Hey guys! So right now I’m kinda stuck on what I should do. I live in Virginia and have been accepted to George Mason University Honors College, University of Pittsburgh, and Penn State. I was unfortunately waitlisted at Virginia Tech and I’m expecting a rejection from UVA and William and Mary. I’m looking to apply to medical schools and attend after undergrad. My two real choices rn are Pitt and George Mason honors. I know that Pitt is fantastic at what I’m looking to do (neuroscience) and has great opportunities with hospitals on campus but it comes at a price whereas Mason Honors is very cheap and I’d be able to commute. If I were to go to Mason, I would definitely try to transfer out to Virginia Tech or UVA after the first year as I don’t want to spend my four years there. Money is not really an issue but saving extra money would be wise and a plus for med school later on. Everything is great about Pitt except the price. The price isn’t unbearable but I feel like I’m not sure if it’s worth it. I could possibly transfer to VT or UVA after first year at George Mason although I feel like I shouldn’t be picking a college thinking it’s a guaranteed stepping stone to those 2 schools. Any input or advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks!
You answer it. However, I would not go somewhere with the intent to transfer.
You should go somewhere to stay and if it doesn’t work out, then transfer.
Have you spoken to Mason about their advising, etc?
You sort of hit it right on the nose - all about Pitt is great…except the price.
Are there no other instate options - such as Christopher Newport?
You can try Mason - maybe you’ll love it.
Money is very improtant…very. and med school is insanely pricey.
Sounds like you sort of answered your own quesiton.
Since Mason is cheap, why commute? Live on campus, in the honors dorms, take advantage of everything the residential program has to offer. Even if you live nearby, it’ll be nothing like living at home. Plus, for med school, the extra support and opportunities offered by the honors college can make a big difference.
Gmu honors living on campus is a much better value than Pitt.
Living on campus really isn’t an option for me. Mason is cheap and I’m considering it because I would be commuting. Its normally around 15-20k a year but commuting (I live 20 minutes away) brings it down to about 8k a year for just tuition which would really be the only expense. The whole point of Mason for me is really only because it is a cheap school I could go to in order to set myself up to go to a still very affordable VT or UVA. Pitt is around 39-40k, but has everything I’m looking for and they are very advanced in the programs I’m looking into. I could do the Pitt cost but it would be in my benefit to save money if I can (and I would feel a bit guilty for the OOS tuition). Unfortunately, Mason isn’t really where I want to go but I would attend if it means I can have a successful freshman year while saving extra money and can transfer to a better VA school such as UVA or VT sophomore year. Im hesitant only because I don’t wanna attend a school banking on my ability to transfer to the school I actually want.
You might actually go to Mason (live there) and realize - dang, that’s the best decision I ever made!!!
Pitt is great - but so is GMU. You should get the entire experience.
Going there with one foot out the door…that’s not fair to you or your classmates. Give it a true go.
I don’t understand your reasoning.
The whole point of GMU is that you could get the full experience for half the price of Pitt. Being on campus means you would be able to attend clubs and study sessions (which are usually 7 to 10pm) so your premed resume would be great, and being in Honors would mean dedicated advising and special opportunities which, again, really helps for premeds.
Treating GMU as a 13th year of HS would REALLY be doing yourself a disservice, whether to transfer or to go to med school.
What do you want to major in?
What do you like about Pitt that GMU doesn’t have (beside of course being OOS)?
I plan on majoring in neuroscience. In terms of Pitt, I value the school very highly for many reasons (being OOS is not one of them). While rankings does not mean too much, their neuroscience program is one of the best and highest rated in the country. Another main thing that attracts me to Pitt is UPMC and the 5-6 hospitals within very short distance from campus (great for volunteering and shadowing) as well as the abundance of research opportunities in the health sciences (4th in the nation in this category). In respect to your point, the whole point of GMU for me is the low price point (from living at home). I received scholarships from other OOS colleges that would make them the same price as me living on campus at GMU as well as other in state schools that would be similar price to GMU if I were to live on campus. I live only 15-20 minutes away so it wouldn’t make sense to spend an extra 12k, that wouldn’t be a justifiable expenditure. After all, I only live 15-20 minutes away from campus so I don’t think I would be missing out on much. I want to make the smartest decision that provides me the most opportunities and the best education.
The smart decision is to enroll at Mason, take part in their offerings, and you will get to where you want to get.
The wrong decision is to go to Pitt and to take on debt - or to go to Mason to transfer. If you know up front you will transfer, go to community college.
I wouldn’t take on debt if I go to Pitt. Also I’m pretty sure medical schools don’t consider community college courses the same as four year college courses.
Let’s say you start at GMU and for whatever reason you can’t transfer. Will you be good to stay there? If the answer is no then reconsider. That said it seems like your most reasonable choice assuming debt from other schools.
I wouldn’t take on debt from any of my schools. It would just cost more money. I never said that I would take on any debt. I’ll be taking loans only for medical school.
I think you need to go talk to one and research…i.e. you are wrong. If you take the right classes, it’s totally possible and it happens. Go talk to an advisor. Do some research.
