UVM vs. Frank H. Netter

[food2]

Hi Guys so I'm in a predicament and these two schools really impressed me! So I hope you guys can help me out.

UVM:
Pros:

• Students seemed ridiculously happy
• Love the location. Burlington is a great place to be!
• 1.5 year curriculum (being done quicker) and great places to rotate afterwards
• Good residency placement after graduation
• School administration is really responsive to students and they seem to care for them as well
• Getting clinical exposure in the second semester

Cons:

• Cost is a major drawback. ~55k is a little steep
• Not really pass/fail but not the end of the world
• 1.5 year curriculum seems daunting. Can't seem to find information on how long we'll be in class for per day
• The school said there is very little financial aid given out

Frank H. Netter:
Pros:

• Slightly cheaper tuition. 51k but books are included
• Everything is so brand new. Looks so shiny
• Faculty are really invested in the students success and the students seem to have lots of input in the direction of the school
• Getting clinical exposure in the first semester
• Potential to get financial aid to mitigate the costs
• They said they make sure to only have few hours of class time per day. I think it was 9 or 8 to 12

Cons:

• Don't know much about New Haven and how nice it is
• New Program so don't know how rotations will shape out/if they are any good
• Don't know how residency directors will look at a new school and if I can get into competitive places

I think the obvious answer is to go to UVM if there is no financial aid given at either school (or maybe not? really conflicted haha) . But being the second class at quinnipiac, I expect some sort of financial aid. If i get say somewhere between 10 to 15k in scholarships at Frank H. Netter, is it worth the risk of going to a newer school? I'm just a bit hesitant on the rotation sites not being trained properly and not getting into a good residency.

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[Ja3ger]

UVM, easily. You're right that UVM is the obvious answer if you get no financial aid from either. I don't know how much money Quinnipiac would have to give me to attend over UVM, but I'm sure it'd have to be significantly more than $10-15k/yr. I just don't think you should take the risk of a new school if you don't have to.

 

[RiceKrispyTreats]

UVM for sure.

 

[SN12357]

UVM assuming the costs end up as you have laid them out here. I have never heard a single bad word about UVM, it seems like an amazing place.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

I would pick UVM since it is an established program-- do you really want to be a guinea pig? Also QPac is in Hamden/North Haven, not New Haven-- a location that is very similar to Burlington and if anything, even more suburban.

 

[food2]

I would pick UVM since it is an established program-- do you really want to be a guinea pig? Also QPac is in Hamden/North Haven, not New Haven-- a location that is very similar to Burlington and if anything, even more suburban.

Woops in my haste I wrote new haven...i did mean north haven. Thanks for the replies! I know some of the scholarships are about 18k-20k per year. ~80k over 4 years is a lot of money to not think twice about attending FHN. Would you still attend FHN? And its true I really don't want to be a guinea pig haha, the third year really worries me...

 

[masaraksh]

Woops in my haste I wrote new haven...i did mean north haven. Thanks for the replies! I know some of the scholarships are about 18k-20k per year. ~80k over 4 years is a lot of money to not think twice about attending FHN. Would you still attend FHN? And its true I really don't want to be a guinea pig haha, the third year really worries me...

What residency are you thinking of going into?

 

[NorthernMav]

UVM bro.

 

[food2]

What residency are you thinking of going into?

Primary Care, that's why i'm hesitant on cost of education. I'd ideally like to get into the best residency I can, potentially in california

 

[lmn]

I personally really liked Quinnipiac when I visited, the school really seemed to have it together and be ahead of the curve on medical education changes. But you do of course have the risk of how residency directors will look at the school. For primary care, I don't think it is nearly as big of a worry than if you were to choose a more competitive specialty. Although getting a residency in cali can always be challenging.

 

[Ja3ger]

Primary Care, that's why i'm hesitant on cost of education. I'd ideally like to get into the best residency I can, potentially in california

A very large portion (nearly half, I think) of OOS students at UVM are from Cali, and it looks like there were 16 Cali matches this year. Like someone else said, I've heard nothing but praise for UVM. And I would pay $80k for UVM over Quinnipiac in a heartbeat.

 

[masaraksh]

Primary Care, that's why i'm hesitant on cost of education. I'd ideally like to get into the best residency I can, potentially in california

With primary care, I'd say the cheaper option is worth thinking about. Since the real money difference between 250k and 170k COA is not really 80k. You have to add in interest. If you consider interest deferral for 3yrs during residency you are looking at total interest paid being ~60, ~75, ~100 % of the principal depending on whether you make 10, 15, or 20 yr loans. ~140k is no joke. Thats a down payment on a house... or like 2 nice luxury cars.

However, with competitive specialties, I would feel safer attending a more established program.

 

[Syndicate]

Like others have said, I would be cautious of attending any new school that's only been around for <10 years (this is only quinnipiac's 2nd year right)?

Again, I have heard nothing but praise for UVM.

 

[food2]

I personally really liked Quinnipiac when I visited, the school really seemed to have it together and be ahead of the curve on medical education changes. But you do of course have the risk of how residency directors will look at the school. For primary care, I don't think it is nearly as big of a worry than if you were to choose a more competitive specialty. Although getting a residency in cali can always be challenging.

Yeah I'm sure cali is going to be hard regardless. Do you think the clinical experience third year are any good in a hospital like St. Vincent?

With primary care, I'd say the cheaper option is worth thinking about. Since the real money difference between 250k and 170k COA is not really 80k. You have to add in interest. If you consider interest deferral for 3yrs during residency you are looking at total interest paid being ~60, ~75, ~100 % of the principal depending on whether you make 10, 15, or 20 yr loans. ~140k is no joke. Thats a down payment on a house... or like 2 nice luxury cars.

However, with competitive specialties, I would feel safer attending a more established program.

Yeah COA over a ten year span will build up and I might always want to sub specialize in primary care. You bring up great points. I'm trying to make the right decision. If I attend Quinnipiac, I don't want to be unhappy 4 years down the line to match in a locale that's crappy or potentially not match at all

Like others have said, I would be cautious of attending any new school that's only been around for <10 years (this is only quinnipiac's 2nd year right)?

Again, I have heard nothing but praise for UVM.

Agreed. When I visited and afterwards, all I heard was praise from UVM. It's really a great school but I have to debate is an extra 80k worth it, if it seems that quinnipiac can give me a decent education, even though its more of an unknown. It is in it's second year. Agreed I love the school as well, but I can see myself at either school. Another downside of UVM is the gym isn't attached to the medical school, though that's not too important haha

 

[Syndicate]

Yea you have a difficult decision because UVM is pretty expensive for OOS. If I were you, I'd still pick UVM though because I like to play things safe in terms of not "potentially closing" any doors when it comes to residency. Think of it as an investment. Are you willing to invest $250k (UVM) for a return or $170k (quinnipiac) for the same return but with a higher chance of losing your investment.