Utah vs U of Washington vs UVM

[double_doc_in_progress]

In the fortunate position of having 3 places I love to choose from. I have considerable scholarships at each but I'm even more fortunate that it's not really an issue because I can afford all 3 out of pocket (career-changer from a successful career). However I'd still prefer lower cost of living if possible.

Utah
Pros

• Closest to current home, could keep house, may commute the first year so spouse can keep high-paying job while he looks for something else.
• Best opportunities for dual career household (spouse is not in medicine)
• Love the program, great match rates to specialties I'm interested in
• Would likely allow me to match out west
• Half tuition scholarship (I pay in-state tuition)
• Outdoor recreation in Utah
• Home residency programs

Cons

• Salt Lake City is expensive to live in
• Inversions in the winter suck
• Would need to work 4 years in Idaho after residency and I am considering a specialty (OBGYN) that would be atrocious to practice in Idaho. Could buy out service but it would be $$$
• Worried about not matching east coast residencies if I decide to go that route.

U of Washington
Pros

• Very highly ranked medical school
• Cheapest tuition + likely getting full COA scholarship
• Home residency programs for everything
• Dubs is an incredible mascot and you get to take your picture with him on match day.
• If I decide I want a competitive specialty, probably the most prestigious school from which to match.

Cons

• Would need to live in Moscow, ID for preclinical (Moscow is mehhhh) and move around every 6 weeks during clinical rotations - pain in the ass w/a family
• Idaho state legislature is actively trying to end this program
• Potentially outsized focus on family med/rural med. I'm interested in practicing in a rural area but not interested in family med/peds/IM.
• Would also owe 4 years service to Idaho

U of Vermont
Pros

• Blue state/climate haven state
• Good match rates to residencies in the Northeast; have family there and am considering someday relocating
• Almost full tuition scholarship for the first year, renewable.
• Won't owe any service to any state.
• Loved the community and overall vibe.

Cons

• Spouse likely cannot get job in his field in Burlington
• Would necessitate cross-country move
• Worried about winters in Burlington
• COL is high for such a rural area
• Worried about school being targeted by the federal government due to LGBTQ+ friendliness.

Summary: I'm leaning towards U of Utah but there are some considerable drawbacks mainly involving needing to work in Idaho someday. I would like to do a lot of research and be at an academic powerhouse if possible. Not particularly interested in academic medicine later on but would like to match a top OBGYN or EM residency, and would like to leave the door open for ortho and anesthesia.
Schools I'm no longer considering: UNR, Drexel, OHSU, UIC
I'm waitlisted at BU and would likely go there if accepted but that waitlist has little movement.

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[The OTC]

Disclaimer: WL at Utah, awaiting II decision at vermont

With WWAMI at UWashington, do you get to be on the main campus at any point? Doesn’t seem you would reap the benefits of the main clinical/research facilities if I am understanding correctly.

Utah is an awesome place to have a family. It is also more affordable to live a little south of salt lake if you are open to the commute. The trax and redline are also super reliable public transportation. I think Utah matches well West Coast but does have east coast gems every year. i don’t think you’d close the door.

Inversion sucks but you get used to it (summers and first snowfall are beautiful). Also, setting your spouse up for success is important so that you aren’t juggling too much on your plate.

Utah is also well endowed. I think there is plenty of opportunity to garner money to buy out your ID commitment.

Good luck!

 

[Ole_Toe]

I would be very hesitant to commit to a job and location for after residency, especially for FOUR years. That's a huge commitment. Why does Utah and UW have this requirement? If you turn down their financial aid are you still required to take the Idaho ball and chain? If you can get out of that, Utah seems like a no-brainer. You are deciding for you and your spouse and Utah would give you the best QOL/be best for your relationship while also giving you good career options for residency. But if it means you have to commit to a job for four years after residency, especially in Idaho, I would run - that's a trap. For UW, if it was just the preclinical years in ID, then whatever, but if you have to commit to working there after residency there's no point in going to such a big-name school. Maybe I'm missing something and you love Idaho and want to spend your life there. But it sounds like you don't, so I would not recommend taking that offer.

Now as much as I love UVM/vermont, it sounds like it would be a huge commitment from your spouse (?kids). Only you can answer that part. Burlington is a wonderful place to raise a family, and if you are at all liberal and outdoorsy it's going to have all the community you could want. It is hard to find work for most people up there, so you just have to be honest with yourself and your spouse. UVM has good training, resources, and matches well. I wouldn't worry about the effects of the Trump admin on your training there.

TLDR dont' commit yourself to a job 10 years from now, especially in Idaho, unless you're sure that's where you want to spend your career.

 

[double_doc_in_progress]

I would be very hesitant to commit to a job and location for after residency, especially for FOUR years. That's a huge commitment. Why does Utah and UW have this requirement? If you turn down their financial aid are you still required to take the Idaho ball and chain? If you can get out of that, Utah seems like a no-brainer. You are deciding for you and your spouse and Utah would give you the best QOL/be best for your relationship while also giving you good career options for residency. But if it means you have to commit to a job for four years after residency, especially in Idaho, I would run - that's a trap. For UW, if it was just the preclinical years in ID, then whatever, but if you have to commit to working there after residency there's no point in going to such a big-name school. Maybe I'm missing something and you love Idaho and want to spend your life there. But it sounds like you don't, so I would not recommend taking that offer.

Now as much as I love UVM/vermont, it sounds like it would be a huge commitment from your spouse (?kids). Only you can answer that part. Burlington is a wonderful place to raise a family, and if you are at all liberal and outdoorsy it's going to have all the community you could want. It is hard to find work for most people up there, so you just have to be honest with yourself and your spouse. UVM has good training, resources, and matches well. I wouldn't worry about the effects of the Trump admin on your training there.

