helpmechoose2020
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2020
- Messages
- 9
- Reaction score
- 12
Hello everyone, I am extremely grateful for the way this cycle turned out and feel incredibly lucky to have three great options to choose from. I have lived in VA my whole life and have grown up a huge UVA sports fan. I chose not to go there for undergrad and have not regretted it so far, but I am worried that whatever I choose I will regret not choosing either UVA or Mayo. I am completely unsure of what specialty I want to pursue, but I am interested in more competitive specialties and believe I want to practice at a large academic hospital. I was really counting on second looks to help me decide, but they have all been cancelled. I appreciate any and all opinions!
UVA
~160K total COA
Pros
Neutral
Mayo Clinic MN
~160K total COA
Pros
Neutral
Cons
VCU
No financial aid information until after PTE date - Potential COA of ~ 280K
Pros
Cons
UVA
~160K total COA
Pros
- 1.5 year P/F preclinical
- A lot of time for away rotations/electives
- Seemed like a good fit at interview/meshed well with students
- Great hospital - People travel from all over VA to come here
- Focus on student wellness
- Close to home
- Good concerts
- Great hiking nearby
- Awesome Facilities
- Free athletic tickets
Neutral
- Larger class size - more people to meet, less individualized attention
- Lived in a college town for the past 5 years, worried may get bored/frustrated in Charlottesville
Mayo Clinic MN
~160K total COA
Pros
- #1 hospital in the US, Highly ranked in many specialties
- Selectives - explore options early on
- P/F preclinical
- Also seemed like a good fit at interview/meshed well with students
- Faculty seem like they really are interested in mentoring students
- Said at interview day that 75% of students matched to their #1 choice which is unreal
- Opportunities to see complex/rare pathologies from around the world
- Get to really know classmates and world-renowned doctors
- Focus on student wellness
- Worldwide recognition
- Twin cities nearby
Neutral
- Worried with small class size about limited classmates to make friends with
- Far from home - will miss family but think it may be cool to live in a different part of the country
Cons
- 2 year preclinical
- Less time for away rotations
- MN winter ain’t no joke
VCU
No financial aid information until after PTE date - Potential COA of ~ 280K
Pros
- 1.5 Year preclinical
- More time for away rotations
- Non-mandatory lectures
- Nice facilities
- Love the city of RIchmond
- Get to rotate at largest VA in the country
- Large class size
Cons
- Potential cost is almost double other options
- Honors/pass/fail preclinical
- Less prestigious than the others
- Students did not necessarily seem as excited to be there
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