UAMS NW vs OU

[bvmedapp]

Hey, got accepted at two schools in places where I’ve got family. Both are similarly ranked schools and are similar situations for me. UAMS NW is in a better place for me to pursue outdoor activities.

UAMS NW

Pros:
- family
- rotate in hospitals without surgical residents, I get more hands on during those rotations (I’m interested in surgical residency)
- small class size (20 per class in NW campus)
- close to outdoor activities, which I want to stay engaged in during med school
- in state tuition (basically the same)
- easy parking on campus

Cons
- does going to this small satellite campus look worse on a residency app?? - this is my main concern!
- no true cadaver lab - they use plasticated cadavers
- clearly not much of a student community, high percentage nontraditional students


OU

Pros
- also family
- also in state tuition
- full level 1 trauma center attached
- maybe slightly cheaper cost of living
- good connections with student run clinics
- affiliated residency programs for every specialty

Cons
- horrible parking and generally annoying campus
- huge class and apparently very competitive with each other (a bit toxic?)
- no outdoor activities nearby


Thanks for any help. I’m leaning towards UAMS NW because I like the area a lot more, but I’m not sure how it looks on a residency app. I’m most interested in general surgery as a specialty but perhaps want more options in sub specialization. I’m not sure these schools will care.

I have been assured that there are plenty of research opportunities and you can shadow/rotate basically any specialty there - it’s just not academic.

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[chilly_md]

Having academic faculty write your letters at OU along with having home residency programs are probably the most important differences from UAMS.

 

[bvmedapp]

Having academic faculty write your letters at OU along with having home residency programs are probably the most important differences from UAMS.

I understand this is a difference, I just don’t necessarily understand the significance of it.

I’d prefer to leave either state for residency anyways - I’d like to go west, where I’m actually from. But do academic letters hold significantly more weight? Can I get those letters from away rotations?

 

[chilly_md]

I understand this is a difference, I just don’t necessarily understand the significance of it.

I’d prefer to leave either state for residency anyways - I’d like to go west, where I’m actually from. But do academic letters hold significantly more weight? Can I get those letters from away rotations?

Yeah, you will need them especially if you would like to match a surgical sub specialty on the West Coast. Counting on an away to work out isn't the most ideal.