<p>I had been waitlisted at Columbia, got off the wait list May 18 for their SEAS program - so happy and ecstatic, but it is a bit expensive - my family isn't too rich but my parents say they will managae. This was my first choice, and I have some side interests in acting, and I think the location itself would be great.</p>
<p>On the other hand at Pitt I was awarded their Chancellor's Scholarship (awarded to 10 a year), which means free tuition and room and board for all 4 years (or 5 if I want to do dual degree program). This is amazing, and would let me graduate debt free, which might help out because I am considering going to med school (I am not sure though)...</p>
<p>So now I am torn...I am not sure where I will go and where I will benefit the most. Some say go to pitt it is better to be the big fish in the small pond, but others say that it is better to go to ivy because chances of getting into med school is greater etc. So which is it for me?</p>
<p>I have appealed the Columbia University to reconsider their financial aid package but haven't heard back yet...Even if they did give me some more money it still will not be free education...Please help me!</p>
<p>wow this is a tough one since they're so different. I've spent a lot of time in both cities (son at CMU).</p>
<p>Pitt has the honors program, which no doubt you'll be doing. In addition the Pitt medical complex is extensive, about 6 major hospitals at the school and in Oakland. Pitt med is highly ranked....I imagine if you're able to get this kind of a scholarship you'll be able to find, as an undergrad, significant research opportunities there. With everything paid for I think it's hard to pass up. </p>
<p>Then again if you decide not to do med school Columbia of course has the edge.</p>
<p>How much aid is Columbia offering? What do your folks do? </p>
<p>We could easily have been in the identical situation. My D got the free tuition/application letter to Pitt and would have applied to Columbia but for having ED'd to Brown. </p>
<p>We're pretty tickled that she is going to her first choice school Brown - Columbia was just behind Brown - and try not to make jokes about the expense when she is around. </p>
<p>Fundamentally we are happy spending the ( HUGE amount of ) money as long as she holds up her end - making the most of the opportunity.</p>
<p>My parent contribution would be about 17,000 plus loans, but we only moved to the US 6 years ago and have not add the opportunity to save up much...</p>
<p>If you don't know whether you would go to med school, then that possibility shouldn't really be an important factor in your decision. Also, you should know that a lot of people start college intending to be pre-med students, but many of them change that objective along the way. Pitt has some excellent science departments and, if you really are interested in medicine, it wouldn't be impossible for you to be able to make a connection with Pitt's medical school or hospital for a summer intership or job in order to make that connection work for the future. If you look at the CC medical boards you will see the statment that all US medical schools are of good quality so that it should not make a lot of difference which one you are able to attend.</p>
<p>Sure, getting notified that you can now consider Columbia makes things look different. However, if up to now you (and your parents) would have been happy for you to go to Pitt, then my suggestion is to stay with that.</p>
<p>Just be sure that while at Pitt you work at being a big fish in that pond, i.e., a highly ranked student, if possible, so that you can then go on.</p>
<p>My H and I are Pitt grads - me nursing, him engineering. Both were high quality programs. The medical community is quite solid. I didn't like Pitt - but for all the same reasons I wouldn't like Columbia. I wish I would have had a college campus experience, rather than a big city experience. I think there is an edge to an Ivy degree, but in this case, I'm not sure the edge is that big, because everybody has heard of Pitt, too, and the fields you are looking at are fields Pitt excells in. I think both the quality of education and the name recognition are high. I'm not sure the Columbia option is worth the 68k plus loans.</p>
<p>I did my graduate work at Pitt and happen to love Pittsburgh. Your full ride scholarship at Pitt trumps Columbia (remember tuition goes up every year!). You will have great opportunities for research and a solid background for any graduate program. Debt is a lousy drag--one that you don't have to experience.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is whether you want a large city, i.e., NYC, or a not-as-large-city, i.e., Pittsburgh, as your extra-campus experience. I see by your other posts that you have an interest in the theatre. NYC offers much more theatre. Yes, Pittsburgh does have theatre, too, but it pales in comparison.</p>
