Deciding Between Acceptances: Duke vs Wayne State

[Matias]

I've been fortunate enough to have gotten acceptances to two great programs.  Both programs have major pros and cons so I was hoping to get input from the PA community.  Both schools have similar PANCE pass rates (96% averages) and both schools have had no students drop out in recent years.

 

Wayne State University

• Pros
  • Class 8 am - 3 pm (except class runs late one day a week due to anatomy lab)
  • Tuition.  Current tuition is ~$40k but there has been mention of a tuition increase.  Still no word on the new tuition rate but I'm expecting ~$50k.
  • Local so I'd be able to live at home. This saves money and time.  I've never lived away from home so the thought of suddenly taking on the responsibilities of grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. while starting PA school seems intimidating.  Having the support of family would be great during such a stressful time.
• Cons
  • Commute.  With clear roads and no traffic the commute is 35 minutes.  Wayne State is in Detroit so roads are pretty horrible.  Winter driving is horrible.  
  • Some rotations.  I've spoken with a couple recent grads and both of them mentioned they had one or two rotations they weren't fond of.
  • Paying for gas and parking.  Parking pass for one semester is $287.  Commute each way is about 36 miles.  These things add up.

 

Duke 

• Pros
  • Commute.  I'd most likely get an apartment near the school, winters aren't nearly as harsh, and the roads are in better condition.
  • Great rotations.  
  • Living in North Carolina.  A change of scenery.
  • Their page states they not only prepare us for clinical medicine but they also prepare us for research and administration.
  • Prestige?
• Cons
  • Tuition (~$80k)
  • Cost of rent, furniture, food, etc.  Their site provides an estimated expense of ~$50k for food, board, transportation and misc. 
  • Class 8-5 daily
  • Dealing with the responsibilities of shopping, cooking, cleaning etc. for the first time in my life.

 

Would attending Duke possibly provide better job prospects in the future?  Would it open more doors if I ever decide I'd like to pursue research or administration?  Or is it true that it really doesn't matter where you go and the savings of Wayne State should be taken advantage of?

[mtnpa]

I think the biggest thing is if you want to stay in Southeast Michigan. If you do, then those rotations will bear more fruit than going to Duke. Also, while the commute is longer, you are not dealing with all those other home stressors as it sounds like your family will do all the cooking, cleaning etc while you study. 

 

I'm actually choosing to move out of Southeast Michigan to go to Duke, but that's more of a personal choice in that I do not want to end up staying here, as I've been here all my life. So I'm taking a risk. However, if it weren't for that, I would have totally chosen to move back in with my parents and go to the cheaper school nearby. I worked with a bunch of ER PAs that went to Wayne State with no big issues and were happy to not be in debt for long.

[Matias]

If I end up going to WSU I'd probably stay in Michigan for my first job and then moving away afterwards.  At least, it's my hope that with work experience I'd be able to get a job in other states.  You don't feel the same?

[MT2PA]

I'm going to say Duke only because I want a provider taking care of me who knows how to do their own laundry, buy their own groceries, and take care of adult responsibilities.  If that's what it takes for you to enter the adult world then do it NOW before it's too late.  

[Kaepora]

You have the opportunity to graduate with half the loans and far less debt because you weren't paying rent and utilities if you go to WSU.  Yeah, prestige is great but 9/10 where you went to school won't matter.  Spend less money, earn your degree and pass your certifying exam.  You will learn how to "adult" then.  It's not really all that difficult.  I want a provider taking care of me who studied hard, is constantly learning and does good work at practicing medicine.  Whether your mom still washes your underwear really doesn't ever once enter my mind.

 

But, this is a personal choice, so even if your only reason for going to Duke is the name or you want to live in Durham, then do it!  I personally love North Carolina.

[rpackelly]

80k less in loans. Sounds like your family is supportive rather than a hassle. Wayne is a good program, so is Duke. Prestige might get you your first job if it is outside of Michigan but in state it will not make any difference, and it will make no difference in five years anywhere. If you were talking about law school, where it does make a difference, or even medical school for residency, I would say Duke, but you really cannot go wrong with Wayne in this scenario. Everyone is less than fond of one or two of their rotations.

[mtnpa]

If I end up going to WSU I'd probably stay in Michigan for my first job and then moving away afterwards.  At least, it's my hope that with work experience I'd be able to get a job in other states.  You don't feel the same?

 

That was a possibility but I found out about duke pretty early on and I fell in love with the program to the point I canceled the interviews instate. I feel if you believe you can get an education that suits your needs at Wayne state, why spend 150k on duke? Michigan is really pa friendly and none of the pa programs here are looked poorly. You have to really want to go to duke to justify that cost.

[Kinematics]

Have you thought about maybe living close your family, but still separate? I applied to Wayne but my interviewer was less-than-friendly, so overall I wasn't impressed with their interview process. I am going to Central instead. Wayne is great because of the cost. I'd go simply for that reason. You can easily get an apartment for pretty cheap and from what they explained at the interview the areas right around the university were very safe. You could just do it for the didactic year. Clinical year is a little different as you probably will be moving a lot, so living and commuting from home might better your second year. Maybe explain to your parents you feel staying at home will distract you from your studies, and that it will only be for the one year. =)

[SoCalPA]

They are both teaching you to pass the PANCE based on the blueprint. If the closer school has good PANCE pass rates then go there. Once you get the MS, PA-C behind your name, nobody will care where its from.  Also, are the programs both the same length of time?