posted a while back here debating UMass vs CUSM

it would seem like the obvious answer to choose UMass bc it's honestly amazing. i have no faults with it at all.

i'm from LA, about an hour from CUSM's campus and I have always dreamed of matching IM (ophtho is a specialty in the back of my mind tho but like IM to ophtho is 80/20 for me) in SoCal. like USC, UCLA, UCI something to that effect, then working for an academic institution in LA.

CUSM was so underwhelming when i visited and i know there's gaps they're still filling being the new school on the block. however, they're fully accredited and their match list is insane. like purely insane. 98% CA matches, a bunch to the institutions i would DREAM of being in.

UMass was amazing. i didn't love worcester tbh as an LA girl but location isn't everything. UMass felt more intense and rigorous than CUSM by far. however their match list was mainly into the northeast. obviously this makes sense bc it's Mass's state school.

i think, deep down, i'd like to attend CUSM for the security of knowing i will match into socal. it's the whole mission of the school, to create more physicians in the region i'm from. however, i feel ridiculous for wanting an unranked school over UMass which is like #49 in the country and has way more name recognition and resources available, not to mention the campus blew me away.

i'd love to move, nothing is tying me to LA but the idea of not coming back in 4 years honestly scares me. tuition was about the same for both. both P/F preclinical, tiered grading during clinicals. AOA at UMass, none at CUSM. weather is also scaring me a little lol

idk. when i was at UMass, i had a gut feeling i want to go to CUSM but i fear i am not taking all the opportunities given to me by giving up a school that is so much more robust in every way. what would you do? should i bite the bullet and hope i match back and just go?