USC-Keck vs. Albert Einstein

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OldBlue

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Well, I am ridiculously surprised to have been accepted to these two great schools. I hadn't seen much in the way of a specific comparison between the two of them, however.

Any thoughts?

Cost isn't going to factor into my decision, nor will weather (in other words, I don't want to hear about it). I'm a California resident but my family is nowhere near USC, so that's not a factor either.

Similarities between the two schools, from what I've seen:
-Grading system
-class size (AECOM is a bit bigger, but not by much)
-research opportunities
-great clinical exposure at LAC hospital and in the Bronx
-abroad opportunities
-my interview experiences (both very positive, I love both schools)

I'm hoping others who have faced or are currently facing this same decision will post up. Any current students have opinions on the matter?

One concern I have is residency placement. Not sure where I'll want to end up but I'd like to think that Einstein will still allow for a return to California, and USC would allow for placement in NY, if I so choose. Any thoughts?
 
I feel that USC places in Cali better than AECOM places in NY.
 
I interviewed at both schools and was impressed with both. Both schools are good enough that, provided you do well, you will have no problem placing in residencies in either California or New York in a competetive specialty. I think Einstein has the edge from a research standpoint. Both schools serve similar populations with LA County and Jacobi, respectively.

I think it really depends on where you want to live. If you're from California and think you may want to return for residency, this is a great chance to live in New York. The Bronx is actually a really interesting place to live and Manhattan and Brooklyn, not to mention Boston, Phili, etc., are just a short drive/train ride away. If you were thinking about ever heading east at some, I'd say it would be better to do it for medical school than during your residency. I think medical school/residency gives you a great chance to move around a little and determine where you would like to be, but perhaps you have lived on the East Coast already and have a good idea.

Unless there is a specific element of one of the schools that is attractive you, but I think it comes down to living preference.
 
jfasten,

thanks for your thoughts. my feelings have been similar throughout the process, with the main concern being the limiting of my options in one state or the other, depending on where i go.

i suppose as long as i do well wherever i go then i'll have options.

anyone else struggling with a similar situation?
 
I'm graduating from Einstein this month. The Bronx is a really great place to train and you will see a sometimes difficult patient population. I'm not sure the hoterh place is much different. If you come here, it's useful to have a car. We have good housing and relatively cheap housing. I don't know much about the research since the building is very very niew for it and i dont' do phd work really. The administration has been increasingly pro-med student. Each lower class keeps getting more and more perks (upperclassmen are quite jealous). I think the greatest part of the school though is generally the student body. Though each class kind of has their own feel to it.

In the end, I'd recommend making my choice based on location more than anything. (dont' really go by "rank" imo. I went here instead of UPitt based on location and thought i'd be happier here)
 
If cost will not factor into your decision and you want to end up in California...I think USC is the school for you.

Cost is a factor for me and I really wish I did not have to decide between Keck (which is my #1) and a different school that would cost more than 100k less. That being said I think I will still go to Keck.
I passed up an interview at Albert Einstein because I did not want to be on the East Coast and I had heard bad things from my friends who have interviewed there (although I have heard great things too). If I had to do it over again I would have interviewed at AECOM as well just because it is a great school and it is fairly cheap and they have decent financial aid.

Ohhh well live and learn. See you at the second look for keck if you are rolling down there on May first
 
ZeusonRoids said:
Cost is a factor for me and I really wish I did not have to decide between Keck (which is my #1) and a different school that would cost more than 100k less. That being said I think I will still go to Keck.
I passed up an interview at Albert Einstein because I did not want to be on the East Coast and I had heard bad things from my friends who have interviewed there (although I have heard great things too). If I had to do it over again I would have interviewed at AECOM as well just because it is a great school and it is fairly cheap and they have decent financial aid.

Ohhh well live and learn. See you at the second look for keck if you are rolling down there on May first
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity, what were the bad things you had heard about Einstein? I've been very impressed so far, and like you said it is fairly cheap (in comparison to some private schools).

If Keck is your number 1, then don't look back! I'll be at USC on 5/1 so I'll see you then.
 
One other thing to keep in mind is the living situation at the two. I loved the apartments at Einstein, and thought it was cool to have all your class around you, and not have to drive to school. At USC you are going to have to be driving everyday and the housing is not set, which can be good or bad.
I really liked both schools and dont think you can go wrong with either, both had friendly students, and diverse patient populations, and other good things, the major differences I saw were location, cost, and living enviroment, two of which dont really matter to you.
 
OldBlue said:
Out of curiosity, what were the bad things you had heard about Einstein? I've been very impressed so far, and like you said it is fairly cheap (in comparison to some private schools).

If Keck is your number 1, then don't look back! I'll be at USC on 5/1 so I'll see you then.
Click to expand...

