student. Texas medical schools have some of the lowest tuitions in the nation. I was talking to a former Dean at a Texas medical school and the figure he tossed out was that the state supplied something like 75 or 80% of the costs of education for a medical student; with student tuition covering as little as 20% (or maybe less).
What is a little unusual is that the state underwrites the tuition for Baylor’s medical students just as it does for the students at the public medical schools. In the early 1970s Dr. Michael DeBakey was serving as chancellor of Baylor College of Medicine. At the time the UT system, with the blessing of the Texas State Legislature, was going on a medical school building spree and was considering opening more schools. Dr. DeBakey convinced the State Legislature that instead of putting money into a new school that they should just underwrite Baylor. And they did.
In return, like public medical schools in the state, Baylor is required to take at least 70% of its incoming medical school class from Texas residents. But it also means that amongst say the “Top 20″ (as U.S. News reports them) medical schools Baylor is likely the most affordable. That is even against the state medical schools which make the list; and that is a substantial claim.
As I understand it however, one of the preconditions for getting that deal was actually breaking off the relationship with the private Baylor University in Waco, TX. What will Baylor folding into Rice University mean for this funding scheme?
Will the tuition for Baylor College of Medical students be 30k, 40k, maybe more in coming years? Will the legislature keep funding this nonsensical subsidization of Baylor College of Medicine?

 

[ZeusonRoids]

I've been seeing a lot of these threads popping up lately, so I thought I'd get some advice on what people thought about these schools. I'm lucky to have received as many acceptances as I have, and now I'm torn as to where I should go. Just so you know, I'm neither a resident of Michigan or Texas and all of these schools are about equally far away from home for me.

UMich:
Pros: I got a great vibe from the people here. The admissions staff was very friendly and organized, and I really felt like they did a great job of making the application process as painless as possible. P/F grading is also a big plus, and I like that they make such an effort to be tech-savy. It's also attached to an undergrad campus, so that opens up a lot of opportunities for taking random classes, etc.
Cons: I'm a big city type of girl. I know there are many people who love Ann Arbor, but I can't imagine how living there could possibly compare to some place like Chicago or Houston. I'm also not into sports, which I hear is a big part of the culture here.

Baylor:
Pros: I haven't really spent much time in Houston, but it seems like a great city with a lot to explore. The TMC is amazing, and the 1.5 year preclinical curriculum is pretty cool. One of my best friends also lives in Houston, and it'd be nice to have someone I know going in. After living in Chicago for the last few years, I can also appreciate the warm weather.
Cons: Grades. I'm also a little turned off by the fact that ~70% of the class is composed of Texas residents. As a non-resident from the Northeast, I'm a bit afraid that I'll have a hard time fitting in. I'd also prefer to have a little more diversity in my class.

Pritzker:
Pros: Chicago is a great city and, since I went to the U of C for undergrad, I have lots of friends in the area. Pritzker's admissions staff was also great in the application process, and I like the P/F grading system. I hear that the medical school is a lot more chill than the college, which would be great. The campus is also gorgeous.
Cons: I went to the U of C for undergrad, so I'm not sure I want to stay for another 4 years. Also, while Chicago is great, Hyde Park is a little depressing-- I have no problem with the fact that it's a "bad area," it's just that there's a complete lack of interesting stuff to do around here. The winters are also quite brutal.

Can't go wrong with any of them. Good freakin job!!

I would pick in this order
Baylor
UofC
UMich

Based only on the weather. I hate the cold...with a passion

 

[emewe]

If you read the following it now seems may not be a good idea for med students..

The state of Texas underwrites undergraduate medical education more than any other state in the nation. It’s a beautiful thing if you’re a medical student. Texas medical schools have some of the lowest tuitions in the nation. I was talking to a former Dean at a Texas medical school and the figure he tossed out was that the state supplied something like 75 or 80% of the costs of education for a medical student; with student tuition covering as little as 20% (or maybe less).
What is a little unusual is that the state underwrites the tuition for Baylor’s medical students just as it does for the students at the public medical schools. In the early 1970s Dr. Michael DeBakey was serving as chancellor of Baylor College of Medicine. At the time the UT system, with the blessing of the Texas State Legislature, was going on a medical school building spree and was considering opening more schools. Dr. DeBakey convinced the State Legislature that instead of putting money into a new school that they should just underwrite Baylor. And they did.
In return, like public medical schools in the state, Baylor is required to take at least 70% of its incoming medical school class from Texas residents. But it also means that amongst say the “Top 20″ (as U.S. News reports them) medical schools Baylor is likely the most affordable. That is even against the state medical schools which make the list; and that is a substantial claim.
As I understand it however, one of the preconditions for getting that deal was actually breaking off the relationship with the private Baylor University in Waco, TX. What will Baylor folding into Rice University mean for this funding scheme?
Will the tuition for Baylor College of Medical students be 30k, 40k, maybe more in coming years? Will the legislature keep funding this nonsensical subsidization of Baylor College of Medicine?

There's still a lot of talking to be done before Rice and Baylor are completely merged, and logistical things like tuition will be discussed in great detail before anything major happens. My guess is that any changes (if any) that do happen will not affect the class of 2013, but if the state tries to pull funding away there will be BIG fights against it. I really can't see it happening.

