135,000 dollars or a top 35 university education?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Heres my question...</p>

<p>I am 99% sure I am going to go to medical school after my undergrad..</p>

<p>Considering that, Is it worth it to go to (lets say) NYU, Brandeis, Lehigh, etc.. (expensive private schools that would probably cost 40-50 thousand a year) or go to my best state school, suny binghamton, for 12 thousand. Calculating this, i could save up to 152 thousand dollars if i went to binghamton.. which could probably pay for most of my medical training.</p>

<p>For a child in a family making around 250k a year (so no FA), is it worth saving that money?</p>

2

<p>I wouldn't pay an extra $30,000 per year for undergrad if I was going to go on to med school.</p>

3

<p>There must be facts and figures about the medical placements of undergraduates from each of those colleges. That could be an important issue. </p>

<p>If you're competitive for Brandeis, NYU, etc., you might be able to get a partial merit scholarship at a college (public or private) outside the northeast that would be provide you the broadening experience of living in a new region without adding to your expense over Binghamton. That's something to consider too--apply widely and see what "merit" aid offers you get after you apply and are admitted to various colleges.</p>

4

<p>those are great, eye-popping private schools...lol. so i'd suggesat you just save the money.</p>

5

<p>I'd go with SUNY. Med schools understand that not everyone can afford to go to super-expensive privates. As long as you do well and get good MCAT scores, they're not going to hold it against you.</p>

6

<p>I am in the same boat. I was accepted to Brandeis ED, Stony Brook and Binghamton and I know I want to go to medical school as well but I chose Brandeis because I will get good preparation for medical school because their pre-med track is really good not to say Binghamton won't do the same. But Brandeis gave me great aid but really the decision is yours to make.</p>

7

<p>Keep in mind, you probably won't make it to med school. It's good to choose a decent all-around school so that you can get good training in another field. Obviously, I still wouldn't go to those private schools for an extra 135,000 but there are some cheaper schools that offer great education as well.</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
Keep in mind, you probably won't make it to med school.

[/quote]

True. I think the statistic is something like only 1 out of every 10 pre-meds makes it far enough to even apply.</p>

9

<p>i meant aren't</p>

10

<p>Recently spoke with a relative by marriage who is the president of a medical school in the US and author of a widely used medical textbook. He stressed that a high GPA is more important than school attended when admitting students to med school. Also SUNY Binghamton is a very well respected university.</p>

11

<p>
[quote]
He stressed that a high GPA is more important than school attended when admitting students to med school.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Is this true down to ANY echelon of undergraduate colleges? Would a 4.0 from Podunk State College really result in better medical school application results than a 3.5 from Harvard, MIT, Caltech, or Stanford?</p>

12

<p>A 4.0 will always be better than a 3.5. The problem is that medical school admissions has gotten so competitive (55 out of the top 65 medical schools have acceptance rates under 10%) that you pretty much need a high GPA AND have gone to a reputable college. This is particularly true at top medical schools (Harvard, JHU, Columbia, etc.) where a majority of the people they interview come from a US News Top 20 college.</p>

13

<p>In general, students should remove all considerations of medical school from their decision making process when selecting an undergraduate institution. They should focus on fit and finding a school where they are going to be the most successful academically, socially, physically and emotionally (and all in good balance)</p>

<p>Some issues:
1) Most HSers who think they want to go pre-med don't end up ever taking the MCAT, let alone actually applying to medical school. </p>

<p>2) "placement rates" were brought up in this thread - these are lousy statistics to look at. They are easily manipulated by schools, through a number of different means including flat out antagonizing of a student's application, and they really don't provide that much information anyways. Any school could have 100% placement if they limited their applicants to only those with 4.0's and 35's on the MCAT.</p>

<p>3) The general thinking on the pre-med board on CC at the moment is that school choice likely matters, but not in the conventional way most people are thinking (ie tokenadult's question in post #11 - in which yes, a 4.0 from StateU is better than a 3.5 from any school you care to name). Top schools (and smaller ones) are more likely to make all their resources for pre-meds very available and easily accessible - this might mean scheduling mock interviews for students, or setting up research fairs in which all the professors with open research spots show up so students know exactly who is doing what. Such resources are certainly available at larger schools and even less highly acclaimed schools, but the onus will be on the student to search these out. Advising quality is generally better at better schools (though not always since it really depends on the advisor). </p>

<p>All that said, it's impossible to quantify exactly how much help going to a 'better' school is. Therefore, we're encouraging students to go where they'll be happiest and have the best chance at success because doing well is a panacea.</p>

<p>4) In regards to the cost of medical school. Realize that you're likely going to be in debt exceeding 6 figures after 4 years of medical school. Most state schools have tuitions running about 20k per year, plus you need to take out loans for living expenses...I just received my third year 2nd semester loan checks which put me at about 120k of debt with one year left. Private medical schools are about double the cost of tuition, roughly 40k plus living expenses. There is a lot to be said for getting out of college debt free. </p>

