VCU vs. WF vs. Colorado

[Pre-med7603]

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Hi all—grateful to be in a position with multiple A’s and have just about narrowed it down to these three schools. I’m between surgery and IM (and eventually interventional cardio) but would also like to leave ortho/neuro open as options.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine:
Pros:

• IS so tuition is lowest at ~ 39k

• Relatively close (~2 hours) to my wife and I’s support network.

• Matches relatively competitively into southeast residencies.

• Good hospital system which sees a lot of patients.

• Six-week dedicated study time for S1.

Cons:

• Don’t love the city of Richmond.

• Not very close to the mountains.

• Seems like possibly limited research opportunities (especially in cardiology).

• Students didn’t seem incredibly stoked to be there in Q&A panels (granted they may have just not been stoked to be in the Q&A panel haha).

• Lowest ranking of the three (75 on admit.org)

Wake Forest School of Medicine:
Pros:

• Like the Winston Salem area.

• Students there seemed to be well-supported with good balance.

• Really strong cardio research program (from what I can tell).

• Strong match list.

• They just seem very well-organized in general. From admission/interview process to curriculum.

• Full 9-week summer break that many students can use for research.

• Many well-ranked residency programs at Wake/Atrium.

Cons:

• More expensive (~63.5k) (scholarship TBD)

• Again, not super close to the mountains for outdoor activities (mountain biking, rock climbing, snowboarding, backpacking, etc.)

Colorado University School of Medicine:
Pros:

• It has an amazing reputation in rural medicine specifically, which I would like to practice eventually.

• Incredible location in terms of proximity to outdoor activities (always have wanted to live in CO).

• Students seemed chill and happy there, granted I know this is subjective.

• Denver health is a massive hospital system.

• Most matches into surgery (avg ~10 yearly over last three years) in comparison to VCU and WF.

• I love the snow.

• One year pre-clinical seems to free up more time for research, audition rotations, ECs, etc., but part of me thinks this may also be a con?

• Highest ranked of options (35 on admit.org)

Cons:

• Boy its pricey (71.1k OOS tuition), but maybe could qualify for IS for M2-M4?

• Across the entire country from my wife and I’s support system.

• One year pre-clinical could mean I am less prepared going into clinicals and/or am rushed and unprepared to take S1 and S2.

• Attendance is mandatory.

• I doubt the pride of my life- my 30-year-old truck- could make it across the country (mainly joking of course).

All three have AOA before match, internal ranking, PF pre-clinical, and some form of H/HP/P/F for clinical.

 

[m1redsox]

Colorado is not worth $120k+ (more after interest) than VCU. VCU is a great school, you’re presumably closer to your support system, and you can keep your truck lol.

As a Wake grad, I love the school and my experience there was awesome. But there’s no reason to choose Wake over VCU. There is no clear, objective advantage of choosing Wake.

Also, I hear Denver is not nearly as close to the mountains as you might think 1-2+ hours and more from Aurora. You might actually be closer to the mountains (ie Shenandoah) if you live in Richmond.

Colorado has a strong name in medicine, but even they have plenty of people who don’t match their first choice specialty every year. You will still need to work extremely hard and get good grades to pull off an ortho match, if that’s what you decide to do. You can easily match a great IM program from any of these places.

 

[Pre-med7603]

Colorado is not worth $120k+ (more after interest) than VCU. VCU is a great school, you’re presumably closer to your support system, and you can keep your truck lol.

As a Wake grad, I love the school and my experience there was awesome. But there’s no reason to choose Wake over VCU. There is no clear, objective advantage of choosing Wake.

Also, I hear Denver is not nearly as close to the mountains as you might think 1-2+ hours and more from Aurora. You might actually be closer to the mountains (ie Shenandoah) if you live in Richmond.

Colorado has a strong name in medicine, but even they have plenty of people who don’t match their first choice specialty every year. You will still need to work extremely hard and get good grades to pull off an ortho match, if that’s what you decide to do. You can easily match a great IM program from any of these places.

Really appreciate this wisdom— definitely changes my perspective. Thank you!

 

[thefirerisen]

Colorado is the best school here & renowned in medicine - will offer you the best opportunities and education. Need to find out whether you would qualify for IS tuition and how much that would end up being. Especially aiming for Cardiology, I personally would try like hell to go to Colorado. See if they'll match tuition or make it cheaper.

Otherwise, yeah VCU's price tag is very enticing. I've done research and know the cardiologists at VCU. They're all great and it has a great department. Dr. Hundley (head of cardiology & pauley heart center) at VCU was previously at Wake Forest before coming here but their department is phenomenal.

I would still personally go to Colorado. When I was picking medical schools I had to make kind of the same decision - go to VCU for very very cheap or Virginia (UVA) for a higher price tag. And well, you can tell what I chose. My advice would be to explore Colorado more and see if it would be a good fit and whether they can do anything for you in terms of tuition.

 

[Pre-med7603]

Colorado is the best school here & renowned in medicine - will offer you the best opportunities and education. Need to find out whether you would qualify for IS tuition and how much that would end up being. Especially aiming for Cardiology, I personally would try like hell to go to Colorado. See if they'll match tuition or make it cheaper.

