Hi there. My daughter is in a huge quandary on what to choose. If anyone has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated. She’s deciding between all the above schools. She is wanting to go a premed track Although she had applied prelaw at UW. We live in Irvine, so UCI is very close, maybe too close? She isn’t certain of the path which would be better for her. There are so many theories and questions to think about:
NUIn-Was her first choice. She was accepted into their international program in Healthy Sciences and Applied Psychology, which you study abroad your first semester. She would likely study in Greece(as that is recommended for her major) from Sept-Dec 2020. She likes the vibe of Boston and that is looks to be easy to get around and fairly safe. However, due to the current situation, she doesn’t know if she will be able to travel. What is most attractive to this program is the coop program and the opportunities is can provide for her. She is concerned about being across the country, cost (although they gave her merit of 80k). Is it worth it to go somewhere far? As UCI(8 miles)although she would still live in the dorms and UCSB(90miles) are driving distance.
UCSB- Psychological Brain sciences major-Of course its a beautiful campus, on the beach. We already live fairly close to the beach, so that is nice to have but not really a huge plus. Not that close to the city.New Bio building which is great. Campus easy to navigate. Downside, maybe no major hospital/companies nearby(to do research or work) to explore medical opportunities. It is still has a reputation for being a party campus-will that hurt her opportunities to go to medical school?
UCI-Public health-beautiful campus, lots of new buildings, great science program. Nearby hospital and companies to do research. Cons-Is it too close? Not as exciting because she’s been there a number of times. Is it difficult to change majors into Bio? Is it too competitive? I’ve heard about 40% who apply to medical school get in. She said if UCI was somewhere else it would be her top pick.
UW-Prelaw Honors-She wasn’t certain at the time she sent in her application. Because she is in an honors program, she is thinking it won’t be too difficult to change to pre-Health/Bio(She isn’t 100%sure). However, I am aware of the competitive major system/weed out classes that are definitely an issue/stress source for many UW students (especially in stem). She is aware of the weather but is it too much for pay for OOS tuition for a state school? Would it be better to go to a UC? Thank you for any insight you can provide!!!
Are you asking if the med schools view UCSB’s social reputation as a negative or that your daughter won’t be as academically focused because she will be partying?
She may live in the UCI dorms her freshman year but would you pay for her to rent an apartment the next three years or would she be commuting from home?
What would you pay for NEU and UW? To answer your last question, personally, I would choose in state tuition and a UC education over OOS tuition at UW.
In the eyes of a medical school, would UCSB be viewed with a lesser reputation, if given same grades, UCI (or NEU)? We would probably like her to live away to have that experience, although it would be somewhat expensive. NEU would be around $60k (net with scholarship) a year and UW(regular tuition). Thanks for your your info!
I would also agree that UW seems like the odd one out here. Either go for an in-state UC or go for the full other place experience.
It seems like Northeastern is clearly the top fit choice, and I don’t think being far away or somewhere new is a reason to not go. If anything, college is a great time to try living somewhere new. That said, the cost is nothing to sneeze at. How affordable is that?
It sounds like it’s completely up in the air if medical or law school is in the cards, but worth noting that saving money in undergrad is always the right call for those, and UCSB and UCI are both very much respectable and won’t hinder you in the pursuit of medical school.
My personal take is that Northeastern is worth it if it’s easily affordable and it doesn’t seem likely that med/law school are in the cards. It’s a good fit it sounds like, a new experience in a new place, and has a very solid undeclared program which I would actually recommend she switch to (can do so before enrolling or attending even) if she does end up picking it: https://undergraduate.northeastern.edu/explore/
I assume she is well aware of co-op and likes the program?
With all that said, if it requires even a single dollar of loans, forget about it and pick the best fitting UC. The economic choice here is absolutely a UC, but I think fit can be worth it in some cases if money is not a concern.
Thank you so much for the info! Very insightful. She is leaning more toward medicine as we have several family members in medicine/health. May I ask your suggestion of NEU if she doesn’t seem likely to be premed/prelaw? If medicine is a top choice, would you still recommend NEU? She has visited and is very aware of the coop program and thinks its a top reason why she would like to attend. I appreciate your input.
If your DD doesn’t already have volunteer experience in a medical setting then I’d give little weight to pre-med considerations and pick the school that gives her the best opportunities no matter what her eventual career.
Many HS kids aren’t aware of more than a handful of career fields, and medicine is an attractive one out of the bunch because they think they need to pick something when they enter college (they don’t with the exception of a few things like engineering). And even within medicine many are probably only aware of doctor and nurse but these are far from the only ones in the health field that help people. Physical therapists, radiology techs, speech pathologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, to name but just a few. as shown on http://explorehealthcareers.org
Being “pre-med” is often a snap decision that doesn’t take a lot of effort (such as filling out supplemental apps the way you do in nursing) or have a lot of commitment; sign up for calculus and chem frosh year and you’re on your way. The flip side is the attrition rate is tremendous. Only about 40% of those actually completing all the requirements and taking the MCAT get in, and for every one that goes that far there were probably 2 or 3 others that started frosh year thinking of pre-med at many colleges.
If medicine is the top choice and is highly likely, then the #1 priority should be saving for med school. That’s why not Northeastern in that case. Academically and opportunity wise, great, but both UC’s will offer a solid outcome for that and mean med school is far more affordable with 180K extra in your pocket.
Everything mentioned by @mikemac is very good advice when it comes to pre-med.
I agree. These kids don’t have exposure to many
of the health career possibilities. I am a dentist and my brother an ophthalmologist, and we have spoken to her about some options, but she should definitely be open minded. Thanks for the info.
