Wash U vs Mayo (Rochester, Waitlist)

[mobiman400]

I assume finances will be equal at both schools based on my family situation and are not a consideration for me at the moment. I am interested into matching into plastics or ENT, but even if I change my mind, it would likely be a surgical specialty. I am debating which school would provide me the best research and mentorship opportunities and give me the best chances to match into these specialties. I am okay living in either of the cities. My main dilemma is whether or not I should write a letter of intent to Mayo because I heard that is the only way to have a chance at getting off of the waitlist. I am not currently interested in academic medicine.

• Wash U
  • Pros
    • Already been accepted
    • Strong for research
    • More of a fun city (not a huge factor)
    • 1.5 year pre-clinical
    • No AOA
    • Good vibes from students and admissions staff
    • Well-renowned in the medical community for research and Barnes-Jewish Hospital
  • Cons
    • St. Louis crime rates
    • Hospital isn’t the Mayo Clinic
    • I have heard they are still working out a few kinks in the new curriculum
    • Recent match list data has shown that Mayo is doing better in the specialties I am interested in.
• Mayo (MN, WL)
  • Pros
    • Small class size (pro and con)
    • The Mayo Clinic obviously
    • Selectives would offer a lot of opportunities
    • Strong mentorship
    • Faculty on interview day seemed very willing to mentor
    • Students seemed happy
    • Strong match list in competitive specialties
  • Cons
    • I would have to write a letter of intent which is a big commitment
    • Would have to dress nice constantly and buy a whole new wardrobe
    • Research was not heavily emphasized on interview day.

Overall, I am struggling to compare these two programs because Wash U has a much more traditional medical education at a major city hospital while Mayo is very unique at a highly specialized hospital. I am not sure which school would set me up for success better, and a letter of intent is a big commitment when I am struggling to compare the two schools.

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[srirachamayonnaise]

WashU will probably set you up nicely more so than Mayo. Mayo is more of a patient care centered hospital system. But B-JH is very academic so it will give you a lot of research opportunities.

 

[deleted1065184]

There's a decent gap between WashU and Mayo wrt research. WashU has far more research opportunities and funding generally and within surgery. But Mayo still has plenty of research opportunities. Mayo Clinic has a bigger name in medicine than BJC, although the latter is just as well respected.


To answer your question, neither school will set you up better or worse. I'd recommending looking into which curriculum and city you like better. Btw WashU's med campus is in CWE, which has a relatively low crime rate compared to the neglected areas within North St. Louis.

 

[flapjack3d]

I'm biased but I'd choose Wash U over again. STL>>>>>>>>>Rochester. Better research opportunities, much much more diverse patient population, bigger class, more things going on around campus/town besides just medical folks. I never felt unsafe in STL. CWE is the best neighborhood I've ever lived in.

 

[FluffyCat1212]

OK, having lived in StL and worked in research at WashU med, but currently attending Mayo in Rochester, I want to add some considerations to your pros/cons list:

On WashU

• StL>>>Rochester unless you like places with a high corn-to-person ratio. StL is a really an awesome city and I genuinely loved my time there. There are also lots of free things to do, which is perfect for a med school budget. WashU also subsidizes a metrolink pass, which is a solid way to get around the city.
• People also talk all the time about the crime rates, but save for my last year there when all hell broke loose, it never really was that much of an issue for me (and I lived in an area of town that some might consider to be more "dangerous" although those judgments are arbitrary and sometimes have their roots in racism). As aforementioned, the med school is near a really cool part of town with lots of affordable and relatively safe housing options (Central West End). As long as you use common sense (i.e. staying in well-lit areas, don't ride the metrolink at odd hours of the night, watch where you park your car, etc.), it's unlikely that the high crime rates will directly affect you.
• BJC is still a super fantastic hospital. I feel like once you get into the top 10 to top 15 hospitals, you really can't go wrong.

