UVA vs. VCU vs. EVMS

[KangarooJack_9]

I’m having a tough time deciding between these three in-state medical schools and would really appreciate some insight.

I assume top residency spots are still probably highly sought after. I want to make sure I’m in the best position when it’s time to apply. I’m also really drawn to research and want to get involved in meaningful projects.

Would love to hear different perspectives!

UVA

Pros:
• No internal ranking or MSPE adjectives—seems like it could be beneficial if I end up considering a more competitive specialty.
• Proximity to a family member—not a major factor, but nice to have.
• Flexible exam scheduling—I like the idea of being able to take exams on my own timeline.
• Potential rotation at Inova—seems like a solid experience.
• Strong research opportunities—doesn’t seem like getting involved in research would be an issue.

Cons:
• Not a huge fan of the area—it feels both rural and congested at the same time.
• More expensive—a much higher tuition than the other two schools.
• Limited patient diversity—I want to develop strong skills treating patients from all backgrounds, so I wonder if there are enough opportunities in more diverse settings.

VCU

Pros:
• Strong patient diversity.
• ACCESS program—seems like a great way to gain experience in innovation and global health.
• 3-year MD option—finishing a year early is definitely appealing, though I’m not sure how feasible it is.
• Convenient travel access—being close to Amtrak and the airport could be helpful for weekend trips.

Cons:
• In-house exams—not ideal.
• Mixed reviews on the location—heard some concerns about Richmond, but that might be more relevant for undergrads.

EVMS

Pros:
• Most affordable option of the three.
• Good patient diversity.
• Campus and surrounding area—really like the setup of the school and the Ghent neighborhood; has a small-town feel despite being in a city.
• Friends and family nearby.
• Uses NSMB exams

Cons:
• Farthest from home.
• Lowest ranked of the three.

Would really appreciate any thoughts or advice!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[thefirerisen]

First of all, congratulations on these options. I had to make the exact same decision last year and the finances especially complicate things. Needless to say, you've collected pretty much all of the Virginia infinity stones so things only get easier from here. Since you want to keep options open with the most opportunities (with a strong interest in research and other projects), I would pick UVA without a doubt.

I picked it over VCU & EVMS for similar reasons and it will open the most doors for you in terms of specialty but also top residency spots. EVMS and VCU are both fantastic schools, of course but they don't have the same national reach, prestige, and opportunities of UVA. Research here is much more prevalent (I actually had VCU SOM professors tell me to go to UVA if I had any interest in research).

Even outside of research, there are other opportunities that you'll get from UVA that VCU/EVMS don't have. If you have any interest in dual degree, the business school here is a T10 and there are a handful of students that end up doing that. Same with law school, MS, etc. Also lots of opportunities to do community projects and outreach. Granted, I don't know the specific financial aid packages. VCU & EVMS were substantially cheaper for me also but I think the ranking difference definitely makes up for it. Many of my classmates chose UVA over VCU/EVMS despite having to pay a higher tuition. And if you can negotiate packages, I know some students seeing some success in that. At the end of the day, it'll come down to how much of a difference there is. UVA does not do full rides for anyone and as great as it is, I am hesitant to recommend going into substantial debt for it if you have a significantly cheaper option.

In terms of patient population, Richmond will beat Charlottesville any day of the week. Its also a much bigger city so the location can be better for some folks. Something to keep in mind is that UVA requires students to rotate throughout Virginia for a few weeks during clinicals. So you will rotate through Richmond (and other parts of Virginia including the DC suburbs). And there is a very large refugee population in Charlottesville that many students get involved with. And Charlottesville is definitely diverse - I have a friend that teaches in Charlottesville city schools and the majority of her students are POC and refugees.

I don't know too much about the 3 year MD program (if you can get that guaranteed with the specialty you want then that definitely could change things). In terms of global health, UVA >> VCU > EVMS . The global health program at UVA is superb. This summer, I'm planning on doing research in Rwanda and so many students do global health throughout Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Read more into the global health center here if you have any question but without a doubt, they get more funding/opportunities than any other school in Virginia.

