<p>I want to study Neuroscience/Neurobiology and do pre-medicine to go to medical school. I'm very positive I want to be a physician.</p>
<p>Household income: $200,000+/yr
Duke expense: $61,000/yr
UC Berkeley expense: $13,000/yr</p>
<p>^This is my total cost per year.
The problem is the pre-med situation. At UCB, I hear from several sources that the pre-med there is incredibly cutthroat and it's tough getting to know the profs (to get letters of rec for med school). However, at Duke I hear from several sources as well that the pre-med is much more collaborative, you get much more attention, and get to know profs really well. </p>
<p>I'm also doing MCB at UCB, which is apparently the hardest major available there. I'm scared I will die with the competition at Berkeley. But it's so much cheaper! Is the cost for Duke worth it? </p>
<p>I really wanna go to Duke. I'm not taking any loans for Duke; my parents would pay full every year. BUT I've vowed to pay my parents back, WHEN I will become a physician. Yes, I will fulfill my goal; I'll work hard and earn it, no slacking off in college.</p>
<p>So, what do you guys think I should do? This is a huge decision for me, by the way.</p>
<p>I mean if (and thats a big if) you can comfortably afford to go to Duke, I would do so. However, if going to Duke imposes a significant financial burden on your family, I would stick with Berkeley. After all they are both great schools. At the end of the day its all relative, if your parents are millionaires (or just well to do) and are willing to invest in your future, thats awesome; but be realistic about your financial situation. Also it sounds like you want to be a physician primarily to earn a lot of money, I can assure you there are easier ways of making money. A physician’s job requires a tremendous amount of dedication, and is only suited for people who are truly passionate about medicine. Please don’t think i’m being judgmental, this is not intended to be a slight in any way. If you are indeed passionate about medicine, you will go on to become a physician regardless of where you study. :)</p>
<p>Haha actually I’ve wanted to be a physician since like 7th grade. I told my parents that i wanted to be one, and they said doctors make bank. But I really am passionate about becoming a physician; i’ve shadowed at my local kaiser hospital and done internships. Thanks for your reply happyman2, and it’s never really about the money.</p>
<p>djking, thats great to hear. I’m sure that you will be able to accomplish your goal of becoming a physician. On a related note, I see that you chose Duke. Thats great news! Congratulations are in order :)</p>
<p>djking99, I had to make a similar decision. I was offered the Regents’ and Chancellors’ Scholarship at UC Berkeley and the AB Scholarship at Duke. Accordingly, my financial aid situation was very similar at both schools, although Berkeley would cost a little more. So my decision ended up being contingent upon the schools themselves, rather than finances.</p>
<p>Both Berkeley and Duke are fantastic schools with amazing opportunities. I think Duke’s pre-med program is definitely more geared towards getting students into medical school. As an undergrad, you can ask to take graduate courses, do research labs, and develop strong professor relationships–all things that can really enhance your medical school application. However, Berkeley, you will have to show a lot more self-initiative in order to get those opportunities and be successful. Yet, given that you want to go to medical school, it might be a more fiscally sound decision to go to Berkeley since medical school is sure to cost a lot. Regardless of your parents’ financial situation, it would be nice to lessen your post-grad debt. </p>
<p>If I were you, I would consider what type of undergraduate experience you want. Berkeley will definitely expose you to an immense array of cultures and is a lot more down-to-earth. Berkeley is integrated into the city; one moment you’re at the library, the next you’re at Crepes A Go Go, and the next moment you’re at a free needle clinic for the homeless. You’ll have a lot of community service opportunities at your back door. In addition, after freshman year, you’ll most likely live off campus or be part of Greek life. At Duke, you’re going to have a sports-driven environment full of intellectuals and very diverse experiences. While Durham is a fantastic town, a lot of people think globally for community service projects. The campus has an international perspective. Also, many people live on campus for at least three years and the community is very tight-knit. It has a beautiful campus and smaller class sizes.</p>
<p>To be perfectly honest, you can’t make a wrong choice. You have two fantastic options and no matter what school you attend, you will make the most of it. Best of luck!</p>
Best of luck!</p>