Vermont and St. Louis HELP

[leafs]

I live in Chicago and have been accepted at both St. Louis University and University of Vermont. I was wondering if anyone could give any advice. My brain says St. Louis(b/c everyone i ask in chicago suggests St. Louis....but generally they are all biased in someway), but my heart says Vermont. My worry about vermont is that i have never not lived in a relatively large city....Burlington has 40000.

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[liesie59]

Personally, I would go to the school I felt the most connection with, which sounds like Vermont in your case. You'll be spending 4 years there, and you want to enjoy that time. I'm sure it will be a transition to live in a smaller city, but if you like the school better, it's probably worth it. Good luck with your decision

 

[operadoc]

I think that Vermont may be a great change for you if you have only lived in a city. I have lived in Burlington for most of my life (with the exception of college) and it has been a great place to live in. Even though it is small, there are still plenty of things to do. You can get to the country in about 5 minutes, there are so many outdoor activities in both winter and summer, people are friendly and it is a very relaxed environment. The school itself supports its students thoroughly and all my friends who go there love the close-knit community of the people in the med school. Overall, you should go to the place that you feel the most comfortable. If you have never lived in a small city then you will never know if you like it or not. Good luck

 

[leafs]

thank you for your prompt response

I am Canadian and am a winter sports kind of person...that is partially why i am excited about vermont (less so st. louis).

But, being a Sikh (wearing a turban), i am slightly concerned about how homogenous i understand the area to be. What greatly attracted me to the school was that i interviewed shortly after sept 11th and it was the first place i didn't receive any flack for my appearance.(Don't judge by appearances...people are suprise when they find out i play ice hockey...canada eh!) That suprised me. I can't make any assertion about St. Louis b/c i interviewed there under diff circumstances.

Does anyone know how the two schools compare academically?....i have the match list for vermont but have yet to find st. louis 2002.

Will being in vermont hurt from a clinical standpoint (St. Louis being a city school)?

what did people think of both places?

 

[Oski]

I don't know much about St. Louis, but I think that UVM is great. Burlington is a very liberal town despite its homogeneity. And if you are into outdoor activities, especially cold weather activities, it can't be beat.

I've posted this before somewhere else but from the doctors that I've talked to UVM has a great reputation for turning out good clinicians. It isn't such a big name outside of medicine, but people in the know rave about UVM.

Do you have the 2002 UVM matchlist? If so, could you let me know where to find it.

 

[Oski]

Follow your heart, your brain is just holding you back.

 

[hrtsurgeon2b]

I think you might be more comfortable in St. Louis since its a little more diverse than burlington, and also comparable to chicago in terms of living condition. Also if you plan on going back to chicago for your residency you might be better off going to St.Louis.

 

[lake show]

i wonder how many of the posters responding are waiting on vermont or slu for interviews or acceptances?

whatever decision you make, remember that it's not the end of the world to go to either school. you'll have ample opportunity to go somewhere else for residency... both schools are good, and unique in their own way.

 

[leafs]

OSKI,

I called UVM and asked them about their 2002 match list...they mailed it to me within the week

 

[INeedAdvice]

Both schools have roughly the same name and rep. People from the midwest may have heard more things about slu and the same with vermont and the east coast.

I have been told a lot of nice things about Vermont's environment.

I'd just go with your heart because 4 years at a school that you don't like will be hard.

•••quote:•••Originally posted by leafs2006:
•I live in Chicago and have been accepted at both St. Louis University and University of Vermont. I was wondering if anyone could give any advice. My brain says St. Louis(b/c everyone i ask in chicago suggests St. Louis....but generally they are all biased in someway), but my heart says Vermont. My worry about vermont is that i have never not lived in a relatively large city....Burlington has 40000.•••••

 

[Taylor]

I most likely will be at SLU next year and I am from St. Louis. I either wanted to live in St. L or in Chicago. I believe you mentioned you have never lived in a small city/town before... well I have gone to school in Dayton, OH for the past four years and to be honest I am so sick of small towns, I can't wait to get back to St.L. I really like St Louis. It's a cool city, not as exciting as Chicago but it also is much less expensive, has less traffic, fun bars/places to go.
I have not had the opportunity to talk to as many students from SLU as I would like but the students I have talked to seem really happy there. I was a little worried before because on my tour there the students I talked to did not seem very excited about the school, but since then every student I have talked to say they love the community feel of SLU, are happy, etc.
But then again, I know nothing about the University of Vermont.

 

[leafs]

i appreciate all the great advice.

I esp liked Taylor's perspective--hadn't heard anything like it before.

Is anybody else here considering attending either school, and if i may what features of the school in question did you find attractive?

Problem is that the first time i had ever been to Vermont and St. Louis were during my interviews...can't take any time off work before i have to make a decision...would rather decide sooner than later...i figure others are interested in the spot....in same position in other schools.

 

[leafs]

clarification....can't take off time to revisit either school

 

[Juice]

Without even a thought, GO to UVM. I graduated in 01, and myself and all of my friends loved the place. Very relaxed, OK basic sciences, but myself and friends all 230 or better on USMLE. My roommate matched ortho at UCSF, so you can get any residency you want. The clinics kick some serious ass. I did more as a med student on my surgery services than I do now as a surgery intern. Burlington is a small but very cool town. I lived 20 feet from lake champlain, and had awesome sunsets every night. However, it is a damn cold place, so if you so not ski or snowboard you better start. The best skiing on the east coast is a mere 40 minutes away, with very discounted season pass rates.
I would choose this place over ANY med school given the opportunity. I simply can not say enough about the place.

 

[Tuesday Weld]

I did't know that it was right near Champlain. Isn't there supposed to be a local legend of a "Loch Ness" type mystery going on in the lake? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

:wink:

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Juice:
•Without even a thought, GO to UVM. I graduated in 01, and myself and all of my friends loved the place. Very relaxed, OK basic sciences, but myself and friends all 230 or better on USMLE. My roommate matched ortho at UCSF, so you can get any residency you want. The clinics kick some serious ass. I did more as a med student on my surgery services than I do now as a surgery intern. Burlington is a small but very cool town. I lived 20 feet from lake champlain, and had awesome sunsets every night. However, it is a damn cold place, so if you so not ski or snowboard you better start. The best skiing on the east coast is a mere 40 minutes away, with very discounted season pass rates.
I would choose this place over ANY med school given the opportunity. I simply can not say enough about the place.•••••

 

[Oski]

Juice,

You just got me so pumped about UVM. I am so stoked to be able to go there!

Do you have any advice about housing? Did your buddy who matched at UCSF do a rotation out there?(I am interested in coming back to Cali for residency, and I am slightly concerned)

Thanks for the good talk...You don't know how good it feels to read something like that about the place you are going to be for four years. So stoked!

 

[altaskier]

I liked Burlington. Go to UVM! Pick up skiing. They match very well for residencies. Don't worry so much. Besides, you get to SKI!!!!!!!!!!

 

[altaskier]

Oski.....did you see their match list this year? If not, have them send it to you and take a look at it. You'll see some did match Cali.

 

[operadoc]

Tuesday Weld, yes Burlington is right on the lake and there is a monster named champ who lives there.

 

[hrtsurgeon2b]

Hey oski and leafs, what were your GPA and MCAT scores????

 

[hrtsurgeon2b]

Bump