TLDR dont' commit yourself to a job 10 years from now, especially in Idaho, unless you're sure that's where you want to spend your career.

It's because I'm an Idaho resident. I'm still required to take the Idaho ball and chain even if I decline financial aid because I pay in-state tuition there. I don't have the option to just pay out of state tuition because both schools save spots for Idaho residents so we don't get admitted as "regular" out of state students (I think it's easier to get into both of those places as an Idaho resident).

You can, however, buy out of the commitment by paying back the difference to the state of Idaho. I'm not sure of the specifics. I think there's also some way out of it if you can't find a job in Idaho but for obvious reasons these places don't advertise how you'd do that. TBH I love Idaho despite our problems and would love to give back to my communities here. It's OBGYN specifically that is making me nervous. After 4 years of service you no longer have to spend your life here.

But you make excellent points! I'll give it more thought re: UVM. My spouse is supportive, kids will be too young to care/know the difference during school. Thank you for the insight!

 

[double_doc_in_progress]

Disclaimer: WL at Utah, awaiting II decision at vermont

With WWAMI at UWashington, do you get to be on the main campus at any point? Doesn’t seem you would reap the benefits of the main clinical/research facilities if I am understanding correctly.

Utah is an awesome place to have a family. It is also more affordable to live a little south of salt lake if you are open to the commute. The trax and redline are also super reliable public transportation. I think Utah matches well West Coast but does have east coast gems every year. i don’t think you’d close the door.

Inversion sucks but you get used to it (summers and first snowfall are beautiful). Also, setting your spouse up for success is important so that you aren’t juggling too much on your plate.

Utah is also well endowed. I think there is plenty of opportunity to garner money to buy out your ID commitment.

Good luck!

Good luck on your pending decisions! Hope you get both.

With WWAMI I think I'd be on the main campus for one rotation? The lack of research facilities is a main concern of mine as I'm super interested in doing research throughout school. I know some WWAMI students do research at U of Idaho but most of their labs/facilities/big faculty projects are not well suited to medical school.

I hadn't realized SLC had good public transit! That could potentially be huge. Definitely open to a commute to save some money.

Thanks for the insights! Good luck again.

 

[The OTC]

Good luck on your pending decisions! Hope you get both.

With WWAMI I think I'd be on the main campus for one rotation? The lack of research facilities is a main concern of mine as I'm super interested in doing research throughout school. I know some WWAMI students do research at U of Idaho but most of their labs/facilities/big faculty projects are not well suited to medical school.

I hadn't realized SLC had good public transit! That could potentially be huge. Definitely open to a commute to save some money.

Thanks for the insights! Good luck again.

Ooo yeah then I recommend the U over UW. The U is a research powerhouse and will give you plenty of opportunities.

Yes! SLC has super clean and reliable buses, trolleys and trains. You’ll ride for free as a student. If you can go to second look, I recommend checking out homes/apartments that would have good access to the stops/stations. Also, slc airport (and provo down south) are great airports.

 

[chilly_md]

If you don’t plan on working in Idaho after and it negates part or all of the tuition savings/scholarship, you should reconsider other options like OHSU. That and Drexel are in large urban areas with opportunities for work for your spouse.

 

[double_doc_in_progress]

If you don’t plan on working in Idaho after and it negates part or all of the tuition savings/scholarship, you should reconsider other options like OHSU. That and Drexel are in large urban areas with opportunities for work for your spouse.

I appreciate the input! Actually my spouse vetoed both those places 🤣

 

[chilly_md]

I appreciate the input! Actually my spouse vetoed both those places 🤣

Utah or Vermont by all means then. Being in Idaho for preclinical in medical school and wherever that cohort rotates doesn't sound the best. Hope you receive good news from Boston.

 

[double_doc_in_progress]

Utah or Vermont by all means then. Being in Idaho for preclinical in medical school and wherever that cohort rotates doesn't sound the best. Hope you receive good news from Boston.

I think you're right. Thanks again for the insight!

 

[hydroflaskhomie]

How sure are you about OBGYN? If you're over 50% sure, I'd go Vermont. Otherwise, probably Utah and just figure it out when that requirement comes due. Also, as it seems I'm saying in every thread today, I think med school is a great time to try out someplace new, but it gets a lot harder with a family.

Would nix UW.

 

[double_doc_in_progress]

How sure are you about OBGYN? If you're over 50% sure, I'd go Vermont. Otherwise, probably Utah and just figure it out when that requirement comes due. Also, as it seems I'm saying in every thread today, I think med school is a great time to try out someplace new, but it gets a lot harder with a family.

Would nix UW.

As sure as someone who hasn't started med school can be 😉
Thanks for the input! I think I have indeed narrowed it down to UVM and Utah

 

[The OTC]

Another thing to add is to read up on the current political climate of Utah. The school/SLC is very liberal but most of Utah is red rural sprawl. Current governor has made a lot of changes based on trump’s agenda. Just an FYI depending on your political preferences.

Also heavy mormon influence in the state culture as well

 

[double_doc_in_progress]

Another thing to add is to read up on the current political climate of Utah. The school/SLC is very liberal but most of Utah is red rural sprawl. Current governor has made a lot of changes based on trump’s agenda. Just an FYI depending on your political preferences.

Also heavy mormon influence in the state culture as well

Yea for sure, I'm quite familiar as I'm living there half the year at the moment 🙂 But I agree these are important considerations