<p>Hi everyone</p>
<p>I was recently accepted to NYU as a transfer student and I received my financial aid summary. I got some small scholarships, but the cost of attendance is still really high. I really want to go to NYU because its a great school that's very academically challenging. I want to go to medical school, and I think that by going to a prestigious school such as NYU might help my chances and also provide me with a great education. However, I'm concerned with coming out with a huge amount of loans for undergraduate on top of medical school loans.</p>
<p>Anyone else have similar worries and have any advice to offer? Or anyone who has been down this road and can offer advice to whether it was worth it? </p>
<p>Anyone pre-med that has opinions on whether this expensive education is worth it?</p>
<p>Any advice would be appreciated!</p>
<p>I’m in the same situation as you, and I’m really unsure about the money. I have doubts as well even though I do love NYU. Anyone who can shed some light on this issue?</p>
<p>Keep your expenses and borrowing to a minimum. Medical school is expensive and the only thing guaranteed when you are done is the debt that you owe.</p>
<p>At the same time, enjoy yourself through the process, mature, and love the situation that you place yourself in. Don’t hate your 4-5 years of school just to save money. But at the same time, don’t make your future life miserable by borrowing $500K+. Believe it or not, I know a lot of miserable physicians who are ar the $300k+ debt range.</p>
<p>Medicine has been changing for decades and will change by thw time you are done. Your question has been asked several times on CC. Do a quick search and see what has been said in the past. I am sure you will get some new advice with your post but use everything you will read to do what’s best for you.</p>
<p>@frugaldoctor
I’m assuming you are a physician of some type? If so, did you end up with a lot of debt? I understand your point about trying to end up with the least amount of debt as possible, but is it possibly worth it if you are going to a prestigious school where you may make good connections and receive great opportunities? I also am unsure and wondering if anyone knows, does going to a top school like NYU give you any advantage in medical school applications?</p>
<p>I am a specialist and have been in private practice for 10+ years. I graduated from a public high school with an absolutely awful SAT score and mediocre gpa. I attended a large state college for electrical engineering and only decided to pursue medical school very late in my UG education. I worked as an engineer for several years before I matriculated in a lower tier state medical school. </p>
<p>I scored very well of the MCAT, had a great GPA for my pre-med courses, and had excellent interviews. I gained admission to all of the 5 or 6 schools I applied to. I didn’t apply to any prestigious medical schools because most required my SAT scores at the time. So, I can’t tell you if a prestigious UG school leads to prestigious medical schools.</p>
<p>After a semester to adjust, I excelled in medical school and aced the board exams. Attending a state undergraduate school or a lower tier state medical school did not prevent me from matching into the top residency program at the top hospital in the country, Johns Hopkins. My medical school board exam, gpa, personal statement, interview, and research experience were all equally important in landing that spot. But the medical school didn’t even present itself as a factor in the matching process. I graduated from, according to USNWR, a third tier medical school.</p>
<p>I did graduate with loads of debt and spent the first several years of my career working relentlessly to pay them off. This included being on call every other night, having consecutive months without a weekend off, and forgoing nice amenities such as a luxurious car or home. Missing key moments of my children’s early years was the norm. Remember, I owed all this money despite attending a state school. I couldn’t imagine how awful life would be if I owed even more. My personal experience and the reports from my colleagues are what guides my advice to you.</p>
<p>I have to say that where I completed residency was by far the most important factor in my career. When I decided to pursue a practice during my last year of residency, I walked into the director’s office where the map of the US marked alumni in all but 2 states. That was very powerful. But none of this occurred because I went to a prestigious UG school. I would say less than a quarter of my residency colleagues attended prestigious UG or medical schools.</p>
<p>So, congratulations for your hard work that has given you the opportunity to attend NYU. Please use your resources to make the best decision for you. But keep in mind that there is an opportunity cost and benefit for all of the decisions you make.</p>