<p>I am interested in molecular biology. (I eventually want to attain a PhD, and the opportunity to do research at the undergrad level is important to me.)</p>
<p>Anyway, Tufts University is a great school. It's literally the PERFECT school for me. I love it x a million. The only problem is that it's going to be difficult to afford it. I come from an upper middle class family, and we don't know if we're going to get enough financial aid. But we are willing to pay for it if I do get in. I would have to take on some pretty big loans.</p>
<p>University of Florida is a good school. It would be free for me to go (because of Bright Futures.) However, I don't much like the campus culture. I'm more of the intellectual type, rather than the football-obsessed type. I would prefer to go to Tufts.</p>
<p>In the US News graduate rankings for biology, UF is 48 and Tufts is 68. So they are both approximately the same, with UF being a little bit better. Would it be worth it to pay the extra $$$ for Tufts when the biology program is ranked LOWER? </p>
<p>I think you know the answer. You are having a hard time following your own good advice to yourself.</p>
<p>Wait and see what Tufts offers you. But if they do not come through with an unexpectedly good aid package, it does not make sense to take on huge debts when you can get free tuition at a school stronger in your area of interest. Save it for grad school.</p>
<p>Well the reason I said that is because there are a whole bunch of colleges tied for 48, then a bunch tied for 58, then a bunch tied for 68. So there is technically just one space between UF and Tufts.</p>
<p>I think the rankings are fairly meaningless,especially when applied to undegrad programs (the rankings are grad programs). Pick the best fit, best school you can afford.</p>
<p>*Tufts University is a great school. It’s literally the PERFECT school for me. I love it x a million. The only problem is that it’s going to be difficult to afford it. I come from an upper middle class family, and we don’t know if we’re going to get enough financial aid. But we are willing to pay for it if I do get in. I would have to take on some pretty big loans.</p>
<p>University of Florida is a good school. It would be free for me to go (because of Bright Futures.) However, I don’t much like the campus culture. I’m more of the intellectual type, rather than the football-obsessed type. I would prefer to go to Tufts.
*</p>
<p>Do NOT take on big loans for undergrad. Have you figured out how much your monthly payment would be if you did? How much are you considering borrowing each year (or total for 4 years)???</p>
<p>Just because Florida is “into football,” does not mean that someone with no interest in football can’t get a good education or have a good time. It’s naive to think that intellectual types aren’t at UF. Just because you see an aspect of some students on TV at games does not mean that’s how the whole campus is.</p>
<p>Haha anxiousmom that is exactly what I was hoping to hear :P</p>
<p>M2CK- I’m actually only a junior. (I know I’m thinking about this way too early lolll )
So idk what my payments would be or what exactly I would have to borrow.</p>
<p>I understand that I’m stereotyping people at UF, but I don’t know if I’d fit in there. It’s still definitley under consideration though, & I’m visiting soon. </p>
<p>What would you consider a “big loan” mom2collegekids? How much would be too much? I plan to get a PhD (which I heard was usually free) and then work as a research scientist in academia, pharma, or biotech. As far as I know, that’s not a high paying career.
So how much would be too much for undergrad loans??? (I’m looking for a number or range, please don’t say it depends lol )</p>
<p>You’re not thinking of these things too early. This is the right time to be considering costs and such.</p>
<p>I don’t think undergrads should borrow more than the max Stafford amounts. Frankly, I don’t think undergrads should borrow that much if they have cheaper and “just as good” alternatives - like you do.</p>
<p>max Stafford for dependent undergrads</p>
<p>frosh year - $5500
soph year - $6500
Jr year ---- $7500</p>
<h2>Sr year ----$7500</h2>
<p>Total-----$27,000</p>
<p>The monthly payment for that much would be about… $310 a month for 10 LONG years. That’s like an extra car payment.</p>
<p>This is higher than the average debt for college grads at graduation. The avg debt is $20k.</p>
<p>*I understand that I’m stereotyping people at UF, but I don’t know if I’d fit in there. It’s still definitley under consideration though, & I’m visiting soon.
*</p>
<p>When you make your appt for a campus visit, also call and make an appt with the molecular bio dept.</p>
<p>Btw, I notice your post count and I have read a couple other of your posts here- you seem really nice and really devoted to helping people out. I just want to tell you that I appreciate that you take so much of your time to assist people with this process, and I’m positive everyone else really appreciates it to. So THANK YOU!! :D</p>
<p>I’m interested in this thread because I will most likely be making the same decision in a couple of months. I’ll be choosing between a debt free U of M education and a small higher ranked school where I would be lucky to escape with 20k in loans. It seems like every single advantage goes to the small school except the cost, yet I’m having SUCH a hard time justifying the debt. I think I hate money.</p>
<p>also, i’m pretty sure working as a “research scientist in biotech or academia or pharma” or whatever you said pays pretty well. so if you do have to take out loans you could consider that.</p>
<p>Lolll i * hope * it pays well, that would make it so much easier to pay back loans that I would take out. Does anyone happen to know the average salary? (:</p>
<p>It’s certainly possible to pay back loans, even as a graduate student. </p>
<p>I had about $15,000 in loans when I graduated from college, and I will have them paid back by the time I finish graduate school. While you are in graduate school, your loans do not need to be paid back (they are in deferral), and for subsidized federal loans, they do not accumulate interest. So it’s possible to pay back your loans while you’re in graduate school, often at a reduced interest rate.</p>
<p>Graduate students in the biomedical sciences make about $25,000-30,000 per year (as I mentioned above). Postdoctoral fellows in academia make about $40,000-45,000. As far as I know, salaries in biotech and pharma are around $70,000 to start.</p>
<p>To the OP, I would probably pick Florida unless Tufts comes back with a FA plan that makes it almost as affordable to attend. Florida is one of the best flagships and is located in a great college town and campus. Tufts, although excellent, is not quite a world beater. In fact, academically speaking, those two universities are peers. In this case, my advice would be to pick the school that will save you and your parents some money.</p>
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