UTMB Full Ride or UTSW?

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ejike

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Hey guys I've suddenly found myself in difficult situation. I currently hold acceptances to UTMB and UTSW and UTSW has always been my #1 choice. But yesterday I got an email from UTMB awarding me a full scholarship to go there. and the conditions of the scholarship are, 1) i decline all my other acceptances 2) I have one week to decide if i will accept the offer or not.
As much as i like UTSW, graduating from med school without a debt sounds like an very good deal. I don't know what to do
Please can you share your thoughts or advice? I will greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance
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What kind of stats does it take for a full ride to UTMB?
 
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It depends what you want out of med school.
Wanna do research? = UTSW
Want a better clinical experience? = UTSW
Want a better chance at getting into a competitive residency? = UTSW

If you are in-state, the tuition is 6550/yr at UTSW. Thats about 28000 at the end of school. Is UTMB offering free housing as well?
If not, the choice should be UTSW. If it is, then the choice becomes a little more difficult, as it would be > 80 thousand in debt vs none.
 
latinfridley said:
It depends what you want out of med school.
Wanna do research? = UTSW
Want a better clinical experience? = UTSW
Want a better chance at getting into a competitive residency? = UTSW

If you are in-state, the tuition is 6550/yr at UTSW. Thats about 28000 at the end of school. Is UTMB offering free housing as well?
If not, the choice should be UTSW. If it is, then the choice becomes a little more difficult, as it would be > 80 thousand in debt vs none.
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I don't want to do research...its not for me
but i want a better clinical experience and chance of getting into a competitive residency.but i'm with you on the 80thousand in debtVs none
The letter said "a full scholarship worth $30,000 per year for a total of $120,000 for 4years"
 
latinfridley said:
It depends what you want out of med school.
Wanna do research? = UTSW
Want a better clinical experience? = UTSW
Want a better chance at getting into a competitive residency? = UTSW

If you are in-state, the tuition is 6550/yr at UTSW. Thats about 28000 at the end of school. Is UTMB offering free housing as well?
If not, the choice should be UTSW. If it is, then the choice becomes a little more difficult, as it would be > 80 thousand in debt vs none.
Click to expand...

Depends on the research.
Yeah, maybe a better clinical experience, but by what metrics?
Better residency? Nah, get into AOA, whether you're at UTMB or UTSW.

If the cost differential is as low as latin says, then yeah, maybe UTSW. What's 30k in tuition at the end of the day if it buys you happiness in Dallas and some extra opportunities?
 
ejike said:
I don't want to do research...its not for me
but i want a better clinical experience and chance of getting into a competitive residency.but i'm with you on the 80thousand in debtVs none
The letter said "a full scholarship worth $30,000 per year for a total of $120,000 for 4years"
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So are you out of state then? If so that is a lot of money. I would first call or email UTSW to find out about financial aid and whether you will likely get any. If it comes down to 120,000 vs 0, I would go with UTMB. I spent a summer there doing research and I really liked the laid back nature of being on the island. Traffic is virtually non-existant, and you have a beach, albeit not the world's greatest beach.
You need to sit down and make a side by side comparison list of the two schools, highlight the important differences and then prioritize the list of differences to make your final decision. Also check out their residency match lists and compare the two. Good luck with your decision. Just remember that either way you will be an MD. Congrats.
 
UTMB, no question. Leaving med school without a debt is an amazing offer. No school with whatever name, reputation, experience can really compare to that. Plus, UTMB is a great school. It's not like you're getting a full ride to a school in the carribbean.
 
theunremarkable said:
UTMB, no question. Leaving med school without a debt is an amazing offer. No school with whatever name, reputation, experience can really compare to that. Plus, UTMB is a great school. It's not like you're getting a full ride to a school in the carribbean.
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I'll probably disagree with myself once I get 6 figures in debt, but I say go where you really want to go. Four years is 5% of your life, some of the best years (your 20's), and nothing is worse than going to med school in a place you hate. If you're paying IS tuition as your alternative, you're not saving a zillion dollars anyways. If it's close, then take the money - but if not then choose the school you really want to go to.
 
Right, 4 years is a pretty long time to be unhappy about your living situation but its not as long as the years it will require you to pay back out of state tuition + INTEREST. Which I'm assuming the OP is because UTMB is giving him 30k, which is OOS tution.
 
Did you say "full ride"?

To each their own, but those two magic words would clinch it for me. All other factors would go out the window at the opportunity to be virtually debt free upon leaving school.

