b1209
Full Member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2020
- Messages
- 27
- Reaction score
- 57
**Edited to reflect updated decision/details**
Hello all, I have seen a few people post similar schools in comparison, but I would still like help with my decision as well since I have seen a lot of different opinions and to bounce ideas off other people.
Kaiser:
PROS:
- Graduate medical school debt-free and could pay off undergrad loans early off -- financial freedom for a heightened quality of life
- Extremely personalized - class of 48 students and I feel like there will be an abundance of resources and attention provided
- Very unique opportunity to be a part of an inaugural class and despite the hiccups that it will inevitably cause you can help create your own clubs, free clinics, and help craft the curriculum with renowned faculty (not many people can say that)
- Emphasis on mental health and wellness for their students which I have not seen a single school match
- I would LOVE to live in Southern California
- Longitudinal clinical curriculum, which is unique and I like
CONS:
- With step 1 now being P/F, there will be more emphasis on networking and school name that Kaiser will probably struggle with since its a new school
- No guarantee how match lists will be like - big risk on perhaps matching into top academic programs
- Research enterprise kind of questionable???
- The practicality of moving across the country for the first time … during a global pandemic
- I know no one in Southern California - my support system doesn’t really support my decision of wanting to go here
- I would need to figure out how to navigate LA traffic, buy a car, etc a lot of logistical things about life there would be hard to adjust to early on
Pitt
PROS:
- Top 15 nationally-ranked med school and ranked 5th best in the country for research (NIH funding)
- No doubt that I would be in a "good" position for residency in whatever specialty I am interested in … the match list is very strong
- Research (and the quality) is heavily emphasized in the curriculum
- I feel like it's a great fusion of being somewhat close to my support system but still in a city-environment that is newer and Pittsburgh is cool
- Love the kids in my prospective class
- I know a current M1, really nice to be able to reach out to them personally and ask them for advice and support
CONS:
- Estimated COA: 52k/year total = ~208,000 k
- Traditional curriculum - seems like they aren’t flexible in changing even with step 1 becoming p/f
- Students did NOT seem that happy when I was there during the interview
- Really large class size as well - less individualized attention and a lot more competitive than either other options
Any thoughts, comments, and ideas toward my decision would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you so much!!!!
Hello all, I have seen a few people post similar schools in comparison, but I would still like help with my decision as well since I have seen a lot of different opinions and to bounce ideas off other people.
Kaiser:
PROS:
- Graduate medical school debt-free and could pay off undergrad loans early off -- financial freedom for a heightened quality of life
- Extremely personalized - class of 48 students and I feel like there will be an abundance of resources and attention provided
- Very unique opportunity to be a part of an inaugural class and despite the hiccups that it will inevitably cause you can help create your own clubs, free clinics, and help craft the curriculum with renowned faculty (not many people can say that)
- Emphasis on mental health and wellness for their students which I have not seen a single school match
- I would LOVE to live in Southern California
- Longitudinal clinical curriculum, which is unique and I like
CONS:
- With step 1 now being P/F, there will be more emphasis on networking and school name that Kaiser will probably struggle with since its a new school
- No guarantee how match lists will be like - big risk on perhaps matching into top academic programs
- Research enterprise kind of questionable???
- The practicality of moving across the country for the first time … during a global pandemic
- I know no one in Southern California - my support system doesn’t really support my decision of wanting to go here
- I would need to figure out how to navigate LA traffic, buy a car, etc a lot of logistical things about life there would be hard to adjust to early on
Pitt
PROS:
- Top 15 nationally-ranked med school and ranked 5th best in the country for research (NIH funding)
- No doubt that I would be in a "good" position for residency in whatever specialty I am interested in … the match list is very strong
- Research (and the quality) is heavily emphasized in the curriculum
- I feel like it's a great fusion of being somewhat close to my support system but still in a city-environment that is newer and Pittsburgh is cool
- Love the kids in my prospective class
- I know a current M1, really nice to be able to reach out to them personally and ask them for advice and support
CONS:
- Estimated COA: 52k/year total = ~208,000 k
- Traditional curriculum - seems like they aren’t flexible in changing even with step 1 becoming p/f
- Students did NOT seem that happy when I was there during the interview
- Really large class size as well - less individualized attention and a lot more competitive than either other options
Any thoughts, comments, and ideas toward my decision would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you so much!!!!
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