Which school is your first choice?

[Cerbernator]

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dude, cerb, why are you always such an antagonistic sdn poster? just b.c you are a middle of the roader, and yes, i recall your post on that, doesnt mean you need to berate others for wanting to be in a good location and earn a good education. Why dont more people say mssm is their top choice? b.c being at a good school, top 20, means you are likely in a good location, and, to a large extent the school is well-rounded enough that you'll interact with other students that tend to be knowledgeable in their respective subjects. So stop accusing others of having tainted dreams.....

hah, people get offended so easily when I diss "prestige". I think good location is a perfectly good reason. For that reason UCSF is top of my list with MSSM, not that I stand a chance at them anyway.

--Mr Controversy

 

[10minutes]

It's pretty easy to define a "first choice" school. The first choice school is the school you would choose over any other school that you have applied if you get accepted. The first choice school can be a presitgious school, state school, both, or neither. But some people change their mind after the interview. Unfortunately, majority fails to get into their first choice school.

 

[sockandmittens]

Thankfully my "true" first choice doesn't exist: yale with stanford weather
(for those of you in love with yale- five months of snow- it lasts until april)

 

[sweatybrain]

Yale, I love you! 😀

 

[Garuda]

My top choices were OSU and Emory. I got into OSU, and I am going there next week so I'm happy with that.

 

[OptimallyPrime]

dude, cerb, why are you always such an antagonistic sdn poster? just b.c you are a middle of the roader, and yes, i recall your post on that, doesnt mean you need to berate others for wanting to be in a good location and earn a good education. Why dont more people say mssm is their top choice? b.c being at a good school, top 20, means you are likely in a good location, and, to a large extent the school is well-rounded enough that you'll interact with other students that tend to be knowledgeable in their respective subjects. So stop accusing others of having tainted dreams.....

This is a super lame post on an already lame thread. Do you really think that more half the responses on this thread are Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, WashU and Hopkins because they're in good locations? 👎 People (especially people on sdn 🙄 ) are rampant, abashed prestige ******. Just admit it. It's ok to do so, really. No one's going to hate you for it, since everyone on this thread has the same mentality. There are plenty of schools in America with "good locations" that have "interaction with other knowledgeable students." Alas, they weren't mentioned because they aren't in the top 10 of that ridiculous US News ranking according to a severely, severely flawed formula.

As for MSSM: sorry it didn't make your "top 20 with good location" cut, it's in the lowly "top 30 with unparalleled location" category. 🙄

 

[pathdr2b]

Howard University! 👍

 

[Cerbernator]

Howard University! 👍

and it would be path to be the one here who isnt a numbers ***** 👍 👍

 

[MissCleo]

I want go back to da Carribean!

 

[Haybrant]

This is a super lame post on an already lame thread. Do you really think that more half the responses on this thread are Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, WashU and Hopkins because they're in good locations? 👎 People (especially people on sdn 🙄 ) are rampant, abashed prestige ******. Just admit it. It's ok to do so, really. No one's going to hate you for it, since everyone on this thread has the same mentality. There are plenty of schools in America with "good locations" that have "interaction with other knowledgeable students." Alas, they weren't mentioned because they aren't in the top 10 of that ridiculous US News ranking according to a severely, severely flawed formula.

As for MSSM: sorry it didn't make your "top 20 with good location" cut, it's in the lowly "top 30 with unparalleled location" category. 🙄

there happens to have been another caveat in my reasons for wanting to go to some of the top 20's and I dont think it should be overlooked as you so convieniently do. MSSM might have a good location but when i happen to be interested one day to learn why Stephen Hawking recently said he was wrong about light being unable to escape black holes I cant quite walk over to the physics department and talk to top profs. or physics students and expect a profound answer as i might at harvard, stanf, berkeley(go bears!). If you want to sit in/audit a class you are assured of top notch teaching in all subjects at these types of schools. Obviously this is an example but it applies to more than just black holes....

 

[Cerbernator]

there happens to have been another caveat in my reasons for wanting to go to some of the top 20's and I dont think it should be overlooked as you so convieniently do. MSSM might have a good location but when i happen to be interested one day to learn why the Stephen Hawking recently said he was wrong about light escaping black holes I cant quite walk over to the physics department and talk to top profs. or physics students and expect a profound answer as i might at harvard, stanf, berkeley(go bears!). Obviously this is an example but it applies to more than just black holes....

🙄 🙄 So you assume that:

A) You are smarter than the proffs and students at lesser schools and thus could not learn from them.
B) The physics proffs at Harvard are gonna take time from their schedule to talk to a medstudent.
C) You will have time to study physics.

frickin prestige ******...

