University of Arizona Tucson vs Univ of Arizona Phoenix

[Crazyazy]

So I know the main differences between the two schools (I'm in-state). If faced with the decision to choose to attend 1 or the other, which would you choose and why?

So far this is what I've gathered...

Tucson
- More of a foundation (been alive longer)
- I'm more familiar with the city
- Familiar with faculty, personally
- Class is ~125, bigger than PHX which I think is a plus
- Class is, based on the past, really laid back - not that cut throat
- UMC hospital is a really good hospital and is attached to the school so easy clinical contact

Phoenix
- New building and facility - super cool features
- Really nice faculty and staff based on interview visit
- Phx is a nice and unfamiliar city
- Based on my impression, I look highly on the dean and curriculum - will only to go upward and improve
- mandatory scholarly project = not that appealing, but may help with residency
- 5 hospitals to shadow in...but not in contact
- New school so not as established and not as good a foundation
- Smaller class

Any other things you guys can add? Thanks!!

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[WildDevil]

Smaller class and what I've heard is that people are more uptight? Not sure if this is true...

where is this comment coming from? I wouldn't rely on someone else to tell you about the entire student body in Phoenix. Seems rather immature and HS to say, let alone believe. There are 4 classes of 48 students by now, so like any group, there is bound to be a variety of personalilities, but I don't see the "mission" of Phoenix is to admit "uptight" students! The faculty and staff are anything but uptight.

 

[Jojokarade]

where is this comment coming from? I wouldn't rely on someone else to tell you about the entire student body in Phoenix. Seems rather immature and HS to say, let alone believe. There are 4 classes of 48 students by now, so like any group, there is bound to be a variety of personalilities, but I don't see the "mission" of Phoenix is to admit "uptight" students! The faculty and staff are anything but uptight.

I agree. When I interviewed in Phoenix, the students were anything but uptight. They were very laid back and seemed very happy to be there.

 

[WildDevil]

Much easier to get exposure early when the hospital is literally attached to the building .

Convenience of attached to the building is a bonus; however, exposure to 10 teaching sites, 10 different systems, 10 different models of healthcare (VA to Mayo to County to largest children's hospital in country to Barrow --- the Barrow) is superior to one site. I'd much rather keep my environment changing and gain much more exposure and access to residency directors than wearing down the same hopsital halls for 4 years...some that like Tucson might not like the hustle and bustle of the city.

 

[Ilovewater]

however, exposure to 10 teaching sites, 10 different systems, 10 different models of healthcare (VA to Mayo to County to largest children's hospital in country to Barrow --- the Barrow) is superior to one site.

Tucson students can do rotations in Phoenix during 3rd and 4th years. Also, there are other hospitals in Tucson besides UMC (TMC, VA, St. Mary's, etc).

To each his own, but I prefer having an attached university hospital. If you have required preceptorships during 1st and 2nd years, you can just walk over to UMC instead of having to drive all over the city, especially after hours of morning lectures which will drain your energy.

Not sure if the OP cares, but UA-Tucson is attached to the undergrad campus. That's something to consider if you like going to college sports and other related events.

 

[Sergeant D]

Tucson students can do rotations in Phoenix during 3rd and 4th years. Also, there are other hospitals in Tucson besides UMC (TMC, VA, St. Mary's, etc).

To each his own, but I prefer having an attached university hospital. If you have required preceptorships during 1st and 2nd years, you can just walk over to UMC instead of having to drive all over the city, especially after hours of morning lectures which will drain your energy.

Not sure if the OP cares, but UA-Tucson is attached to the undergrad campus. That's something to consider if you like going to college sports and other related events.

This is changing though. In order to accommodate the growing class size at the Phoenix campus, Tucson students won't be able to do rotations in Phoenix for years 3 and 4 (starting with this class or possibly the next). I think that really complicates the decision :/

I agree with everyone about having the teaching hospital on campus. And somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like having the attached hospital and all the resources of a university would attract better faculty. Again, I could be dead wrong there. I'd really like to hear what current students have to say about that.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Q

Convenience of attached to the building is a bonus; however, exposure to 10 teaching sites, 10 different systems, 10 different models of healthcare (VA to Mayo to County to largest children's hospital in country to Barrow --- the Barrow) is superior to one site. I'd much rather keep my environment changing and gain much more exposure and access to residency directors than wearing down the same hopsital halls for 4 years...some that like Tucson might not like the hustle and bustle of the city.

