Full ride at UPitt vs Full tuition at Vanderbilt

College Search & Selection
1

Hello,

I need some help deciding which college I should pick. Back in December, I was awarded a full ride covering tuition, room and board, etc as well as a $500 book award and $2000 study abroad grant. Because of this, Pitt has been my top choice ever since and I couldn’t imagine any of the elite schools giving me money off. However, yesterday, I received a letter saying I was a Chancellor’s scholar at Vanderbilt giving me full tuition and $5000 to study abroad. I was thrilled but my decision has become a lot harder. I would still have to pay another $15000 for room and board at vanderbilt, but I like the idea of going to vanderbilt more. I am visiting both schools soon so I don’t have that experience yet. Any perpectives/comments are appreciated!

2

What is your major and career goal?

What are your parents saying about THEM paying for the $15k at Vandy?

3

@mom2collegekids I’m majoring in biology with the goal to become a physician. I’m sure my parents would have no problem financially paying for vandy, it’s just that I would feel bad making my parents pay for vandy when they could have paid nothing for pitt. Do you think paying the extra money for vandy is worth it. Thanks

4

For bio premed? No, not worth the extra money. that is $60k you could put towards med school.

Visit both and then decide for sure.

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Hello

I’m currently a Senior in High school and am currently applying to colleges.

Rank: 6/305

GPA UW: 3.89

GPA W: 4.4844

new PSAT: 1400/99th percentile

Ethnicity: African American/Male

Freshman year classes: Math 2 Honors, US History Honors, Science Honors, English Honors, Spanish 2, Computer programming w/ visual basic, gym/health, band

Sophomore year: AP Chem (year 1), AP Macro/Microeconomics, AP World History, Math 3 Honors, Spanish 3, Biology Honors, English Honors, gym, Health

Junior Year: AP US History, AP Chemistry (year 2), AP Physics B1, AP Stats, AP Psychology, AP Language and Composition, Math 4 Honors, Spanish 4 Honors

Senior Year: AP Physics B2, AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, AP US Government, AP Literature, AP Calculus BC, News Writing, Entrepreneurship

AP Tests scores: AP Macroecon: 5, AP MIcroecon: 5, AP World History: 4, AP US History: 4, AP Physics B1: 4, AP Stats: 5, AP Psychology: 5, AP Language and Composition: 5, AP Chemistry: 3 (National AP Scholar)

Sat ii: Math 2: 750 (too lazy to study during summer

Sat: 1420 without studying at all, taking it again october 1st, have been studying for a while, expecting 1520+

ACT: 34 Composite

EC: Math Club, Key Club, Science Olympiad (numerous medals), Model UN, World Affairs Club, P.R.I.D.E. Club, TED Club, Peace Core,Waiter at restaurant, National Honor Society, Spanish club, Sing Hymns at Church, Camp Counselor at church, Varsity Soccer, volunteer soccer coach for 5th graders, soccer referee, captain of freshman and JV Soccer team, tutor, Marching Band, volunteered at Junior Ambassador Program for 2 previous summers at the Cleveland Clinic, did research at the Cleveland Clinic last summer regarding chronic pain, tutor, volunteered at science showcases, published my story in school paper, research published in medical paper

250+ volunteer Hours

Top Choice: Wash U in St. Louis, have plenty of safeties though

Chances of getting in/receiving full ride to any of the 4 colleges in header?? All comments appreciated. Thanks!!

Yea, not surprised, its unfortunate though. My parents just got finished paying two siblings undergrad and pharm+med school, so i was hoping to alleviate the payload on them and get a scholarship. We are comfortable economically (doctor) but I haven’t had any tutors, etc, I just use the textbooks and internet given to me and learn the material. Thanks for the response!!

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5

@mom2collegekids Thanks for your help!

6

Visit both and decide…and hey, if you end up liking Vandy better, then tell them that they’re your first choice but you have this full ride which makes UPill more affordable…and see if they’ll increase their offer.

