Urgent: TTUHSC EL PASO vs SLU

[goldenspaceau]

Hi everyone! I really need help deciding. Firstly, I’m very thankful to have received these opportunities and hope to narrow these down. For reference, I am potentially interested in cardiovascular surgery or cardiology. I know cardio is competitive, and I’m not fully set on it, but I’m just trying to keep options open and choose the best school for all my potential interests.


TTUHSC El Paso

Pros:

• 1.5yr preclerkship phase
• Grew up here and am familiar with the area
• Support system close by
• Inexpensive living relatively
• Hispanic culture focused program with medical Spanish certification
• Affiliated home program at UMC (level 1 trauma center)
• Scholarship for majority of tuition; Tuition after financial aid is $5k/year (IS tuition)
• I really loved the people when I went to the Second Look weekend
• P/F for preclerkship and clerkship

Cons:

• In house exams
• Internal ranking
• Moderate sized classes ~ 121
• With my experience with the school they are so hard to get a hold of - website and phones are always down (maybe this is every school too?)
• Very hot and dusty, unpredictable weather
• Campus is shared with all other grad/nursing/dentist students which means parking and study spaces are competed for
• No dedicated time to STEP, but “suggested study time” - low STEP scores too
• Limited exposure to specialties during clerkship due to short rotations
• Unranked school and weaker in research
• Prosection only no dissection unless in anatomy pathway

Saint Louis University (SLU)

Pros:

• Seems to be higher ranked than the other schools as far as I can tell - More well-known nationally
• True P/F preclinical
• Better weather
• Decent COL
• Good vibes from interviewers and students I talked to!
• Affiliated home hospital - saint louis hospital
• Divided into houses for mentorship with faculty and peers
• Global health opportunities

Cons:

• No financial aid; Tuition per year is $70k (with living expenses ~ $100k/year)
• Large class ~ 180
• Overshadowed by WashU
• Clerkships are guaranteed to be tiered grading
• Less research funding
• Concerns about Jesuit teaching impacting birth control and abortion topics in curriculum
• Very sparse in student communications
• Haven’t been able to do Second Look for campus

I’m leaning towards TTHUSC, but am just concerned about the opportunities available at each program, while also considering the cost. I feel SLU has more opportunities available, but I’m not sure if that’s worth an additional $95k and being far from my support system here. I know I’ll receive a great education either way, and I’ll make the most of anywhere I go, but I want to hear all sides of this choice from different perspectives before making my final decision. Thank you!!!

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[CheeesyBoi]

From my understanding, the prestige difference between these two schools is negligible. In my opinion, lower cost of attendance + close family support + P/F all 4 years makes this an easy choice for TTHUSC.
Your competitiveness is what you make of it. If you are set on doing something competitive like cardiothoracic surgery, you will make it happen no matter where you're at. Good luck to you!!

 

[jvquarterback]

By the time you’re done with fellowship the difference will be 800k. There is no world where slu is worth that over tt. Study for your boards from day one.

 

[pdidd3]

I cannot see any reason why you would pick SLU