The importance of choosing a medical school that is a good fit

Most students dream of studying medicine at a so-called top tier or well-known medical school. There is undeniably a certain amount of prestige that is associated with attending a highly ranked or well-known program, it may not be the best choice for you or your career. When choosing a medical school (or a PhD, master’s, SMP, or post back), its FAR AND AWAY more important to choose a program that is the right fit for you. Choosing a program based on it being a good academic, financial, and cultural fit for you increases the odds that you will thrive and excel. You’ll be happier, experience better performance, have less overall stress, and will have a better, overall academic experience.

In terms of academic fit, a medical school that is reputed for its academic rigor may be a great fit for highly competitive students, however, students who are not into competing with their classmates may find the environment to be very stressful. Feelings of imposter syndrome may rear its head more frequently. Conversely, a medical school that does not offer an environment that you find challenging enough may leave you feeling bored and unmotivated. You should also consider the structure of the school’s curriculum when considering a medical school. Personally speaking, I was not looking for a program where attendance is mandatory or where lecture goes from 8am – 5pm, Monday thru Friday. I thrive in a curriculum where there is ample time for self-study, the opportunity to seek information in the ways that make sense to me, the chance to learn in an environment that isn’t doing the whole “sage on the stage” thing, and one that allows the early integration of clinical practice. ATSU-SOMA and UIWSOM both offered these things.

Besides academics, you should make sure that the programs that you are considering are a good fit for you financially. Many pre-meds and medical students are of the mindset, “Just take whatever loans you need.” That is certainly one way to look at it but you have to realize that loans come with real consequences. I’ve had a number of primary care providers tell me that it does not make financial sense to pursue a career in primary care if you are graduating from medical school with 300K or more in student debt (and if you attend a DO program, you may very easily accumulate that much debt). I read a post on Facebook that other day where a physician was explaining how she took a 20K residency relocation loan that she is STILL paying on 10 years later. I had a good friend who had to quite medical school because he literally exhausted ALL of his remaining Federal Grad Plus eligibility for medical school. He now has $478,000 in medical, graduate, and undergraduate debt and only completed two years of medical school. He will never pay all that back. He always chose the most expensive programs and took the maximum loans that he was allowed to take. Now he is in a financial bind. Look for schools that offer some scholarships or grants to offset your burdens. Look for outside funding sources. I was able to find a source, the VA-HPSP, that will cover my 100% of my medical school tuition and fees AND gives me a small stipend to help with rent. If I have to take any student loans, they will be minimal at best.

You also want to assess programs in terms of the environment of the school and location. Choosing a program that allows you easy access to the things that you care about can make life as a medical student more palatable. Though I grew up in a rural part of Texas where I was one of three African American students in a school of 1,500 white kids, I’ve no wish to go back to that type of an environment. So this heavily influenced my thoughts about where I would want to attend medical school (and eventually residency). ATSU-SOMA is not a diverse school though the class that has been admitted will be the most diverse class in the school’s history. UIWSOM on the other hand is an incredibly diverse school in an incredibly diverse city. The Phoenix Valley is growing more diverse and its very beautiful out there (I’m going to miss living in the Valley) but SOMA is still lacking diversity in the student body and faculty; this is ultimately why I withdrew my acceptance from SOMA in favor of UIWSOM.

Last thing. While you may not think much about it, its important to note that medical schools also consider fit when considering who to admit. For example, if you apply to ATSU-SOMA and your goal is to specialize in cardiothoracic surgery, you will not be a good fit for SOMA. The school seeks applicants who have a strong commitment to service and primary care. Medical schools strive to create a well-rounded cohort and will give preference to applicants who are a better fit for them. Thus, you should seek to ensure that the school is as good of a fit for you as the school wants to be sure that you are a good fit for them.