 

[YzIa]

I'm with you YzIa...I wanna be a Badger too! The whole not being from Wisconsin thing doesn't help, but I'm gonna try. Other than that, Mayo or Case Western

Not being a resident will definitely make it difficult! Best of luck though.

 

[Garuda]

Who put the ants in Cerb's pants? 😕

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

🙄 🙄
frickin prestige ******...

I understand your disdain for those who only look at the rankings, which happen to be decided by a group of journalists, not doctors, but why such hate? True, both Harvard and Medical College of Ohio (for example) offer quality programs, but when two people from each of those schools get the same board scores, the Harvard grad will have more residency choices than the MCO grad. Numbers, rankings, prestige, etc., although silly at times, are not completely worthless or trivial.

 

[IndyZX]

Cerb, I see what you're saying, but simply put, there is no need to apologize for wanting to go to top 10 schools. Those schools offer better opportunities to their students, to an extent which I suppose could be argued.

 

[velo]

furthermore, if I can get in to a top school I see no reason not to go to a top school...

 

[pathdr2b]

when i happen to be interested one day to learn why Stephen Hawking recently said he was wrong about light being unable to escape black holes I cant quite walk over to the physics department and talk to top profs. or physics students and expect a profound answer as i might at harvard, stanf, berkeley(go bears!).

My answer to this is simply to do a rotation/elective at the "school full of geniuses". I'd like to attend Howard but trust me, I'll get Johns Hopkins on my CV by doing a rotation there. This way I get the best of both worlds!! 👍

People here seem to forget, education is what you make it!

 

[pathdr2b]

furthermore, if I can get in to a top school I see no reason not to go to a top school...

Getting into a top school may or may not be best for EVERYONE. I say attend the school where you think you'll be most comfortable, with "comfort" being defined as liking the curriculum/grading scale, vibe from students and professors, etc. those intangile things that pull you through if you happen upon a "rough spot" while in school.

PS- You can always do a rotation/elective at a top school while in med school which is exactly what I plan to do! 😉

 

[Cerbernator]

Cerb, I see what you're saying, but simply put, there is no need to apologize for wanting to go to top 10 schools. Those schools offer better opportunities to their students, to an extent which I suppose could be argued.

I suppose it is true to say that ivies offer more opportunities in the sense that the prestigous tend to take care of their own. However, it really makes me question a lot of peoples motivation for going into medicine to begin with. Are you going into medicine because you want to help people or are you going into medicine because you want to feel smarter/more important than your collegues? I don't ask anyone to appologize for the fact that they'd choose the "Top 10" but lets not lie about the reason why.

 

[IndyZX]

I suppose it is true to say that ivies offer more opportunities in the sense that the prestigous tend to take care of their own. However, it really makes me question a lot of peoples motivation for going into medicine to begin with. Are you going into medicine because you want to help people or are you going into medicine because you want to feel smarter/more important than your collegues? I don't ask anyone to appologize for the fact that they'd choose the "Top 10" but lets not lie about the reason why.

Prestige and opportunity are somewhat interchangeable when you are talking about what medical school you want to get into, don't you think? I want to go into medicine for what I perceive are the right reasons, but I won't lie when I say that going to a bigtime school will also allow me to reach a certain level of satisfaction after working hard in college.

 

[Cerbernator]

btw - I dont have anything against someone who goes to a Top 10 school, I just don't think you should base your entire decision on the prestige of a school.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

I suppose it is true to say that ivies offer more opportunities in the sense that the prestigous tend to take care of their own. However, it really makes me question a lot of peoples motivation for going into medicine to begin with. Are you going into medicine because you want to help people or are you going into medicine because you want to feel smarter/more important than your collegues? I don't ask anyone to appologize for the fact that they'd choose the "Top 10" but lets not lie about the reason why.

I respect your feelings, Cerb, and think you are wise in choosing the school that you feel will suit you best. Best of luck to you, let's hope we all get into the school of our choice 😀 👍

 

[NubianPrincess]

The problem is that most people who have responded have not even put the reasons why they want to attend their top choices. My dream schools are top schools but I have not said why, so it would be presumptuous for anyone to assume that it based based soley on prestige and reputation. And if it were, so what? It is no one's business. People can't even fantasize anymore 🙄

 

[akpete]

Wisconsin
I guess I am one of the few rare ones who's dream school is also the school they probably have the best chance of getting into. I'm either lucky or foolish for not dreaming of attending an extremely prestigious school.

Would I attend one of those prestigious schools if accepted, maybe, pending finances and location. But I just can't rationalize not attending a school near home with relatively cheap tuition and a decent reputation.

anyway.. back to your first choice/dream school.

YzIa, I'm with you on WI. Definitely my first choice right now, but with interviews(hopefully 🙂 ) I realize my mind might change when I visit someplace else. But right now I just wanna be a badger. You said it, relatively cheap tuition and a good rep, close to home.

