Sorry if I posted this wrong, I’m very new to this forum
For some background, I am going to be a Biochemistry major in the pre-med track for both colleges. I am also in the honors program (Jesup Scott Honors College for UT and Honors program for OSU) for both colleges.
For most of my life, I thought I would be going to UT. I live less than an hour away from Toledo, so I would be able to commute. In addition, my tuition is practically free (combined scholarships + discount because my mom works at the medical center at UT). I have been taking summer courses and most recently-- Organic Chemistry from UT during high school so I am a bit more familiar with the campus and have good connections with a couple of professors.
However, I’ve started to have a change of heart. I am worried that UT will not bring me enough challenges and opportunities that need to get into medical school. I ranked the top of my Orgo 1 class, and it worries me that I might be missing out on a huge opportunity by not going to OSU. My parents will be paying for my college, so I have to compare practically $0 (UT) and about $25-30k per year (OSU). I am just conflicted about whether this cost is worth going to OSU. I don’t want to have my parents pay for an education that I could have at home.
Some other things to consider: I’m kind of a homebody, and I don’t mind staying at home. However, the freedom of living without my parents is also exciting. I also want to do a lot of undergraduate research, as I am very passionate about chemistry, and a bunch of volunteering at hospitals.
If you are looking for strong academics, OSU is definitely the place to go. It is very challenging and known both nationally (and internationally) for the quality of its academics.
However, if the price is too much, there is nothing wrong with going to a school close to you. You’ll get the same experience of freedom and living without your parents whether you are 20 minutes or 3 hours from home. My brother went to the University of Cincinnati (About 20-25 minutes from home) and I can hardly remember him coming home. You can choose how college goes for you. Some people go home every weekend (not that I’d recommend that)!
Thank you for the reply! If I went to UT, I would most definitely be living at home. I think I would still be very comfortable and happy at UT, but I really want to see how far academically I can go to prepare me the best for medical school.
I think that getting out of my comfort zone is going to be good for me, even though it is actually really scary for me being away from home for so long. Also, the cost is also very scary but my parents will pay for it. I will probably end up choosing OSU as long as I don’t keep overthinking it lol.
I admit I don’t know much about pre med but the general consensus here seems to be to concentrate on GPA and save money for med school. You sound like a great student; I don’t know that your actual choice of undergrad can prevent you from getting into med school!
That said, of course OSU is great. Many hospitals nearby for internship and research positions.
Does UT have dorms? I agree with other poster that you can get out of your comfort zone and have independence if you go to a school nearby but live at school. I’m actually super close to OSU and many kids go there but live in dorms, only come home on breaks or a random weekend, etc.
It could be helpful to talk with current Biochem/pre-med students at UT & OSU. I am a former OSU student (humanities major), and I gave up a full scholarship at a community college to go to OSU. Even with the debt, it was worth it, as I found that I matured, became more independent, found my passion, and was able to establish a large network. This wouldn’t have happened to the same extent had I stayed in my hometown.
That said, money does matter, and commuting can cut a large cost of college and help one save for med school. Everyone’s situation is different. At either school, the honors programs will give you harder and more challenging work than in general classes. I mentored incoming freshmen at OSU who majored in honors math, physics, biochem and other sciences for two years. Many of them were challenged by these honors courses and benefited from it. Others found that pre-med and even the sciences weren’t for them thanks to this work.
It would also be worthwhile to write down various academic and other challenges you may face at UT & OSU to compare them and the rewards you may get from these two schools. You could always start at UT as well, and if you’re unhappy there, you could transfer to OSU or another institution. Choosing a college is a very difficult choice to make. At the end of the day, you will make the right choice for yourself. Good luck and congratulations!
If your parents can afford Ohio State, go for it. If you ranked that high in UT’s Orgo as a high schooler, you’re not being adequately challenged academically. You need to challenge yourself and see what you’re really able to do. In the Honors college at Ohio State you’ll be in a very different environment than at UT’s - and it’ll not only prepare you for the MCAT and Med school better but will also make you a better doctor for having experienced so much more, met more people, lived differently. Congratulations!
If I went to UT, my parents will not justify the cost of dorms lol. I live about 30 minutes away so I would have to commute and live at home at least for the first couple of years. Thank you, I know they are both great choices so that’s why this is such a hard decision for me !!
Thank you so much for the reply! I think I should organize my thoughts and the pros and cons of each university instead of letting it all melt in my head lol. I think independence is very important to me, I’m a little sheltered Asian girl and I think it would be good for me to get out of my comfort box and meet lots of people. But also as a little sheltered Asian girl the financial aspects are really important too! I guess I have to determine if these experiences are worth the cost or not. Thanks again
Thank you! In your opinion, do you think academics at OSU are significantly better compared to UT? I talked to a Orgo professor (at UT) and my doctor (who also went to UT, might have a slight bias there haha) and they both agree that the academics at OSU might be slightly better but will both prepare me well for medical school. However, I don’t know how important the “rankings” are but OSU beats UT in those, no questions asked. I also don’t really care for the prestige or school spirit, so that also might come into play. This is so conflicting for me haha, but thank you, your comment really helped!
I’m not an expert in med school at all, so take my opinion with that in mind:
OSU is highly regarded and tough to get into; UT is not tough to get into.
But with med school in your future, isn’t everything predicated on the MCAT? If that’s the case, where you go to undergrad isn’t really important (beyond the obvious case of a couple of Ivies).
Everything I’ve ever read about med school says to spend as little as possible on undergrad because it’s so expensive. Would you parents be paying for med school also? That might be a deciding factor for me (them).
Yes, the academics will be very different. I mean, you did well in Orgo at UT as a high schooler. A class most UT college-age students, I assume, had trouble with. Except high schoolers aren’t supposed to be able to handle a “normal college rigor” orgo class. In other words, that class isn’t at the level you need to succeed on the MCAT and isn’t at the level you need to be intellectually challenged, it’s at a level most UT students find difficult, which isn’t your level of ability.
Two doctors who went to UT agreed that you should attend tOSU because they were able to contrast the level of academic preparation both universities offer.
You’ll likely start freshman year with General Chem 2 at the tOSU and you’ll immediately see the difference in expectations, pace, and depth.
Basically, yes, it’s more expensive, but it’ll prepare you better.
Did you contact tOSu’s financial aid to see if there are scholarships/grants you can apply to?
Did you apply to all state grants you qualify for? https://ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/site/residents/resources/state-grants-and-scholarships
Did you complete FAFSA?
