<p>I am sure many of you have heard this before, but I am a non-traditional student with a wife and eleven-month-old son. I was recently accepted into the University of Iowa's Biology Honors Program, and the University of Texas at Austin's English program. (I was not admitted to Texas as a Biology major, but I will be given the opportunity to double major.) Because I am not a resident of either state, I was only afforded the Pell Grant, which means I will have to take out 21K in loans to finance my first year of U of Iowa education, or 25K in loans for my first year at UT-Austin. </p>
<p>Ideally, I will attend medical school directly after completing my bachelor's, so accruing more than 30K in undergrad loans is simply not feasible. At UT-Austin, I MIGHT be eligible for in-state tuition after 12 consecutive months of residency, and being married to my wife, who will establish domicile in those first 12 months. Given my Pell Grant award, I would attend for close to nothing...if it works out. Conversely, to establish myself as a resident of Iowa I would need to be living there for 12 consecutive months (same as Texas) and can take NO MORE than 6 credits per semester for the first year -- after which I am almost guaranteed in-state residency. </p>
<p>I am having a hard time deciding between the two.</p>
<p>Iowa accepted all 43 of my credits, admitted me into their honors program as a biology major, and has started me off with my true GPA -- a 3.9. </p>
<p>Texas, however, only accepted 33 of my credits, and adjusted my GPA to 3.75 -- which worries me a bit considering my medical school aspirations. Austin is such a lively and beautiful place, and there's a lot more to do. I also happen to love it! Haha. (And I say so with all due respect to Iowa City.) </p>
<p>(Waiting to hear back from George Washington University, Bard College, Wake Forest University and Emory University. The problem is that I need to answer Texas or Iowa, like, right now.)</p>
<p>Anyone have any thoughts or feedback? Not looking for anyone to decide for me -- just looking for some solid feedback and different perspectives.</p>