As to your dilemma OP, I don't know a lot about your other schools but I know a lot about Baylor. I've been trying to get out of Houston since the day I got here 11 years ago and finally had my chance for med school, but I turned it down for Baylor. I actively tried to hate it when I visited on interview day but it was impossible. The people are great and so supportive, you can literally do whatever you want in the med center and someone will be there to help you, and our class is going to be incredible 🙂 Houston is hot and gross in the summers, but you can comfortably go out at night any day of the year, and everywhere has AC so the summers are (almost) bearable. It's cheap to live there, cheap to go to school there, and there is so much to explore in this huge and extremely culturally diverse city (providing you have a car because I'm not going to lie, public transport sucks). It will definitely be a huge change from Chicago if that's what you're looking for, because honestly to me Texas feels like a different country compared to the rest of the US, and Houston is different from the rest of the state altogether.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll make the best decision for you 🙂 Good luck and congrats on having to make such a difficult choice- those are some pretty amazing options.

 

[majestic red]

Have you talked to Michigan about money? They give out a fair amount of merit money and they gave SheMarty more money when she went to withdraw.
For you, I would say, Michigan if they give you money. And if not, Baylor, since it sounds like you really don't want to stay in Chicago. Baylor is really that cheap? It is the only one of these three that I did not apply to.
One last thing to consider for Pritzker is that it seems like a decent number of students live either in Regents (take the bus every morning, no walking in the cold) or in the south loop (if you're done with Hyde Park but otherwise have warm feelings about the school). But it sounds like you're pretty set on leaving Chicago, so prob one of the others.

I did ask Robert Ruiz about money. He said that I was on a "short list" of people under consideration for receiving funding. When I followed up with him, however, he said that they had already allotted all of their funds. I'm not holding my breath for a last-minute scholarship offer at this point, though I still haven't withdrawn. LOL, maybe if I try to withdraw, they'll offer me money too?

 

[MD13]

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[MD13]

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[majestic red]

I withdrew from Michigan today, so it's down to Pritzker vs. Baylor. As much as I don't want to stay in Chicago for another 4 years, Pritzker actually has a pretty significant financial advantage now that I actually look at it. Still trying to decide if the money is worth it...

 

[MD13]

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[WaterBird]

I withdrew from Michigan today, so it's down to Pritzker vs. Baylor. As much as I don't want to stay in Chicago for another 4 years, Pritzker actually has a pretty significant financial advantage now that I actually look at it. Still trying to decide if the money is worth it...

Wow, you are really down to the wire! Sorry that Ruiz didn't match - that seemed like the tidy answer.

I think it's probably time for one of the "what am i really thinking games". Ie assign one school heads, one school tails, flip a coin, and see if the result makes you want to re-flip. Or practice telling one person that you have decided to go to Pritzker and then tell another person you have decided to go to Baylor (I did this with my co-workers - it was a little confusing for them but helped me realize that I had made up my mind )

 

[hanjg]

MD13, I think the same about their COA. Great news about the grading change.

 

[majestic red]

Wow - talk about down to the wire! Do you have to make a decision before the 15th or on the 15th?

Anyway, I just wanted to post to say, regarding finances, Baylor is known for inflating their cost of attendance in the living expenses category so that its students can have access to more money if the need it (for a car, or a house, or kids, etc). I will be going there in the fall and so I was talking a bunch of students who all told me that 15K per year (with a roommate) is more than enough for living expenses (unless you have a family or want to buy a house or something). So if you are in state, COA will be about 30K (15K tuition+fees, 15K living) per year..

Anyway, good luck with your decision--let us know what you decide!

Yeah, I'm just hoping that it'll be okay for me to tell them tomorrow :/ Hopefully they'll be okay with that.

Unfortunately, I'm out-of-state for Baylor, so tuition+fees will be ~$26K, bringing to total COA (based on your estimates) to a little more than $40K. At Pritzker, with my scholarship, I'm looking to pay a little less than $35K based on their estimated COA.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Dude..baylor hands down...withdraw from Pritzker..DO IT DO IT>

Its obvious you think you fit better at Baylor and a 5k year difference isnt enough, imo, to base a decision on..plus chicago is damn cold.

 

[EChipouras]

In the grand scheme of things, 5K/year is nothing. You clearly want to go to Baylor more than Chicago--follow your gut instinct. There is a lot of merit in experiencing a different city / different university - you'll definitely be happy with your decision!

(By the way - I would NOT suggest waiting until tomorrow..just do it today--NOT worth the risk of being dropped by both schools)

EDIT: Sorry, I mistook your post for being written today, not yesterday..sorry. Let us all know what you decide!

 

[EChipouras]

There was a similar thread to this..UF vs. Baylor, and on it someone pointed something out that I dont think was mentioned here--In Texas, if you buy property (a condo for example), stay in it for a year, then you are considered an in-state resident for tuition purposes. Which means that the 26K would drop to 15K, making it significantly cheaper to attend Baylor..so it turns out that even price is in BCM's favor..

 

[majestic red]

Hey everyone! Thanks for all your help. I know a lot of you were rooting for Baylor, but I ultimately decided on Pritzker. I realized that the only thing that Baylor has going for it is that it isn't Chicago. I had a great time at Pritzker's revisit, and the medical students seemed very different from the undergrads, so I'm sure that it'll be a fresh experience despite being in the same physical place. I also realized that, being from the East Coast, I much prefer the frigid Chicago winters to Houston's heat/humidity (and bugs!). I'm happy with my decision (though I'm still holding on to a few waitlists, so maybe I won't be staying here after all... we'll see). Again, thanks a lot everyone, for all your support!

 

[radi0headfan]

Just following up--today BCM released a new grading scale for preclinical--completely Pass/Fail for first two years and no rankings. (It used to be H/HP/P/MP/F)

Cool!

that is good news, but doesn't that also mean that the clinical yrs will now be more competitive?