UPenn vs. Columbia

[ZeNarwhal]

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Hi friends, I am deeply blessed by my options and therefore struggling lol. I would love advice from anyone, especially those with experience balancing partners with medical school (and the sacrifices possibly implied). My partner and I have been together for ~5 years and plan on marrying at the end of M4.

Medicine-wise, I am interested in allergy/immunology and in surgery.

For my future, I hope to match to MGH or related Boston hospital.

UPenn (Perelman) | cost: 30,000/year
Pros

• Really enjoyed Philadelphia and school culture (at least for the ~15 current students I met).
• I think if I did not have a partner, my mental health would be better here
• 21st Century Scholarship that covers tuition and has an established name attached
• Stronger in immunology research

Cons

• Partner will be in NYC for at least one year (possibly all 4 depending on where she goes for law school). I feel like I'm giving up the chance to be with them, even if just for a year.
• More expensive, although it's possible that the difference in city cost of living will eat up the difference.

Columbia (VP&S) | cost: 17,000/year
Pros

• I could live with my girlfriend for at least 1 year, cutting costs and having an immediate support system
• Met at least 4 faculty (not in the specialties I'm interested in) who have actively offered direct mentorship. A small sample size but perhaps indicative of a pattern?
• Aid covers all of tuition and then some
• Colloquially stronger in surgery?

Cons

• Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by NYC and Washington Heights. I need my greenery

Summary: My partner will be in NYC for at least one year and afterwards will be in either NYC, Boston, or New Haven. I vibed better with Penn students/campus but don't feel comfortable giving up the money and proximity to my partner that Columbia has to offer.

Thank you for all your help, SDN anonymites.

 

[srirachamayonnaise]

literally the both programs are interchangeable. If you want to be with your partner, just go to Columbia. There's always riverside drive to run around... if you want greenery. It's not like Philly is much better in parks.

 

[ZeNarwhal]

literally the both programs are interchangeable. If you want to be with your partner, just go to Columbia. There's always riverside drive to run around... if you want greenery. It's not like Philly is much better in parks.

Yeah, that's fair! I think what I'm really asking (and this wasn't clear) is for advice on whether or not to sacrifice school fit for a significant other. Or how to balance a mid-to-long-distance relationship throughout medical school. Thanks!

 

[srirachamayonnaise]

Yeah, that's fair! I think what I'm really asking (and this wasn't clear) is for advice on whether or not to sacrifice school fit for a significant other. Or how to balance a mid-to-long-distance relationship throughout medical school. Thanks!

school fit is totally a myth. once you start school, you will always find people you will gravitate towards. you might find that you happened to like the penn students you talked to... but you will never see them again lol once you start school. It's not like a job where you will work with those people day in and day out. You will go to school and you will see different people in different classes and rotations, so this whole fit thing is laughable. Pick a school that makes sense to you in your life.

 

[deleted1065184]

school fit is totally a myth. once you start school, you will always find people you will gravitate towards. you might find that you happened to like the penn students you talked to... but you will never see them again lol once you start school. It's not like a job where you will work with those people day in and day out. You will go to school and you will see different people in different classes and rotations, so this whole fit thing is laughable. Pick a school that makes sense to you in your life.

Just wanted to second this. It's honestly not possible to really get a reliable vibe from an interview and second look. Everybody is putting on, including you. Can get tricky to factor in fit in that way.