Virginia Tech Carilion vs Wake Forest

[dcc23]

I have been accepted at VTC and am currently waitlisted at Wake Forest, but am considering writing a letter of intent. As such, I am trying to decide which school I prefer even though I don't have an acceptance to determine whether I should commit myself via the letter.

Here's my relative pros/cons list between the two:

Wake Forest Pros
- Cost ($46K - $14K loan forgiveness = $32K/yr vs about $40K at VTC)
- Reputation (#49 Best Research US News, #51 Best Primary Care)
- Strong Match Results (link: http://www.wakehealth.edu/uploadedF...Medicine/Features/2014_House_Officer_List.pdf)
- Research Funding much higher (Federal Grants and NIH)
- Located in NC, closer to hopeful residency placements
- More diverse class / better social life (120 students)
- Located near college campus
- Strong clinical training
- Easier to find a job for wife in bigger city

Wake Forest Cons
- Honors/Pass/Fail Grading (have heard this may change to P/F? Wouldn't be a con if so)
- Old facilities
- Poor Step 1 Prep (lower scores than VTC)
- More difficult to meet faculty (competing with more students)

VTC Pros
- Required Research Project, time built-in to curriculum
- Pass/Fail Grading
- Brand-new facilities
- Strong Step 1 scores (1st graduating class had average 242)
- Easy access to faculty / Letters of Recommendation (only 42 students in class)
- Strong research training
- Hometown feel type of city

VTC Cons
- Cost( About $40K vs $32K at Wake after loan forgiveness)
- Reputation (None since they just graduated first class)
- Relatively Weak Match compared to Wake Forest (link: http://www.vtc.vt.edu/education/student_affairs/files/match_day_2014_results.pdf)
- Further from home & hopeful residency placements (though not extremely)
- Small class for social life
- Smaller city may be more difficult to find a job for wife

Similarities
- Very low cost of living

Wake Forest is probably widely considered to be the better school, but I am drawn to having time built in to the curriculum at VTC for research. I am somewhat concerned that there will be more limited exposure to all specialties at a new school like VTC given my relative openness going in.

tl;dr : Would the possibility to do more research and have a smaller class size to get to know faculty at an unknown school outweigh the benefit of going to a solid school that is more of a known quantity?

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[dcc23]

Anyone care to share their thoughts?

 

[yoyohomieg5432]

I'd personally go with WF. Much more well known, lots of research opportunities, more prestige. The match like you said seemed rather weak which is not good if you're looking to get into a competitive specialty or great residency. You also say social life is better at Wake, that's important to preserve IMO

 

[dcc23]

Votes so far are split 50/50, so there's that. Anymore opinions?

 

[trino]

I'm not questioning your data, but did the first graduating class of VTC really have a 242? That's crazy high...

I also vote for Wake, I think your cons are insignificant given its reputation and less money. If you do well in your clerkships, you will have as good a shot as any at a LOR. But if you feel more comfortable at VTC and aren't shooting for a super-competitive specialty, it might be worth $8k

 

[dcc23]

I'm not questioning your data, but did the first graduating class of VTC really have a 242? That's crazy high...

I also vote for Wake, I think your cons are insignificant given its reputation and less money. If you do well in your clerkships, you will have as good a shot as any at a LOR. But if you feel more comfortable at VTC and aren't shooting for a super-competitive specialty, it might be worth $8k

Yeah, I've seen it mentioned on here from multiple current students. Really impressive.

 

[trino]

Yeah, I've seen it mentioned on here from multiple current students. Really impressive.

Very very impressive. I've seen 244 tossed around as Baylor's average which is supposedly the highest in the nation. If you are going to use this score to make a decision though, I would call and ask for the last three years scores as well. I'm not saying it's an anomaly, but with such a small class size it wouldn't hurt to find out.

 

[dcc23]

Very very impressive. I've seen 244 tossed around as Baylor's average which is supposedly the highest in the nation. If you are going to use this score to make a decision though, I would call and ask for the last three years scores as well. I'm not saying it's an anomaly, but with such a small class size it wouldn't hurt to find out.

