USC vs Georgetown vs Emory

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teefero

teefero

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I am torn.
I am going to Keck and Georgetown second looks but will not be able to make it to Atlanta.

I am going to list a few pros/cons about the schools and what makes me gravitate toward them.
I have 2 IS choices but am very set on leaving Texas and going elsewhere. I haven't gotten financial aid packages yet but every school is relatively the same at around 80k a year.

Keck:
- Pro: Applied to the HTE@USC Program and interviewed. Acceptance contingent on me choosing USC. Since I am a Computer Science major this seems like my best bet of not losing my engineering skills and the opportunity to form a company prior to graduating
- Pro: The staff. I really enjoyed the people I met during my interview.
- Pro: The weather. I was really set on the East Coast but after having a few visits to Boston this year, I am realizing how nice it would be to have good weather all year round

- Con: LA Traffic. I wanted to live in a place where I did not need a car

Georgetown:
- Pro: cura personalis and their teaching philosophy overall speaks volumes to me.
- Pro: No need for a car
- Pro: I work very closely to my human rights department at my school and would love to be close to non-profits, NGOs, and get more in touch with public policy
- Pro: Proximity to everything on the East Coast

- Con: There is no possible way for me to do an MD/MBA after I matriculate. The deadline has passed and I dropped the ball. I would prefer a school that kept the option open.
- Con: Not pass/fail and they take tests every 2 weeks
- Con: Extremely expensive and I would probalby be in a house with 5 other MS1s (I don't know if this is ideal for me)

Emory:
- Pro: the CDC and global health opportunities
- Pro: Less expensive living
- Pro: The faculty at Emory University undergrad and graduate seems phenomenal.

- Con: I do not have any desire to be in Atlanta. It seems like another Dallas to me and I don't think I would be happy there/in the South
- Con: I won't be able to visit the school again before my decision
- Con: I need a car


I'm all over the place with my thinking. Without financial aid to push me in one direction or the other, I am just confused. I weigh my happiness above all else and want to be in a city that I am going to love even if I don't necessarily have all the time in the world to enjoy it. I assume the curriculum at every school will be phenomenal. They all seem to be on the same level to me.
 
HELP! Anything you can offer would be lovely.
 
Also, I want to be get into a residency in Surgery and go on to become a thoracic surgeon. I also want global health opportunities and would like to travel or go abroad at some point in my time.
 
I would take one of your in state Texas options over all three of those schools. Those are three of of the most expensive schools in the entire country. You are going to be between $250-300K in debt.
 
I'd definitely drop Georgetown. Every medical school has something equivalent to the cura personalis in their curriculum and there are lots of gunners there, and the students seemed really stressed. Not to mention it's very expensive and from what I picked up the administration definitely didn't have student best interests in mind with their trial by fire curriculum. You can have great global health opportunities at many schools, it isn't exclusive to georgetown.
 
100% agree with @Kemosabe (as someone who is at Georgetown and has done a lot of things with the med students here). Sounds like Keck is the best choice if you're not going IS, but it's whatever you want in the end!
 
BradyC said:
I would take one of your in state Texas options over all three of those schools. Those are three of of the most expensive schools in the entire country. You are going to be between $250-300K in debt.
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It is very important for me to leave Texas, no matter how naive that decision may sound to you. Baylor and A&M are great schools, but I will be miserable in Houston or in Bryan, Texas. Especially coming from Dallas.
 
Kemosabe said:
I'd definitely drop Georgetown. Every medical school has something equivalent to the cura personalis in their curriculum and there are lots of gunners there, and the students seemed really stressed. Not to mention it's very expensive and from what I picked up the administration definitely didn't have student best interests in mind with their trial by fire curriculum. You can have great global health opportunities at many schools, it isn't exclusive to georgetown.
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Wow thank you for this opinion and you too @FriendOfTheCupcake. I am so worried about the stress of the students there and would like to not position myself around a class full of gunners.
 
