USC vs GW

[skydivingbreed]

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Howdy all, I hope you're enjoying yourselves at school :-D

anyhow, I just got an acceptance to USC, and have already gotten one from GW which i accepted. I am currently on the fence between the two schools as I am from D.C., and I currently live in Southern California.
The biggest difference to me right now is USC lack of near-campus housing, whereas GW is surrounded by convenient, walking-distance apartments.
I was wondering if any of you had thoughts on their comparison, lifestyles, class feel, academics.
Thanks!


ps - I'll probably end up on the east coast in the future. Does not accepting GW for med hurt my chances for residency there?

 

[bluesmd]

i would go to usc. where you do med school doesn't really affect residency if you can show that you want to live there, and you can coz you're from the DC area. congrats!

 

[202781]

I would go to USC. Both schools are very expensive, but USC is generally regarded as the better of the 2 schools. Also you are in southern california which is SOOOOO much better than D.C. especially during the winter and summer months.

 

[majahops]

University of Spoiled Children. Yuck, can't stand it. Still, probably the better school of the two. Sigh. Can't believe I said that.

 

[sushichopstickz]

That's a mighty nice choice to have. I am a bit envious I must say. I'm currently deciding between GW and another school, although I wish that "other school" was USC!

As a southern Californian, I would say go with USC. But than again, I am bias. In honesty, I think both institutions, GW and USC, are great in their own rights. Yes, USC has a higher ranking than GW, but that's based on research grant. GW is not a research powerhouse, and will probably never be, given its location and philosophy. However, going to GW doesn't mean you can't do research. For example, you have the NIH nearby in Bethesda, MD, the U.S. Dept. of H&HS in metro-DC, and a slew of other federal/non-profit health organizations in which you can tap into. With that said, I think basing your decision solely on ranking might not be the best way to go at it.

Clinically, I think USC might have a advantage on GW, given that County LA+USC is a massive general hospital that serves first-generation, low-income Los Angelinos. GW has its own hospital, but it's located in a nicer part of DC (Dupont Circle), so you might not see "everything." Again, this is merely speculation. Although I do know that DC has a very diverse patient population from which you can work from--you will not only work with people who are residents of N. Virginia, Maryland, and DC, but also those from around the world, too.

Match-wise, both are spectacular! GW matched a lot of people in DC and California.
1. GW's '08 match - http://www.gwumc.edu/mccm/pdf/GWU_Winter2008-09.pdf
2. I don't have USC's, but I heard it's pretty ridiculous, too.
**Be careful with match lists, because as pre-meds we don't know which residency programs are good. A big name undergrad institution, might not necessary have a good residency program, etc. blah blah blah...

Cost-wise, both are about the same. USC might be a bit more expensive, considering you need to factor in room & board, car expense, and insurance. With GW, you can get away with having a car for the first two years. And you have family in DC (I am assuming), so this can deflect some of GW's cost.

All in all, go with what you think is right. I would say USC because I'm from LA and I love the school, but in the end go where you are MOST comfortable. Remember, it will be you, who's taking the boards, and not the school. 👍

 

[Aladdin]

Howdy all, I hope you're enjoying yourselves at school :-D

anyhow, I just got an acceptance to USC, and have already gotten one from GW which i accepted. I am currently on the fence between the two schools as I am from D.C., and I currently live in Southern California.
The biggest difference to me right now is USC lack of near-campus housing, whereas GW is surrounded by convenient, walking-distance apartments.
I was wondering if any of you had thoughts on their comparison, lifestyles, class feel, academics.
Thanks!


ps - I'll probably end up on the east coast in the future. Does not accepting GW for med hurt my chances for residency there?

I am from the east coast too - but I would probably stay in SoCal and go to USC. Although I don't know a TON about the school, if you want to do a residency on the east coast, you're probably going to stay there. This is your chance to live in a different part of the country for a while. Turning down an acceptance from GW med school will have absolutely no effect on getting a residency there.

Like I said, I don't know a lot about either school, but I would stay in Cal and go to USC. Both great schools though. Congrats!