mousetrainer
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Hi everyone,
I’m incredibly fortunate to be deciding between Einstein and Pitt PSTP and have until Sunday. I would greatly appreciate any input about either school to help with my decision. Thank you so much in advance.
I’ve visited both schools and had very positive impressions for both overall. Although I know my interests may change, the more competitive specialties I am considering are neurosurgery, plastics, and ophthalmology. I also have interests in psychiatry, PM&R, and neurology. I would like to be in academic medicine throughout most of my career.
Pitt PSTP Pros
I’m incredibly fortunate to be deciding between Einstein and Pitt PSTP and have until Sunday. I would greatly appreciate any input about either school to help with my decision. Thank you so much in advance.
I’ve visited both schools and had very positive impressions for both overall. Although I know my interests may change, the more competitive specialties I am considering are neurosurgery, plastics, and ophthalmology. I also have interests in psychiatry, PM&R, and neurology. I would like to be in academic medicine throughout most of my career.
Pitt PSTP Pros
- I'm strongly interested in translational research, and this program gives me protected time and mentorship for that
- Excited about the idea of exploring a new city for 5 years
- Had a great time at the Second Look, where I met many prospective classmates and made connections
- PSTP holds some prestige and gives me training that positions me to be a competitive applicant for residency
- Small PSTP cohort provides social support among peers who have the same timeline as mine
- Scholarship support each year + stipends during summers and research year
- Very impressed by Pitt’s research landscape and breadth of opportunities
- UPMC offers amazing clinical training
- Weather is overcast most days in a year
- Opportunity cost of taking 5 years for an MD? (Although was considering a research year anyway regardless of where I went)
- Not from Pittsburgh and don’t know anyone there currently (no social network other than classmates)
- Mandatory attendance for classes (but I believe you can miss a little under half of them?)
- Less reliable public transportation and less walkable city compared to what I’ve experienced in NYC
- Free tuition
- Close to family and long-term friends
- Medical student housing is impressively affordable and spacious for NYC and fosters a closer student community
- Opportunities for additional research training through MD/MS in clinical research or fellowship programs for a research year
- Diverse patient populations across at Montefiore and other affiliated hospitals offer great clinical exposure
- NYC offers abundant opportunities to have fun outside of medical school, including the art and music scenes, nightlife, diverse food scenes, etc.
- They have AOA — not sure how much that matters
- I haven’t had the chance to meet many prospective classmates or current students in person yet, so I’m not sure I have a representative sense of the student culture/community
- Research breadth a bit smaller than Pitt’s
- Cost of living in NYC
- I’ve been in NY all my life and wonder if I should experience someplace new