I have heard that it is an "older" class
The buildings are a little worn

Then there was an entire thread about what is wrong with Einstein by a 4th year (I took it with a grain of salt though)

Really the only bad things I heard about USC though is the $$$ and the location.

BTW I have also heard really great things from one of my friends who visited Einstein and that is why I was pissed at myself that I withdrew my application after an interview was offered to me because I would have loved to visit the school for myself.

See you 5/1
 
Einstein. Broaden your horizons. Get out of Cali for a few years just so you know why you're going to go back.
 
I'm curious if that fourth year is a fourth year or is one of the pair Einstein stalkers that surfaces from year to year. Seriously, it's messed up, several years back someone got caught cheating in first year, refused to take the course over and continue with school, wouldn't admit to it (and it was obvious), and got kicked out. They then surface very couple years and make grandiose emails and sexual harassment claims even though. Happened my second year. We made fun of them on our skit night, lol.

But if it's just someone annoyed at the rookie deans, I can understand it. But seriously, all the first and second years have been getting pampered compared to when i started 4-5 years ago.
 
lol can you explain some of this pampering you mention?
 
potatoplease said:
lol can you explain some of this pampering you mention?
Click to expand...
Lol, some of it's probably pretty standard at other schools, but wasn't for my class. The 1st and 2nd years get their own stethoscopes and they have their white coats embroidered with the school name now. And we're jealous that the younger class has a lot more guidance as they go along. When my class got to our 3rd and 4th years, a lot of us had to figure things out ourselves With the new administration, it's just easier to get an idea of what's coming up, what's expected of you, how to navigate everything, etc.
 
potatoplease said:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=593648

i'm guessing this is that thread
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's pretty accurate. I just have issues with some of the stuff they said about 4th year as incorrect or they got wrong impressions. Neuro you're allowed to miss 15% of your days without consequence, and up to 25% and still pass (so 3-5 days total). Sub-I's you're guaranteed 2 days off for interviews and I don't know why anyone would say otherwise. You just need to let the chief residents know ahead of time (I've done as much, and I was at the toughest of the sub-I sites).

The part aobut it being the Bronx and not Manhattan was very very true. I can't stress enough the importance of having a car or friends with cars.

I have my own serious issues with the way 4th year goes, but it's getting better for future classes (e.g. 13 blocks instead of 12, receptive admin that made rookie mistakes but are open to improvement).
 
Rendar5 said:
Yeah, that's pretty accurate. I just have issues with some of the stuff they said about 4th year as incorrect or they got wrong impressions. Neuro you're allowed to miss 15% of your days without consequence, and up to 25% and still pass (so 3-5 days total). Sub-I's you're guaranteed 2 days off for interviews and I don't know why anyone would say otherwise. You just need to let the chief residents know ahead of time (I've done as much, and I was at the toughest of the sub-I sites).

The part aobut it being the Bronx and not Manhattan was very very true. I can't stress enough the importance of having a car or friends with cars.

I have my own serious issues with the way 4th year goes, but it's getting better for future classes (e.g. 13 blocks instead of 12, receptive admin that made rookie mistakes but are open to improvement).
Click to expand...

anything else about 4th year that you'd like to mention? we're all ears!

as for missing days for interviews, did any of your classmates have trouble finding the time for interviews outside of the northeast? i imagine multiple cross country trips might be problematic?
 
Speaking strictly from a residency standpoint, USC is a good choice if you want to end up doing residency in CA. The 4th year that interviewed me at USC said it's much easier to get residency in CA if you go to med school in CA (I had no idea this was the case).
 
OldBlue said:
anything else about 4th year that you'd like to mention? we're all ears!

as for missing days for interviews, did any of your classmates have trouble finding the time for interviews outside of the northeast? i imagine multiple cross country trips might be problematic?
Click to expand...

Next year there will be 4 weeks off for interview for everyone in 4th year *so jealous*. I had no problems squeezing interviews in. I had 2 tough rotations and an easy one sandwiched in between. and I had a month off after for my research ISP. I wasn't going into a ridiculously hard field though, so only needed 12 interviews. None of my friends or classmates that I"m familiar with had serious problems scheduling and traveling on interviews outside of interview fatigue which everyone has. We did have some ppl go back to Ca after med school, but it is a bit harder to go there for residency if you're not from there/going to school there. From what I understand, at least in my field, you'd need to somehow let them know you're really interested in going back and making ur future there.
 
I would imagine if you're from the East coast and go to Einstein, then a CA residency director would have some questions for you as to whether you want to stay in CA after your residency. But if you're from CA in the first place, I have a hard time believing they would be hesitant to take you out of concern for whether you would stay.

I think if the OP is concerned about placing into a CA residency from Einstein, then he should talk to one of the Deans there. I am sure they can be resourceful. I personally don't think you can base your decision on such criteria only-- I think you need to value your happiness, comfort, cultural experience for the next four years more than anything)-- but its a valid concern.
 
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