UVM vs. UIC?

[bayberry]

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I haven't seen the comparisons between these two schools yet and would love to hear your input. Below is my short pros/cons list:

UVM
1. great, friendly students
2. new facilities
3. ranked 7th on primary care
4. VIC curriculum is appealing
5. ~$40,000 cheaper than UIC TOTAL
UIC
1. city location
2. didn't interview in chicago - so not sure about
students/facilities
3. possibly more research opportunities

 

[notdeadyet]

Yours is actually an easy one, bayberry. You shouldn't have trouble making the call, because I can't imagine two more different schools.

Also, since both schools are notoriously expensive for OOS students, I take it from your list you're have VT residency? If that's the case, I'd go with UVM, unless you really want to get out of VT.

Anothter thought to keep in mind is that your #1 and #3 for UIC are probably way out of wack. Chicago filled up over a month ago, so any acceptance will 99% likely be U/P/R. And unless you're MD/PhD, I'd rule out Urbana, which is the school other than Chicago where most of the research is happening.

 

[bayberry]

thanks for your input notdeadyet. they are very different schools and I like them both for different reasons.

I am oos for BOTH schools but due to the difference in cost of living and $8k/year tuition difference, UVM oos will actually cost less.

As for UIC, I was assigned the chicago campus back in Jan but interviewed at Rockford, therefore don't know much about the chicago campus.

If you have anymore input/insight given this information, it would be much appreciated!

Thanks 🙂

 

[Drloveme]

I say "UVM". Great facilities, great technology throughout, beautiful campus, beautiful city (albeit small), and costs less. The only downside is the lack of diversity, but you can do rotations in Maine which is a bit more diverse. I loved UVM.

 

[notdeadyet]

I am oos for BOTH schools but due to the difference in cost of living and $8k/year tuition difference, UVM oos will actually cost less.

Ah. Sorry, I read the $40K to be per year, which is why I thought you were instate at Illinois.

As for UIC, I was assigned the chicago campus back in Jan but interviewed at Rockford, therefore don't know much about the chicago campus.

Congrats on the coveted Chicago campus. It's definitely worth a visit. You definitely have a very strong college feel, especially with the undergrad campus there as well. I've heared Rockford doesn't have that environment.

I think the schools are pretty similarly ranked and $40K, while a lot of money, isn't that huge over 4 years. I'd personally make the call between the two based on how important research opportunities are to you, and how badly you want the diversity in your patient body and fellow med students. Chicago and Burlington couldn't be different environments. Where would you be happier?

(Disclosure: I'm accepted to UIC at the Rockford campus, but have requested a transfer to Chicago; I'm waiting to hear back from a UVM interview. No conflict of interest, because I could from bayberry turning either one down. Score!)

 

[tangledupinblue]

I interviewed at both and liked UVM much better than UIC. I was impressed with pretty much everything at UVM (except the lack of research opportunities, but that is not a huge factor for me). The students were great and seemed extremely happy. The location is gorgeous. The cold might be a drag, but it's cold in Chicago too. As you said the new curriculum seems to be working well.

Personally, I didn't think the students I met at UIC seemed happy. My interviewer and tour guide were apathetic about the school, and said they went there for the location. I just wasn't very impressed with anything at UIC on interview day(I was at the Chicago campus). The city of Chicago is awesome and would be sooo much fun but for me that was the only positive thing. I know it is ranked and has a lot of research funding, but UIC was defnitely not for me.

 

[MadHopsMD]

I interviewed at both and liked UVM much better than UIC. I was impressed with pretty much everything at UVM (except the lack of research opportunities, but that is not a huge factor for me). The students were great and seemed extremely happy. The location is gorgeous. The cold might be a drag, but it's cold in Chicago too. As you said the new curriculum seems to be working well.

I agree with the comment that the school does have a lack of research oppurtunities. However, this is because you only have 6 weeks vacation in year 1, and almost no vacations after that because you start year 3 so early. However, I was told there are students that do research year 1 summer (6 weeks), and there is a class built in called "Scholarly Project", that practically forces you to do research.

Cant comment on UIC, since I have never been to that school. But I had a Chicago area interview...and I agree that Chicago's an awesome city.