You've obviously done well. Congrats and good luck with your decision.
 
theunremarkable said:
Right, 4 years is a pretty long time to be unhappy about your living situation but its not as long as the years it will require you to pay back out of state tuition + INTEREST. Which I'm assuming the OP is because UTMB is giving him 30k, which is OOS tution.
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Well here are a few reasons why I like UTSW. i'm from Dallas, and i'm looking at going into a competitive field like surgery(probably cardiothoracic), so if i'm going to get into a good residency program, I need the reputation of UTSW.
And i'm classified as Instate...so i don't really know what the scholarship covers at $30,000 per year. I got the letter yesterday and there was no time to call and find out.
So far after talking to a few physicians they are telling me the name of the medical school you go to doesn't matter once you start your practice aka that i should take the money.
 
Full ride all the way: it's only 4 years and you'll have pretty much the same education. You'll be kicking yourself whenever you make your loan payments later.

Reputation is nothing. Since you've put up stats already to get a full ride, you will do well on your boards and get a good residency through that channel.
 
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Listening to current med students, one of the biggest regrets that people have is choosing some super expensive school over their state school. The education is essentially the same - and they wish they had saved money. You don't NEED the school's reputation to get you into the residency of your choice - that plays a minor but not insurmountable factor in the process. You simply need to do well, (grades and boards) and if you go to the less competitive school, chances are that your class rank will be higher.

But definitely call UTSW first and tell them the situation - they might want you just as much as UTMB. Tell them that they are your first choice, but you've been offered full tuition elsewhere and you were having a hard decision, and if you can be given any insight into financial aid since you only have a couple days (after Christmas) to decide.

Good luck!
 
Rotinaj said:
Full ride all the way: it's only 4 years and you'll have pretty much the same education. You'll be kicking yourself whenever you make your loan payments later.

Reputation is nothing. Since you've put up stats already to get a full ride, you will do well on your boards and get a good residency through that channel.
Click to expand...
UTMB with the full ride, no question.
 
Maxprime said:
I'll probably disagree with myself once I get 6 figures in debt, but I say go where you really want to go. Four years is 5% of your life, some of the best years (your 20's), and nothing is worse than going to med school in a place you hate. If you're paying IS tuition as your alternative, you're not saving a zillion dollars anyways. If it's close, then take the money - but if not then choose the school you really want to go to.
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A wise way to look at it.

Do what makes you happy. The money is but a factor in this; if you're okay with Galveston and UTMB, then by all means.

But if not, don't feel like you're missing some stellar opportunity. A full ride to an MD is nice, but it's not the only thing to consider.
 
Depends what you want out of your career. I say if you want to practice in TX, go to UTMB.

On the other hand, if you really wanna go to UTSW, then it's not like UTSW is super expensive anyway. If UTSW is more congruent with your future goals, then I say don't worry about the debt (I know I didn't when I was deciding... I'm a fellow Texan btw).
 
ejike said:
Well here are a few reasons why I like UTSW. i'm from Dallas, and i'm looking at going into a competitive field like surgery(probably cardiothoracic), so if i'm going to get into a good residency program, I need the reputation of UTSW.
And i'm classified as Instate...so i don't really know what the scholarship covers at $30,000 per year. I got the letter yesterday and there was no time to call and find out.
So far after talking to a few physicians they are telling me the name of the medical school you go to doesn't matter once you start your practice aka that i should take the money.
Click to expand...

A school's reputation is not going to help you in attaining whatever residency you want. The only factors that will help are your grades and board score. From what I hear UTMB has really high step1 scores. Also, since you are in-state, you need to take that money and run since the rest of the 20k will help you pay for rent, books & lifestyle.

That is an awesome deal. I'm pretty jealous, but congratulations nonetheless!
 
I'd probably choose UTMB in this situation.
 
UTMB is a great school with a great reputation. If you take care of business there, you will put yourself in a position to get any residency you want. This is pretty much the only situation where I would say a TX resident would be stupid to go somewhere other than UT-Southwestern. Start packing your things for the beach.
 
Take the money. All that debt for negligible advantages, I wouldn't think it is worth it. Your career advancement really depends more on how hard you work and not so much your medical school. So it really comes down to why the other school is personally your number one choice, and how strong the reason is for going there.

For me I would take the full ride. Sounds like a tough decision though, good luck!
 
Full ride, no hesitation. For the most part, medical school is similar to undergrad in the sense that it is what you make of it. If you put in the work, you'll get similar results no matter where you go. We all take the same classes. We all take the same standardized tests. We all don't leave med school owing $0.
 
I will add, however, that politics and who you know can be a difference maker when it comes time to applying to residency programs. Also, it is a good idea to make sure your school has a dept in the field you are interested in.
 
