UWSOM vs. Colorado (please help :))

[everything_is_fine]

Colorado (~45K tuition)
Pros

• Closer to family (support system)
• LICs seem great for early clinical exposure (clerkships start MS2)
• P/F MS1
• Nice weather and more sunny days
• Weekly exams on Friday

Cons

• H/HP/P/F clerkships
• 1 year of pre-clinical sounds kind of rushed, but idk if this leaves more flexibility for later years
• Been in Colorado for a while, so would like a change
• Not really big into skiing/hiking which most people do around here
• Not as great of a vibe on the visit day

UWSOM (~50k tuition + potentially an additional 10K in financial aid)
Pros

• P/F MS1 - MS3
• T20 (more prestige/connections?)
• My visit day experience was great
• The administration seems super supportive

Cons

• WWAMI travel to different states seems stressful. I would be happier staying in one location during med school (Seattle).
• Gloomy weather
• Weekly exams on Monday

Summary: I think both are great schools, so I'm feeling super conflicted right now, especially since they cost pretty similar. Currently, I am interested in either a surgical subspecialty or derm. At the end of the day, I hope to go somewhere that will best prepare me clinically, have excellent research opportunities, and match into a great residency program.

• I would love to match into California because my partner is working there in a pretty niche field.
• My heart is telling me UW for a change, but logically Colorado might be better for stability (not moving around WWAMI). I feel like I might regret giving up UW tho
• I looked up Derm research at Colorado and felt like there were fewer opportunities than at UW. Please correct me if I am wrong though!
• Does UW being a T20 open any more doors at all in terms of connections?

Any advice or perspective would be appreciated!! Thank you all so much

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[ByThe+C]

The pros of Colorado just don't seem to support your goals. UWSOM will give you much better preparation and it will help you match in the West coast. If I were you, I would go to UW and then match into California much more easily.