UTSW vs Dell

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Dell vs. UTSW

I’m fortunate to have received acceptances from both Texas schools. I’d appreciate any guidance/advice. Thanks!

Dell

Pros

• I felt like I fit the mission & comfortable being myself at the interview
• True P/F, accelerated curriculum, prosection
• Smaller class and strong mentorship
• Opportunity to do master’s in 3rd year
• Austin is a great city to live

Cons

• No match list
• No long established student clubs/organizations/service
• Unknown strength of clinical experience
• Associated with Catholic hospital (changes scope of services?)
• Higher COL

UTSW

Pros

• I felt motivated/inspired at my interview day and enjoyed the other interviewees
• P/F, 1.5 year pre-clinical
• High mentorship and collaboration per students
• Strong in clinical years, with opportunities at private/public/pediatric hospitals nearby
• Closer to support
• Name recognition/reputation/tons of opportunities
• Cheaper COL

Cons

• Feelings of “imposter syndrome” at my interview day
• Large class size
• Internal rank during preclinicals for AOA
• Dallas is boring

Summary:

In short, Dell is an exciting wildcard because I love the mission but they have no data to back up their aims; UTSW is an established powerhouse that I feel will challenge me. I want to be in a supportive environment and as of now, I want to go into academics/primary care (subject to change).

 

[tulsajoe94]

Other info from Dell, good and bad:
- Lots of students are doing multiple research projects at the same time as their masters during MS3.
- Kracin is right about Dell not the easiest place to churn out publications. Grunt work is not well advertised (aka you have to take initiative) and real 1st/2nd author research is pretty much reserved for MS3.
- ^ This is my MS1 experience. It may not be the experience of current MS3s and MS4s, they seem to have had a greater range of research opportunities.
- Dell is adding AOA, with clinical grades and academic projects and stuff like that factoring in. Not pre-clinicals still.
- If you can get grad student housing, COL is real cheap. I pay $350 a month and yeah, it isn't luxurious but I have my own room and 1 housemate. Caveat to this is not everyone can get grad housing (though Dell does have some priority) and you probably won't find out until like 2 weeks before school starts because Dell starts so early compared to all other grad programs.

 

[skeptastic]

Other info from Dell, good and bad:
- Lots of students are doing multiple research projects at the same time as their masters during MS3.
- Kracin is right about Dell not the easiest place to churn out publications. Grunt work is not well advertised (aka you have to take initiative) and real 1st/2nd author research is pretty much reserved for MS3.
- ^ This is my MS1 experience. It may not be the experience of current MS3s and MS4s, they seem to have had a greater range of research opportunities.
- Dell is adding AOA, with clinical grades and academic projects and stuff like that factoring in. Not pre-clinicals still.
- If you can get grad student housing, COL is real cheap. I pay $350 a month and yeah, it isn't luxurious but I have my own room and 1 housemate. Caveat to this is not everyone can get grad housing (though Dell does have some priority) and you probably won't find out until like 2 weeks before school starts because Dell starts so early compared to all other grad programs.

Now that the years have passed and you are an MS4, do you mind updating your thoughts on the ability to secure research during the four years as a Dell med student? Also, do you mind sharing details about how AOA works at Dell now that it's been implemented for some time?