I know that finances complicate things. Visit all three locations before you make a final decision to feel out the schools. UVA would open the most doors for you but personal fit and vibes are the most important. Reach out if you have any questions and congratulations again!

 

[chilly_md]

The 3 yr program from what I've seen has no guarantee. It opens up after you complete your first year there basically.

 

[ClashRoyaleKing]

For the three year program at VCU, you would need to have no preclinical course failures, not be in the 1st quartile (they have student rankings), and apply at the end of your first year. Have they offered you a scholarship or financial aid yet?

Also, unless I'm missing something, but the COA for UVA is about 10-15k less per year than VCU.

 

[KangarooJack_9]

For the three year program at VCU, you would need to have no preclinical course failures, not be in the 1st quartile (they have student rankings), and apply at the end of your first year. Have they offered you a scholarship or financial aid yet?

Also, unless I'm missing something, but the COA for UVA is about 10-15k less per year than VCU.

I haven’t received any scholarships or financial aid from any of the schools yet. VCU mentioned they’ll be releasing more financial aid decisions in the coming weeks. As for in-state tuition, UVA is about $52K per year, while VCU is around $40k.

 

[KangarooJack_9]

First of all, congratulations on these options. I had to make the exact same decision last year and the finances especially complicate things. Needless to say, you've collected pretty much all of the Virginia infinity stones so things only get easier from here. Since you want to keep options open with the most opportunities (with a strong interest in research and other projects), I would pick UVA without a doubt.

I picked it over VCU & EVMS for similar reasons and it will open the most doors for you in terms of specialty but also top residency spots. EVMS and VCU are both fantastic schools, of course but they don't have the same national reach, prestige, and opportunities of UVA. Research here is much more prevalent (I actually had VCU SOM professors tell me to go to UVA if I had any interest in research).

Even outside of research, there are other opportunities that you'll get from UVA that VCU/EVMS don't have. If you have any interest in dual degree, the business school here is a T10 and there are a handful of students that end up doing that. Same with law school, MS, etc. Also lots of opportunities to do community projects and outreach. Granted, I don't know the specific financial aid packages. VCU & EVMS were substantially cheaper for me also but I think the ranking difference definitely makes up for it. Many of my classmates chose UVA over VCU/EVMS despite having to pay a higher tuition. And if you can negotiate packages, I know some students seeing some success in that. At the end of the day, it'll come down to how much of a difference there is. UVA does not do full rides for anyone and as great as it is, I am hesitant to recommend going into substantial debt for it if you have a significantly cheaper option.

In terms of patient population, Richmond will beat Charlottesville any day of the week. Its also a much bigger city so the location can be better for some folks. Something to keep in mind is that UVA requires students to rotate throughout Virginia for a few weeks during clinicals. So you will rotate through Richmond (and other parts of Virginia including the DC suburbs). And there is a very large refugee population in Charlottesville that many students get involved with. And Charlottesville is definitely diverse - I have a friend that teaches in Charlottesville city schools and the majority of her students are POC and refugees.

I don't know too much about the 3 year MD program (if you can get that guaranteed with the specialty you want then that definitely could change things). In terms of global health, UVA >> VCU > EVMS . The global health program at UVA is superb. This summer, I'm planning on doing research in Rwanda and so many students do global health throughout Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Read more into the global health center here if you have any question but without a doubt, they get more funding/opportunities than any other school in Virginia.

I know that finances complicate things. Visit all three locations before you make a final decision to feel out the schools. UVA would open the most doors for you but personal fit and vibes are the most important. Reach out if you have any questions and congratulations again!

Thank you, this is very helpful!