10 different commutes, 10 different hospital layouts to get lost in, 10 different EMRs to struggle to get access to and navigate before the end of the month. Im all for phoenix and a major fan of the barrow, but I would dispute that having a totally decentralized clinical education is necessarily a good thing. Some level of consistency can be good too.

Also, you will find that your access to residency directors will be limited and that ultimately your exposure will be focused primarily on whatever specialty you happen to rotate in at that time. I don't see much difference between one and ten hospitals in this. Sub internships will be the key to this and subinternships can be done anywhere you can get a spot at be it if you are from one campus, the other, or another school all together. Unless you are totally confident that you will be staying in phoenix after residency if at all possible then chances are you will do one subi at an affiliate and one or two elsewhere.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Double post

 

[WildDevil]

Q

10 different commutes, 10 different hospital layouts to get lost in, 10 different EMRs to struggle to get access to and navigate before the end of the month. Im all for phoenix and a major fan of the barrow, but I would dispute that having a totally decentralized clinical education is necessarily a good thing. QUOTE]

"decentralized" means something different than what seems to be true in Phoenix. Multiple hospitals give you multiple opportunities - that's all I'm suggesting. Sounds like Tucson might have a couple of options beyond UMC. Personally, I want an environment that gets me exposed to as much as possible so that I am more versatile and marketable for residency. Just like the admissions process, the students with more experiences are better able to articulate and demonstrate growth.

The choice between the campuses is more likely about the "feel" than the "education", anyway. I would suggest anyone accepted to both programs investigate, ask questions, call, visit again before making judgment about the other program.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I wet to ASU, decentralized in phoenix means really really long commute, that's the truth. As a third year a 45 minute commute both ways is brutal and possibly even dangerous. You won't get more clinical experience just because you are rotating through multiple hospitals. If you are lucky you will get the same amount. If you are unlucky and several of the sites are sub par, you will get less. Plus, as a preclinical student a long commute can easily cut into any preclinical experiences you were hoping to get, and more likely than not you are going to just pick the most convenient hospital or just one hospital, so the value of ten to choose from lessens. I'm just pointing out the possibilities, not the necessary realities, to emphasze that the number of hospitals is probably not a good way to pick a school. Both programs will without a doubt have what you need in comparable measure. I absolutely agree that fit is the best choice.

Q


The choice between the campuses is more likely about the "feel" than the "education", anyway. I would suggest anyone accepted to both programs investigate, ask questions, call, visit again before making judgment about the other program.

 

[WildDevil]

You're also the only med students in Tucson, as opposed to Phoenix which has UACOM, Midwestern, ATSU, and Creighton students rotating through.

These students also rotate in Tucson - I have several friends in Midwestern and am currently holding an acceptance there. ATSU students spread out after the first year (different curriculum structure). Creighton rotates only through St. Joe's, the Catholic hospital. Just like Philly-area/med schools, there is more than enough space in the 5th largest city to accommodate med students. This is an empty argument.

 

[WildDevil]

You're right, not 10 training sites - there are actually more! According to COM-Phoenix brochure from visit day - students rotate through:

Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center and other Banner sites: Banner Desert, Banner Estella
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
Barrow Neurological Institute - doesn't get better than this!
Maricopa Medical Center - the only public hospital in Arizona
Scottsdale - Osborn, Shea and another location
Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center - the most treasured patients in America
Mayo Clinic
Phoenix Baptist Hospital
Wesley Community Center - uninsured population
Hospice of the Valley - the largest Hospice in the nation
Phoenix Children's Hospital - considered to be largest children's hospital once at 100% capacity

This is in addition to the one-on-one Longitudinal Clinical Experience with a primary care physician than spans through a student's first- and second-years.

 

[Ilovewater]

I'm not sure why there's a argument regarding how many affiliates each school has. Most med schools have a lot of affiliates that students can rotate through. Like I said above, Tucson students still have plenty of sites to do rotation at...so Phoenix having more than 10 sites is hardly special. Also, there are away rotations around the country, so it's not like students are confined to only the school's affiliated hospitals. It really comes down to picking the school with the best fit. Both Tucson and Phoenix will provide the same experiences.