Many people in society - judges, doctors, CEOs go to community college…because it’s cheap.
You will have to take rigor to get to medical school. Where - doesn’t matter. MCAT - matters.
You’re right about the community college part. My bad I was not sure about that. Regardless, I don’t think I will be going to community college anyway. What do you guys think about the opportunities that Pitt has to offer though?
You hit Pitt on the head. EVERYTHING about it sounds awesome. We didn’t visit but I know my daughter would love it. The merit is the issue - or lack thereof.
I can send her there - for $55K.
Or Florida State for $22K or College of Charleston which she loves for $36K.
$, then fit.
Mason is a solid school and a GREAT opportunity but you are choosing to self undermine it.
If you lived there and participated, you might have a great experience - and not even know home is close except at holidays.
Taking on debt when it’s unnecessary is foolish.
You will realize it in 20 years.
When I was 25, I was living at home. Making six figures, living at home. I was embarrassed. I had a friend say - why - in 20 years you will realize it was the smartest move ever.
It’s the same with Mason…go, enjoy, partake and that means living in the dorm, and don’t look back. I’d have said the same with Christopher Newport, VCU Mary Washington - any VA school except maybe Radford.
I understand your perspective. I am lucky and grateful that my parents will be paying for my undergrad and that I am able to go to Pitt if I would like. Neither I nor my parents would take on any debt from my time at Pitt or any other school on my list for that matter. I will be paying for medical school so that will happen regardless of my undergrad. As much as I appreciate your perspective, I don’t think I nor my parents would approve of spending an extra $12,000 to live 15 minutes away from home. Living on campus for an extra 12k when I wouldn’t need to would give me just as much guilt as making my parents pay OOS tuition (which they would thankfully be able to do should i go there).
Actually, he’s right. Except for California residents attending a California community college then a UC, CC classes are very, very discouraged for med school admission since med schools want each CC class from the core science pre-req to be followed up with a more advanced course in the same subject at the 4-year.
This is med-school specific.
CoC v. FSU is a good choice, since they offer different things. CoC’s Honors College especially would be a markedly different experience from FSU unless we’re comparing FSU Honors to CoC honors, at the undergraduate level especially (online classes and major football at FSU, neither one at CoC and better learning environment, coastal city v. college town); their areas of strength are different, too.
@dazxpert: Pitt is indeed awesome for neuroscience and better than GMU in that area.
Pitt, on its own, isn’t worth that much more though. So, can you answer these questions:
Did you get into the Honors College at Pitt, or any special program?
Have you taken AP Calc, AP Chem, AP Bio, and AP Physics1? If so, what scores?
If you took the SAT or ACT, what did you score?
You’re discounting GMU’s value because you’re living nearby. GMU Honors living on-campus would be completely different from driving back and forth biding your time till you transfer.
Where else have you been admitted? It doesn’t have to be “nearby or Pitt”.
I did not get into Honors or any special program at Pitt.
I took AP Physics 1 junior year and scored a 3 on the virtual AP exam (was weird and glitched the first time i took it). I am currently taking AP Calculus and AP Biology and will be taking those exams this May. However, I intend on retaking these courses anyways in college as med schools don’t usually accept AP credits towards core classes.
I took both the SAT and ACT and I got a 1420 SAT (720 Math, 700 Read/Write) and a 31 ACT (35 Eng, 32 Read, 30 Science, 28 Math)
I have also been admitted to University of Tennessee-Knoxville w/ 15k scholarship, UMass-Amherst w/ 12k scholarship, JMU, Mary Wash w/ 4k scholarship, Penn State, UConn, and VCU. I was Waitlisted by VT but if i get off WL I will attend 100%. Waiting on UVA, W&M, and GW although not expecting acceptance at any. Im at a v competitive NOVA HS.
Clemson as well. Only schools I’m rlly looking at for the moment though are Pitt, GMU honors, Penn State, and maybe UT Knoxville.
UTK very up and coming…would be about $16 or $17K tuition.
3 hours past Va Tech…a very good choice.
I could see you getting into GW but it’s very pricey.
You didn’t mention UTK - would be excellent.
Not to get off the chain of Pitt vs. GMU (and now I say UTK) 
didn’t know about that…and they have a hosptial too!!
So yes, my daughter loves the C of C - but like the writer here about GMU I’m not too high on it…party school, low graduation and placement rate…but yes she is in the Honors College and she is an International Scholar - which is a nice Honor…a little more personalized attention. Plus a trip to the Republic of GA after Freshman year (fully funded).
I see FSU rising fast, #58 - so I think why wouldn’t you go there. But she did not get into Honors.
Interesting, U of SC says they are #1 Honors - and she is in there. But waitlisted at Pitt Honors and not into FSU or UGA Honors.
But back to the young man suffering here.
Anyway, we’ve all given our perspective. In the end, you have to make the best choice given all you know. There are never guarantees. Everyone overanalyzes - you get there you could have a bad roomie or professor, etc. Or go to your nightmare school - GMU - and meet your wife of 60 years!!!
You just never know.