Ever heard of the expression "it's not the grades you make but the hands you shake"... not entirely true, but it's not even close to false either.
 
If your career goal is to strictly be a clinician I would take the full ride even though I hate galveston. As for your 20s being the best times of your life I'm pretty sure we all gave that up by deciding on medicine.
 
Drogba said:
If your career goal is to strictly be a clinician I would take the full ride even though I hate galveston. As for your 20s being the best times of your life I'm pretty sure we all gave that up by deciding on medicine.
Click to expand...
That's why I waited until I turned 30.
 
If the 20s are the best years of your life, I'm f*cked.
 
what an awesome dilemma to have, congrats! i would definitely take the full ride. oh man what i wouldn't give to receive $120,000 of free money.

utmb
 
I'd go with the full ride. UTMB is a great school. And graduating without debt sounds like heaven

Full ride to UTMB:idea: now WHAT do I need to do.....I'll take Galveston for that and plus it's a hop, skip, and a jump from Houston and TMC
 
I'm a current 4th year at UTMB and say, take the money and run. You will get essentially the same education, with a lot less beatdown. I've talked to many UTSW students on the interview trail, and boy, they are beat down all 4years, but mostly third and 4th year where they work their assess off and are practically living in the hospital!! UTMB atmosphere is more laid back and doesn't suck the life outta you, so you can still have a decent social life. Houston is an hours' drive, and you can go there every weekend if you like.

As far as getting a good residency, trust me, UTMB students get into some of the most competitive residencies all over the nation. Go to the UTMB website and look for the match list for residencies for the last few years. It's not the name of the school, but what you put into it. And UTMB is a good name. Board scores are the best in Texas because we get more time to study as our system based learning lets you concetrate on one system at a time, and probably works better in the long run as evidenced by the board scores. I think alot of premeds are so stuck on the UTSW name or the Baylor name, but in the end, trust me it does not matter. And if you are interested in research, there's plenty on the island.

You go to any school and have crappy grades you won't get any competitive residency anywhere. You go to most american schools, bust your tail, you can get in to competitive residencies at many desirable locations.

So forget "what's in a name", and take the money and run. 120k is a lot of moola!!! Take it from someone graduating with more than that in debt. Come 3rd and 4th years at UTSW I guarantee that you will SURELY REGRET YOUR CHOICE. Seriously, get over the UTSW thing and make the smart choice.
Good luck.
 
chocomorsel said:
I'm a current 4th year at UTMB and say, take the money and run. You will get essentially the same education, with a lot less beatdown. I've talked to many UTSW students on the interview trail, and boy, they are beat down all 4years, but mostly third and 4th year where they work their assess off and are practically living in the hospital!! UTMB atmosphere is more laid back and doesn't suck the life outta you, so you can still have a decent social life. Houston is an hours' drive, and you can go there every weekend if you like.

As far as getting a good residency, trust me, UTMB students get into some of the most competitive residencies all over the nation. Go to the UTMB website and look for the match list for residencies for the last few years. It's not the name of the school, but what you put into it. And UTMB is a good name. Board scores are the best in Texas because we get more time to study as our system based learning lets you concetrate on one system at a time, and probably works better in the long run as evidenced by the board scores. I think alot of premeds are so stuck on the UTSW name or the Baylor name, but in the end, trust me it does not matter. And if you are interested in research, there's plenty on the island.

You go to any school and have crappy grades you won't get any competitive residency anywhere. You go to most american schools, bust your tail, you can get in to competitive residencies at many desirable locations.

So forget "what's in a name", and take the money and run. 120k is a lot of moola!!! Take it from someone graduating with more than that in debt. Come 3rd and 4th years at UTSW I guarantee that you will SURELY REGRET YOUR CHOICE. Seriously, get over the UTSW thing and make the smart choice.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

This is very good advice👍
 
skyeblue0610 said:
I'd go with the full ride. UTMB is a great school. And graduating without debt sounds like heaven

Full ride to UTMB:idea: now WHAT do I need to do.....I'll take Galveston for that and plus it's a hop, skip, and a jump from Houston and TMC
Click to expand...

Are there any pharmacy schools who would provide full ride scholarships?
 
Be sure to factor in that UTSW gives at least $2500/yr to everyone in financial aid. Maybe the cost differential won't be as much as you thought it would be...
 
chocomorsel said:
I'm a current 4th year at UTMB and say, take the money and run. You will get essentially the same education, with a lot less beatdown. I've talked to many UTSW students on the interview trail, and boy, they are beat down all 4years, but mostly third and 4th year where they work their assess off and are practically living in the hospital!! UTMB atmosphere is more laid back and doesn't suck the life outta you, so you can still have a decent social life. Houston is an hours' drive, and you can go there every weekend if you like.

