<p>So awhile ago I posted on here about my college selection of either Iowa or Iowa state university for pre med. Since then I have had some stressful nights thinking about my ffuture. Isu has has offered me 8200 in scholarships and Iowa 2000. I live in state so the tuition is nearly the same. Iowa has top rated medical and research facilities and staff. Iowa state is 2 hours closernand is cheaper. My grandfather is even offereing to match my scholarship amounts if I attend Iowa state (my family are hardcore cyclone fans and it would. Kill them inside to see me become a hawkeye haha) I am not entirelyncertain on med school pa school also looks good to me. I enjoyed iowas campus and diversity more than Iowa States along with its feel and sports. I feel like this campus is full of farmers and people just like my small hometown. Do you think paying that much more money to attend Iowa would be worth it? Sorry for the spelling I wrote this off our new kindle.</p>
<p>I teach at Iowa. My siblings all went ISU. Here is some demographic data about the two…</p>
<p>Iowa
52% instate
48% OOS…including internationals; almost all from Illinois
18% international and minority</p>
<p>Iowa State
60% instate
40% OOS… Including internationals; equal numbers from MN and Illinois
17% international and minority</p>
<p>There really is no significant difference in diversity. U Iowa likes people to think they are more diverse than ISU; the reality is that they are not really any different than ISU.</p>
<p>The fact that Iowa has medical facilities is irrelevant for an undergrad looking to go to med school.</p>
<p>What did you like better about the Iowa campus?</p>
<p>I just reread your post. Tuition/fees/room/board at either is $16,000 per year. If I am reading your post right, ISU will be essentially free with Grandpa’s contribution. Iowa will be $14,000. I live in and love Iowa City, but if you were my kid, you would be at ISU.</p>
<p>Yes, ISU has quite a few farmers. But Iowa is filled with suburban Chicago clones. Pick your poison.</p>
<p>I enjoyed the scenery, river, proximity of downtown, close classes, gender ratio (more guys than girls at ISU is a disadvantage for me haha) and longer distance from most kids homes making it so peopl dont just go home on the weekends, and the friendliness of it. Wow! I was not aware that the difference was only that much thank you for that. I think some of it may be that I just want to be different from the family and stand out and be different from them? Only 3 days until the deadline. I want to major in either Biochemistry, Biology, or Biological/Biomed systems engineering as a backup in case I chane my mind (and that area interests me). It is not that I hate ISU or anything I just cannot get the peace of mind that I made the right decision because I keep just getting that feeling that I will miss out on oppurtunities. Everyone’s comments are greatly apreciated :)</p>
<p>I can tell you that no one that I know at Iowa State goes home on weekends. Do you know people that go home? ISU has a much larger and superior residence hall system than Iowa. Anyone that I have ever known to attend ISU has never gone home on weekends.</p>
<p>I do agree, having downtown close to campus is nice and the Iowa campus is actually pretty small. You make a good case for attending Iowa over Iowa State. If you like it better and your family can afford it with no loans, why not go there?</p>
<p>Nope! I have just read some reviews of the school on another site and there were a few that said that happened alot. I guess they must be the socially awkward ones right 
Yes it is those reasons and some others that it has kinda torn me. My father is a very smart man and has been saving for my college since before the thought of me (mechanical engineer from ISU), but he said he will not be biased towards what I choose, though we all know he is a little haha. Thank you for your help haystack I will respond in 3 days of my decision :)</p>
<p>Good luck. You may need it with your family.</p>
<p>If you truly are serious about med school, you want to save money on your undergrad degree. In that case, the cost difference really favors ISU. I do get it about wanting to attend the place that the rest of your family didn’t, but with what you’d save at ISU because of the additional scholarship, you can buy a car.</p>
<p>I love Iowa City with all of the cute shops so close to campus. I don’t think Ames is quite as pretty. Still I did study at ISU because it was my best price option. I think it is yours too.</p>
<p>Run the numbers again, and talk them over with the people who will be helping you pay for your education. These are two fine educational institutions. You can get the education that you want and need at either of them.</p>
<p>Dear Thatch22,
You have the problem that many HS students in Iowa (and everywhere else!) have: Divided family loyalties to different state universities. I am from Iowa (full disclosure: graduated from Iowa but took some graduate courses at ISU), so I completely understand the passion for both schools. The bottom line is both are really wonderful places. They are large places full of amazing opportunities and you can get an excellent education at either one. If the finances are better for ISU and you are thinking of med school, you can save your money by going to Ames for undergrad and then spend the next four years at med school in Iowa City. Best of both worlds! Good luck with your decision, but remember you do not have a bad choice because they are both wonderful schools.</p>
<p>I am a little late here I know but I picked Iowa state thank you all so much for your advice! I’m ready to be a cyclone already!</p>
<p>Wow. I just logged in tonight and saw this. Congratulations. Go Clones!!!</p>
<p>I’m sure your family is excited. I know that mine will be if my S chooses ISU next year.</p>
<p>Good call! I’m going there too.</p>