<p>having spent my first quarter at Northwestern, I've become quite fond of the city of Chicago. So I've started looking into schools in the Chicagoland area, other than the obvious like Feinberg and Pritzker, and came across these three schools.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how these schools compare in terms of quality?
I realize none of the three rank in USNews, does this mean these schools are substantially sub-par compared to schools like Feinberg and Pritzker?</p>
<p>That's beside the point. My question isn't whether it will hurt me to go to a school that isn't ranked; I'm simply asking if there's anyone on this forum that knows more about these schools as I've only recently learned of them.</p>
<p>The big reason these three don't rank higher is because none of the three is a research powerhouse. But if your goal is training as a physician, not a researcher, does the research power matter? In the same line, these three may have more straightforward clinical rotations. contrast that with U. Chi, when juniors need to have a car to get to their clinical sites, which are far from campus.</p>
<p>Wait, the U of C med school is far from clinical sites? I'm not sure I understand what that means; isn't the Pritzker campus part of the main campus in Hyde Park?</p>
<p>And why does RFU, I'm assuming this is Rosalind and Franklin, suck? I'm just curious to know.</p>
<p>UofC's medical school is indeed part of the campus, as are its hospitals. But the UofC Medical Center is a tertiary care and referral center. Hence it is not a place to teach primary care medicine.</p>
<p>Why does RFU suck? To start, it is pretty far from the city, expensive and not well funded. But it does award an MD degree!</p>
<p>It was placed on probation and changed its name. Perhaps, the new RFU is better but it's pretty much a bottom-feeder as far as allopathic med schools go.</p>
<p>Edit: To be fair to Rosalind Franklin, it doesn't take very much to be placed on probation. In 1999, Stanford Med was a few votes short of being placed on probation due to its crappy facilities (namely the library). When I interviewed at Columbia a few weeks ago, the students said that the medical school was in the process of updating its facilities as it has come under fire from the accrediting agency. When we say that standards are strict and that every med school is of good quality, we mean it.</p>
<p>It is also important to note that RFU is no longer on probation. Here are some of the initiatives it has taken:</p>
<p>
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UofC's medical school is indeed part of the campus, as are its hospitals. But the UofC Medical Center is a tertiary care and referral center. Hence it is not a place to teach primary care medicine.
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</p>
<p>What about Feinberg or the other three schools I mentioned? Do you know if these schools have primary care centers on campus?</p>
<p>Even if they officially have centers, I can promise you that Feinberg is not going to place an emphasis on it -- much less than the other three.</p>
<p>Most of the medical centers associated with top tier med schools are going to be Level 1 trauma tertiary care centers with a full complement of specialists. It doesn't mean you can't get good primary care training. Although the patient population at Northwestern Memorial differs from that of Pritzker, you will find plenty of primary care cases. The cases themselves won't be the same (you might see more high blood pressure at Feinberg hospitals vs. more acute problems at Pritzker), but, dammnit, rich people need primary care too!</p>
<p>Yes, but they don't go to academic hospitals to get it. They go see a family physician with a small practice out in the suburbs.</p>
<p>If you want primary care, your school is going to have to place an emphasis on getting you out there for your rotations. You're not going to find it in your "home" hospital system.</p>
<p>BDM knows what he's talking about here. In fact, Pritzker sends its students to the 'burbs for some rotations, as the amount of primary care at the U hospital is minimal.</p>
<p>That's a good point BDM. Although I will say that the availability of primary care is usually not a limiting factor at any med school. Student-run clinics (of which Feinberg has 3) and senior electives (Feinberg offers multitide of electives in every field; I'm sure Pritzker does as well) allow anyone who is interested in primary care to get their fill. Obviously, I don't think they emphasize primary care as much as, say, UC Davis.</p>
<p>For better discussion upon this topic go to <a href="http://www.studentdoctor.net%5B/url%5D">http://www.studentdoctor.net</a>
UIC has a very large college of medicine. You must remember if you apply, they don't guarantee you will be admitted to the Chicago campus. You can be placed at Urbana, Peoria, or Rockford.</p>
<p>^Is placement based on merit? Or do you apply to seperate campuses?</p>
<p>Also does anyone know more about Loyola Chicago, UIC or Rush: location, student body, reputation, opportunities, anything?
I'd really like to learn a little more about these schools than the school websites offer.</p>
<p>If you are accepted to UIC COM, they will send you a campus preference sheet. You will give your preference i.e. number 1. Chicago 2. Rockford 3. Urbana 4. Peoria. They will try to accomodate your preference as long as they have space. Chicago campus always closes first. So, they best thing to do is to apply early, especially since UIC COM does rolling admissions.<br>
UIC COM and Rush are down the street from each other. The other website I gave you will have other pre-meds there, and they will be more informed about this than me.</p>