7

If your parents can afford it (and it seems they can) go to Vanderbilt- private education for 15K, I would jump on that. You don’t have to short change yourself because you are younger. (You sound like the youngest they always carry the burden of financial guilt after seeing all that is spent on the older siblings.) Parents like to be fair, I bet they are thrilled to have that little to pay for your college. And for Vanderbilt, that is an incredible deal. Congrats to you!

8

I normally bow to the wisdom of @mom2collegekids , but Vanderbilt is definitely worth the extra $15K/yr, as long as you do not cause financial hardship for your family. Your just gave your parents a huge gift with your scholarship. Well done! Go 'Dores! This is a complete no-brainer : SEC sports, great academics, and Nashville. What more could you ask for?

9

Thanks for your inputs @TooOld4School @blueskies2day ! Yeah, my parents can certainly afford it, and I’m hoping to earn a few outside scholarships to even further reduce the cost. I would love to go to vandy, but like @mom2collegekids said, I think once i visit, I’ll know for sure. Who knows, maybe I end up liking pitt better

10

Definitely go to Mosaic weekend. D is also Chancellor scholar. She is leaning Vandy vs. U Chicago full pay. It is very individual decision. And you probably have more decisions coming April 1st? Best of luck!!

11

Congrats to your daughter! Both those schools are amazing. I plan to attend Mosaic, but I’m not sure if my parents should come or not? Yup, I’m waiting on WashU and Duke and best of luck to you and your daughter!

12

When I first said that Vandy isn’t worth the extra money, I was basing that on what I had earlier read about him wanting a free ride, so I thought money was a big concern and he might be borrowing.

But later I saw that his family is well-off (parent physician) and suggested that he visit both… If he likes Vandy better then certainly see if Vandy will increase. If not, then Vandy is still affordable for parents, so go.

This student appears to be a “hot commodity” and if he does well as an undergrad, he’ll likely get med school merit offers as well.

13

Congrats at having 2 great options. Vandy would be a bargain at 15k/year. If you prefer it and your parents can afford it, go there. Visit both and then decide.

14

Did you get the Stamps Leadership scholarship at Pitt? Or another full ride? Because Chancellor scholars haven’t been announced yet I believe.

Pitt would be a great choice with the UPMC system of hospitals close by.

Did you get the GAP for med school at Pitt?

15

Average ACT score at Vandy is 33, while average ACT at Pitt is 29.

I’d give some consideration to where you might have an easier time earning the high GPA you will need for medical school. There will be some REALLY bright students you’ll be competing against at Vandy. Just food for thought.

16

D wants me to go to Mosaic with her to see the school…especially if this is the school she is ultimately going to…DH and son in out of town tournament. She is reluctantly giving up her robotics regional for the visit and as a nice girl, she realized I might not have a lot organized activities to go to and she is ok if she goes there herself. I told her I will be fine, playing tourist.

17

@mommdc I actually received the helen faison scholarship at Pitt.I did not apply for the GAP program however

@Trisherella That’s actually a factor I was considering. I figure it would be easier at Pitt but when I visit both schools, I’m gonna ask students how hard it actually is. Thanks for the advice!

18

Wow! Congrats!

Pitt and Vandy are good schools. Do you know much about either program? Is there grade deflation? Significant weeding out (50% failure) courses?

19

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Significant weeding out (50% failure) courses?
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Significant weeding doesn’t require 50% failure courses. Significant weeding can just mean that A’s and B’s are very limited, with many students getting by with Cs.

Vandy can be a grinder for premeds. My nephew was premed there. He had been a top student at his prep school, but soon did not have a med-school-worthy GPA. It’s been a frustration since his family was full pay and they thought that the Vandy name would somehow carry him to med school.

That said, I don’t think Pitt will be some cake-walk…lol. I doubt that that avg ACT of premeds is a 29…likely much higher.

20

^^have heard the same thing about Vandy (grinder for premeds).

Nevertheless, congrats OP!!! Sounds like you have some great options - well done.