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<p>If they cannot help with cash now, do you really think that they will have the cash to help you with the debt later?</p>
<p>Med school admission requires good GPA and high MCAT scores, and fulfilling the pre-med class requirements. You can get that at ALL your schools. Why would you pay more for the same prep work?</p>
<p>ok happymomof1… don’t be so critical. I’m just trying to make sense of it. If you knew me, you’d know my social sphere would still respect me at either school. I’ve been under the impression that a Berkeley degree might get me somewhere because of opportunity. I don’t know if you’ve ever read Gladwell’s “Outliers,” but for some reason I believe that there are reasons why people choose Berkeley/Boston College over local schools. There’s got be a reason why so many successful people came from these schools. I know all my schools schools can create successful people, but there IS something different between them. Am I wrong? How?</p>
<p>@Erin’s Dad… I’m worried that the curve will harm my grades despite my hard work! Going to a private like BC would probably be better GPA-wise.</p>
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<p>I’m a Cal alum, love(d) the school, but the alum network isn’t THAT amazing. Certainly not $100k in debt amazing. </p>
<p>Have you visited USD?</p>
<p>I know plenty of kids from SoCal who turned down Cal and other UCs for UW. The grass is always greener in the other state. ;)</p>
<p>@SlithyeTove:
-is the network really not that good? oh well…
-Yeah, USD was pretty cool looking. Loved the area. Got a scholarship there. I’m Catholic, too…
-But I don’t like the climate at UW in the winter. It’s pretty gloomy.</p>
<p>Others might have different impressions of the alum network, and it might be different if you aren’t in California or are really trying to “work” the network (which I’ve never felt a need to exploit). It seems unlikely to me that the alum network for UW would somehow be much inferior to that at Cal or UCLA or similar large public schools. </p>
<p>If you liked USD better, what’s stopping you from going there? Your parents say to choose what’s best for you. Here, let me as a parent restate that with the right emphasis: choose what’s best for YOU, meaning where you’ll be happier and more productive, not where you think that everyone else will be wowed because you’re going to a school with the “better” reputation. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if you go to UW there’s bigtime football, Archie McPhee’s, and really good salmon. :)</p>
<p>@ST… Hmmm but UW feels so close to home… so “average” - you know what I mean?</p>
<p>YouKnowWho, absolutely I understand that feeling. But remember, there are a bunch of students–including many posting right now on CC!–who feel the same way about Cal. Or UCLA. Or U Mich. Etcetera. </p>
<p>Pretend that you’re actually from, oh, Chicago, or Tucson, or Austin, and you’re getting to decide between UW and USD. Make up a list of pros and cons for each school. Then see if the “it’s so close to home” issue is still an issue.</p>
<p>So don’t go home. Problem solved. When you get to your university, be it UW or USD, you’ll realize most of the social life happens on campus.</p>
<p>USD or UW easily. (Go Huskies!)</p>
<p>NO undergraduate program despite how awesome or well connected the alumni network is perceived to be is worth $100k of non-dischargeable debt. Unless you’re lucky enough to win the lottery right after you graduate…</p>
<p>I’m biased towards UW you’re in Seattle and the Canadian border is 2 hours away; what’s not to love? Almost went there myself but the out of state tuition that the GI Bill won’t cover would shackle me with a stupid amount of debt for years to come, so OSU it is.</p>
<p>$100,000 is ridiculous, unmanageable debt and you should not consider borrowing that much, even if you could.</p>
<p>University of Washington and USD are your best bets. The University of Washington is an excellent flagship university - one of the top, with research opportunities galore! - and I think you should go there. UW is also really well known in the medical and health sciences.</p>
<p>I know that it’s not as cool because it’s close to home, and for various reasons it’s not as “sexy” or prestigious as Berkeley, but honestly it is one of the BEST public research universities in the country. Their SAT interquartile ranges are much higher than average, and 92% of UW students graduated in the top 10% of their class.</p>
<p>For the record, UW’s medical school is ranked #2 for primary care (just below UNC-Chapel Hill) and #12 for medical research.</p>
<p>USD would be a good option, too, but I think UW has the better national reputation.</p>
<p>@everyone - I will keep you all updated.</p>
<p>and whoa… I was looking at this again. Some of you had said that I hadn’t really earned going to the schools I got admitted too. To those of you who said that: you don’t know my life story or my family’s story. Shame.</p>
<p>If am guessing that what that person may have meant: your hard work has earned you acceptance to colleges. But it hasn’t earned you the right to unnecessarily burden your family with a lot of debt. But I’m just guessing.
We always told our son that our job was to support him in every way, but **his ****job **was to always do his best in school so that he would be well educated/prepared and so that he would have options when it came to colleges. That doesn’t mean we would go into major debt to pay for the most expensive option. We don’t “owe” him that. Also, you should always work hard and try to excel, no matter what it is you are doing - as a high school student, volunteer, employee, spouse whatever.
It is fine if your family handles finances differently, but I don’t think our philosophy is unusual.</p>
<p>I do hope once you have decided that you let us know. Seems like people have invested a lot of time in having this discussion with you :)</p>
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I know how that feels, because I didn’t really know what I wanted either. There’s a point where you need to accept that you are in a confusing, difficult situation and that you aren’t likely to reach a confident decision. Given that, do not make a choice that will create a major financial drain on you and your family for years to come (large debt).
Honestly, I doubt there would be much difference. UDub is a great school.
The grass is always greener, if you take the time to think about such things. That goes for your feelings about Seattle, too.</p>
<p>It sounds like USD is a realistic option for you. If you really want the smaller, Catholic environment or have a good reason to think that San Diego would be a better place, then go for it. Otherwise, I’d stick with UDub and be happy.</p>
<p>I got my degree from Berkeley and I am proud of it. But it is definitely not worth $100k in debt, absolutely not. $100k can be a down payment to buy a house!</p>
<p>I live in CA. Both my sons got into Berkeley and chose not to attend. One of my co-worker’s son is currently attending UW. One of my son’s friend is going to UW this fall. Many of us in CA think highly of UW.</p>
<p>If you want to get away, go to UW and do a study abroad. </p>
<p>The debt will impact your life much more than 4 years living in an environment close to home.</p>
<p>UDub alumni network is not too shabby.</p>
<p>Add McGill to that list. Now it’s Berkeley, BC, and McGill (financial safety as a Canadian citizen) fighting for the top spot…</p>
<p>McGill is where the Canadian parents I know all hope their kids will get in. Great university. Wonderful city. Cheap tuition and fees for citizens. Happykid’s pal who ended up there loves it.</p>
<p>@HMO1:</p>
<p>I’m worried about the tough administration, loads of red-tape, no housing, weather, and grade deflation.</p>