Wake Forest vs. Miami

[wvnc32]

I was accepted at both Wake Forest and Miami and was looking for some insight on which to choose. I think they're pretty similar in level of prestige and will probably cost around the same, so that doesn't really help with the decision. I don't plan on going into anything surgical, but don't really have a specialty in mind other than that. I have lived in Winston Salem for a few years in the past, so I'm leaning that way because I am already comfortable there, but I also feel like I might be settling for the easy option and that I would be better off going out of my comfort zone at Miami. Any input would be appreciated.

Wake Forest
Pros

• 1.5 year pre-clinical, P/F
• New medical school building
• I do research in a lab at the medical school already; not sure I want to stay in that lab but at least the option is there
• Already comfortable with the city
• Closer to home

Cons

• Seems to get less interesting cases, most bigger cases in NC go to Duke or Chapel Hill
• Not totally sure that I want to spend 4 more years in Winston Salem, especially since almost all of my friends will be moving away
• I didn't really vibe with any of the students I met at the interview

Miami
Pros

• Amazing weather
• Very nice medical campus, with 3 hospitals right on site
• Great clinical training, gets most interesting cases in South Florida
• Vast research opportunities in basically every field
• Would live in very cool part of Miami (Brickell)

Cons

• 2 year pre-clinical, not P/F
• Older medical education building and library
• Big Spanish speaking population, I don't speak Spanish so this could make training there more difficult
• Farther from home, no support system in Florida; I've also never lived in a really big city so it might be hard to adjust

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[Detailfanatic]

I'm biased but i would say UM. I worked at Miller throughout undergrad and will be starting there myself in August. It's well respected nationally. not the most respected but it has a really solid reputation imo. also theres tons of research and youll be able to match into any specialty. so many opportunities that are there for you to take advantage of if you want to. In terms of cons, its gonna P/F starting with our class. The spanish wont be too big a deal, lots of people speak some english and it really wont have a significant effect. I love this city and there are such interesting cases at the Jackson Memorial. Its an amazing place to train

 

[AlphaDoctor]

UM

 

[catnip12]

I agree with the two posters above me that UM might be a better fit for your goals.

 

[puahate]

Miami

 

[FigmundSreud]

This one looks tough. I will say that the interview day isn’t always representative of whom you’ll actually be with. Winston Salem is a worse city, but 1.5 preclinical curriculum seems to help out a lot for step 1 studying and not having to do a research year when trying to match