My advice is to wait to see whether you get into Dickinson, and then see exactly what that will cost you. It’s a terrific school, and in my opinion almost certainly worth a few thousand dollars – and it will give you a strong background and more options in case you change your mind about your first choice career. We liked it enough that my own daughter applied there (ended up at nearby F&M but liked them both).
I’ve heard good things about West Chester too. Bamamom’s post above is correct. You’re going to have good options no matter what.
If your family income is 30K or below, then Dickinson should be the same cost as WCU (or even cheaper) and would be the best choice. Its resources, small classes, excellent advising and support, would justify taking the federal loans for.
If you don’t get into Dickinson, then you can look at your choices, WCU v. Cabrini. I don’t think WCU is worth more than Cabrini, but I worry that Cabrini’s “target student” (3.0 in a CP curriculum, around 900 SAT) wouldn’t allow for the in-depth classes you can handle and that you need for med school. It’s also a 4-4 school, like WCU, meaning that professors teach a lot of classes and only have time to do research over the summer (with minimal research being conducted on campus during the year with students participating).
Wait till you have your financial aid package from Temple. Northeastern meets need but is need aware, meaning your financial need is taken into account when deciding admissions.
^In Alabama terms, this is a student who could attend UA or Oakwood (O=Cabrini). That’s why I’m hesitant because Cabrini may hinder OP compared to other choices.
Go for no cost: GPA and MCAT is what matters. The other stuff you can piece meal. Medicine is not as lucrative as it used to be either depending on speciality. Go Cabrini and shine…
@mom2collegekids@Center@MYOS1634 My conflict is whether or not Cabrini can prepare me enough to do well on the MCAT. I’ll continue my research on the school, but I’m at a crossroads here.
Don’t decide anything yet. It you get into Dickinson, there’s no doubt that’s where you should go because they meet need so that’ll be you best value.
Then you will have the other possibilities (like northeastern) that meet need.
Regarding Dickinson: you mention the NPC came up with about $6000 cost. I had run it before for my son, and I just ran it again with made-up figures attempting to get a zero parental contribution. It did come out at about $6000, with a $3500 student loan (which would pay the direct costs not covered by scholarship or Pell grant) and about $2500 in student work to cover all other expenses.
For families with higher income, they normally ask for more like $5500 a year (which is why $27K total over four years would be the max you should do). If you can get into Dickinson and they offer a package with $1500 (as you mentioned) to $3500 in loans a year, no parent contribution, and a student work expectation of $2500, that would be a great deal and worth taking. Good luck!
Although where you go to college is not of zero importance, successfully getting into med school is much more on your efforts than the school you attend. What counts is a competitive aspect in all respects (ie GPAs, MCAT, ECs, LoRs, PS, secondaries, interview). A little luck and applying broadly helps as well.
As to preparing for MCAT: when that time comes, you’ll probably have to get study materials and prep on you own or small group, or take formalized review course (eg Princeton Review). Premed reqs are not targeted to premed students. Premed reqs are courses open to anyone with an interest and who has completed course prereqs.
^ that’s where I worry wrt Cabrini, because their first year courses in bio, physics, chemistry… will target their normal population, ie, kids who scored between 900-1000 on the sat (only 5% score in the 600+ bracket on EITHER math or English. 1030 is their top 25% threshold.) No way can the professors teach at the same level, pace, depth, as at a university where students arrive with multiple honors or AP courses and good critical thinking skills.
While being a successful pre-med depends on the student’s efforts, it’s difficult for a student to know what they don’t know wasn’t included in their courses. If OP chooses Cabrini s/he would have to find ways to mitigate the lack of course rigor. And if, like 75% freshmen would be doctors, op changes course… It’s not as easy as ‘take the full ride’.
@MYOS1634 Completely agree!! This really is one of my main concerns, even though it’s less money, I fear the education will be subpar to the rigor I’m used to, and the quality I need.
If you are close enough to Cabrini to visit, go do that. Meet with the pre-med advisor, and the faculty in the sciences. Yes, the introductory-level courses might be a bit slower-moving than at other places, but the upper-level courses will get increasingly tougher, and I expect that the faculty members would very much like to have a chance to work with a focused, driven student like you. Your opportunities for close work with the faculty, and with their pals at other institutions, should be pretty good. If it happens that none of your other options pan out, you can make Cabrini work.
@happymomof1 I do live relatively close, and will try to visit asap when time permits. I agree with your points, if all else fails, I’m sure with some added effort Cabrini may have to do.
@Elly710, you have a great attitude and are so positive with your responses to suggestions. It’s a nice “bedside manner” that you’re displaying already! Some have suggested this in earlier posts, but perhaps consider doing two years at Cabrini, get straight As and be the top of the tops, then transfer to a more academic school. It might be worth it to do a little bit of debt for a degree from a school with a stronger health sciences curriculum (and professors) that better prepares you for med school. I believe the quality and rigor of academics of undergrad matters. Best of luck and keep up the positive attitude!
