vcu vs. suny upstate

[Kiara]

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So I never actually thought I would end up writing one of these A vs. B posts..but im soo lucky and thankful to be able to. At the same time I am completely confused. Im from Canada, and dont have much "inside" information other than what I felt on interview day - which is only a few hours.

So the biggest selling point for me for Upstate is its promixity to home, its only a 5 hr drive from toronto. It has a really good clinical program, i got a good vibe from the students..they seemed really happy there. i also have distant family friends in syracuse.

VCU was my first interview and I remember so many details about it...I think it would provide a really good clinical education b/c of the location ie. richmond. also liked their personalized curriculum for teaching boards. the students also seemed really happy.

so is distance and money (upstate is cheaper) good enough reasons to pick upstate??

if people from vcu and upstate can provide their opinions it would be so helpful.

thank you so much!

 

[ziggy793]

I would pick upstate bc its cheaper and it has a solid reputation! and, social and familial support is so important... I think its more important than having a certain type of clinical exp since that is pretty standard for most med schools and you have residency for a varied experience.

 

[BigRedder]

Don't choose upstate, I want my gf to get in there!😉

 

[digitlnoize]

I would choose upstate although I'm from VA and VCU is cheaper...

I've talked to alot of people who are less than happy. From what I've heard:

The teachers are ok. The board program you mentioned is awesome. Lots of good research opportunites.

It's the little stuff that sucks. Administrative hoops. Parking and traffic is atrocious.

The hospital, while large and varied, is pure chaos. I've also personally worked with many residents from MCV that I wouldn't let touch me with a ten foot pole. They just aren't that good. Many docs around here seem to think that MCV is going downhill in terms of quality of graduates lately.

Anyways, good luck with your decision.

 

[1956Goldtop]

You get instate tuition after a year at upstate 🙂

 

[BigRedder]

Can you get residency as a non-citizen? I assume OP is a Canadian citizen.

 

[Instatewaiter]

I would pick upstate bc its cheaper and it has a solid reputation! and, social and familial support is so important... I think its more important than having a certain type of clinical exp since that is pretty standard for most med schools and you have residency for a varied experience.

OP- I go to MCV/VCU now so if you have specific questions feel free to PM me or post them here.

I agree that social and familial support are very important. That said, how often are you going to be able to visit your family if you have to essentially spend a day driving? 10 hours round trip is a bit far to just pop in and say hi. So in the end, is the distance really going to make any difference?

As to my experience here:
I have been more than happy with the teachers. Of course you are going to have the requisite boring PhD every now and then who tells you some minutia about whatever reseach he is doing but overall they are very receptive to concerns and all in all very nice. The courses are organized well.

The students provide a great deal of feedback on the curriculum and there is constant improvement. I do not think that there has been a single instance where I felt something was unfair and it was not immediately corrected.

The board program is really very nice and there is plenty of research if you want to do that.

There aren't really administrative hoops that we have to jump through. I have almost no contact with the admin other than when they send me some worthless e-mail about some touchy-feely subject that I dont care about (one of our deans loves to send out inspirational e-mails along with announcements. I delete them now).

There is like no traffic in Richmond. I have no idea where this one came from. Takes me 10 minutes to get home normally, about 12 in full on rush hour.

The parking is a pain in the *** though. The closest places you can park before 6pm are like 5 blocks away and down a huge hill so you have to walk up the hill to class. Really this is the biggest concern of most students, which in all honesty isn't all that big a deal more of a nuisance.

The MCV campus gym has everything you need. Around 10 treadmills, 4 rowing machines, 10 ellipticals, tons of bikes, basketball courts, racquetball and squash courts, pool, classes for you to take, all the free weights and machines you could need. You also have access to the other 3 VCU undergraduate gyms. They are currently remodeling the MCV gym so it will be even nicer. All in all, the facilities are exactly what you need. I am used to the truly exceptional exercise facilities of UVA (where I went to undergrad with arguably the best facilities in the country) and while the MCV and VCU facilities are not quite as nice or large they are pretty good.

The hospital is enormous and funnels all major cases from the surrounding hospitals. It currently is around 780 beds but they are adding a critical care tower in August that will add 252 more beds. The cases are very varied thanks to the size and the population that it serves. I wont deny that it is pretty chaotic in the ER but the med/peds floors arent chaotic at all. I have no idea where the idea that the MCV graduates are declining in quality; just the opposite is true which is why our match lists were pretty impressive the last few years. We are known to be a very hands on program so students come out with a pretty solid skillset. On that note, I do have classmates that I wouldnt let get near me.

Cant imagine you wouldn't have this at every school: see questionable admission
http://theunderweardrawer.homestead.com/twelvemedstudents.html

 

[Instatewaiter]

Money should always be a concern. You are going to get a comparable education at any MD school so if the pricetags are very different that may be the tipping point.
What is the price difference?

I dont know if the financial pacakges have come out but VCU isnt known for giving great finanical packages.

In the end, go where you are going to be more comfortable and happy. None of the positive characteristics of a school matter if you are miserable there.

 

[hp540]

Can you get residency as a non-citizen? I assume OP is a Canadian citizen.

Yes. If you're a competitive applicant, I've heard residency programs are willing to do the H1B visa paperwork. Otherwise, the Canadian system regards US trained Canadian citizens as equal to Canadian trained students.

That said, I would appreciate comments from Canadians with experience.

 

[BigRedder]

Yes. If you're a competitive applicant, I've heard residency programs are willing to do the H1B visa paperwork. Otherwise, the Canadian system regards US trained Canadian citizens as equal to Canadian trained students.

That said, I would appreciate comments from Canadians with experience.

Haha, I was referring to legal New York State residency for tuition purposes, not graduate medical training! For medical residency, I'm pretty sure that as long as you can pass the boards you are good to go.