Hi! Very conflicted FL student who originally really wanted to leave Florida but is now torn between options. Context: grew up in the midwest, moved down to north central Florida before high school and have been there ever since. Undecided in specialty interests currently (interested in basically everything as of now).

Both schools are similar in prestige/quality of education from my understanding, and both have good match lists (albeit w/ different geographic allocations). My main dilemma surrounds lifestyle while in medical school & geographic preferences. Initially I wasn’t considering Miami at all, thinking that life in Southern Florida wouldn't be a fit for me. However, Miami offered me a partial tuition scholarship and I visited the city for the first time for a student-led tour of the school and found myself really enjoying the area while I was there and now I am very torn.

Rochester
Pros

- The curriculum focuses heavily on the biopsychosocial model and integrating ethics & humanities with science

- Matches a lot in regions I would like to live in long-term (northeastern states, some california, etc.)

- Smaller class size allows for more connection opportunities & less competition

- LatinX pathway program would allow me to continue working on medical spanish 

- Lots of beautiful hiking and nature trails in the surrounding area 

- Is outside of Florida and has seasons!!!! I miss seasons so much

- student and faculty there seem so collaborative, uplifting, and supportive. Felt like I would bond with the community there

Neutral

- Is P/F but has top 10% distinction

- Medical school/center is the highlight of the town/area → faculty/staff seem very supportive to students because of that. However, on the other hand, worried about being stuck in a med bubble, and the town almost feels empty outside of the school

Cons

- Lower COL but much higher tuition (~$100k COA, not including need to purchase winter suited car since having a car/driving is mandatory)

- Visited the city for second-look and wasn’t a huge fan of the downtown; felt kind of like a ghost-town and didn’t feel super walkable/safe

- While I enjoy the cold/seasons, winters here still seem particularly brutal (especially nervous about having to learn to drive on icy roads)

Miami
Pros 

- Huge diversity of patients that comes with being in such an urban area (+ living in a big city for a few years is something I want to experience as someone who grew up in a small town then moved to a college town)

- TONS of opportunity to really improve Spanish through real engagement and immersion

- Medical facilities/school campus looks really nice and modern

- DOCS clinic seems really cool and offers lots of clinical engagement from the get-go

- Recently got rid of their quartile system for pre-clinicals so now true P/F!

Neutral

- Much more expensive COL but slightly offset by merit scholarship (~$85k COA after scholarship is applied)

- Short pre-clinical (14mo) w/ dedicated study period being combined for Step 1 and Step 2 both from what I’ve heard. I think I would like the shorter pre-clinicals, but worried about studying for two big exams simultaneously

Cons

- Larger class body size -- worried about it being cliquey and/or more competitive among peers

- Climate/geography. I hate the heat and initially really wanted to leave Florida because of this; moving to Miami would be upping the heat & experiencing worse hurricane weather 

- Personally not a big party person, worried if I might not mesh well with the city/feel out of place among the student-body because of it. 

- Driving in the city would suck

- Most students match in Florida. While I am considering going here for med school, I do NOT want to stay for residency or beyond

- Less natural beauty/hiking opportunities nearby. I enjoy the beach occasionally but am not a go every single week/day type of person; would much rather go on a hike or jog in an area with a lot of greenery

Also, out of curiosity, out of the two which do you consider more prestigious and which part of the US are you from?