<p>Bottom line: Go where you'll be happiest and have the best chance of success and balance. It's far more important WHAT you accomplish than WHERE you accomplish it.</p>

14

<p>We have similar discussions at home. Is it worth paying for a school with a rank below 20 instead of going to say an Honors College at a state school. So far we chose to postpone this decision till April. After all, schools of the NUY level have some merit aid. And top 20 schools are probably worth paying for.</p>

<p>Did you consider Honors College at SUNY Stony Brook? A slightly weaker university overall it may be better as pre-med.</p>

15

<p>As your question involves real money, it is important to get the figures at least close to accurate. Your numbers are very low.</p>

<p>Speaking only for California, the estimated cost of attendance to a UC (Berkeley, LA, etc.) is roughly $22,000 per year. There is "Registration Fee" of about $8,000, plus books $1,500 plus expenses $1,000 plus on campus housing of about $11,500.</p>

<p>Private schools are around $50,000 at the time of this post. That is usually tuition plus fees of $37.000. plus books and expenses of $2,500 and on-campus housing of about $10,500.</p>

<p>for practical purposes the differential in cost is about $28,000 per year for UC vs., say Stanford, Pomona, Pepperdine or USC. Therefore the amount you're evaluating here in california is $112,000.</p>

<p>Don't forget that $28,000 is after-tax money in most cases. So your father or mother or both (whoever is bringing home the money) will need to allocate the last $50,000 per year to pay for that difference. Is that something they are willing to do? </p>

<p>In California, that is the debate held in homes every year -- UCLA or Stanford? UC Berkeley or Wellesley? UC Irvine or Vanderbuilt? UC Santa Barbara or Northwestern? UC San Diego or Claremont McKenna? For many families with yearly (pre-tax)income $100,000 - $200,000, the $200,000 pre-tax difference ($112,000 after-tax) simply doesn't make sense in an environment when most families are severely undercalculating the amount of money the earners will be needing in retirement.</p>

16

<p>"And top 20 schools are probably worth paying for."</p>

<p>I know this is covered elsewhere (and a link will do the trick) but any consensus on this? And what if a top 20 public is in option? Is it worth the downsides of a big public.</p>

17

<p>
[quote]
most families are severely undercalculating the amount of money the earners will be needing in retirement

[/quote]
</p>

<p>There are some economists who have challenged this assumption, which is often promoted by retirement planners who gain commissions from selling retirement investment funds. </p>

<p>Financial</a> planners and calculators can induce excess saving - Apr. 26, 2007</p>

<p>Some</a> people may be saving more than they will need for their golden years - US News and World Report</p>

18

<p>"And top 20 schools are probably worth paying for."</p>

<p>Depends on what you mean by "worth". The Mellon Foundation study cited in the book "Harvard Schmarvard" noted that students accepted to Harvard but not attending, instead attending lesser schools (probably primarily State universities) over the ensuing years earned $2.8M vs. $2.9M for the Harvard graduates.</p>

<p>The conclusion is that HYPSM type grad make a lot of $$ because if the qualities that got them into HYPSM in the first place, not anything the schools did with, to, or for them while there. </p>

<p>If you mean a better fit, or a better education, that question is certainly inconclusive.</p>

19

<p>i am in a similar situation to the OP. as of late, i have become interested in medical school, but looking at my school list, the tuitions are pretty hefty. on the other hand, i really want to get out of my home state. it will all depend on where i get in, that is, if i do get into a school.</p>

20

<p>SUNY Binghamton or Stonybrook are very fine choices but I would make sure that these are the size and type of colleges you want to go in a location you prefer first. Your question is a very tricky one and while I mostly agree with the analysis that leans toward a SUNY school I would first make a full list of schools and then make the decision after you are accepted. </p>

<p>Students often change their minds on what they want to pursue as a career and you should not box yourself in too soon. For example, perhaps you will fall in love with doing pure scientific research or becoming a malpratice attorney (probably not this one I agree.....) instead of a Physician. </p>

<p>Why not approach it in the conventional manner - find some safeties you really love, a group of match schools, and some reach schools. Give yourself some options with a good spread of schools that meet all your criteria including strong pre-med reputations. </p>

<p>On caviat: as noted above, medical school admissions stats are often manipulated by schools who discourage less qualified applications from even applying to Med school. However, generally if you can't convince your college's pre-med committee you are a viable med school candidate you are unlikely to persuade a medical school. Naturally there are exceptions but don't bank on being one of those.</p>

<p>The advice to consider schools out of the NorthEast, if you are interested in going farther from home, is a good one as you may indeed get some merit aid. I do agree that financial aid is unlikely in the income range you mention but you should apply as the question can be complex and some private schools might contribute toward closing the cost gap with the SUNY schools.</p>

<p>While it is tricker for pre-med applicants who often are stronger applicants you might also consider Franklin and Marshall, Muhlenberg, and other schools in that category. I do know that F&M provides merit aid and have heard that others do as well sometimes.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>