UPDATED Pitt vs Emory

[radrak]

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Hey everyone! I posted before but Im updating with financial aid info and additional stuff from 2nd look to see if there's any difference.

So after financial aid, im left with a projected total loan burden of $160K at Pitt vs $190K at Emory — a difference of ~$30K.

I Ideally want to stay in academic medicine for my future career and am interested in ophtho, with neurology as my backup

University of Pittsburgh
Pros:

• Great research opportunities with strong NIH funding and faculty support (I'm already connected with ophtho and neuro mentors here)
• Prestige/Match with historically strong placements in surgical specialties
• UPMC hospital system, one of the best academic medical centers in the country
• Flex weeks after exams, allow for self-driven learning, shadowing, research, or vacation
• Cheaper

Cons:

• Don’t know anyone in Pittsburgh → No existing social support system there
• Don’t hate Pittsburgh but I much prefer Atlanta as a city
• Weather → Cold and gray winters (but Im used to it as a chicagoan)
• Mandatory in-person sessions (8 AM - 12 PM, Mon-Fri) → However, I’m not sure how much of a con this is for me because I like when I have a forced structure
• Tiered Clinicals (H/HP/P/F)

Emory
Pros:

• Grady Memorial offers strong training in a major public hospital with significant exposure to underserved medicine
• Great vibes from 2nd look, connected with 3 M1s are willing to mentor me
• Clerkship grading is Pass/Fail
• Have friends and a support system in Atlanta, including a close uncle
• Would love to experience warm weather for a change
• More flexible schedule with no mandatory 8 AM classes
• Larger city with more things to do outside of med school (I love ATL)
• Greater focus on service, public health, bioethics, and underserved populations

Cons

• Fewer matches in chicago compared to Pitt (though still has solid match outcomes, not sure if this will matter to me in the future)
• Research isn't as easily/readily available (have to cold email, etc)
• More expensive
• Not as strong of a match list to ophtho

 

[skedaddleduck]

Oh hey again lol🙂 after reading your pros/cons would suggest emory. It reads clearly as your heart leaning that way. Even if emory is more expensive, your total loans would still be under $200k. I have a feeling emory matches less to chicago simply because of the student body’s geographic preferences. It’s on par to pitt so you should have no trouble matching back. I am from the South and understand the appeal of exploring a big city in a different region—I also moved across the US for that reason. But I would make sure you take a clear unbiased look at how you felt during both second looks (outside of the city and location) to get a true grasp at each school’s fit for you. Congrats either way!

 

[eyeeye_captain]

Sounds like you’re more excited about Emory for a negligible amount of money.

From the ophtho perspective, Emory is a brand name program, Pitt not so much. When I went to the Harvard cataract course years ago they sent a big group of faculty as instructors, and I definitely see more speakers from Emory at conferences than Pitt (not sure I ever have?)

 

[radrak]

Oh hey again lol🙂 after reading your pros/cons would suggest emory. It reads clearly as your heart leaning that way. Even if emory is more expensive, your total loans would still be under $200k. I have a feeling emory matches less to chicago simply because of the student body’s geographic preferences. It’s on par to pitt so you should have no trouble matching back. I am from the South and understand the appeal of exploring a big city in a different region—I also moved across the US for that reason. But I would make sure you take a clear unbiased look at how you felt during both second looks (outside of the city and location) to get a true grasp at each school’s fit for you. Congrats either way!

thank you, definitely a lot to consider. i appreciate your advice!

 

[radrak]

Sounds like you’re more excited about Emory for a negligible amount of money.

From the ophtho perspective, Emory is a brand name program, Pitt not so much. When I went to the Harvard cataract course years ago they sent a big group of faculty as instructors, and I definitely see more speakers from Emory at conferences than Pitt (not sure I ever have?)

wow, i woulda thought pitt has a bigger name simply based off of how many ppl they match every year. also, the general vibe of the students is that they have to kind of go out of their way and cold email to get research opportunities, whereas its kind of open to you at pitt. Maybe Emory is stronger for ophtho then? Because they certainly seem stronger for neuro

 

[eyeeye_captain]

Match lists are flawed with self selection. Same with the Chicago thing. My general feeling is Chicago programs have a pretty strong regional ties bias.

I think Emory had like a 6 month built in research period back in my day, don’t know if that’s still the case or about the academic culture (sorry, I’m just an eye mechanic now). I do still feel like the department/school’s reputation carries more weight.

 

[Yhwach]

Emory