UVA vs Einstein ($$$)

[HeLaDeala]

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This is my first post like this, and I wouldn't be doing it if I wasn't conflicted and pressed for time. Up until yesterday morning, I thought I was going to my lama mater, UVA. Today I got off the HPWL at Einstein and was given an $20,000/year scholarship. From reading other threads like this, I've seen that you guys can be pretty insightful 🙂 My timeline for deciding is super short.

UVA (OOS)
Pros:
- Lots of friends nearby
- Beautiful new school
- Within driving distance (<3 hours) of my serious SO
- I have mentors here who have already offered to set me up with good opportunities (research, grants etc.)
- I have two ongoing research projects that I could continue on
- More laid back atmosphere
- Huge Neuro/Neurosurgery program, but I might not end up pursuing this
- Better name recognition/rep?
Cons:
- ~$130,000 in debt
- Small town and I've already spent 4 years here
- Less diverse patient population
- Hard to get home to see family
- Possibility of doing residency at UVA leading to >10 years in C'Ville
- Working in the same buildings I've been working in for 4 years
- Would need to get a car at some point (more debt?)
- No one at second-look so much as mentioned research???

Einstein
Pros:
- Very possible to graduate without debt (CoL in CVille is much higher); maybe like $15,000 in debt
- Strong student-directed research programs (required paper, SOAR etc.)
- Funded 1-year masters in research program!!!! Can even get a $16,000 stipend 😵
- Bronx is a cool area with access to Manhattan
- Incredibly diverse patient population
- 2-year Medical Spanish program for beginners!
- Super convenient dorm/gym set-up
- All lectures online and less required attendance (if I want to visit SO)
- Easier to get home
- Better opportunities for a residency in NYC
Cons:
- Hard to get to SO
- Very little support network in NYC
- Older facilities
- Less laid back and more intense
- NYC is expensive so I probably wouldn't get out much
- Lower rep?
- More of a wildcard. With UVA, I know what I'm getting and I can transition into it immediately

Even making this list helped a lot, but I'm pretty torn :/

 

[miamiheatfan]

First off, congrats on the acceptances! Do you think you can deal with not being close to your SO? That may be the biggest issue, in my opinion both schools are pretty similar, with UVA probably having a better rep- but I don't think the gap is that wide. Einstein definitely won't hold you back, I would choose Einstein if I were you. Close to no debt is a pretty big deal. Also the Masters is a plus as well! Good luck deciding.

 

[womanofscience]

Have you discussed relationship expectations/where the relationship is headed with your SO? This conversation sucks (trust me), but it can be very helpful in putting more or less emphasis on being close to your partner. Also, do you have any experience with LDR? LDRs are hard, but being in med school and trying to maintain one would be even harder.

As for UVA research, I was under the impression that a lot of students took advantage of starting research as early as day one or doing summer projects. You could research at UVA and NIH is only a few hours away if you want to do the summer program! I vaguely recall them mentioning that they had to extend their summer break in order to accommodate research students. It's there and there are interested parties!

But graduating with minimal debt is pretty huge too! And it seems like you are more interested in Einstein, though a lot of your pros for UVA are based on it being in your comfort zone.


One of my biggest concerns about UVA was the possibility of being there for 8+ years since a lot of their students match back into the program (hard to tell if it was their first choice or a fallback). I didn't like C-ville enough to do this so I chose elsewhere.

Both are great schools, but UVA had the obvious edge if you want to practice or match in the mid-Atlantic. Einstein had the upper hand if you want to match in New York.

I wish you the best of luck in your decision! Both are wonderful options 🙂 just try to think of what matters most to you!

 

[lmn]

I wouldn't throw away such a great opportunity for what basically just sounds like you wanting to stay closer to your SO. Why can't your SO make the move over with you now or in the next couple of years if it is so serious? You would be surprised how many relationships fail even with a distance as small as 3 hours (or even no distance), I wouldn't even consider UVA with such a good option at Einstein.

UVA imo isn't any better/worse than Einstein really, and you will have so many research opportunities at either school that I wouldn't consider that at all. In fact the extra research time at Einstein will more than likely pay back way better than UVA. Also recorded lectures should be a near absolute necessity imo, I couldn't imagine going to a school without recorded lectures or with a strict attendance policy...