USUHS vs. KCUMB (KC)

[kenji8521]

I've been fortunate enough to receive acceptances at KCUMB(KC) and USUHS. However, I am having a hard time deciding between them. What are your thoughts?
KCU MB
Pros:

1. In the Midwest. I'm from the Midwest.
2. Tuition is reasonable
3. P/F/Honors system
4. Excellent Match statistics every year
5. Students seemed happy (is this true in your experience?)
6. OMM is kept at a minimum.
7. In general, I really liked the school when I went there for a campus tour as well as Kansas City.
8. I would have the opportunity to serve some of the sickest patient populations in our country.

Cons:

1. Tough curriculum
2. Rumored scheduling issues
3. The hassle of taking both COMLEX and USMLE
4. Not sure how step 1 going p/f will affect the school
5. Limited Research opportunity? (but a lot of students from KCU work with UMKC and KU research groups)

USUHS:
Pros:
1. P/F curriculum
2. Excellent match statistics
3. Free tuition
4. I don't have an issue with the 7-year service commitment.
5. During the campus visit, I felt it was a very collaborative environment and students seemed to be happy.
6. Lots of research opportunities.
7. Don't have to take 2 sets of board or deal with OMM at all

Cons:
1. Will have to constantly move (Although this is not something new for me it's still very challenging)
2. Pay is significantly lower in the long run (but I won't have student loans which was quite a bit when I checked on finaid.gov--roughly $600,000 will be paid back in 10 years)
3. Skill atrophy in some surgical specialties (At the moment, I am not too keen on pursuing surgical specialties but this might change. Currently, I am interested in internal medicine, anesthesiology, and radiology..not sure how skill atrophy affects these specialties.)
4. Won't have a chance to serve some of the sickest patient population (not sure if this is true)

Please let me know what are your thoughts. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you.

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[kenji8521]

Forgot to mention, but the cost of living in Bethesda is very high, while KC is very affordable. Also, if I end up going with USUHS, I will be losing the $2000 deposit + $200 deposit for the apartment in KC and the campus tour trip cost ($1000).

 

[chilly_md]

If you're fine with the service commitment, I don't see why you wouldn't go for USUHS.

Losing the deposit does not matter for this (nor does the tour trip).

 

[DOcSto]

If I would've gotten into USUHS, I would've gone. There was a reason you applied there. Evaluate those choices and trust your gut. Best of luck.