What Would You Do?

Tuxedo T-shirts. They say "I'm formal, but I like to party." They're a compromise between two seemingly separate attitudes, an intermediate. This is why I love them and why lately I wish I could be more like them.

Intermediates can weigh out a decision and settle on compromise. I am not an intermediate. I exist in a state of polarity, a land of indecision, where the pros of an issue are also it's cons. Confusing I know, which is why I'm looking to you my my tuxedo t-shirt wearing intermediates for a little advice. I've been accepted at 2 Med schools. Of course this is a big decision, a personal one, and one which I'll ultimately have to make by and for myself, but I want your take so let's hear it.

Check out a few of the Pro's and Cons I've set up below and let me know what you think.

School #1

• Tuition: $26,000/year
• Cultural and social benefits that come with city life. But I suspect the diversity factor might be a little less than norm given the location.
  
• This U is associated with the undergrad university, prospectively more people to meet vs. the other School of Medicine which is not.
  
• Friends and Family close by. Sister and brother near and family throughout the state and neighboring states- good support network.
  
• Familiarity, the safe choice, though I think I'd like the opportunity to branch out.
• Curriculum: This U implemented a new curriculum last year that involves weekly Monday exams. Sounds rough, but a student I spoke with said it's not so bad and it keeps him on his game. The curriculum is the traditional style in which you take all your subjects at the same time. This may be a good way to integrate between subjects vs. the block curriculum at my other option.
  

School #2

• Tuition: $50,000/year (about $25,000 more/year)
• Small rural setting. It has a great community feel and location keeps cost of living down, but I'd be only a few hours train ride away from New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, the beach, Baltimore, etc.
  
• 2 hours away from the undergrad university. Basically the only people your age are your medical class of 150 plus the other 450 students in other med classes.
  
• Some family. My best friend/sister Allison lives close by with her 1st year med student hubby. Both would be great supports and resources.
• Curriculum: Block style. You learn one subject at a time, test on it, and you're done. Perhaps nicer than being bombarded with pieces of every subject at once. Exams every 3 weeks vs weekly at the the other U. There is speculation that a block schedule might allow for more free time outside of school, but I've talked to students from the other U who say they make time as well.
  

Both are great schools and I'm sure I'll be successful whichever route I decide to take. The first option is the safe choice, the logical one, the economical one, and I really do think I'd be happy there. The second option is a leap of faith. I like the idea of living in the east for four years. It would be an adventure and I'm sure I'd be happy there too. But I'm not sure it would be worth the extra $100,000 of debt. Let me know what you think. Blog and Facebook comments welcome.