Dream school though. hhmmmmm... I guess throughout this process I've been so focused on picking schools I think I'd be competitive at that I haven't given a dream school much thought. well, maybe mayo, or wash u, or cornell?

 

[OptimallyPrime]

there happens to have been another caveat in my reasons for wanting to go to some of the top 20's and I dont think it should be overlooked as you so convieniently do. MSSM might have a good location but when i happen to be interested one day to learn why Stephen Hawking recently said he was wrong about light being unable to escape black holes I cant quite walk over to the physics department and talk to top profs. or physics students and expect a profound answer as i might at harvard, stanf, berkeley(go bears!). If you want to sit in/audit a class you are assured of top notch teaching in all subjects at these types of schools. Obviously this is an example but it applies to more than just black holes....

You can't do the aforementioned questioning about physics at UCSF, Baylor or Mayo either. That hasn't stopped people from listing those schools. Look here, braintrust, just admit that you're a US News *****, it's ok. It's naieve human nature to do so, and only US News is to be blamed. Same goes for you IndyZX. If you really think you'll somehow be a *better* doctor going to the number 5 versus number 50 US News school, I feel for you. Medicine won't make you happy. It's about people, not prestige. Your patients won't care if you went to Harvard or Howard when their lives are in your hands.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Your patients won't care if you went to Harvard or Howard when their lives are in your hands.

Well that's probably debatable.

 

[IndyZX]

Look here, braintrust, just admit that you're a US News *****, it's ok. It's naieve human nature to do so, and only US News is to be blamed. Same goes for you IndyZX. If you really think you'll somehow be a *better* doctor going to the number 5 versus number 50 US News school, I feel for you. Medicine won't make you happy. It's about people, not prestige. Your patients won't care if you went to Harvard or Howard when their lives are in your hands.

I'm not immune to criticism, but I don't think I ever implied that. What I did say was that I believe top tier schools open up opportunities for their students, and that this was going to be a factor for me.

I also did say that I would feel some satisfaction going to a top tier school, because it would serve as a sort of justification for my hard work. I'm not denying that, but it doesn't automatically mean that it would be the sole reason for me applying/attending.

For you to call me a 'US News numbers *****' is incorrect and insulting.

 

[dutchmaster]

anyway.. back to your first choice/dream school.

YzIa, I'm with you on WI. Definitely my first choice right now, but with interviews(hopefully 🙂 ) I realize my mind might change when I visit someplace else. But right now I just wanna be a badger. You said it, relatively cheap tuition and a good rep, close to home.

Dream school though. hhmmmmm... I guess throughout this process I've been so focused on picking schools I think I'd be competitive at that I haven't given a dream school much thought. well, maybe mayo, or wash u, or cornell?

If you wanna be a Badger...then come along with me. By the bright shining light, by the light of the moon.

Im with you Wisconsin freaks. I've been here for four years and i'd love to make it eight. Besides the fact that Madison is an awesome city, the medschool is a sweet deal as well...very strong in primary care and strong in reserach medicine as well. Plus, you have the oppourtunity to rotate throughout the entire state of Wisconsin (From inner city Milwaukee to a rural ER in the north) giving you the chance to truly feel all arenas of medical care (rural, urban, acedemia, etc...)

Best bet for me!

 

[freaker]

The one really nice thing about medical rankings is that they really don't matter all THAT much. I just dropped out of law school, and let me tell you, the difference is phenomental. There you had top 3 (really top 2), top 5 or 6, top 9, top 14, top 17, and top 25-30. Outside of those rankings, you were in major trouble if you wanted a high paying job straight out of law school with a corporate firm. And yes, people from top schools looked down at people who went to lower schools. There was a larger difference in their qualifications, generally, as well. Thankfully, medicine isn't like that. There is much more of a "we're in this together attitude." It would be such a shame if Harvard med grads started looking down at BU grads, for instance.

So someone mentioned reasons. Good point. Why UAB?

1) I love the city of Birmingham and want to remain in the south (or go west, which is impossible).
2) You get in-state tuition after a year, and that's awesome in Alabama.
3) The facilities are really nice and there is quite a bit of research money (not that I'm even sure I'll be able to get into much research as an English/Art history major, but I figure if I get a shot, it's going to be at a school with some $$$).
4) Residency list looks nice.
5) Located on/by a large undergraduate campus.
6) It's a state school (went to a private school for undergrad; think I like public)
7) I've heard great things about it.
8) The ranking is plenty fine and good and a nice bonus.

(*If I could go anywhere, spending four years and going to school in La Jolla would be reason enough to go to UCSD for me. Forget all the other crap. I know that sounds lame, but happiness has its rewards.)

 

[Fermata]

It'd be hard to turn down Duke.