 

[throwaway7856]

Current EVMS student popping in to say that I am very happy at EVMS 🙂 And I am very happy NOT to be at VCU--NBME exams make a huge difference in my quality of life as a medical student, and our 18 month curriculum is very nice. If I'm not mistaken VCU is still on a 2 year preclinical curriculum. And while the Richmond airport is gonna have more flights, the Norfolk airport is not too far from EVMS.

I would understand choosing UVA for research opportunities and prestige. However, the premed ideas of "research opportunity" and "prestige" become very different once you're living the day to day life of a medical student. By all means go to VCU or UVA if you want, but if EVMS is your cheapest option and you feel like the school would be a good fit for you, coming here would be a perfectly reasonable decision. EVMS students still manage to match competitive specialties. Feel free to DM me with any other questions.

 

[thefirerisen]

Current EVMS student popping in to say that I am very happy at EVMS 🙂 And I am very happy NOT to be at VCU--NBME exams make a huge difference in my quality of life as a medical student, and our 18 month curriculum is very nice. If I'm not mistaken VCU is still on a 2 year preclinical curriculum. And while the Richmond airport is gonna have more flights, the Norfolk airport is not too far from EVMS.

I would understand choosing UVA for research opportunities and prestige. However, the premed ideas of "research opportunity" and "prestige" become very different once you're living the day to day life of a medical student. By all means go to VCU or UVA if you want, but if EVMS is your cheapest option and you feel like the school would be a good fit for you, coming here would be a perfectly reasonable decision. EVMS students still manage to match competitive specialties. Feel free to DM me with any other questions.

VCU is a 1.5 year pre-clinical. I agree NBME style exams are very helpful—VCU has "In House Exams." UVA exams are both NBME and "In-House" essentially meaning that they test you on all the NBME stuff but then add on some more things that they think will help you score even higher on Step 2.

Perhaps what is most important in considering day-to-day life is whether your school will be true P/F. My understanding is that both VCU and EVMS are not true P/F and have internal rankings with MSPE adjectives. And their clinicals are graded so that competition can be very tough and an extra stressor. On the other hand, UVA preclinical is true P/F without any internal rankings whatsoever. And our clinical is also now true P/F. That truly makes a huge difference and it can be a huge weight off to just go for a pass and spend your extra time on your other passions.

 

[KangarooJack_9]

VCU is a 1.5 year pre-clinical. I agree NBME style exams are very helpful—VCU has "In House Exams." UVA exams are both NBME and "In-House" essentially meaning that they test you on all the NBME stuff but then add on some more things that they think will help you score even higher on Step 2.

Perhaps what is most important in considering day-to-day life is whether your school will be true P/F. My understanding is that both VCU and EVMS are not true P/F and have internal rankings with MSPE adjectives. And their clinicals are graded so that competition can be very tough and an extra stressor. On the other hand, UVA preclinical is true P/F without any internal rankings whatsoever. And our clinical is also now true P/F. That truly makes a huge difference and it can be a huge weight off to just go for a pass and spend your extra time on your other passions.

I’m curious about how much internal ranking systems, MSPE, and AOA actually impact the average medical student. Do these factors create more competition, or do most students just focus on other priorities? From what I’ve gathered, publications seem to carry more weight in residency applications than internal rankings, but I could be missing something. Does anyone have insight on this?

 

[ClashRoyaleKing]

VCU internal rankings are not shared with residency programs and are used for their own purposes, according to a current student.

 

[urgoldfishgal]

UVA medical student here. If you don't like the Charlottesville area, you can choose to do your rotations at the Inova Hospital in Northern Virginia (20-30 min from DC). I think it's a misconception to believe that because UVA is located in a somewhat rural area, there is no patient diversity. I also thought I wouldn't see a diverse patient population, but Charlottesvile truly surprised me. There is a huge refugee population here from many different countries. There are also plenty of opportunities to volunteer with underserved communities. It's no NYC, but it is quite diverse for a small town. I had to choose between VCU and UVA for medical school, and I could not be happier with my decision.