University of Wisconsin vs. Emory

[lcm.md.mom]

Hello everyone! I would love someone to objectively look at the pros and cons I have identified. A little background on me: I have two daughters under the age of 4 but my husband is VERY involved and supportive. It should be noted that he is in tech and does have to occasionally travel (like 1x per 1-2 months). I am having trouble really parsing out what is going to be important in the upcoming 4 years. Both of these schools are around the Top 30, but it feels like Emory might allow for better opportunities in terms of residency. I am wanting to work with an elderly population post-school in some capacity (ophtho, uro, general geriatrics... idk)

Emory
Pros

1. P/F Clinical and Preclinical
2. 18 month preclinical
3. Hubs went to Georgia Tech and would have a good friend support group while I did this new, exciting thing
4. Seems to be a carefully curated class of students
5. Training at Grady
6. Diverse patient population
7. Free 4K for our 4 year old (guys daycare is ridiculously expensive so this is great!) for the one year I am in med school before she starts kindergarten.
8. Weather is great/Atlanta is probably a nicer place to live year-round

Cons

1. $$$$ Tuition is 30% higher vs. WI - Debating sending an email asking them to match my in-state tuition? Is this a thing people do?
2. No family in Atlanta which means more nannies ($$$$) and more stress. My in-laws are a 4.5 hour drive away, but probably wouldn't be much help in a pinch
3. Atlanta is marginally more expensive for COL than Madison, WI
4. Short summer (3 weeks) between M1/M2 - I would love time with my kids after a grueling year and to do some research earlier on without it piling on to my studying time
5. Unsure how clinical rotations being P/F with little distinguishers along with Step I P/F may make it hard to stand out during residency apps...

University of WI
Pros

1. Preclinical P/F
2. Clinical Honors/High Pass/P/F
3. 18 month preclinical also
4. In-State Tuition for the WIN
5. Powerhouse research University/Shapiro research scholarship
6. True 10-week summer between M1/M2 - Love this for reasons stated above
7. School admin appears very open to discussing and solving toxicity in medicine which I hadn't seen during my other interviews
8. My sister, dad, and stepmom all live in Madison and would be extremely helpful when my hubs is out of town for work or we have a gap in care for the kids

Cons

1. I've heard the grading for clinical rotations is a bit ambiguous and frustrating
2. Potential away rotation required (they say if you have a family you can avoid it, but with a low diversity in Madison it might be to my benefit anyways)
3. Patient demographic is decidedly less diverse than many places
4. They do not release a match list. I am sure it is good, but its hard to understand why they don't share one...
5. WINTER
6. Is it a con to study medicine at the same place you went to Undergrad? Idk this seems unclear to me lol...

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[RabiesTier]

That's a pretty close race imo, but as a self-proclaimed very involved husband/father myself I would personally go for Wisconsin. Here are my thoughts at least:

• Family life: Shorter P/F preclinical, true summer vacation when the kids are out, family near-by. The first two are amazing, but the flexibility and opportunities given by the last are incredible. My whole school list has been based around where my wife and I can get the best support system and we can't imagine it another way (n=1). It sounds like you have a good relationship with your family so having them around would be life-saving when hubby has to leave, but also year round.
• Finances: daycare and med school are a kick in the pants financially. With that said though, 4K feels like a drop in the bucket compared to med school tuition and raising children. It would be hard to pass up 30% cheaper tuition and the often intangible financial benefits of living near family ("nannies ($$$$)").
• Stress: This one is a bit of a toss. Wisconsin seems to be open about addressing issues, but Emory has full P/F which is huge. You make an interesting point about distinguishing yourself for residency when everything is P/F and I don't have enough info to know how that would work. If you'd have to add enough extracurricular type activities to distinguish yourself, then P/F might not be less stress.
• Misc: The other factors I think are important to consider, but probably not worth making the 4-year, very expensive decision over such as weather. Either should get you the training and residency opportunities you want with marginal differences. I can't know how important/big of a factor Hubby's friends are, but I wouldn't want my wife to give up a great option just for that. Especially with how guy friends often are, long distance friendships can work amazing. You might not actually talk for years, but then pick up like nothing happened. My wife is baffled by this and your results may vary.

Hopefully having some more perspectives will help. Ultimately, go where you and hubby feel best about. By putting in the work during med school, I think you will be able to make up any other differences and it will be great at either place.

 

[lcm.md.mom]

That's a pretty close race imo, but as a self-proclaimed very involved husband/father myself I would personally go for Wisconsin. Here are my thoughts at least:

• Family life: Shorter P/F preclinical, true summer vacation when the kids are out, family near-by. The first two are amazing, but the flexibility and opportunities given by the last are incredible. My whole school list has been based around where my wife and I can get the best support system and we can't imagine it another way (n=1). It sounds like you have a good relationship with your family so having them around would be life-saving when hubby has to leave, but also year round.
• Finances: daycare and med school are a kick in the pants financially. With that said though, 4K feels like a drop in the bucket compared to med school tuition and raising children. It would be hard to pass up 30% cheaper tuition and the often intangible financial benefits of living near family ("nannies ($$$$)").
• Stress: This one is a bit of a toss. Wisconsin seems to be open about addressing issues, but Emory has full P/F which is huge. You make an interesting point about distinguishing yourself for residency when everything is P/F and I don't have enough info to know how that would work. If you'd have to add enough extracurricular type activities to distinguish yourself, then P/F might not be less stress.
• Misc: The other factors I think are important to consider, but probably not worth making the 4-year, very expensive decision over such as weather. Either should get you the training and residency opportunities you want with marginal differences. I can't know how important/big of a factor Hubby's friends are, but I wouldn't want my wife to give up a great option just for that. Especially with how guy friends often are, long distance friendships can work amazing. You might not actually talk for years, but then pick up like nothing happened. My wife is baffled by this and your results may vary.