Agreed. I am leaning towards Wake Forest largely because I know that I can personally influence my board scores regardless of where I attend, but I cannot change my school's reputation (or create one in the case of VTC). Also, I think Wake will offer a better opportunity for various competitive specialties, and I want to keep all my options open before beginning school.

 

[trino]

Agreed. I am leaning towards Wake Forest largely because I know that I can personally influence my board scores regardless of where I attend, but I cannot change my school's reputation (or create one in the case of VTC). Also, I think Wake will offer a better opportunity for various competitive specialties, and I want to keep all my options open before beginning school.

I think those are perfectly good reasons. Also, I would add that research is also influenced by your individual effort. Having required research is great, but if you're truly interested in research you are going to want to be a part of it for more than 3-4 months, so I don't think VTC gives any advantage in that regard.

Good luck with your decision! Many physicians in my family went to Wake. While the training and reputation is different than in the 80s, I'll say they are fantastic doctors and went to great residencies (Columbia and MGH come to mind)

 

[Donald Kimball]

Hey guys, I'm in this exact same position and would love to hear more about deciding between these schools.

My biggest concern is the match list and an opportunity to explore a variety of specialties at VTC.

To be fair, I imagine the charter class of any new school will not have amazing match results. Is it likely VTC will substantially improve in the next few years?

 

[ECkayak]

I'm curious why everyone considers this a weak match. I see a neurosurgery and several ortho, and some great schools. Is it from the lack of surgical subspecialties? I think that people here have a skewed perspective (i.e. no ophtho, ent, uro, derm - must not be a good school). People in the real world do choose specialties based on reasons other than lifestyle and money (location, interests, personal reasons...) This would be even more of a factor in a small school like VTC.

 

[Donald Kimball]

I'm curious why everyone considers this a weak match. I see a neurosurgery and several ortho, and some great schools. Is it from the lack of surgical subspecialties? I think that people here have a skewed perspective (i.e. no ophtho, ent, uro, derm - must not be a good school). People in the real world do choose specialties based on reasons other than lifestyle and money (location, interests, personal reasons...) This would be even more of a factor in a small school like VTC.

I actually am not able to see the match list right now, so I'm taking people's word that it is not so strong.

 

[dcc23]

I'm curious why everyone considers this a weak match. I see a neurosurgery and several ortho, and some great schools. Is it from the lack of surgical subspecialties? I think that people here have a skewed perspective (i.e. no ophtho, ent, uro, derm - must not be a good school). People in the real world do choose specialties based on reasons other than lifestyle and money (location, interests, personal reasons...) This would be even more of a factor in a small school like VTC.

My main concern was seeing posts in this thread by M4's who said some residency programs flat told them they wouldn't interview students from unproven schools. This may change drastically in the next 4 years as more residents are put out there, but it's just an unknown to factor into the equation right now.

 

[foster13]

if anyone has any questions about VTC, i would be happy to answer them if you are still deciding between schools (i just took step 1 last week so if there are any errors in this post, my brain is a little fried). the match list for the first class was very strong and the vast majority of them got their first choice. no one in the first class was interested in dermatology, urology, ophtho, or ENT, which is why no one matched into those specialties. the great thing about VTC is that we have small class sizes, so the faculty actually get to know us really well. yes, some members of the first year class were not invited for interviews at certain programs because the school was not yet accredited, but when the faculty found out about it they made calls on those students' behalf so that they did get invites. luckily for me, the school will be accredited by the time i apply for residency so i won't have that problem. board scores, letters of recommendation, research, and faculty willing to vouch for you are what get you invites and the latter is what, i think, sets VTC apart. honestly, and i know i'm a little biased here, unless you are deciding between harvard and VTC, you're kind of wasting your time worrying about how the reputation of your medical school will have an impact on your ability to match into XYZ residency. so far, i wouldn't trade my experience at VTC for anything and i couldn't imagine going anywhere else.