Choosing a medical school is an important and life-altering decision. Your medical school will lay down a foundation on which your practice will be built. It also determines how you will be spending four very important years of your life. Four allopathic, or traditional, medical schools operate in Tennessee and each comes with advantages and disadvantages. Researching the pros and cons of each school will help you make a decision that will ensure your happiness as a health-care provider.
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Medical College is affiliated with Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Despite its small average enrollment of 634 students, the Vanderbilt med school has a vibrant student community to participate in. The undergraduate Vanderbilt campus is very close by. Vanderbilt offers a large array of dual-degree programs, allowing you to explore medicine and other fields, such as public health and scientific research concurrently. As of August 2010 the average cost of attendance is $62,820 a year, according to vanderbilt.edu. Financial aid is available.
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
21st Avenue South at Garland Avenue
Nashville, TN 37232
615-322-2145
medschool.vanderbilt.edu
Meharry Medical College
Meharry Medical College is an independent, historically black school in Nashville dedicated to educating minority health professionals. About 90 new medical students are admitted each year. Dual degrees in public health and research are offered but slots are limited. A variety of community outreach programs are run by the medical school and many graduates choose to work in underserved areas. The average cost of attendance is $74,848 a year, as of August 2010. Financial aid is available.
Meharry Medical College
1005 D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37208
615-327-6000
mmc.edu
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center offers a variety of health-care degrees, including a doctor of medicine degree and a dual MD/Ph.D program. The school is not affiliated with an undergraduate campus. Students spend time at three campuses, in Knoxville, Memphis and Chattanooga. More than 600 medical students are enrolled, according to UTHSC.edu. The average estimated cost of attendance per year is $11,815 for Tennessee residents and $24,261.50 for out-of-state residents, as of August 2010.
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
910 Madison Ave., Suite 1002
Memphis, TN 38163
901-448-5500
uthsc.edu
James H. Quillen College of Medicine
East Tennessee State University runs the James H. Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, a small town in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. The average class size is 60 students, which etsu.edu says gives the school a more personal, intimate feel. Quillen places a strong focus on primary care medicine. Dual degree programs are not available. The estimated cost of attendance per year is $45,852 for Tennessee residents and $71,748 for out-of-state students, as of August 2010.
East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine
P.O. Box 70694
Johnson City, TN, 37614
423-439-1000
etsu.edu/com
Selecting A School
All of the schools listed in this article are accredited U.S. allopathic, or traditional, medical schools. Graduates will be eligible to practice medicine in the United States. Competition for spots at most U.S. medical schools is tough and many students apply to a broad range of schools to increase their chances of acceptance. It is important to realistically look at you grades, extracurricular activities and letters of reference and see whether they match those of students currently enrolled in the school you are considering applying to. This will provide a rough estimate of your chances at acceptance.
If you receive several acceptances, the choice of which school to attend is based on many factors. What is the school's ranking among U.S. medical schools? How much does this ranking mean to you and are you willing to sacrifice other criteria for it? Do the school's graduates obtain good residencies in fields you are interested in? How much financial aid will you receive and how much debt are you willing to incur? Do you prefer a large student body and campus? Are you interested in primary care or community service? How important is it for you to be near your family? These are important questions that will help you make the right decision for your education and career.
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