 

[bayberry]

Thanks for everyone's input!! It really helped put things in perspective. I am surprise that there is such an overwhelming majority support for UVM. I guess it boils down to choosing a school based on curriculum/facility vs. urban location. Hopefully these second looks will seal the deal for me.

Notdeadyet: I hope you get your choice of either UVM or the Chicago campus!

 

[bayberry]

Like most, I don't have a clear idea of what specialty I would like to go into. As of now I like to have ophth, ENT, and OBGYN options open to me. I noticed that UVM doesn't have ophth or ENT departments. Will this make it more difficult for me to match in these specialties?

Thanks!

 

[MadHopsMD]

Like most, I don't have a clear idea of what specialty I would like to go into. As of now I like to have ophth, ENT, and OBGYN options open to me. I noticed that UVM doesn't have ophth or ENT departments. Will this make it more difficult for me to match in these specialties?

Thanks!

I know Ophthal is pretty competitive, but not sure about Otholary (ENT). It seems like UVM doesnt ever match for ENT (see match list below). I donno why it is. Maybe because there is no department, so the students are not exposed?

I was told by a fellow SDN fourth year UVM student, that she did 2 4th year rotations outside UVM. And some of her classmates, did all of their 4th year rotations outside UVM. She told me its encouraged to go outside UVM to do rotations by the school. So I figure you can do the same to make your Ophth and Othol contacts. Remember since 4th year starts so early, there is plenty of time before residency interviews begin.

2004 Match list:

Ophthalmology 3:

Yale-New Haven Medical Ctr.
Yale Eye Center
P.O. Box 208061
New Haven, CT 06520-8061

New York Medical College
SVCMC-St. Vincent's Hosp. Mnhtn
Dept. of Ophthalmology
170 W. 12th St.
New York, NY 10011-8305

University of Virginia Hlth. Sys.
Dept. of Ophthalmology
P.O. Box 800715
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0715

Otolaryngology 0

2005 Match list:

Ophthalmology 1:

Penn State University
P.O. Box 850, MC HU19
500 University Dr.
Hershey, PA 17033

Otolaryngology 0

2006 Match list:

Ophthalmology 1:

U. of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Dean A. McGee Eye Institute
608 Stanton L. Young Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104-9939

Otolaryngology 0

2007 Match list

Ophthalmology 1:

University of Michigan
Dept of Ophthalmology
& Visual Science
1000 Wall St
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Otolaryngology 0

 

[bayberry]

Thanks YankeeCanuckMD for the match list! I was looking for that. Do you by any chance know the latest average step 1 score for UVM? I know that UVM's curriculum is arranged so that students will have 4 weeks to prepare for the exam - less time than some other school I think.

 

[MadHopsMD]

Thanks YankeeCanuckMD for the match list! I was looking for that. Do you by any chance know the latest average step 1 score for UVM? I know that UVM's curriculum is arranged so that students will have 4 weeks to prepare for the exam - less time than some other school I think.

It's not that the USMLE study period is only 4 weeks which is weird --that is average for most schools...but its the fact that you take it end of Feb while all other schools take it in the summer (june/july). So you have only 1.5 pre-clincal years before you take the exam!

Someone posted on the other UVM thread that the average is around 216-218 last year (2006). So it's right around the national average. But then again, you got to remember the school has lots of non-traditional students and fosters a non-competitive environment (thats what I was repeatly told during my interviews by everyone lol) so unlike other schools UVM is not your typical "gunner" school.

 

[HreComesTheSun]

oh oops, i voted cause i thought you were saving $40k/yr too...my bad

 

[bayberry]

yeah I just realized that the original $40k post is a bit confusing so I just changed it!

Overall, I agree with notdeadyet that $40k total over the grand scale of 200k is not a huge difference.

In case for those who are curious, I just found out that UVM does have an ophtho and ENT department...they are both listed under surgery. However UVM has no ophtho residency program.

Those of you who are voting for UIC, mind sharing your reasons? This is just to help me get a better idea of pros for UIC, since I have yet to visit the campus.

 

[chessodoc]

I have this dilemma too, anyone want to pitch in? (I was gracious enough not to create a new thread!)