On Mayo

• I'm more on the psych side of things, but I have had zero trouble finding research. In fact, I've had to turn down a few opportunities in psych and other fields due to lack of time.
• Selectives are literally the best. It's just a full week or two after every block where you have very minimal responsibility and can just explore whatever it is you want to explore. Regardless of what you end up using them for, they usually turn out to be a really nice break.
• The faculty are freakishly nice and really go above and beyond.
• The whole deal of having to dress nice constantly is a bit of a misconception. At least for the part of M1 I've experienced, if it's not patient-facing (real or standardized), they don't really seem to care what we wear.
• I love Mayo to the bottom of my heart, but I will say that the weather is genuinely terrible. Much, much worse that St. Louis. Just be prepared if you choose to come here.
• Honestly, my experience with a smaller class has been great. The faculty really try to get to know your name. Mayo really goes above and beyond to foster a sense of community.
• Can you write a letter of interest instead?

 

[mobiman400]

OK, having lived in StL and worked in research at WashU med, but currently attending Mayo in Rochester, I want to add some considerations to your pros/cons list:

On WashU

• StL>>>Rochester unless you like places with a high corn-to-person ratio. StL is a really an awesome city and I genuinely loved my time there. There are also lots of free things to do, which is perfect for a med school budget. WashU also subsidizes a metrolink pass, which is a solid way to get around the city.
• People also talk all the time about the crime rates, but save for my last year there when all hell broke loose, it never really was that much of an issue for me (and I lived in an area of town that some might consider to be more "dangerous" although those judgments are arbitrary and sometimes have their roots in racism). As aforementioned, the med school is near a really cool part of town with lots of affordable and relatively safe housing options (Central West End). As long as you use common sense (i.e. staying in well-lit areas, don't ride the metrolink at odd hours of the night, watch where you park your car, etc.), it's unlikely that the high crime rates will directly affect you.
• BJC is still a super fantastic hospital. I feel like once you get into the top 10 to top 15 hospitals, you really can't go wrong.

On Mayo

• I'm more on the psych side of things, but I have had zero trouble finding research. In fact, I've had to turn down a few opportunities in psych and other fields due to lack of time.
• Selectives are literally the best. It's just a full week or two after every block where you have very minimal responsibility and can just explore whatever it is you want to explore. Regardless of what you end up using them for, they usually turn out to be a really nice break.
• The faculty are freakishly nice and really go above and beyond.
• The whole deal of having to dress nice constantly is a bit of a misconception. At least for the part of M1 I've experienced, if it's not patient-facing (real or standardized), they don't really seem to care what we wear.
• I love Mayo to the bottom of my heart, but I will say that the weather is genuinely terrible. Much, much worse that St. Louis. Just be prepared if you choose to come here.
• Honestly, my experience with a smaller class has been great. The faculty really try to get to know your name. Mayo really goes above and beyond to foster a sense of community.
• Can you write a letter of interest instead?

Thanks so much for your insight! It's really cool to hear from someone who has experience with both institutions and I'm so happy for you that both experiences were so positive! Unfortunately, you've also made my decision harder since both sound even more amazing now haha

As for writing a letter of interest, they made it very clear in their email informing me that I was on the waitlist to specifically write a letter of intent if I actually wanted to go there. It seems that's the only way at this point in the process to get in now that decisions have gone out.

 

[crimson-cat]

Undergrad at WashU and have done research at Mayo and strongly considered them for med school. My 2 cents is that if you're truly on the fence I'd go Mayo unless you have a strong interest in basic science. There are things about training that are hard to quantify as a student but that are more valuable as you go through the training rigamarole. Mayo has a sweet student/employee fitness center, has team assistants the help handle scutwork while you focus on medicine, and a saying like "You take care of the patients and the clinic will take care of you." IMO seems like one of the most humane places to do medical school and the selective thing would help you quickly find mentors and identify a specialty of interest, and they match super-well since your letter writers will all be big names.

They are both amazing places, but I'd say go Mayo unless you 1) really don't like Rochester or 2) have a professional interest outside clinical medicine that you'd be willing to sacrifice the Mayo perks for.