I'm a VA resident and thankfully was able to receive some grant money but I'm stuck between a lower cost/ lower ranked VCU vs a slightly higher cost but better-ranked UVA. I think both schools offer great opportunities and I could see myself going to both but I'm a bit more drawn to UVA because of the great interaction I had with faculty and feel like they are very supportive. Any tips or advice?
UVA:
Pros:
-More streamlined rotation program at INOVA Fairfax in northern Virginia where I could do all my rotations there (would be closer to home as I live in Northern VA rn and has a more diverse patient population which is important to me)
-Higher rank
-Opportunity to MD/MPH (although this is relatively new)
-Great faculty interaction (had faculty reach out to me about my interest in public health)
-P/F preclinical
-Like how the curriculum is set up where preclinical is 1.5 years and I start rotations during M2
Cons:
-Location for the 1st year and a half is at Charlottesville (I would like to be in a bigger city but I guess for the first 1.5 years C-Ville would be alright)
-MD/MPH program is relatively new and apparently, only about 1 MD student does it (might feel a bit isolating)
-Graded clinical (A/B/C/F) +AOA
-Higher cost: Estimated debt for 4 years would be $195000 (Scholarship covering half of tuition and $10,000 institutional loan, rest is unsubsidized loans)
VCU
Pros:
-Location in Richmond, more city-like with things to do
-Cost: Estimated debt would be about $150000 for 4 years (scholarship covered tuition so this would just be estimated living fees, books, etc. I would take out unsubsidized loans)
-More longstanding MD/MPH program
-P/F preclinical
-Really got along well with the student body and felt that everyone was down to earth
Cons:
-Lower rank
-INOVA rotation program expired in 2021 so won't be able to rotate at INOVA in northern VA (honestly a big con to me)
-Did not get as much interaction with faculty/seemed to be a bit more disorganized
-Sort of graded clinical (H/HP/P/F) + AOA
-Curriculum is more traditional with 2 years of preclinical and then 2 years of clinical for M3-M4
I guess my main thing is, should the difference in cost be a bigger factor in my decision as I essentially received a full-tuition scholarship for VCU. I'm leaning towards UVA bc of the INOVA rotation program and the match-list for residency shows students end up being able to match in places like CA or NY which I potentially would like to end up.
UVA:
Pros:
-More streamlined rotation program at INOVA Fairfax in northern Virginia where I could do all my rotations there (would be closer to home as I live in Northern VA rn and has a more diverse patient population which is important to me)
-Higher rank
-Opportunity to MD/MPH (although this is relatively new)
-Great faculty interaction (had faculty reach out to me about my interest in public health)
-P/F preclinical
-Like how the curriculum is set up where preclinical is 1.5 years and I start rotations during M2
Cons:
-Location for the 1st year and a half is at Charlottesville (I would like to be in a bigger city but I guess for the first 1.5 years C-Ville would be alright)
-MD/MPH program is relatively new and apparently, only about 1 MD student does it (might feel a bit isolating)
-Graded clinical (A/B/C/F) +AOA
-Higher cost: Estimated debt for 4 years would be $195000 (Scholarship covering half of tuition and $10,000 institutional loan, rest is unsubsidized loans)
VCU
Pros:
-Location in Richmond, more city-like with things to do
-Cost: Estimated debt would be about $150000 for 4 years (scholarship covered tuition so this would just be estimated living fees, books, etc. I would take out unsubsidized loans)
-More longstanding MD/MPH program
-P/F preclinical
-Really got along well with the student body and felt that everyone was down to earth
Cons:
-Lower rank
-INOVA rotation program expired in 2021 so won't be able to rotate at INOVA in northern VA (honestly a big con to me)
-Did not get as much interaction with faculty/seemed to be a bit more disorganized
-Sort of graded clinical (H/HP/P/F) + AOA
-Curriculum is more traditional with 2 years of preclinical and then 2 years of clinical for M3-M4
I guess my main thing is, should the difference in cost be a bigger factor in my decision as I essentially received a full-tuition scholarship for VCU. I'm leaning towards UVA bc of the INOVA rotation program and the match-list for residency shows students end up being able to match in places like CA or NY which I potentially would like to end up.
