VCU or EVMS?

[ScubaSteve2011]

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I'm at a loss of trying to decide between VCU and EVMS. Both are amazing schools with great things to offer their students, which is amazing to have the option but then again the problem that I am encountering. Any and all suggestions/opinions on deciding between the two are more than welcome!

Just in general, what are you looking at when selecting what is the best school for you?

I've considered location, which if this was my only criteria EVMS would take the cake because I do find Norfolk/VA Beach to be more pleasing than Richmond. But to be 100% honest, I find VA's only redeeming factor is the in-state tuition so the location is only going to be temporary.

Both schools have similar curriculum, VCU has a formalized step 1 boards with a faculty member making individualized study plan while EVMS does not.

I am a type of person that doesn't by into the prestige of a school that success comes from the individual person's drive and that prestigious schools just have a few more of those driven students.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and offer your opinions!

-Steve

 

[DDSBound]

I'm at a loss of trying to decide between VCU and EVMS. Both are amazing schools with great things to offer their students, which is amazing to have the option but then again the problem that I am encountering. Any and all suggestions/opinions on deciding between the two are more than welcome!

Just in general, what are you looking at when selecting what is the best school for you?

I've considered location, which if this was my only criteria EVMS would take the cake because I do find Norfolk/VA Beach to be more pleasing than Richmond. But to be 100% honest, I find VA's only redeeming factor is the in-state tuition so the location is only going to be temporary.

Both schools have similar curriculum, VCU has a formalized step 1 boards with a faculty member making individualized study plan while EVMS does not.

I am a type of person that doesn't by into the prestige of a school that success comes from the individual person's drive and that prestigious schools just have a few more of those driven students.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and offer your opinions!

-Steve

VCU. EVMS from what I hear is one of the easiest MD programs to get into. If a dental student knows that, there may be a problem.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Location
I am torn whether Richmond or Norfolk are better areas to live. Norfolk is pretty close to the beach while the countryside around Richmond is beautiful. Norfolk has pretty terrible traffic. Richmond rent is pretty cheap. It is a close call but just because the beach is so close I would say Norfolk> Richmond

Reputation- Hands down MCV/VCU.

Board Prep- MCV/VCU again (we have Costanzo and she is a miracle worker)

Pre-clinical, clinical experience
EVMS has more exposure to clinical stuff in the pre-clinical years. They heavily stress patient exposure through standardized patients. MCV uses the same standardized patients but doesn't stress it quite as much. Personally I think if we had anymore standardized patient encounters at MCV I would shoot someone. But different strokes for different folks. Just remember that there is a limited amt you can get from a standardized patient. I would give it to EVMS

Research opportunities- MCV/VCU. Just a lot more research going on there.

Clinicals- Both hospitals are level 1 trauma centers, and at both you are going to get excellent instruction. MCV is very large especially with all of the new additions that are being built, While they will be comparable, I have to give it to MCV.

Recent Match lists- I took the 2007 Match lists for EVMS and VCU and basically noted all the hard specialties to match into. Take it for what its worth. Note that MCV generally has 50-60 more students than EVMS. The very hard ones are at the beginning. MCV

EVMS
1 ENT, 0 Plastics, 0 Neurosurg, 0 Ophtho, 0 vascular surg, 1 Urology 2 Rads, 5 Ortho, , 2 DERM, 6 GAS, 9 Surgery,

VCU/MCV
3 ENT, 3 plastics, 2 Neurosurg 3 Ophtho, 1 Vascular surg, 3 Urology, 6 rads, 2 Ortho, 3 Derm, 15 GAS, 15 surgery




In the end you are going to get a good education at either place so go where your heart, wallet and brain tell you.

 

[ntsystematic]

VCU no contest.

 

[bwells46]

VCU. EVMS from what I hear is one of the easiest MD programs to get into. If a dental student knows that, there may be a problem.

As long as you're in-state. They have a set ratio of 2/3 in-state and 1/3 out-of-state since they're subsidized for each in-state student.

 

[ScubaSteve2011]

Thanks for your input Instatewaiter, definitely going to think about it. Best of luck on the neuro exam friday.

One of my friends who is at the dental school is going to give me a tour tuesday of VCU/ the richmond area so i'm definitely going to have a better idea about the location of richmond.

How's the social dynamic at the school, as in do you all find time to socialize at a bar or go for a movie when not at the library? and one other quick question; Service opportunities/extracurricular clubs, I noticed EVMS had quite a few including a free clinic run by the students. Do you know where I can find more info about VCU/MCV's service/extracurricular activities?

 

[emaj1n]

If you are interested in peds, EVMS has a great children's hospital right on campus.

