Northwestern vs Vandy vs WashU vs Cornell

I would love to hear any advice on deciding between these schools! Everything is very similar in price.

I am interested in dermatology, which I realize is very competitive regardless of where you go. Thanks for your input!

Northwestern (2 year preclinical)

Pros

• ⁠Good weather (I like the cold)

• ⁠Car unnecessary

• ⁠Strongest derm home program

• ⁠Prosected anatomy

• ⁠Less mandatory class

Cons

• ⁠H/HP/P/F clinicals (but honors is uncapped)

• ⁠Derm match this year was rough

• ⁠MSPE adjectives

• ⁠AOA but they are considering removing

Vanderbilt (1 year preclinical)

Pros

• ⁠Happy students

• ⁠P/F clinicals

• ⁠Less common to take a research year

• ⁠Students had few complaints about the school

• ⁠No AOA

Cons

• ⁠One year pre-clinical may be difficult as non-trad

• ⁠Long 2 day exams with essays

• ⁠Weaker derm home program

• ⁠MSPE adjectives

• ⁠H/HP/P/F (uncapped honors) third year courses

WashU (1.5 year preclinical)

Pros

• ⁠Closest to family

• ⁠Less mandatory class

• ⁠Seems to favor med students for residency positions

• ⁠No AOA or MSPE adjectives

• ⁠P/F clinicals (mostly)

Cons

• Distinction option across clinicals by 3 threads (patient care, communication, etc.)

• ⁠May be difficult to match outside Missouri since I am from state

• ⁠Downward trend in ranking over past few decades

• ⁠Derm match was brutal this year

• ⁠Heard home derm program is malignant

Cornell (1.5 year preclinical)

Pros

• ⁠6 months dedicated research time

• ⁠Location will give ties to Northeast so may be beneficial for residency

• ⁠No car necessary

• ⁠No MSPE adjectives

• ⁠Derm match this year went well

Cons

• ⁠Furthest from family

• ⁠Ranked in quartiles

• ⁠H/HP/P/F clinicals with cap on honors

• ⁠AOA

• ⁠Research year is common