<p>I am in-state and I want to do some sort of engineering (probably BME) and eventually go to medical school. Uva and duke are the two main schools i am looking at (penn is too much $$ whereas duke has a special duke work study that i can make 15k in- ive already talked logistics with the financial aid supervisor there). The question is- should i give up duke for uva rodman? im really not sure what to do- they are both great schools. will either school help or hurt my chances of going to medical school? Thanks for all help given!</p>
<p>Personally, I don’t think either school provides more or less weight for medical school, if that’s your real goal. What matters more is your success (i.e. GPA, involvement, honors, recommendations, etc.) at whatever school you go to and the results of your MCAT. As for Rodman, it is a very nice program and honor for engineering students and certainly can enhance your enjoyment of, and involvement in, your first year experience (and beyond), but will provide little advantage to you for med-school if that is your goal. The in-state financials however can be a BIG advantage to you of not carrying huge undergrad debt into med school. </p>
<p>If you have a choice between UVa without needing to work during the school year and Duke with many hours of work study, I’d lean towards UVa. If you have to work too many hours during the school year, it can harm both your academic and social life. If you are serious about med school, you will need those hours to study. Also, the first year students typically get the worst work study jobs.</p>
<p>The ability to save your debt capacity for med school is also a major issue, as grp noted. Many med schools offer little financial aid, and the feds no longer offer subsidized loans for grad or professional school. The interest rates for Fed grad and profe loans is not too high now, but it could become high by the time you would be ready to take them out. That is because the interest rate now changes each year for new loans, based upon inflation.</p>
<p>^^^ I agree with what’s been already said. Our D is a fourth year at UVA who will be attending medical school this fall. She worked hard at UVA and was rewarded with multiple medical school acceptances so I believe UVA served her well. Medical school can cost $85K/year if you choose to go to a private one; hence, if money can be saved at the undergraduate level, it definitely should. </p>
<p>Even the in-state public med schools are high priced in most states.</p>