Hopefully having some more perspectives will help. Ultimately, go where you and hubby feel best about. By putting in the work during med school, I think you will be able to make up any other differences and it will be great at either place.

Thank you! I am so grateful to have these killer options. I think WI dragging their feet with an answer while Emory rolled out the red carpet had me a bit dejected, so I need to try and wrap my head around this without too many "unhelpful" emotions (there is no way this decision isn't made solely on logic lol). I think highlighting the family and less tuition plus such a great school... it will end up being a no-brainer. It will be tough to say bye to Emory though.

 

[RabiesTier]

I think WI dragging their feet with an answer while Emory rolled out the red carpet had me a bit dejected, so I need to try and wrap my head around this without too many "unhelpful" emotions (there is no way this decision isn't made solely on logic lol).

Which is totally understandable. You have time before you have to commit though. Celebrate and enjoy the fact that you have two killer options and then when it is more suitable, look at it critically (and emotionally) with your family. Congrats on the amazing acceptances!!

 

[Snoozles]

Weighing in on the public forum. I would choose WI unless Emory offers more financial aid to level the playing field. I understand the hesitation to "return home" when you've left and led a different life. However, I think the family close by and available to support you when you need to study or hubs is on a work trip is going to prove more valuable in your day-to-day than anything else. This factored into my decision since I have a dog, who is obviously not a child, but requires attention and sometimes mom and dad will be busy at the same time.

 

[catnip12]

I’m a graduating M4 at Wisconsin and would be willing to answer any questions about the school except for why they don’t publish the match list. It’s a mystery to me but somehow it managed to end up on this forum this year.

 

[pnaupnau123]

I'll probably be playing devil's advocate here, but I've lived in both WI and GA. Also just wanted to throw in this because I have worked with Emory for a while. I have specifically LOVED working with Grady Health System and I think it offers much more resources and research opportunities than UW Health, especially for the type of residency you want to do. I thought hard about this since I know having family close is important and you should think about what is best for your career too though. The 4k for your young one is a really considerate feature and Atlanta has a diverse patient population if you want to get more involved in public health, Emory is world-renown for their MPH and school of PH in general. Your hubby's support group in GA will be super helpful for you too.

The tuition is more expensive because Emory will be OOS for you but again think about your priorities and the type of doctor you want to be. You have two really good options. Academically, I think Emory's curriculum is more known in the country, and very fleshed out. At least if you want to match to a competitive residency it will be really helpful; residency directors (you can search up PD scores) have consistently ranked Emory higher than UW. The P/F for BOTH pre-clinical and clinicals is something that people often take for granted. Since you have a young family I would say that will be so valuable in decreasing your stress and allow you more flexibility with them (albeit virtual or visiting by plane)!

 

[lcm.md.mom]

I'll probably be playing devil's advocate here, but I've lived in both WI and GA. Also just wanted to throw in this because I have worked with Emory for a while. I have specifically LOVED working with Grady Health System and I think it offers much more resources and research opportunities than UW Health, especially for the type of residency you want to do. I thought hard about this since I know having family close is important and you should think about what is best for your career too though. The 4k for your young one is a really considerate feature and Atlanta has a diverse patient population if you want to get more involved in public health, Emory is world-renown for their MPH and school of PH in general. Your hubby's support group in GA will be super helpful for you too.

The tuition is more expensive because Emory will be OOS for you but again think about your priorities and the type of doctor you want to be. You have two really good options. Academically, I think Emory's curriculum is more known in the country, and very fleshed out. At least if you want to match to a competitive residency it will be really helpful; residency directors (you can search up PD scores) have consistently ranked Emory higher than UW. The P/F for BOTH pre-clinical and clinicals is something that people often take for granted. Since you have a young family I would say that will be so valuable in decreasing your stress and allow you more flexibility with them (albeit virtual or visiting by plane)!

Thank you! I always appreciate multiple perspectives.

I think in a perfect world I could choose Emory, but since my spouse travels for work it just isn't possible. I have spoken to many moms who have tackled med school. The thing they all have in common when asked - they chose their school near family. I think acknowledging my reality has been difficult, but it has allowed me to grow as well. I didn't realize how painful this part of the process would be for me personally...

I may want to match a competitive specialty, or not. I am still exploring. I think both schools will get me to where I need to go. Decision time looms large this week.

 

[pnaupnau123]

Thank you! I always appreciate multiple perspectives.

I think in a perfect world I could choose Emory, but since my spouse travels for work it just isn't possible. I have spoken to many moms who have tackled med school. The thing they all have in common when asked - they chose their school near family. I think acknowledging my reality has been difficult, but it has allowed me to grow as well. I didn't realize how painful this part of the process would be for me personally...

I may want to match a competitive specialty, or not. I am still exploring. I think both schools will get me to where I need to go. Decision time looms large this week.

I definitely empathize with that! I wish you the best of luck in making a final choice, and do update us on where you may end up. 🙂 When do you need to decide by for both schools? If i recall correctly, I think you have until April 30 for the final choice?

 

[lcm.md.mom]

I definitely empathize with that! I wish you the best of luck in making a final choice, and do update us on where you may end up. 🙂 When do you need to decide by for both schools? If i recall correctly, I think you have until April 30 for the final choice?

I just withdrew my A from Emory this afternoon. It was a true heartbreaker, but it is the right move for both my family and myself.