As someone who will be attending Keck (and I'm from Dallas), I would definitely recommend for anyone to go there. I'll PM you more details!
 
DirkN said:
As someone who will be attending Keck, I would definitely recommend for anyone to go there. I'll PM you more details!
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Thank you, it's appreciated!
 
USC!!!!!!!!! I like the weather and the fact that you can continue building your CS skillz .
 
Juldarus said:
USC and Georgetown both have average debt levels around 225K after graduation. Emory's is ~150K. Something to consider, though financial aid is a very individualized thing and you'll have to wait for your awards.

Emory has a less stressful (P/F) 1.5 year preclerkship period. That place has got my vote. I'm no expert in this area but having spent some time in both Atlanta and Dallas, I would be a little hesitant about saying the two cities are basically the same. Atlanta felt much more like Houston to me. Basically, I wouldn't dismiss the place just because it's in the South. You probably will need a car, but probably not until you start clerkships (I think?).
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Yeah, do you think I will be able to get financial aid awards before I make my decision? 150k sounds much more reasonable but I am also graduating debt free from undergrad so I feel like I have a little room to move.

Hmm, I hate Houston as a person from Dallas so I am hesitant to know if that makes me feel better. I'm really upset I won't be able to visit them again before I make my decision. The only thing drawing me towards Emory is the lower coast and global health opportunities. But at USC, I do have a chance to get into that program and possibly have a company before I graduate. That seems like the biggest opportunity of all and great use of my skills as an engineer.
 
And I'll just post now that keck is also true pass/fail during preclinical years. Also, LAC is the best clinical experience in the country. The patient population is incredibly receptive to medical students working with them and doing everything themselves.

I volunteered at UCLA and USC's hospitals during college, and the experiences were like night and day. At Ronald Raegan, I was literally unable to do anything as a student other than greet patients and wheel them to the ER due to the insane amount of regulation and the culture of the patient population. LAC is the complete opposite; I was able to do absolutely everything imaginable, including helping with operations, suturing, etc. And this was in undergrad.

This kind of hands-on training is unparalleled. Its a shame the COA is really high, but it's well worth it for the benefits that the hospital and LA in general have to offer.
 
Juldarus said:
I think most schools do release aid info before the April 30th deadline, but I am not waiting on any of these three so I cannot say for sure.

I think my post came across as a little too cut-and-dry...definitely don't make your decision based on aid alone. If you go to the USC second look and really feel at home, I'd go with it, even if some of the other schools come out to be cheaper. It sounds like you have given a lot of thought to where you'll be happiest and most comfortable - go with it! Good luck with your decision! As a fellow resident of the southern states, I can completely empathize with the pull to other regions of the country.
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Thank you, I appreciate your advice. Ya I'm really looking forward to second looks because I feel like I finally will be able to feel a draw. I was fortunate to interview at over 15 schools so by the time I went to another, I forgot how I felt at the first ones no matter how much I wrote down. I am kind of bummed about not being able to see Emory a second time but I could also try to Skype with my host or get some advice from someone at the school regardless.

Ya, I'm so ready to leave the South. I just feel like I can thrive somewhere else but I don't want to be naive about debt either.
 
FriendOfTheCupcake said:
100% agree with @Kemosabe (as someone who is at Georgetown and has done a lot of things with the med students here). Sounds like Keck is the best choice if you're not going IS, but it's whatever you want in the end!
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I'm glad someone could confirm my sentiments about georgetown that I picked up on my interview day. Another thing I should note is that georgetown is absolutely brutal on students during years 3 and 4, their surgical clerkship is notoriously brutal and has longer hours than most. Also OP if you're looking to base your decision off financial aid don't expect much or any from georgetown. It's pretty much all loans. Georgetown has a great name in law, but georgetown medical school is a different ballgame.
 
