<p>I got into a great state school with a full ride (and I mean FULL ride: tuition, room, board, books, and cost of flying out there once a year). The honors college is great, with some really smart people. I had some amazing discussions with some of the students, etc. The dean of the honors college knows everyone’s name, and I had about a half hour discussion with him about philosophy. So, yeah, I really liked it. </p>
<p>I also got into Brown. I haven’t visited yet (going to ADOCH in 2 weeks), but I’m told I’ll love it, students are amazing, etc. But, I’d graduate w/ about $50,000 of debt. If I went to the state school, I’d have enough money left over to pay for ~3 years of med school, which is what I’m definitely going to do. </p>
<p>From talking to teachers and stuff, I’ve been told that:
a) I’d be “special” at the honors college, I’d be at the top of the class (above average), whereas at Brown I’d be merely average. I’m wondering if that would make Brown pre-med harder? I know it sounds like a pretentious statement, but it’s something I’ve been wondering about.
b) the caliber of student at the state school might be less educationally stimulating.
c) on the other hand, full rides are good, and I don’t know if I agree about the whole “caliber” thing.</p>
<p>So, yeah. That’s about it. If anyone wants to throw in some insights, random comments, personal experiences, or anything else I’d appreciate it.</p>
<p>It would definitely help to know what state school, and also, FWIW, plenty of people are sure they're going to be doctors and never make it past year 1 still thinking that.</p>
<p>I turned down 2/3s scholarship to be at Brown and I'm definitely happy for it, and that was at a pretty damn good (certainly for science) private school (Case Western, which is known for giving good money) and I couldn't be happier but that's not the best choice for everyone. I'm inclined to say that unless you're talking about one of the top three or maybe five public schools (and I'm not sure if any of those have honors colleges) only going 50k in debt after Brown is really not bad at all and I'd think it was worth it.</p>
<p>$50,000 of debt sounds like a lot but isn't terrible in the big scheme of things, even if you choose a low-paying public sector career which it doesn't sound like you plan to do anyway.</p>
<p>i thought being a pre-med at brown was great. the environment in noncompetitive and friendly and students ended up getting into outstanding medical schools at an incredible rate (93%)</p>
<p>Nephew took the 50K loan, now he regrets it. Married, can;t buy a house, can't have kids, dept is straining life big time! If he had to do it all over again, he would NOT have. Don't forget, there is a life after college!</p>
<p>50k in loans is affecting him that much? Did he not have a parent who could cosign the lower interest loans, etc etc? I know guys who take on more than that and they don't have nearly as much trouble.</p>
<p>the national average medical school debt is $150,000. after this doctors undergo 3 to 9 year residencies where they make ~$40,000 a year. Despite this, they are able to have families, afford mortgages, etc.</p>
<p>My thoughts are that though Brown is really great, so is having spending money--ie the requisite trip to Europe after graduation, being able to buy a car. The way my parents are paying for colllege is that they said "we'll give you X amount; if you don't use it all on college, you get a check for the remainder"...and that remainder, if I go to the state school, will be a lot.</p>
<p>But I'm sure my Brown visit will be amazing, and I'll start leaning the other way.</p>
<p>It depends on the state school you are getting a full-ride at. The following state schools are the ones I would choose over Brown, if I got a full scholarship:Berkeley, Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Texas-Austin. That's it.</p>
<p>Is the school ASU, by any chance? I think I got the same offer a few years ago. Anyway, Brown is completely worth $50,000 in debt, IMO. </p>
<p>If you're really worried about spending money, I know this is probably an idea that's pretty out there, but might you consider a job at Brown? Working during college is not nearly as difficult or time-consuming as a lot of people think it is, and much more rewarding than people think it is. Even if you're premed.</p>
<p>So much depends on YOU. My hubby has a friend whose D is at Brown. She's not very happy there, but honored to have been accepted. It's really sad to me that her folks are spending so much $$ for her to be unhappy & I'm not quite sure what it is about the fit that makes her unhappy.</p>
<p>Graduating debt-free is really a nice option, especially if you're considering grad school as a possibility i nthe future. </p>
<p>My S was offered a free ride at two schools, ASU & UAz, but ended up at USoCal, where he got 1/2 tuition & is VERY happy. For us & him, it was the right choice, tho not the best economically. :)</p>
<p>$50,000 in debt is pretty big. Find one of those loan calculators online, and figure out what your monthly payments would be. Then calculate how much you'd have to earn in income to pay off those loans -- keeping in mind that you will have to pay rent, buy a car, etc. Then look and see what starting salaries are. If you are planning on med school, then add on the cost of med school and run the same calculations and see what starting doctors earn. </p>
<p>I love Brown, and don't regret for a second having gone there. I took out loans, too -- but they were reasonable. You might want to check out some of the threads in the parents forum on this very issue -- most parents would encourage you to take the free ride. Or figure out some way to reduce the Brown debt -- earning lots of money in the summers, taking a gap year to earn money, etc.</p>
<p>I have a friend getting paid 1300 a week from Google this summer to work at their New York office and another friend who makes 10k a summer as an EMT at a local concert venue (PNC Arts Center in Jersey where she lives).</p>
<p>modestmelody: If I matriculate at Brown, I'm definitely planning on doing the Brown EMT program. (not that I want to do it for the money of course, but the EMT job sounds awesome and really helpful towards paying for college)</p>
<p>Well at Brown you can't get paid to be an EMT, our EMT service is volunteer. However, because of all the experience she had, she was able to get a really high paying summer job. It's a really cool one too because she sees all the arena concerts for free and makes a ton...</p>
<p>It would be good experience for an individual considering healthcare as a profession to try being an EMT & might help you decide YES, you love it or no, it's not what you had in mind.</p>
<p>I'm still waiting on an admission/rejection notice letter from a specific program that I hope to get into, and since I'm paranoid I don't want to mention the name of the school.</p>
<p>It's not a super well-known state school--not one of the ones that would immediately come to mind. But I really liked it on a personal level. </p>
<p>(btw, when speaking with one of the state school's pre-med advisors, I learned that they had an EMT basic course offered each semester; upon graduation you could volunteer w/ the city's EMTs...some students have even ridden around in the LifeFlight [or whatever they call them] helicopters.)</p>