With my cycle “officially” over (i.e., assuming no further correspondence from the schools who waitlisted me), it’s time to figure out where I’m heading for the next 4 years!
Allow me to first say that I feel incredibly fortunate to in my current position. Medical school admissions can be such a crapshoot process, and I had very little expectations regarding how my cycle would pan out. I delved in knowing that my greatest strengths were my numbers and my greatest weaknesses being my difficulty initiating and maintaining conversation. I knew while my application may be competitive on paper (MD Apps here), my weaker interpersonal skills would limit me once I reach the interview stage.
Still, my cycle ended up being so much more successful than I expected. It has been just…surreal.
And now it’s time to decide, and I still can’t believe my options: Pritzker, Columbia, and Duke.
I know this is a situation where I simply cannot go wrong. All three are fantastic institutions, and I know I would be incredibly happy wherever I go. That said, there are some things that I like about each institution, so I’m going to jot down my thoughts. Pros vs Cons lists help (I think)
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
4 year cost: $165K
PROS
- $200K merit scholarship. As someone whose parental income fluctuates heavily, having a merit-based scholarship does wonders in helping me estimating my total costs and how much I’ll owe over 4 years.
- Hyde Park’s low cost of living and proximity to Downtown Chicago.
- The level of support and warmth that radiates among administration, faculty, and students
- “Teachers of teachers” mentality and mentorship
- Emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, including access to other courses in the UChicago system
- Focus on underserved communities and healthcare disparities
- Scholarship & Discovery, with its mentorship opportunities and exploration of the different tracks
- No car necessary until at least third year, if at all.
- The food scene.
- The warm fuzzies and excitement I felt on Interview Day and Revisit.
CONS
- 2 year preclinical; I would prefer something shorter to have more time to explore various (competitive) specialties
- Chicago winters
- Of the three, Pritzker has the weakest clinical curriculum. There’s no VA or Level 1 trauma center, and the longer (traditional) preclinical means that there is less time for clinical elections and exposure.
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
4 year cost: $192K, assuming aid doesn’t fluctuate
*I contacted Columbia regarding my aid at Pritzker, and was told that they would forward it to the scholarship committee, with no guarantee of anything.
PROS
- 1.5 year preclinical, thus leaving more time to strengthen/tailor my application towards my field of interest (whatever it happens to be after rotations)
- Strength of clinical years? Out of the three schools, only P&S students Raved about their role as MS3s and clinical skills
- Most thorough exposure to the surgical subspecialties, as detailed in the curriculum. As someone who has never shadowed a surgeon, I cannot say if I’m super interested in the field. However if I happen to be, P&S has a strong history of matching its students into surgery is a definite plus.
- NYC!
- No car necessary (or encouraged, for that matter)
- The connections available and associated with Columbia’s name and brand. (Inbreeding happens.)
- The diversity of the patient population.
- The food scene.
CONS
- The cost of living. Even in Washington Heights, living expenses are considerably higher than Hyde Park or Durham
- New York winters
- Insecurity associated with need-based aid and my parents’ fluctuating (and thus, unpredictable) income.
Duke University School of Medicine
4 year cost: $189K, assuming that aid does not fluctuate
*I contacted Duke regarding my aid at Pritzker, and was told that they would not match the offer
PROS
- 1 year preclinical to make room for “Year FREEEE” to conduct research or pursue a dual degree. With residency admissions being as competitive as they are, the built in year of research is really appealing
- Durham’s low cost of living
- Durham’s mild climate, in comparison to Chicago and New York
- The warm fuzzies and excitement I felt on Interview Day
- Having a top hospital system in the South while also being the local hospital for the underserved
CONS
- Compared to Chicago and NYC, Durham is boring. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but is worth noting. On the upside, this “easy living” town would really force me to make the best of all the opportunities available at Duke, and I can appreciate that.
- Insecurity associated with need-based aid and my parents’ fluctuating (and thus, unpredictable) income.
- I will need to bring my car
- The food scene is (relatively) limited
