UMich vs. Tufts vs. Dartmouth

[enchantedforest]

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I am grateful for the ability to decide between three amazing schools. I am strongly leaning one way, but I still wanted to post to see if anyone has any points I haven’t thought about/any insights. Thanks in advance!

For some background, I am from the Ann Arbor area but went to college out-of-state. I am pretty set on pursuing pediatrics and would like to complete an MPH as well (but have recently become interested in an MPP potentially as an alternative)

University of Michigan
Pros

• Children’s hospital
• Highest ranked
• Close to family/support system
• Availability of MD/MPH and MD/MPP
• 1-year preclinical

Cons

• MD/MPH is 5 years (and you apply once you’re there)
• Worried about a gunner-like/competitive atmosphere. Also worried about being a small fish in a big pond
• Students seem to mainly go into competitive specialties (derm, ortho, etc.) and there doesn’t seem to be as much emphasis on primary care

Tufts University
Pros

• MD/MPH is 4 years (already accepted)
• Have friends in Boston
• Love the city of Boston when I’ve visited, could be cool to try living in a new place

Cons

• No children’s hospital
• Lower ranked
• Farther from family

Dartmouth University
Pros

• Outdoor opportunities (hiking, skiing, etc.)
• Health policy opportunities/emphasis

Cons

• Farthest from family/friends
• Isolated location
• 5 year MD/MPH
• Lower ranked

 

[misanthropeGalore]

I would choose University of Michigan just because it would be higher ranked and also closer to home tbh

 

[The OTC]

Important to also consider COA, especially with loan programs under threat by current administration. How much is the cost of the MPH/MPP? What are the COL differences between the cities?

Best input on the culture would be current students and as many as you can chat with to get a good feel.

I think UMICH will open a lot of doors during and after medical school, given the name. Their children's hospital, a huge plus, will let you network with a top-tier home program and that will benefit you whether you would like to match there or elsewhere. Imo, it is not bad that students match into competitive specialties - just means PDs know the caliber of student coming from that school. You may have a career-changing experience with a competitive specialty, maybe even peds + competitive specialty (i.e peds ortho), and want to pursue that. With so many variables in this path, keeping doors open is something you'll never regret.

From a more personal standpoint, I feel like you are considering the Tufts and Dartmouth schools because you would be open to going on a new adventure with medical school (i.e. "cool to try new city" and "outdoor opportunities") If you do want to leave the nest again, do listen to that part of yourself and factor it in the final decision. The world is your oyster in medical school, but residency is when you'll hunker down for longer and most likely work as an attending in the area you train due to connections. Other factors may also play into residency: partner/spouse, children, proximity to family, etc. You may also be able to fulfill this desire at UMICH by doing summer research program out of state and away rotations.

 

[DoneDone3451]

Michigan, I went there for undergrad, the hospital system is amazing, you will have a great ability to match into anything and you will have the football team haha!

 

[breez]

I will also point out, to the gunner/competitive point for UMich - I have spoken to several students who are at different levels of their education there (M1 -> M3.5 doing research year) and they all have told me the same thing: Michigan does an excellent job of ensuring collaboration rather than brutal competition. Especially with the newer changes to clerkship grading (to a rubric rather than percentile locked), dropping internal ranking, etc. I wouldn't worry much about having a gunner atmosphere!
Just a note ofc, there will be gunners everywhere. However, students did seem to be more relaxed at michigan than at other schools of similar rank I have interacted with 🙂
- Coming from another michigan admit this cycle, congrats!!

 

[atriablack]

Current M1 at UMich (happy to answer any questions)

To address some of your cons

• Worried about a gunner-like/competitive atmosphere. Also worried about being a small fish in a big pond
  • I can confidently say my class has had no competitive vibes. We share notes and decks on GroupMe, remind each other of due dates, and are very friendly. I don't feel like the class size it too large, I think I've met most of my classmates and have yet to feel the hugeness of the school like I did in undergrad (went to UofM for undergrad too).
• Students seem to mainly go into competitive specialties (derm, ortho, etc.) and there doesn’t seem to be as much emphasis on primary care
  • I know a good amount of people interested in primary care rn, I know clinicals are next year and people change their minds but for a small sample size, in my friend group I'd say a good 1/3 are interested in primary care and more are open to it. That said, when you train in a big research hospital (like Tufts too) you end up with more exposure to sub specialties and that will obviously influence you.