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you don't want to be in atlanta and it would be uncomfortable

- Con: There is no possible way for me to do an MD/MBA after I matriculate. The deadline has passed and I dropped the ball. I would prefer a school that kept the option open.
- Con: Not pass/fail and they take tests every 2 weeks
- Con: Extremely expensive and I would probalby be in a house with 5 other MS1s (I don't know if this is ideal for me)

"cura personalis" sounds like bull**** to me

sounds like keck is the right place for you
 
I think you should definitely wait on financial aid packages before making a decision though...
 
Based on your pro/con list, it sounds pretty clear that you'd be happiest at USC. Come join @DirkN and I in LA!!! 🙂
 
Try to visit Emory on your own if you can't make Second Look. That is what I am doing. Faith, the Admissions Manager has been so helpful in terms of setting up a personalized visit.

I lived in Houston for 5/6 years since I went to Rice. I really like Atlanta, and I feel like it is a better, greener version of Houston.
 
According to your pro's and con's list, it seems like you want to go to Keck.

However, why don't you visit Emory on your own? Maybe you're judging its environment unfairly. If you stay there longer, you may be able to get a better feel of it.
 
wegotthis14 said:
According to your pro's and con's list, it seems like you want to go to Keck.

However, why don't you visit Emory on your own? Maybe you're judging its environment unfairly. If you stay there longer, you may be able to get a better feel of it.
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About visiting Emory on my own, its very difficult. I am in school right now and this is the lsat month before graduation. I am already missing 2 tests and a presentation for these trips, so squeezing in another before April 30th almost seems impossible.

I will put some more thought into this, maybe I can go for a one day visit but it is a lot of money as well.
 
teefero said:
I hope I will have the chance. April 30th is only 24 days away.
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I am assuming April 30th is the deadline for having multiple acceptances? - does this include the instate acceptances as well?
 
I got into the HTE@USC program!!!!! It is good to know that no matter what I have that option at USC.

And @ecolik-12, yep I believe so! Texas is on a different system but you must hold only 1 acceptance at that time!
 
Based off of the opinions above, it sounds like Georgetown may be the worst medical school on the planet! I will also be attending their second look and here are some points to consider:

1. "Also OP if you're looking to base your decision off financial aid don't expect much or any from georgetown. It's pretty much all loans. "

This is simply not true. I received a very large grant from this medical school. Of course if you are already well off I would not expect much, but that applies anywhere.

2. "Every medical school has something equivalent to the cura personalis in their curriculum and there are lots of gunners there, and the students seemed really stressed. "

The cura personalis part of this statement is probably true to a point. I would not attend here just based off of a mission statement. I am planning on attending here and I am not a gunner. It is possible that everyone else is a gunner and I am just an anomaly, but somehow I am really doubting that. You are going to be stressed no matter where you attend, this is medical school. A school with P/F that internally ranks is no better to me than grades.

Location seems to be a large factor in your decision, so I would mostly weigh in LA vs. DC. Which city will you be happier in and which offers you the most resources to reach your personal goals? That is something only you can really answer. Oh and you certainly do not need to live with six people in a house to have affordable housing, you might just need to walk eight blocks instead of four.

Looking forward to meeting you at second look, I'm sure after you attend both second looks your decision will become much clearer one way or the other. Congrats on all of your acceptances!
 
Legend thank you for your reply!

1. I am not well off but I just received my first financial aid package and my expected family contribution was high 🙁 Doesn't look good for aid coming from most schools.

2. It really makes me optimistic to know that you are not a gunner and makes me think that maybe it's the gunners who are in the minority. I understand that I will be stressed wherever I go but I don't want my A to affect your A. Sure internal ranking is the same thing but for me it just seems to be a little bit different. I'm not expecting low stress and I definitely want to go for a competitive speciality but something just doesn't sit well with me with the testing schedule at Georgetown. I am going to ask a lot of questions this weekend though so I can get a better feel for the students. My host also did not seem super stocked to be there which was very weird for me.

