<p>I've been accepted to UChicago, which is my dream school. I love everything about UChicago: the culture, the academics, etc. But I'm pretty sure I won't qualify for any fin. aid. To make things worse (or better) Northeastern has given me a full tuition scholarship. I know Northeastern is a great school, but I just don't have any connection to it.
Which one should I pick?
P.S.: I also plan on going to the medical field...</p>
<p>This is hard. But, by the time med school comes around, you’d prob regret not going to northeastern and saving your money bc mes school is expensive. So I say, follow the money.</p>
<p>Sorry for the grammatical errors lol</p>
<p>Thanks for the response!
But I forgot to mention that I want to do a MD/PhD program ( clinical and academic doctor), which means free med school. But MD/PhD’s are competituve to get in, so I also want to choose the undegrad that best prepares me to med school.</p>
<p>Why are these the only 2 choices?</p>
<p>I’ve got into two other schools: Binghamton and Loyola Chicago, which gave me a half-tuition scholarship. But I’m asking about UChicago and Northeastern, because UChicago is my dream school, and Northeasterb gave me free college…</p>
<p>University of Chicago is by far the better choice. </p>
<p>I’d personally go with Northeastern. It’s a solid school, and its co-op program will give you connections in the Boston area to help with med school admissions (you’ll be by Harvard med and Mass. General Hospital). </p>
<p>With that said, visit first. You don’t want to end up at a school you hate, regardless of money.</p>
<p>Co-op helps with finding employment, but I’m not sure that it would help with med school admissions.</p>
<p>One other thing is, how sure are you about the MD path? If you decide on a different route (and most college kids change their mind at some point), in some fields, UChicago’s reputation will be an edge.</p>
<p>Go back to UChi and tell them you need money and Northeastern is offering you a full ride. Hopefully they bite and offer you something. UChi is a far superior school, but man, hard to beat a full ride. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Agree with Marvin. Keep us posted!</p>
<p>Yep, UChicago does use merit money to secure some kids.</p>
<p>However, you don’t have to decide soon.</p>
<p>Chicago may match a scholarship from the Ivies but likely will not match one from Northeastern. You are in the Scholars program at Northeastern which is far more than full tuition! Message CC member nanotechnology for some good advice. </p>
<p>Eh. Granted, this was nearly a decade ago now (when the UofC wasn’t nearly as selective), but back then, in one instance, they added merit money on top of fin aid to match the full-ride that an admit got to a nondescript state school.</p>
<p>Can’t hurt to ask.</p>
<p>I suspect you’ve been getting outside advice about career plans - your comments about MD PhD funded programs are spot on. They are very competitive, most NIH backed, and, like most PhD programs, they will look very hard not just at grades and test scores (as is true for pure MD programs) but at least as hard at the quality of lab work you’ve done undergrad, how you’ve proven yourself in that setting as reflected in all important letters of rec from supervising research profs. </p>
<p>Chicago’s research opportunities will be superb in breadth and quality. Unless Northeastern is offering you something special “above and beyond” research-wise, you may ultimately be compromising a possible free medical school ride + stipend for a free tuition ride undergrad. </p>
<p>Can’t tell you what path to choose. I’d agree with above suggestions to try to pull some money from Chicago - nothing ventured, nothing gained. And remember that more than 50% of undergrads significantly change course vis a vis major/career plans, especially true for pre-meds.</p>
<p>Certainly you need your financial offer from Chi before making decisions.</p>
<p>UChicago is absolutely a more prestigious school, but you have to ask yourself if it’s worth the extra cost given your long-term goals. It will help if you’re aiming for finance, consulting, but much less so if you’re pre-med. </p>
<p>What other schools are you considering?</p>
<p>As a parent of a UofC graduate, I can tell you that not too much merit money will Chicago offer. The highest merit they will ever grant will be 10k that leaves 50k/ year COA. They will meet the full needs nevertheless. </p>
<p>
Years ago when I was a senior, Chicago was my dream school as well. Unfortunately, its financial aid offer was insufficient, so I instead chose a school that was in many ways Chicago’s opposite. I wound up absolutely loving it and did quite well there. </p>
<p>High school students too often get fixated on a particular school, leading to heartbreak in cases of rejection or insufficient aid. Have you spent much time at Northeastern? Attended any classes? It may appeal more to you after a closer investigation. Chicago has perfected the art of student mailings – be sure to look beyond the glossy brochures and affectedly quirky postcards. </p>
<p>
Many schools offer Chicago admits quite a bit of merit money. The whole point of merit scholarships is to lure students from more selective options; colleges are aware of that and factor it into their yields. Chicago is worried about the students it loses to Harvard and Stanford, not Northeastern. It’s worth a try if the financial package is indeed zilch, but I really wouldn’t hold my breath. </p>
<p>
There’s much to be said for following the money. Northeastern is a very respectable option, and Boston is a great college city. </p>
<p>You could certainly get into medical school or a good PhD program in the sciences from Northeastern. In fact, the less selective student body at Northeastern may actually make it easier to earn the high GPA medical schools look for. The rampant belief of “grade deflation” at Chicago has been squashed by various Chicago posters over the years, but you’ll nevertheless be competing with some of the best and brightest in the country there. </p>
<p>This is where you sit down and have a frank discussion with your parents about finances. If you attend Chicago, would that require private loans? Would they be able to pay for medical school as well? (Or another expensive professional program like law you may choose instead.)</p>
<p>In any case, you have several months to decide. Why not apply to some other colleges in between Chicago and Northeastern in selectivity? (Oberlin, for instance.) You may well be offered merit money to another college that’s a great fit. </p>
<p>Definitely visit Northeastern. Here is a video clip from an alumnus of 1967. A Northeastern dregree worked out well for him:</p>
<p><a href=“"Who Empowered You?" - Dr. Andrew Schafer on Vimeo”>https://vimeo.com/76525285</a></p>