Duke (Duham) vs. Wash U (St. Louis)

wow. wash u has a divorse rate of 100% for those going into surgery? that's not good at all!! does anyone know the best specialities for family life?

I actually might attend UNC for graduate school.

Good choice .......although, I don't know if it's possible for a Tar Heel and a Dukie to live under one roof! :!

[Vanquisher]

wow. wash u has a divorse rate of 100% for those going into surgery? that's not good at all!! does anyone know the best specialities for family life?

I think Jenn was reffering to Duke having a high boasted divorce rate.

The good specialties- follow the yellow brick ROAD.

http://www.medicalspouse.com/forums/vie ... ermatology


See this thread.

If it were me I would choose Duke, but, that's based solely on gut and not on any facts whasoever. I have driven through Durham, and that is the extent of my knowledge on that.

thanks for the link to that thread....we actually had that conversation the other day. if i did go to UNC and he went to Duke there would be craziness occuring during basketball season! but then again we'd also have UT to bring us back together

Off the top of my head, I don't think I know anyone who went to Duke medical school. I'll try to remember to ask DH. The only unusual thing I remember about it is how the first and second years are structured and how that might affect studying for boards (or something like that??).

Malignant residency programs do not always reflect on the med school culture though the surgery rotation at Duke might be a doozy. The things that happened at Wash U were way out of line, IMO, and probably on the side of the extreme, even for a competitive place.

i know my boyfriend LOVES Duke for the curriculum reasons. i think the first year is solely in the classroom with second year being all clinical experience. i also know that at Duke he would only be there for 4 years where at other schools it would take 5. were most of your DH's in school for 5 years? My S.O. says that Duke adds extensive research into their program but at other schools that's what many people take their 5th year to do.

the stress of not knowing what city i'll be in is really getting to me!!!!

[spotty_dog]

were most of your DH's in school for 5 years? My S.O. says that Duke adds extensive research into their program but at other schools that's what many people take their 5th year to do.

Nope, we're a four year school here. I think even with the recent curriculum changes that are causing our first years to do major research projects as part of their graduation requirements, they are still graduating them in four years.

Believe me when I say I feel your pain about the uncertainty. And just think, in a few years you'll be going through the same thing but instead of choosing for yourself, you'll have a computer program choosing your destination for you!

Eight days to the Match!

i can't EVEN imagine how the "matches" work. i mean it just sounds so weird to me. don't you get to pick your top three and some computer program does this weird matrix thing or something like that and chooses for you? i cannot even think about what that's going to be like.

yeah, i think his main concern is being a TOP candidate for residency programs, which means he needs SERIOUS research. for some reason Duke's curriculum is one of a kind (or so he says) and that's his main reason for wanting to go to Duke. last night he said something like "if wash u had Duke's curriculum i'd be in st. louis next year for sure" sooooooooooooooo hopefully after second looks and financial aid our destination will be picked!

if anyone DOESN'T mind me asking about costs of med school/living while in med school i would appreciate feedback. it sounds like we'll be paying off student loans (for both us) while i'm in graduate school and he's in med school. but i'm assuming MOST people "make it" hopefully anyways

thanks again!

Heidi was right. I was referring to Duke.

As far as costs go - remember that your spouse will be earning no money, will have exam fees in addition to tuition, books, study aids, etc. Med school tuition can be deferred during residency, but I don't know about undergrad loans - we didn't have any.

thanks for clearing up my mistake about duke/wash u divorce rates.

we don't have any undergrad loans but i know we'll probably both have to take out loans for med/grad school. hopefully he can get financial aid and perhaps even a scholarship. i know duke's financial aid is awesome!

what about getting a mortgage...how hard is that? would it make a difference that we're not married/engaged. sorry i'm kinda new to all of this. i'm figuring out at 21 that i don't know all that much about real life...i've been living the undergrad lifestyle and now must grow up!

btw, I think it is the divorce rate in Duke's surgery residency that is over 100% -- not for the medical school classes.

hehe, that would make more sense! thanks!! : )

[smiley]

I don't know about St. Louis, but I know whenever someone mentions Duke the response is always the same, "malignant". I can't say firsthand why that would be, it's the only school I hear people bad-mouth for what that's worth. Maybe he should ask about this on student doc net and find out what current students think.

As far as taking 5yrs to graduate I don't know of any schools that do that. People who want research usually do it on the break between 1st and 2nd yr. You can do more during the school yr if you want to, but you still only take 4yrs to graduate.

It would be great if he could follow a med student around for a day while he is on his second look, it gives a much better feel for what it's really like there. Good luck!

actually we have decided on duke. never heard anyone bad mouth duke like they do some of the other schools. basically it came down to that "initial feeling" he got while at duke. which i got the same feeling when i went there. it's a great school, great funding, unique curriculum. we will both by happy there. thanks for the input though.

and he's on studentdoctor.net and has shadow for the past couple of year.

[Meenah]

I work with several docs who went to Duke and loved it. My sister lives 30 minutes from Duke and the area is beautiful. The cost of living is great!!!!! Good luck!