Otherwise, yeah VCU's price tag is very enticing. I've done research and know the cardiologists at VCU. They're all great and it has a great department. Dr. Hundley (head of cardiology & pauley heart center) at VCU was previously at Wake Forest before coming here but their department is phenomenal.

I would still personally go to Colorado. When I was picking medical schools I had to make kind of the same decision - go to VCU for very very cheap or Virginia (UVA) for a higher price tag. And well, you can tell what I chose. My advice would be to explore Colorado more and see if it would be a good fit and whether they can do anything for you in terms of tuition.

Ah ok, thank you for this insight. UVA was my top choice but no love from them which is ok. I'm going to do more research on CO and hopefully fly out to visit the campus for second look which should clarify my decision. And good to know about the state of Pauley Heart Center. Thanks again for the reply, I really appreciate you taking the time.

 

[ClashRoyaleKing]

Really strong cardio research program (from what I can tell).

It better be if their hospitals are named "Atrium."

Students didn’t seem incredibly stoked to be there in Q&A panels (granted they may have just not been stoked to be in the Q&A panel haha).

I also got this vibe as well from the panel, I think it might have been more due to who they selected as well. The students in my panel were not very enthusiastic to say the least. This is the only school that I've interviewed at where the student vibes were less than a 10/10 which is concerning. That being said, I think looking into it further is warranted.

You have ambitious specialty goals, which will be easier to achieve at a higher-ranked school with available resources. Wake usually offers scholarships. You can also look into each school's state and county-level resources and scholarships to help get an extra 2-10k/year or more, depending on what you qualify for. I'm not sure what Colorado offers, if any. I know they are known for gouging their OOS applicants for $$$ though. VCU with in-state tuition is tempting.

If I may ask, since I am considering VCU (and the 3-year MD program, so a potential to spend 7 years in the area), what do you not like about Richmond/VA? I've lived in California most of my life.

 

[Pre-med7603]

It better be if their hospitals are named "Atrium."

I also got this vibe as well from the panel, I think it might have been more due to who they selected as well. The students in my panel were not very enthusiastic to say the least. This is the only school that I've interviewed at where the student vibes were less than a 10/10 which is concerning. That being said, I think looking into it further is warranted.

You have ambitious specialty goals, which will be easier to achieve at a higher-ranked school with available resources. Wake usually offers scholarships. You can also look into each school's state and county-level resources and scholarships to help get an extra 2-10k/year or more, depending on what you qualify for. I'm not sure what Colorado offers, if any. I know they are known for gouging their OOS applicants for $$$ though. VCU with in-state tuition is tempting.

If I may ask, since I am considering VCU (and the 3-year MD program, so a potential to spend 7 years in the area), what do you not like about Richmond/VA? I've lived in California most of my life.

Good word on looking into the state/county level scholarships, I'll check those out.

In terms of Richmond- I think this is entirely personal preference and very well may be due to not having seen the right parts of Richmond, I've mainly just been there for concerts a few times. The city just seemed a little bit dank and dirty. And I also prefer smaller towns like Charlottesville or Winston-Salem over more city vibe. But again, likely just personal preference as many people love the Richmond areas.

 

[thefirerisen]

It better be if their hospitals are named "Atrium."

I also got this vibe as well from the panel, I think it might have been more due to who they selected as well. The students in my panel were not very enthusiastic to say the least. This is the only school that I've interviewed at where the student vibes were less than a 10/10 which is concerning. That being said, I think looking into it further is warranted.

You have ambitious specialty goals, which will be easier to achieve at a higher-ranked school with available resources. Wake usually offers scholarships. You can also look into each school's state and county-level resources and scholarships to help get an extra 2-10k/year or more, depending on what you qualify for. I'm not sure what Colorado offers, if any. I know they are known for gouging their OOS applicants for $$$ though. VCU with in-state tuition is tempting.

If I may ask, since I am considering VCU (and the 3-year MD program, so a potential to spend 7 years in the area), what do you not like about Richmond/VA? I've lived in California most of my life.

Richmond can be great for the right person but will be very very different from California. I disagree with calling it dirty, there are certain parts of it that are not great but lots of beautiful areas (including the museum district). Its a very fast growing area of Virginia right now and is a medium-sized city. It feels like a southern city but is also weirdly progressive and "hipster" so lots of cool bars and restaurants. People are very artsy and into music if you're into that. But being from Cali, you need to visit it to feel out the vibes.

 

[Pre-med7603]

Richmond can be great for the right person but will be very very different from California. I disagree with calling it dirty, there are certain parts of it that are not great but lots of beautiful areas (including the museum district). Its a very fast growing area of Virginia right now and is a medium-sized city. It feels like a southern city but is also weirdly progressive and "hipster" so lots of cool bars and restaurants. People are very artsy and into music if you're into that. But being from Cali, you need to visit it to feel out the vibes.

Thanks for the alternate perspective. You’ve obviously spent more time there so I appreciate hearing a better formed opinion.