<p>Here's the deal...I got waitlisted at Columbia, and I was pessimistic thought I wouldn't get it in and forgot about it...Meanwhile, at University of Pittsburgh I got interviewed and they have awarded me the Chancellor's Scholarship, which basically means I go to college for free for 4 years (or 5 if I want to do dual degree), and they are giving my a one time study abroad money. I'm all ecstatic and have decided that this is it, this is my college; except on May 18 I got the BIG package from Columbia saying I have been accepted. Columbia had been my dream university and I loved it, and it is in NYC and I am sorta interested in some acting and all that...
The though is that, Columbia is pretty expensive for my family (not impossible) but I want to do medical (right now but I am not sure if I will stick with it) and as you all know medical schools are damn expensive...SO should I go to Columbia or Pitt? I am completely torn right now; any input would be helpful!</p>
<p>I think Pitt would be the better choice, Pitt is a good school and you will probably do very well there and have a good chance getting into better medical schools. Why put your family through 2xs as much financial strain get a sold undergrad degree from Pitt and go to a kickass medical school</p>
<p>If you think med school is the probability, I'd go to Pitt and save the money. Columbia, however, would be pretty hard to turn down if not pre med. It would probably be a much richer experience given the locale, the core, the peer group.</p>
<p>save the ivy education (and cost) for med school. =)</p>
<p>Is there any validity to the claims that the admissions at med schools delve deeply into the Ivy pool before coming to the other schools, where you have to do amazingly well and get great MCATs?</p>
<p>you have to get amazing mcats and a good gpa at both ivys and non-ivys for med school admissions</p>
<p>ivy will be harder because more competition and all</p>
<p>I LOVE columbia, that's where I want to go as well! But I'd do whatever I feel best if I were you. Pitt makes the financial burden lighter but Columbia's your dream school....</p>
<p>If Pitt has a BA/MD program, go to Pitt.</p>
<p>This isn't a case where your faced with going to some crappy university you hate for free vs an Ivy, it's a place you like for free vs a place that you only like more because it's your "dream". Go to Pitt</p>
<p>Columbia will provide more opportunities but you shouldn't pass up the money.</p>
<p>I would definitely go to Columbia.</p>
<p>Got to Pitt!</p>
<p>Flip a coin.</p>
<p>As its in the air, you'll know what you want the outcome to be, and the actual outcome won't matter.</p>
<p>i like that!</p>
<p>Is this a situation where your family would have to alter its lifestyle to pay for Columbia, or would they have to borrow tens of thousands to pay for Columbia?</p>
<p>I think going to your dream school is well worth pinching the family budget, but probably not worth shouldering huge debt for.</p>
<p>columbia .</p>
<p>why go to a school that is so competitive that you couldn't even get in right away and then have to face half the kids going for the same med schools as you when you can go to a great school for free and be near the top of your class and get into your dream med school without an undergraduate bill to follow you?</p>