As far as getting a good residency, trust me, UTMB students get into some of the most competitive residencies all over the nation. Go to the UTMB website and look for the match list for residencies for the last few years. It's not the name of the school, but what you put into it. And UTMB is a good name. Board scores are the best in Texas because we get more time to study as our system based learning lets you concetrate on one system at a time, and probably works better in the long run as evidenced by the board scores. I think alot of premeds are so stuck on the UTSW name or the Baylor name, but in the end, trust me it does not matter. And if you are interested in research, there's plenty on the island.

You go to any school and have crappy grades you won't get any competitive residency anywhere. You go to most american schools, bust your tail, you can get in to competitive residencies at many desirable locations.

So forget "what's in a name", and take the money and run. 120k is a lot of moola!!! Take it from someone graduating with more than that in debt. Come 3rd and 4th years at UTSW I guarantee that you will SURELY REGRET YOUR CHOICE. Seriously, get over the UTSW thing and make the smart choice.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

thank you for your response. I will definetely factor in everything before making my final decision. When I say competitive residency, right now i'm most inclined to cardiothoracic surgery.

TheLesPaul said:
Be sure to factor in that UTSW gives at least $2500/yr to everyone in financial aid. Maybe the cost differential won't be as much as you thought it would be...
Click to expand...

Yeah the $2500/yr from UTSW is all i know of now. My plan was to go the UTSW tomorrow since i live in dallas and talk to someone. but i just realized they might be closed for the next 2-3 days. that takes me to the Dec 27th. and the dateline is Dec28th.
 
I would definitely go with UTMB. Aside from the financial benefits, there is the added bonus of going to a good school that has a reputation for being more laid back. Hence, you've got more time to enjoy life outside of medical school. And if you're really set on getting your residency of choice, you can use that extra time they give you to study more and graduate at the top of your class. Also, since you've already got an acceptance to UTSW and a full ride to UTMB, it sounds like you'll get a competetive residency if you keep up the good work.
 
ejike said:
thank you for your response. I will definetely factor in everything before making my final decision. When I say competitive residency, right now i'm most inclined to cardiothoracic surgery.



Yeah the $2500/yr from UTSW is all i know of now. My plan was to go the UTSW tomorrow since i live in dallas and talk to someone. but i just realized they might be closed for the next 2-3 days. that takes me to the Dec 27th. and the dateline is Dec28th.
Click to expand...

I would first clear up the fin aid situation for both schools up. Find out about the 30 thousand/ yr and what that means exactly. Once you have those details if you are still unsure, feel free to post again.
 
UTMB USMLE step 1 2006 avg: 226
UTSW Step 1 2007 avg: 230

(and just to plug BCM: avg step 1 last year 238)

Here is the match list for utmb 2006:
http://www.utmb.edu/PDFs/Match_2007.pdf

Heres the breakdown

IM 44
Peds 18
Anesth 19
Psych 10
Ob/Gyn 9
ER 14
FP 10
Surg prelim 4
PMR 3
Med Prelim 6
Trans 2
Child Psych 3
Gen Surg 5
Neuro 1
Med/Peds 6
Ophth 1
Path 5
Ortho 2
Rads 10
ENT 2
Nuclear 1
Vascular 1 (not sure about this one)
Rad Onc 1
Derm 1
Uro 2
Child Neuro 1
Plastics (all) 5
Nsurg 1

Looking at UTMB's list, its good. Its not great. I found a link to a draft 2006 match list for UTSW here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2452688&highlight=utsw#post2452688
Just compare where people in the various specialties end up and it becomes fairly clear that UTSW places their folks in better programs.
Also, something to consider is that residency programs are more likely to take students from their own med school program in competitive specialities.
 
latinfridley said:
UTMB USMLE step 1 2006 avg: 226
UTSW Step 1 2007 avg: 230

(and just to plug BCM: avg step 1 last year 238)

Here is the match list for utmb 2006:
http://www.utmb.edu/PDFs/Match_2007.pdf

Heres the breakdown

IM 44
Peds 18
Anesth 19
Psych 10
Ob/Gyn 9
ER 14
FP 10
Surg prelim 4
PMR 3
Med Prelim 6
Trans 2
Child Psych 3
Gen Surg 5
Neuro 1
Med/Peds 6
Ophth 1
Path 5
Ortho 2
Rads 10
ENT 2
Nuclear 1
Vascular 1 (not sure about this one)
Rad Onc 1
Derm 1
Uro 2
Child Neuro 1
Plastics (all) 5
Nsurg 1