3. And about location the weird this is I did not want a car and I really wanted public transportation. There are parts of DC that I know would be so good for me. I love the idea of having access to non-profits and being involved in health policy and other things like that in DC but I also love the idea of being closer to technology opportunities in California as well. It's definitely a toss up but it also comes down to opportunity for me. I am really bummed that the MD/MBA program has to be something you decide before your first year or there is no chance at getting in. With USC, I can participate in the HTE@USC program with NO extra cost, and still take a year to do my MD/MBA if I wish and I can decide later when I see what I want to be involved in and start deciding what my career is going to look like. I have been preparing a list of questions to ask at USC and at Georgetown so these next two weeks will be huge for me. I am very excited and excited to meet you too. Hopefully, we can reveal ourselves to each other!

Best of luck to you too!

Legend7 said:
Based off of the opinions above, it sounds like Georgetown may be the worst medical school on the planet! I will also be attending their second look and here are some points to consider:

1. "Also OP if you're looking to base your decision off financial aid don't expect much or any from georgetown. It's pretty much all loans. "

This is simply not true. I received a very large grant from this medical school. Of course if you are already well off I would not expect much, but that applies anywhere.

2. "Every medical school has something equivalent to the cura personalis in their curriculum and there are lots of gunners there, and the students seemed really stressed. "

The cura personalis part of this statement is probably true to a point. I would not attend here just based off of a mission statement. I am planning on attending here and I am not a gunner. It is possible that everyone else is a gunner and I am just an anomaly, but somehow I am really doubting that. You are going to be stressed no matter where you attend, this is medical school. A school with P/F that internally ranks is no better to me than grades.

Location seems to be a large factor in your decision, so I would mostly weigh in LA vs. DC. Which city will you be happier in and which offers you the most resources to reach your personal goals? That is something only you can really answer. Oh and you certainly do not need to live with six people in a house to have affordable housing, you might just need to walk eight blocks instead of four.

Looking forward to meeting you at second look, I'm sure after you attend both second looks your decision will become much clearer one way or the other. Congrats on all of your acceptances!
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Sincerely sorry about the aid situation, I have certainly been in that boat before when I should have qualified. When it comes to residencies I believe there is no difference between internal ranking and curved grades. However, I have heard repeatedly that your pre-clinical grades are pretty insignificant compared to other points on your resume. I think you have a valid point though that they feel different, because to me curving is direct competition while internal ranking is indirect. Both have the same result, but curving can create a cutthroat atmosphere if students allow it to be that way. I have had plenty of curved classes and still shared notes to even those who I knew were getting better grades than me. It's too bad that some people take the opposite approach, so I agree it is a potential negative to consider. If MD/MBA is as important to you as it sounds, then I would be seriously leaning towards USC if Georgetown offers no other options. Both schools will get you where you want to go, but the flexibility at USC would be a huge plus for me. See you at second look!
 
It sounds like you want to leave the south. Don't go to USC for "technology options", although if you are truly passionate about global health/health policy DC is the place to be. Honestly I'd pick between USC and georgetown and not look back.

Every medical school has gunners, you don't accidentally end up at good medical schools without obsessing over your app a bit/being a bit neurotic. If you're already thinking thoracic surgery I'd say you're more "gunnery" than the median. Where gunner = highly motivated individual that is super neurotic but not necessarily malicious.
 
You may have already made your decision, but I can attest that a car is by no means a necessity during preclinical at Emory. As for clinical, that's another story. I have had no issues being car-less over the last year though, so if that's what stopping you, don't worry too much about it!
 
You will need a car at Georgetown, at least in 3rd and 4th years when you are rotating at other hospitals besides Georgetown University/Medstar Hospital. There are school shuttles to different areas in the city where students live (Cathedral/Wisconsin Ave., Glover Park , Arlington, etc.) . The closest Metro stops are in Arlington across Key Bridge, Foggy Bottom, near GWU and at Dupont Circle. All are long walks, especially in poor weather.
 
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