University of Washington vs Vanderbilt

[startlendme]

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Hey everyone I'm having a really tough time deciding between these two schools and have no clue where I should go! I would appreciate any help.

UW (Seattle)
Pros

• Would be really close to family as well as being in the same time zone as my partner, familiarity with the area
• Much cheaper cost of attendance because IS
• Ability to travel places for clerkships and be exposed to many clinical environments and ability to be super hands on (also a con though)
• A lot of outreach with underserved and health equity work
• It seems to have a more laid back vibe lol, not everyone is from an Ivy which is less intimidating

Con

• Traveling from place to place seems like a hassle to me and would be really mentally draining (also the fact that grading for clerkships isn't standardized across the regions??)
• Potentially interested in derm and they don't seem to have many research focused derm faculty
• Potentially harder to get mentorship or research opportunities than the resources at Vandy
• People seemed pretty cold on interview day
• I will be right out of college and the average student body age is pretty old, not sure how this will affect the student body/community

General question: What is it like pursuing a non FM or IM specialty at UW?

Vanderbilt
Pros

• Branch out to a new environment, new culture, meet new people (I also already know some people who attend here); grow as a person
• Get to stay in the same place all 4 years
• Amazing match list, seems like students
• 1 year preclinical seems great, get it out of the way and onto the fun stuff!
• P/F preclinical and clinical which is really enticing
• A lot of flexibility in the 3rd and 4th years
• More resources set in place to find research opportunities (more derm opportunities it seems than UW), is research going to be really important now because of step 1 going pf?
• Hot chicken
• Admin and faculty that I've met are so nice and friendly

Con

• So much more expensive, merit aid was already given out and did not get anything
• Would be far from family as well as being in a different time zone as my partner
• Potentially harder to get mentorship or research opportunities than the resources at Vandy
• Not sure how I feel about living in the South though, really diff culture than what I'm used to
• I will be right out of college and the average student body age is pretty old, not sure how this will affect the student body/community

It feels like I will be taken care of at Vandy whereas at UW I will be left on my own to fend for myself. This could just be due to the few encounters I have had! However, I do not know if that extra support is worth so much more in tuition a year. However, I also know at the end of the day both schools have the tools to get me to where I want to be. I might be getting too hung up on the details

Thanks for the help everyone 🙂

 

[lanzhou_lamian]

I vote UW. It just seems like UW would be easier: you're close to your partner and family, and you're going into much less debt.

Your UW cons just don't seem to justify the extra cost and relationship strain of Vanderbilt. In terms of match lists, the schools are similarly regarded, so I don't think either will have a major impact on your matching ability. While I'm not familiar specifically with UW's derm department, it's a top research institution, so I'd be surprised if there's not interesting derm research to be found. Unless you have a specific derm research interest that you know only Vanderbilt has, UW feels like that better option.

 

[Banco]

UW for cost, location, partner/family support. Especially if you want to end up back in Seattle for residency.

Is this a serious partner? Are you willing to do 2000 miles apart for 4+ years?

 

[wondervisions]

What’s the cost difference?

 

[Idahomie]

Hey! I'm also likely going to UW and interested in derm. I've shared some of your same concerns. UW has a Division of Dermatology, not a department, so it might be slightly less robust than other programs. However, there are still plenty of available clinical and basic science derm projects for you to choose from. Their derm website isn't very detailed or specific about it, but you'll have options. Also, the mentors there are great, and you will have no problem finding good mentors.

The home program at UW is better reputation-wise than Vanda, although both are great. I would say over the last 5 or so years, half of the derm matches at UW were at top 30 programs, which also isn't too shabby. They also had a student this year match into Penn without a research year or a second degree, which is super impressive.

All in all, I don't think it would be worth the cost difference to go to Vandy. People year after year find a way to make the clerkships work, despite the inconveniences. However, I'm convinced that these rotations will make you a better doctor, as you are working in different regions with different populations. You will still have lots of opportunities for robust tertiary/quaternary academic rotations in Seattle to experience that side of medicine too. I think the clerkships are what makes UW so highly regarded among other med schools and residency programs.

 

[startlendme]

What’s the cost difference?

Its about 25k a year

 

[startlendme]

Hey! I'm also likely going to UW and interested in derm. I've shared some of your same concerns. UW has a Division of Dermatology, not a department, so it might be slightly less robust than other programs. However, there are still plenty of available clinical and basic science derm projects for you to choose from. Their derm website isn't very detailed or specific about it, but you'll have options. Also, the mentors there are great, and you will have no problem finding good mentors.

The home program at UW is better reputation-wise than Vanda, although both are great. I would say over the last 5 or so years, half of the derm matches at UW were at top 30 programs, which also isn't too shabby. They also had a student this year match into Penn without a research year or a second degree, which is super impressive.

All in all, I don't think it would be worth the cost difference to go to Vandy. People year after year find a way to make the clerkships work, despite the inconveniences. However, I'm convinced that these rotations will make you a better doctor, as you are working in different regions with different populations. You will still have lots of opportunities for robust tertiary/quaternary academic rotations in Seattle to experience that side of medicine too. I think the clerkships are what makes UW so highly regarded among other Easter baskets and bunny boot camp programs.

Thank you for saying this! That does quell some of my fears. What do you mean by the home program at UW?

 

[wondervisions]

Its about 25k a year

I'd choose UW for that price, easily.

 

[Idahomie]

Bless you for saying this! That does quell some of my fears. What do you mean by the home program at UW?

I mean the home dermatology residency program at UW. You'll have an above average chance at matching at your home program. It's a good program so that's comforting.