That 3rd year to do whatever you want is really, really sexy.

And the ACC basketball. 😀

 

[rtmcad2319]

Umich and Dartmouth-Brown!!!!
3/4 wood just thinking about it

 

[uclakid]

NYU ...forever...and ever...

 

[neoncandle]

Baylor or Stanford

 

[pjv2410]

Before my interviews: Cornell

After my interviews: Mt. Sinai

(FYI I interviewed at Cornell, Columbia, Downstate, Mt. Sinai, UConn, NJMS, and Stony Brook).

 

[j0ker918]

#1 choice for location - any Caribbean school 😎
#1 choice for cost - UCSF 😛
#1 choice for prestige - Harvard 😱
#1 choice for social life - UMich so far... 😕 (Haven't been to many other places)
#1 choice overall - none 😴
#1 choice of smiley when I get accepted to any school -

 

[adamj61]

Is that the Wisconsin that mass mailed April MCATer's a secondary look alike?

no

 

[adamj61]

If you wanna be a Badger...then come along with me. By the bright shining light, by the light of the moon.

Im with you Wisconsin freaks. I've been here for four years and i'd love to make it eight. Besides the fact that Madison is an awesome city, the medschool is a sweet deal as well...very strong in primary care and strong in reserach medicine as well. Plus, you have the oppourtunity to rotate throughout the entire state of Wisconsin (From inner city Milwaukee to a rural ER in the north) giving you the chance to truly feel all arenas of medical care (rural, urban, acedemia, etc...)

Best bet for me!

Now its time for the chicken dance....


I heart Wisconsin, and madison more than anyone, but I have lived my whole life within 40 miles...I would like to be at Columbia or U of Chicago

 

[wends]

Northwestern baby! yea for downtown chicago, and i 😍 dean brown, she reminds me of my momma

 

[Cerbernator]

#1 choice for social life - UMich so far... 😕 (Haven't been to many other places)
:

I like UMich but I imagine there are much better places for having a social life than A2. Not to say A2 isnt a cool town, it is, its just well...cold.

 

[velo]

I like UMich but I imagine there are much better places for having a social life than A2. Not to say A2 isnt a cool town, it is, its just well...cold.

As we say here in the rest of the Big 10...."ANN ARBOR IS A WH0RE!"


much fichigan

(all in good fun BTW 🙂 )

 

[NubianPrincess]

i 😍 dean brown, she reminds me of my momma

And this is good because?!? 😱 😉

 

[kiahs]

I really like stritch, nothing too amazing or way big on the prestigometer but it's close to home, the faculty members are really nice and the students are really happy people. And the facilities are pretty close to brand new. If not then rush seems nice too.

 

[pushkin]

2 pages later, and I am still laughing at the thought of this pretentious med student walking into some physics prof's office--no less than a nobel prize winning physics prof, of course--and asking some lame question they've had every since reading that Stephen Hawking book. Good grief. Like any question a MED STUDENT might have about physics couldn't be answered in an intro textbook... he he.

I already listed my dream schools but not the reasons why. Here they are:

Yale: the cool five year deal, the overseas opportunities, the non-mandatory attendence

Columbia: seems to be the only school that does not blather on and on about PBL or other curriculum innovations, does not claim to "integrate" the "basic sciences" or other such new age nonsense, and has therefore earned my respect. Plus, NYC.

McGill: Francais, Francais, Francais. Yet it's in english. Can I say more?

Hawaii: palm trees

Some UK schools are high on my list too, for location reasons.

 

[rockstar2525]

University of Chicago, Northwestern (I like Chicago)
or Columbia 😛

 

[willthatsall]

#'s 1-5: Harvard, Wash U, Hopkins, Duke, UPenn. UMich would be alright as a backup if I don't get into one of those. I really like the locations and faculty at these schools. And the teaching methods. 👍

 

[pauleuglis]

2 pages later, and I am still laughing at the thought of this pretentious med student walking into some physics prof's office--no less than a nobel prize winning physics prof, of course--and asking some lame question they've had every since reading that Stephen Hawking book. Good grief. Like any question a MED STUDENT might have about physics couldn't be answered in an intro textbook... he he.

Excuse me? There ARE physics majors and other students interested in theoretical physics that do ultimately decide to go to medical school. The answers to their questions may not be found in intro textbooks.

 

[kmjannie]

University of Iowa...grew up in Iowa, want to stay there, don't want to make fiancee change jobs.

 

[Scandal]

My dream school is Stanford - I grew up there. I also really like UMich and UPitt.

 

[tupac_don]

Wayne State Warriors all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[ridirkulous]

Stanford because of its awesome financial aid. I'm waitlisted there and have given up hope of getting in. But, I'm very happy about where I'll be going.