<p>Med school for when you get out will be $200k+. If your med school ideas are at all serious, you should take that into consideration. If you were good enough to get into Columbia, and good enough to get the top scholarship at Pitt, if you do the work you'll be good enough to get into med school. The real question is how you'll pay for it.</p>
<p>(P.S. As I remember, Columbia doesn't even have an undegraduate theater department (only an MFA program) - courses are offered out of Barnard - darn good ones too! But you may have more theater opportunities in Pittsburgh than in New York, where everyone wants to be a star! ;))</p>
<p>twinboys - not only do I agree with you, there is another factor as well. Any student at Pitt on this scholarship if they have any reasonable work ethic is going to be very much looked after and given special opportunities, including research opportunities. These matter not only to graduate school, but also to a young person's sense of accomplishment and confidence. It is obviously in Pitt's interest to have these young people succeed - and to be wanted is a great thing. (Not that Columbia doesn't want this young person - its just that matriculating off the wait list or even regular admit can't compare in terms of institutional interest to a highly valued recipient of the school's most prestigious scholarship).</p>
<p>Oh, and by the way - moerae - congratulations on your predicament. A challenge stemming from a surplus of choice is one we most often like to have. So again, congrats, and do well wherever you go.</p>
<p>Potentially more research opportunities, school wide recognition of your scholarly standing, likely perks for course registration and housing, honors classes, no debt. Seems like a no-brainer.</p>
<p>Just to clarify--I was referring to professional theatre that one can attend. I agree that Pitt (the school) may offer more opportunities for participation, but NYC (the city) offers more shows per block. ;)</p>
<p>Son was in similar situation three years ago. Yale with some money(guaranteed for only 1 year) leaving a very big chunk to deal with, or full ride (Morehead) at UNC. After much serious thought and debate the idea of being debt free when heading to med school won out. From day one and even moreso now as he will be starting his junior year, he couldn't be happier with his decision.</p>
<p>Other things to think about /consider are AP classes. What are the differences between the two schools' policies? Most Ivies are placement only whereas many other schools give placement AND credit allowing you to graduate earlier if you choose to and save even more $$, double major, pursue a second degree etc. This is something that also should not be taken lightly if you have a good number of AP credits available.</p>
<p>moerae - As you know, the science related opportunities at Pitt will be extensive. There will be few times in your life that you will be debt free and to have your college paid for lock, stock, and barrel is incredible! When you have any bouts of "what if" in months to come, drop by your local Starbucks and buy that $4 latte (without a second thought because you can afford it) and then reflect over the lights of Broadway. Then schedule a weekend trip to New York to see your<br>
friends - because you can afford it - and enjoy yourself.</p>
<p>Now time to mix some metaphors. As others have said, kick butt in college at Pitt and be that big fish in the small pond and then when graduate/med/professional school comes along the world will be your oyster.</p>
<p>thank you all for your very supportive messages. I have decided to go to Pitt because Columbia wasn't going to budge on it's financial aid, and it just made a lot more sense. Plus when I visited Columbia the admissions person there made it very clear that both choices were equal, and she even advised me to go Pitt. I am a bit disappointed I guess, but lonestardad, you make valid points about the money thing. I don't know how much I would have truly been able to enjoy the city with a money crunch... And mini -it is definitely true that I would have more theatre opportunities at Pitt where there is not so much competition! So let's see where Pitt takes me...</p>
<p>that sucks. I guess if u want med school pitt is for you. Although if ur unsure i would go to columbia. I was sort of in ur predicament with WUSL and Case western giving me bunch of money. But i ended up at Columbia. A better news? Yesterday I was notified that i won a scholarship from this committee outside of Columbia and was awarded like 29,982 dollars this year. I will be getting the money for two years and it will be renewable based on my grades at Columbia. So I only have to pay 1211 dollars or sth like that.
Anyways good luck at Pitt. It would have been nice to get to know u if u went to Columbia but oh well.</p>