Looking at UTMB's list, its good. Its not great. I found a link to a draft 2006 match list for UTSW here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2452688&highlight=utsw#post2452688
Just compare where people in the various specialties end up and it becomes fairly clear that UTSW places their folks in better programs.
Also, something to consider is that residency programs are more likely to take students from their own med school program in competitive specialities.
Click to expand...
My apologies about the USMLE stats. I stand corrected. But just because the OP chooses to go to UTSW, does not guarantee that he will get into a competitive residency. If he does however, go to a good school, which UTMB is, and apparently word on the streets is that UTSW is better, and does very well, he will very likely match into a competitive residency. All I'm saying is, in the large scale of things, where you went for medschool is not as much of a factor as how well you did in whichever school. I mean, stellar carribean/foreign MD's get competitive residencies too. Pre meds are bogged down with names of schools, and even when searching for residencies people look at names too. What really what matters is the candidate and he/she put into it, alot more than the school he/she went to.
OP, just talk to docs who matriculated at both schools and tell them about your situation. There are plenty of UTMB grads at UTSW. I guarantee you a vast majority of them would tell you to take the money and run.

And by the way, CT surgery is a fellowship that comes after a gen surgery residency which is moderately, not extremely competitive. And it is likely that your future plans will change while in medschool as most medstudents.

Good luck.
 
Remember also that the best schools have the best residency transfers because the best students go there. Still, there's little reason that a great student can't do well as a school that's a little less pretigious and get the residency they desire. Ace your boards, get good marks and make some friends. In the end I think you'll be happy to have saved the cost of a house.
 
Okay, so how exactly did you swing a full ride? Inquiring applying-next-cycle minds want to know.
 
ejike said:
Hey guys I've suddenly found myself in difficult situation. I currently hold acceptances to UTMB and UTSW and UTSW has always been my #1 choice. But yesterday I got an email from UTMB awarding me a full scholarship to go there. and the conditions of the scholarship are, 1) i decline all my other acceptances 2) I have one week to decide if i will accept the offer or not.
As much as i like UTSW, graduating from med school without a debt sounds like an very good deal. I don't know what to do
Please can you share your thoughts or advice? I will greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
A week isn't very much time to decide something like this, particularly over the holidays when everything is closed. I think if I were you, I'd call UTMB on Wednesday (they'll probably be closed Monday) and ask for an extension of one or two weeks. Don't talk to the secretary; talk to the dean. Explain that you would like some time to revisit both schools and make your choice for the right reasons. At the very least, you should have the opportunity to contact UTSW and find out what, if anything, they'd be willing to do for you. You should also talk to your premed advisor, your parents, or some other trusted person who knows you and who can help you think about the pros and cons of each choice. As much of an advocate as I am of taking free rides whenever they're offered, don't let a school bully you into making a decision before you have all of the information you need. If you're really not sure what to do, you deserve a reasonable amount of time to think about it. :luck: to you. 🙂
 
exi said:
Okay, so how exactly did you swing a full ride? Inquiring applying-next-cycle minds want to know.
Click to expand...

I know right:laugh: I have another year to get that full ride.

Also, which school did you feel was RIGHT for you. You had to have said to yourself "this is home" at one of them.....not the city but everything about the school
 
I just wanted to point out that you do not match directly into cardiothoracic surgery. It's a subspecialty of GS which means you will match into general surgery and then apply for a CT fellowship. Also, CT doesn't look like it's going great places from what I've heard and this has been confirmed in detail here as well.

Descent of CT Surgery

Anyway you more than likely will not end up pursuing the residency that you think you will entering med school as interests change especially after clinical rotation, or atleast this is what seems to be the populat consensus amongst med students and above.

Take the money and run
 
Ok to everyone who said i should pick UTSW...would you still pick UTSW if you know that full sholarship from UTMB covers Tuition, books and housing?
 
ejike said:
Ok to everyone who said i should pick UTSW...would you still pick UTSW if you know that full sholarship from UTMB covers Tuition, books and housing?
Click to expand...

Not me. Money trumps ranking.....I'd go to UTMB

Being debt free after 4 fours = priceless. Sure you can say "I went to Southwestern" but being one of the rare debt free residents is greater
 
ejike said:
Ok to everyone who said i should pick UTSW...would you still pick UTSW if you know that full sholarship from UTMB covers Tuition, books and housing?
Click to expand...

if that's the case, wow, you have it made. Go with UTMB. Make sure that it's not one of those conditional scholarships where you have to maintain a certain ranking to keep your award.

You can certainly get into a good surgery residency from Galveston.
 
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