VCOM (DO) vs Indiana (MD)

[lg37121826]

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VCOM (DO) @Blacksburg
Pros

• Same state where my fiancé (in the military and can’t move) and family are. I’d be able to see them some weekends. I can transfer a town away from home for M3/M4 to be even closer and live with my fiancé to save money
• Heard great things about culture and mentorship
• Seems like a decent amount of research opportunities
• Looking forward to gaining knowledge about OMM
• Good residency match rate at strong programs
• I already have an apartment and am set up there

Cons

• I am worried about MD vs DO in terms of respect and residency placement. I hear some people say it’s a big deal, and others not. I know I don’t want an uber-competitive speciality (derm/surgery), and am leaning right now towards IM and specializing, but I’d like to keep my options open
• 3 week break between M1 and M2, so I wouldn’t be able to do a lot of research then
• Large 180 person lectures that are all mandatory, which I wouldn’t prefer but also not the end of the world for me
• A-F grading scale instead of P/F
• 2-3 exams a week!
• Not much exposure to standardized patients, really just to grade

Indiana University
Pros

• MD school with I assume a better reputation
• In the Urban Medicine program focusing on health disparities, which I find really interesting and want to learn more about
• Closer relationships with professors
• Smaller class sizes
• P/F
• 11 week break between M1 & M2
• Maybe IU has more opportunities/connections for M4? It’s been really hard to find information for either school about that

Cons

• States away from family/fiancé
• By committing here, I come off the waitlist for my #1 choice MD school. Slim possibility, but still a chance
• I’d be spending more time on projects and extra classes on health disparities, which I’m not 100% sure will help me in terms of residencies vs spending time on research/clubs
• I haven’t heard great things about Gary, IN where I’d have to be for 4 years. Besides it not being very safe, I’m not sure I’d enjoy being there for 4 years
• It is a smaller campus and not sure there would be as many research opportunities. Also would like a larger campus to meet more people, especially since I’m probably not hanging out with people in the community as much
• I’ll gain about another $25k in debt compared to VCOM
• Overall haven’t been able to find a student to talk to about their experience, so hard to judge culture

Summary: VCOM is definitely preferable to me for culture/ease of already being ready for school, but not sure if IU is good enough to switch to a smaller campus for essentially name alone

 

[Basalganglia4life]

I would do iu in a heart beat over vcom. Iu is more than a “name” Iu is a great Md program with p/f and small class sizes. It’s going to have way more research opportunities than vcom and access to a home hospital and residency programs. If you see yourself wanting to do something competitive iu will make things easier for sure

Being close to your fiancé and family is important though. It certainly sounds like you prefer vcom from your pros and cons and ultimately you’ve got to choose what you think would be best for you.

Just don’t pick vcom because you are hoping it would give you more time to get off another waitlist lol

 

[lg37121826]

I would do iu in a heart beat over vcom. Iu is more than a “name” Iu is a great Md program with p/f and small class sizes. It’s going to have way more research opportunities than vcom and access to a home hospital and residency programs. If you see yourself wanting to do something competitive iu will make things easier for sure

Being close to your fiancé and family is important though. It certainly sounds like you prefer vcom from your pros and cons and ultimately you’ve got to choose what you think would be best for you.

Just don’t pick vcom because you are hoping it would give you more time to get off another waitlist lol

Hey thanks for the response, I appreciate the perspective! I think if IU had everything you mentioned I wouldn’t be able to turn it down, but I’m not sure if a regional campus across the state would have access to the same sort of research opportunities and benefits of a home hospital? Not sure if the regional campus looks as good/would have the same opportunities as attending IU in Indy like I’ve seen a lot of med students want

 

[Basalganglia4life]

Hey thanks for the response, I appreciate the perspective! I think if IU had everything you mentioned I wouldn’t be able to turn it down, but I’m not sure if a regional campus across the state would have access to the same sort of research opportunities and benefits of a home hospital? Not sure if the regional campus looks as good/would have the same opportunities as attending IU in Indy like I’ve seen a lot of med students want

Oh I didn’t realize it was a regional campus and not the main campus. I think though it’s still better than vcom in terms of access to resources and overall matching potential. There is more to a med school than that though and prioritizing what is most important to you is ultimately going to be the best choice

 

[The OTC]

I would call adcom tomorrow at IU and say you need to speak with a student at the Gary campus to help make your decision. Don’t forget these schools want you there and will help you in any way they can. You deserve to make the most informed decision regarding your future.

 

[lg37121826]

I would call adcom tomorrow at IU and say you need to speak with a student at the Gary campus to help make your decision. Don’t forget these schools want you there and will help you in any way they can. You deserve to make the most informed decision regarding your future.

I did reach out to them, waiting to hear back. Thank you for the advice!

 

[BigDawg101]

I would personally just go to VCOM. The urban medicine program and regional campus at IU are clearly aimed at primary care/medically underserved, and there will be literally no difference between an MD vs a DO for primary care specialties unless you want a top-tier IM residency. It's gonna be a lot more painful with twice the board examinations, a larger class size, A-F grading, and multiple exams a week, and you definitely will be miserable during pre-clinicals, quite miserable. But, you already kinda locked yourself in with your partner, and this is unfortunately the sacrifice you'll have to make. Tough situation, but I would begrudgingly choose VCOM.

 

[lg37121826]

I would personally just go to VCOM. The urban medicine program and regional campus at IU are clearly aimed at primary care/medically underserved, and there will be literally no difference between an MD vs a DO for primary care specialties unless you want a top-tier IM residency. It's gonna be a lot more painful with twice the board examinations, a larger class size, A-F grading, and multiple exams a week, and you definitely will be miserable during pre-clinicals, quite miserable. But, you already kinda locked yourself in with your partner, and this is unfortunately the sacrifice you'll have to make. Tough situation, but I would begrudgingly choose VCOM.

I appreciate your take! Thank you for the reply!