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Hi all,
With the deadline to choose a school fast approaching, I would really appreciate some opinions on the choice I'm lucky enough to be currently facing (UW Madison vs. NW).
Here's my current thinking:
Pros, UW:
- Less expensive (in-state + 1/2 tuition scholarship)
- Madison is a pretty great city
- Students seemed very relaxed/friendly
- Have implemented integrative, systems-based curriculum
- Lots of research opportunities
- Public health focus
- Possibility of doing TRIUMPH, having an urban focus for the MD
- Friends/family here, along with connections to non-profits in the area I'd love to keep working with
Cons, UW:
- I went here for undergrad, and am concerned about getting stir-crazy after 8-10 years (MPH dependent) in the same place
- Somewhat lower ranked than NW (#28 vs. #17)
- Less diverse patient population/student body
- Could randomly be placed in a rural location for rotations, which sounds like a nightmare to me
- Seems to be a bit more primary care centric than I am
Pros, NW:
- Location! Chicago is fantastic, and NW is in a pretty great area
- Have been doing the systems-based curriculum for a lot longer, incorporate PBL (which I've liked, in the limited capacity I've seen it)
- Somewhat better ranked (#28 vs. #17)
- Global health opportunities seem to be better funded/more flexibly built into your MD
- Ability to get an MA in Medical Humanities and Bioethics (which sounds fascinating, and can be done in 4 years)
- Use of Spanish language skills in Community Health Clinics
- Match list seems somewhat more impressive, depending on specialty (though I know these are difficult to interpret)
Cons, NW:
- I got a bit more of a competitive vibe from students here
- COST. I did get a 30k/year grant, but would still be saddled with ~234K of debt upon graduation (and Streeterville seems like a nightmare in terms of housing). I fear that this would be a significant stressor
- Forced AoSC, though if I did the MD/MA this seems a moot 'con'
- Further from family/friends
Any thoughts would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance!
With the deadline to choose a school fast approaching, I would really appreciate some opinions on the choice I'm lucky enough to be currently facing (UW Madison vs. NW).
Here's my current thinking:
Pros, UW:
- Less expensive (in-state + 1/2 tuition scholarship)
- Madison is a pretty great city
- Students seemed very relaxed/friendly
- Have implemented integrative, systems-based curriculum
- Lots of research opportunities
- Public health focus
- Possibility of doing TRIUMPH, having an urban focus for the MD
- Friends/family here, along with connections to non-profits in the area I'd love to keep working with
Cons, UW:
- I went here for undergrad, and am concerned about getting stir-crazy after 8-10 years (MPH dependent) in the same place
- Somewhat lower ranked than NW (#28 vs. #17)
- Less diverse patient population/student body
- Could randomly be placed in a rural location for rotations, which sounds like a nightmare to me
- Seems to be a bit more primary care centric than I am
Pros, NW:
- Location! Chicago is fantastic, and NW is in a pretty great area
- Have been doing the systems-based curriculum for a lot longer, incorporate PBL (which I've liked, in the limited capacity I've seen it)
- Somewhat better ranked (#28 vs. #17)
- Global health opportunities seem to be better funded/more flexibly built into your MD
- Ability to get an MA in Medical Humanities and Bioethics (which sounds fascinating, and can be done in 4 years)
- Use of Spanish language skills in Community Health Clinics
- Match list seems somewhat more impressive, depending on specialty (though I know these are difficult to interpret)
Cons, NW:
- I got a bit more of a competitive vibe from students here
- COST. I did get a 30k/year grant, but would still be saddled with ~234K of debt upon graduation (and Streeterville seems like a nightmare in terms of housing). I fear that this would be a significant stressor
- Forced AoSC, though if I did the MD/MA this seems a moot 'con'
- Further from family/friends
Any thoughts would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance!