Going to a P/F school with a 1.5-year preclinical curriculum and in-house exams, for context. I plan on using my same 2022 MacBook, and I’ve never used an iPad for school, so I’ll probably stick with that. What do you recommend I buy for essentials?
VCU vs BU
Not set on a specialty, but I’m interested in ortho/ENT/rads and hoping to match on the East Coast (ideally the DMV). Cost is roughly similar after financial aid.
BU
Pros -
Higher national prestige and brand recognition (T30 medical school)
Large academic medical system with high clinical volume and diverse patient population
New city experience and independence from my current environment
Exposure to a major Northeast academic hub
Cons -
7 hours from family in Northern Virginia
Boston is expensive (high cost of living)
Cold winters
Doesn’t seem like they match students to their home programs, especially ortho
Not sure if location will lower my chances of matching in the DMV area
VCU School of Medicine
Pros -
Strong academic medical center with high clinical volume
Consistently match at least 2 students to their ortho residency program
90 minutes from family in Northern Virginia (sister lives in Richmond)
Cons -
Lower prestige compared to BU
Richmond is a smaller city
Too familiar of an area (undergrad)
VCU vs BU
I’m interested in ortho/ENT/rads and hoping to match on the East Coast (ideally the DMV). Cost is roughly similar after financial aid.
BU
Pros -
Higher national prestige and brand recognition (T30 medical school)
Large academic medical system with high clinical volume and diverse patient population
New city experience and independence from my current environment
Exposure to a major Northeast academic hub
Cons -
7 hours from family in Northern Virginia
Boston is expensive (high cost of living)
Cold winters
Doesn’t seem like they match students to their home programs, especially ortho
Not sure if location will lower my chances of matching in the DMV area
VCU School of Medicine
Pros -
Strong academic medical center with high clinical volume
Consistently match at least 2 students to their ortho residency program
90 minutes from family in Northern Virginia (sister lives in Richmond)
Cons -
Lower prestige compared to BU
Richmond is a smaller city
Too familiar of an area (undergrad)
VCU vs BU
I’m interested in ortho/ENT/rads and hoping to match on the East Coast (ideally the DMV). Cost is roughly similar after financial aid.
BU
Pros -
Higher national prestige and brand recognition (T30 medical school)
Large academic medical system with high clinical volume and diverse patient population
New city experience and independence from my current environment
Exposure to a major Northeast academic hub
Cons -
7 hours from family in Northern Virginia
Boston is expensive (high cost of living)
Cold winters
Doesn’t seem like they match students to their home programs, especially ortho
Not sure if location will lower my chances of matching in the DMV area
VCU School of Medicine
Pros -
Strong academic medical center with high clinical volume
Consistently match at least 2 students to their ortho residency program
90 minutes from family in Northern Virginia (sister lives in Richmond)
Cons -
Lower prestige compared to BU
Richmond is a smaller city
Too familiar of an area (undergrad)
Hi everyone. I’m an incoming MD student in the US and recently got devastating news about my family, my 3-year-old cousin was diagnosed with B-cell ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia). She also currently has malaria, which has complicated things further.
She’s Sudanese, but the family rushed her to Egypt to try to get better care as quickly as possible. From my research, Hospital 57357 in Cairo seems like one of the best options for pediatric oncology in the region, especially since they provide treatment free of charge. However, I’m worried about capacity and wait times because she likely cannot afford major delays in treatment.
Has anyone here navigated pediatric cancer care in Egypt, gotten a child into 57357, or know reputable pediatric oncologists/hematology-oncology centers in Egypt or the surrounding region? Any guidance, contacts, or advice would truly mean a lot. Thank you!
Hi everyone. I’m an incoming MD student in the US and recently got devastating news about my family, my 3-year-old cousin was diagnosed with B-cell ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia). She also currently has malaria, which has complicated things further.
She’s Sudanese, but the family rushed her to Egypt to try to get better care as quickly as possible. From my research, Hospital 57357 in Cairo seems like one of the best options for pediatric oncology in the region, especially since they provide treatment free of charge. However, I’m worried about capacity and wait times because she likely cannot afford major delays in treatment.
Has anyone here navigated pediatric cancer care in Egypt, gotten a child into 57357, or know reputable pediatric oncologists/hematology-oncology centers in Egypt or the surrounding region? Any guidance, contacts, or advice would truly mean a lot. Thank you!
Hi everyone. I’m an incoming MD student in the US and recently got devastating news about my family, my 3-year-old cousin was diagnosed with B-cell ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia). She also currently has malaria, which has complicated things further.
She’s Sudanese, but the family rushed her to Egypt to try to get better care as quickly as possible. From my research, Hospital 57357 in Cairo seems like one of the best options for pediatric oncology in the region, especially since they provide treatment free of charge. However, I’m worried about capacity and wait times because she likely cannot afford major delays in treatment.
Has anyone here navigated pediatric cancer care in Egypt, gotten a child into 57357, or know reputable pediatric oncologists/hematology-oncology centers in Egypt or the surrounding region? Any guidance, contacts, or advice would truly mean a lot. Thank you!
Hi everyone. I’m an incoming MD student in the US and recently got devastating news about my family, my 3-year-old cousin was diagnosed with B-cell ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia). She also currently has malaria, which has complicated things further.
She’s Sudanese, but the family rushed her to Egypt to try to get better care as quickly as possible. From my research, Hospital 57357 in Cairo seems like one of the best options for pediatric oncology in the region, especially since they provide treatment free of charge. However, I’m worried about capacity and wait times because she likely cannot afford major delays in treatment.
Has anyone here navigated pediatric cancer care in Egypt, gotten a child into 57357, or know reputable pediatric oncologists/hematology-oncology centers in Egypt or the surrounding region? Any guidance, contacts, or advice would truly mean a lot. Thank you!
I'm interested in ortho/rads
USC Keck
Pros -
High national prestige and brand recognition (T30 medical school)
Strong academic reputation and a large, well-funded academic medical system in Los Angeles
High clinical volume and diverse patient population
Strong research infrastructure and access to competitive projects
Independent living environment (full separation from home distractions)
NBME Exams
Cons-
~250–300k more expensive than VCU
Far from family in Northern Virginia
I hope to match on the East Coast
Would have to take out private loans
High cost of living in LA
No support system nearby
GW
Pros-
Located in Washington, DC
Very close to family (can live at home)
Strong East Coast residency connections and pipeline opportunities
Good exposure to urban academic medicine and complex cases
Lower housing costs if living at home
Cons-
25–30 min daily commute (time & fatigue over 4 years)
$10–15k more than VCU, still much less expensive than Keck
Research opportunities require more self-initiation
Not sure if I’d do my best living at home
VCU
Pros - Strong academic medical center with high clinical volume
Solid regional reputation and solid match list
Lowest cost option
No commute if living near campus
Family only an hour and a half away
Strong East Coast match outcomes overall
Cons: Lower prestige compared to USC
Less proximity to family than GW
Familiar environment (less geographic change/new experience)
I'm interested in ortho/rads
USC Keck
Pros -
High national prestige and brand recognition (T30 medical school)
Strong academic reputation and a large, well-funded academic medical system in Los Angeles
High clinical volume and diverse patient population
Strong research infrastructure and access to competitive projects
Independent living environment (full separation from home distractions)
NBME Exams
Cons-
~250–300k more expensive than VCU
Far from family in Northern Virginia
I hope to match on the East Coast
Would have to take out private loans
High cost of living in LA
No support system nearby
GW
Pros-
Located in Washington, DC
Very close to family (can live at home)
Strong East Coast residency connections and pipeline opportunities
Good exposure to urban academic medicine and complex cases
Lower housing costs if living at home
Cons-
25–30 min daily commute (time & fatigue over 4 years)
$10–15k more than VCU, still much less expensive than Keck
Research opportunities require more self-initiation
Not sure if I’d do my best living at home
VCU
Pros - Strong academic medical center with high clinical volume
Solid regional reputation and solid match list
Lowest cost option
No commute if living near campus
Family only an hour and a half away
Strong East Coast match outcomes overall
Cons: Lower prestige compared to USC
Less proximity to family than GW
Familiar environment (less geographic change/new experience)