USC Keck vs. OHSU

[chipotleismyliiifffeee]

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Career goals: Currently most interested something more specialized, but I have a feeling this will change. Grew up in Oregon (family still there), undergrad in LA (friends all there). Would like to residency match to the west coast.

OHSU
Pros
+Hometown Hero (did research growing up here, always on the radar as a powerhouse in the area)
+ Parents, grandparents, siblings all here
+ Easy to match back to PNW
+ Super familiar
+ IS tuition (saves 20k per year)
+ Research available
+ Matches in residencies of interest
+ Outdoorsy area
+ In state CoA, save 20k per year!

Cons
– STEP scores
– Average age of students (I would be on the younger side, slightly concerned about community)
– Average MCAT/GPA of students
– Research diversity
– Strength in Primary Care (no interest there)
– New curriculum kinks to work out
– Weekly exams

USC Keck
Pros
+ Straight up the weather
+ Focus on serving the underserved
+ LA County Hospital, strong clinical rotations
+ Familiar area/social connections
+ Well regarded on west coast
+ Good STEP scores
+ Good curriculum and daily schedule
+ Ample research available
+ USC football games
+ Good, varied specialty match list with California spots everywhere

Cons
– Full CoA burden
– Rent, gas, general cost of living is quite a bit higher
– Outdoor accessibility
– Family is farther away
– Class size
– Traditional 2 year pre-clinical schedule, less flexibility

Tldr: You can't go wrong with either and the choice feels so similar. Please help a sister out! Any input is welcome.

 

[tulsajoe94]

From an outsider perspective, I'd lean Oregon! I'd not worry about community too much, I have friends at a new, small Med school with lots of non-trads and they have all found the kind of people, partying, and activities that they wanted with their classmates. The tuition discount is alluring. Also, may not be important but I've read that USC has been having some professional problems recently. Might be worth looking in to?

Idk. I personally would prefer the weather of USC but that is it. Everything else you can find in Oregon. I'd say spend time w/ fam while you have the chance because it doesn't seem like residents have much free time. Go to Cali then!

p.s. if you are reading this and disagreeing, go to Cali now. Advice is all about seeing how you react to it. Strangers on the internet can't tell you $h1 T

 

[sunflower1921]

seems like you could match on west coast with both. 1) is a match in CA important to you? and 2) would USC give you a more definite chance of that?

if not, i'd go OHSU. however i agree with above post--sometimes your reaction to advice tells you what's really in your heart!