Also, I think Instatewaiter gave a good evaluation. I think EVMS's 30-some hospitals present an appealing opportunity for the clinical years, but I'm not a medical student (until August), so I don't truly know how important this is. I also don't know how well already being plugged into the EVMS hospital system might help with matching since there are a lot of opportunities in the Hampton area.

I'm into EVMS and waiting to hear from VCU so I can make a decision like you. Good luck with your decision, and congratulations. Both schools are great. You can't lose.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Thanks for your input Instatewaiter, definitely going to think about it. Best of luck on the neuro exam friday.

One of my friends who is at the dental school is going to give me a tour tuesday of VCU/ the richmond area so i'm definitely going to have a better idea about the location of richmond.

How's the social dynamic at the school, as in do you all find time to socialize at a bar or go for a movie when not at the library? and one other quick question; Service opportunities/extracurricular clubs, I noticed EVMS had quite a few including a free clinic run by the students. Do you know where I can find more info about VCU/MCV's service/extracurricular activities?

Yeah its my last exam of the year so I cant wait. One more and I'll be a second year... crazy

While med school is ton of work there is plenty of time for socializing. No where near as much as in college but if you are diligent you can find time. Plus there are scheduled the liver rounds every month or so where the school pays for a huge bar tab and all 4 years socialize with drinks on the house at a certain bar. Outside of that we have class parties after almost every major exam. Basically if you study all the time you are going to go insane. I recommend against going insane.

MCV has a few different service organizations including volunteer opportunities at the Fan free clinic, which as the name suggests is a free clinic.

 

[senioritaelena]

VCU. EVMS from what I hear is one of the easiest MD programs to get into. If a dental student knows that, there may be a problem.

I believe that (one of the easiest MD programs to get into) is only for in-state residents. if you are out of state, you have to be something a little special to get in.
That is just what my student tour guide told us.

 

[tacrum43]

I interviewed at both, and I vote for EVMS. VCU probably is the better choice for reputation, but I just liked the feel at EVMS.

I liked Norfolk better, and it just seemed like a friendly place that cared about their students and would provide solid clinical training (not that VCU was unfriendly). EVMS has matched people into Derm and Plastics in the past, so it's not like you can't get where you want to go from there or that going to VCU would really help you that much (IMHO).

Again, my vote would be for EVMS.

 

[belgianbeerguy]

I'm totally with you tacrum. EVMS just had a much better feel to it. Hard to describe. The students just seemed much more chill and relaxed. Actually, the M1 student that interviewed me said that he chose EVMS over UVA simply because he felt that he would be happier there, and doesn't regret his decision at all.

one more factor to consider is location of where you'll be living. The Ghent area near EVMS is very nice, safe, and close by.

I'm not much on reputation either, so I'm probably gonna choose EVMS over Georgetown. You guys will probably think that I'm insane for that decision. I just got into EVMS last week, so I'm gonna do my own second look on Friday. Are there any current students there that are willing to give me and my parents a quick tour? just send me a message please (thanks)

 

[bigdreamer2582]

definitely VCU.

 

[tacrum43]

I'm totally with you tacrum. EVMS just had a much better feel to it. Hard to describe. The students just seemed much more chill and relaxed. Actually, the M1 student that interviewed me said that he chose EVMS over UVA simply because he felt that he would be happier there, and doesn't regret his decision at all.

one more factor to consider is location of where you'll be living. The Ghent area near EVMS is very nice, safe, and close by.

I'm not much on reputation either, so I'm probably gonna choose EVMS over Georgetown. You guys will probably think that I'm insane for that decision. I just got into EVMS last week, so I'm gonna do my own second look on Friday.

I don't think that's insane at all, and we must have similar taste in med schools in general, because I would have choosen EVMS over Georgetown too (not that I had that option).

 

[belgianbeerguy]

I don't think that's insane at all, and we must have similar taste in med schools in general, because I would have choosen EVMS over Georgetown too (not that I had that option).

I noticed that you did the SMP too (im finishing up SMP now). I assume that that warped your opinion on Georgetown (as it did mine). I love GW ... congrats on getting in there. They didnt even give me an interview. All good, cause I'm happy to have an acceptance at a school that I love.

 

[tacrum43]

I noticed that you did the SMP too (im finishing up SMP now). I assume that that warped your opinion on Georgetown (as it did mine). I love GW ... congrats on getting in there. They didnt even give me an interview. All good, cause I'm happy to have an acceptance at a school that I love.

Oh okay, that explains it. 🙂 Well, I guess some people in the SMP really did like Georgetown med. To me, it wasn't that it was bad, I just didn't like the atmosphere/attitude.

Congrats by the way. You must have kicked some serious butt to get into Georgetown from the SMP.