So with less than one week, it is really crunch time. So I loved both of these schools, Notre Dame especially, I loved the feel and vibe of campus, but I live probably 15 minutes from campus so that is definitely a downside. I also loved IU, but it was a little too big for me. I want to study neuroscience on the pre med track, both schools are pretty good for this, Notre Dame has the better name recognition. IU offered what was an essential full ride, full tuition and living stipend and money. Notre Dame is doable, but costs about 40K more than IU. My parents will help, but I could use the money they would pay for ND, for medical school.
Kind of a lot there, but factoring in everything, academics, finances and opportunities, what are your opinions on the best option for me? Anything helps at this late hour, thanks
What do you think you should do?
How sure are you about med school?
I’m gonna be honest, I’ve been a Notre Dame fan my whole life and it is my dream school, but turning down a FULL RIDE at a great school like IU is tough… especially if you want to go to med school. If you go to medical school, it doesn’t matter where you go to undergrad. So here’s my conclusion:
If you think you want to go to med school, definitely save your money on your undergrad degree and then go to the best med school possible.
If you don’t think you will pursue any graduate degrees, undergraduate from Notre Dame is probably more valuable.
At the end of the day, though, you are obviously very talented and will thrive anywhere you go. The most important advice I can give you is to pray about it, then use your brain, listen to your heart, and follow your gut. You will know what the right choice is. I wish you the best of luck!
I am probably 85% sure about med school, the only other alternative to that is law school for me. Either way, graduate school is definitely in the picture. I really want to be a doctor, and I think that it would be easier at IU to get good grades, but honestly the community at ND really stood out to me, so I am pretty conflicted
Whether you choose to become a doctor or to sue doctors, graduate is expensive even if on a full tuition scholarship due to lost income for 3 or more years.
Is Notre Dame $40,000 more per year ? Or $40,000 more total over 4 years ?
It is 40,000 more per year, so 160 K altogether, but my father is also a doctor and says that he could help a lot, but that would be the end of his support, while if I go to IU, he says that he wold help me out for med school
With your last response, I think the answer is obvious. No school is worth 160K over a full ride + stipend (IU is paying .you to attend!).
But you do have a family willing to foot the bill, and you do say that you’re 85% sure about medical school. So many pre-med students, even very strong students, get weeded out that you’ll need to be 100% committed. Even then, it is tough. Your father’s a doctor, so that will help. He’s been through it. Anyway, if med school may not happen, and dad is willing to pay the 160K for undergrad, I guess you could do so.
That free ride is difficult to turn down, though. Google the story of the kid who turned down all eight Ivies (plus Stanford and other elite schools) to attend the U of Alabama. Why? Same situation as you: the full ride plus stipend was too good to turn down since his plans were to go to med school.
OK I’ll try to boil it down…it sounds like if you go to ND you are “paying” $160,000 for better name recognition and a smaller school. From what you have said. Is name recognition worth it? (Let’s say the bigger size of IU is offset by the further distance which is a plus to you).
Or, look at it this way. Picture yourself at IU. Are you regretting not being at ND?
There’s always the old flip a coin…not to actually make the decision, but “pretend” you are making the decision and often your true feelings will come out when you see the result!
For one intending to go to graduate school, paying an additional $160,000 for undergraduate school & losing family financial help for medical or law school is obscene in this case.
So it sounds like you got one of the big IU awards, which may be one of the ones which includes research access and perks – if so, take the money and run! We know several high achieving kids who took the Cox or Wells at IU, planning for med school, and the research access, plus financial support, has been more than worth it. They have had amazing academic and research opportunities.
If a student were not thinking medicine or law, but rather going into the workplace directly, then the famous ND alumni network could come into play and matter (whether it is $160,000 of “mattering” is a different question). But for a student looking at professional school which is full pay for pretty much everyone, then the ND alumni network really becomes less significant. Save the money for med school (or law school).
IU has basketball, and soccer. Maybe look at the Honors or other specialty housing at IU? Congrats on your opportunities, and good luck!
I’d pick ND. I’m very cheap and definitely think you have to consider the money but ND has long term benefits. Being close to your home is not a negative. You are so close that no trip home has to be planned, and no trip home has to last longer than a dinner. I’ll bet your parents will do the same things at ND they do now. If they go to football games now, they will continue to go to them. My friend’s son went to school at Wisconsin and they lived in Madison. He ate Sunday dinner at home, did his laundry, and went right back to school. He’d meet his parents for a beer before a football game. He didn’t have to get new doctors or dentists. He didn’t have to use all his vacation time going home for holidays.
You will get a lot of support from ND to get you into med school.
Thanks for all th comments guys, i was indeed accepted to the honors program and would live in an honors community. So that would definetly shrink IU. I just dont know if I can pass on the prestige and community at ND. Any more thoughts?
I believe most students feel very special when they receive admission into a very selective school. They feel validated and rewarded for their hard work. And rightfully so. But it’s also a short lived and meaningless measuring stick against their friends and schoolmates, cousins and siblings. They tend to lose sight of the fact that admission to a less selective school but with a unique financial award is equally or more selective. They just don’t seem to impress their friends as much. They don’t get that physiological “juice” that’s intoxicating in a way. It creates distortion of reasoning and decision making. And we parents many times feed into this as much or moreso than our kids. They guy next store might have big job but my kid got into bowdoin. See, I’m a better parent with smarter kids.
There is no rational argument to be made for a student to choose to pay 160k extra to go to a more selective school save hyps (and then it’s at least a debate because of the economic impact) with an eye on grad school. When the other choice is a flagship state university with superb academics. We are not saying choose the cc or open enrollment state college vs ND.
All of this is only when sacrifice is required. Sacrifice that causes imbalance in other important areas. Economic security. Retirement. Housing. Funds for additional children for college. Etc. if the money is already saved or the extra money has no negative impact. Go to ND. It’s fantastic. It’s perceived to be better than IU and you like it better . And that’s important.
But your dad is dr. He’s been through this before. And he’s suggesting iu honors and paying for med school for you. He’s your dad. He’s a dr. Why would he lead you down the wrong path.
Good luck either way. You’ll be a success.
IMHO, take the full ride. Save the hundred sixty thousand for med school.
I’d take the full ride too, although it pains me to say that a little. IMO, ND isn’t really about the prestige, it’s about the experience and the community. It’s truly a special place.
That said, full boat at IU - a great school - with med or law school on the horizon? I’d take that.
I totally get your guys’ arguments for Iu, it makes total sense. I guess my biggest worry is that ten years down the road i am going to regret not going to ND, for the community and prestige it offers.
I think in ten years you will be washing your hands to go into surgery and it will be the absolute last thing on your mind.
If you decide to do something else besides medicine ND would be great on the resume. Still won’t assure you of the job but will open some doors.
Life at ND sounds wonderful. Don’t know the vibe at IU.
@Churchill1945 Maybe in ten years you’ll wonder about not going to ND. But the ND community won’t pay for your graduate or professional school – you will have to.
I have to agree with @privatebanker on this, and I think you’ll have other things on your mind. One of them will be this: “I spent zero on college and had $160,000 for med school (or law school).”
Good luck on your final decision.
I will go the full ride, go to IU and then grad school