<p>So basically, I'm thinking of applying to both Vanderbilt and Johns Hopkins for pre-med. This isn't a chance thread so I'll assume that I get accepted, since I think I have the necessary stats (4.0 UW GPA/1530 CR+M SAT). I know that Hopkins offers almost zilch in terms of merit aid, and Vanderbilt does have a potential full tuition scholarship. But even getting that would still leave around $20,000 a year in room and board/other fees. I know that financial need-based aid is out of the question, since my family income is between 100,000 and 150,000 a year. Thing is, going to one of these school would still eat up about a quarter of that income, so its not like my parents can pay for it with complete ease. My question is, since I'm planning to go on to med school, are student loans possibly the way to go? I've just gotten really caught up in this finance situation to the point where I'm considering sacrificing educational quality of the institution just to get cheap education. These two are probably my top two choices and I'd like to be able to go to them without worrying about my parents going broke. Even if there's debt at the end I'd hopefully be able to pay it off with the salary from a medical job. Anyone have any advice for what I'm thinking about?</p>
<p>*My question is, since I’m planning to go on to med school, are student loans possibly the way to go? *</p>
<p>NO…it is a bad idea to take out a bunch of loans if your intent is med school. You’ll need to borrow a lot for med school.</p>
<p>Do you realize how much you’ll need to borrow for medical school? Do you know how much the COA’s are for med school each year???</p>
<p>I would also apply to your state flagship as a financial safety (and depending on your state, maybe other in-state Us as well). Go there, do well, and you’ll be a strong candidate for medical school.</p>
<p>It might be better to go to a cheaper undergrad so that you’re free to borrow to go to the best med school you can find. (the alternative is too risky – you don’t want to get a pile of debt in undergrad, then end up struggling to get loans for medical school, and then have to cope with that during the long, low-paid trek through the medical education system).</p>
<p>PS - some financial aid is not necessarily out of the question in the $100k income range especially if something else is going on (like another sibling is in college at the same time) … filing out the FAFSA and profile might be a worth the time required (and at some schools is required to be considered for merit aid)</p>
<p>A lot of student loans still require the FAFSA. Honestly “financial aid” is usually just a nice way of saying “loans”. It doesn’t always mean free money.</p>
<p>Good options would be to either go to a community college for a couple of years and transfer to one of those schools or just go to an inexpensive undergraduate school and then go to med. school. If med. school really is your dream it will be worth it! You want to make sure that you’re going to be able to have the money for that, too.</p>
<p>PS: if you do plan on transfer to schools like that make sure your credits will transfer!!</p>
<p>If this student is likely to be accepted to John Hopkins and or Vandy, going to a CC is a big waste of time…sorry…There wouldn’t be a student ,and likley teacher,at a CC that could carry his laptop,let alone challenge him</p>
<p>For a top student whose goal is medical school, there are lots of options for undergraduate school where you would not need to accrue any debt at all. Some very fine schools offer some great merit money–though the above posters are right that your stated income may be at a level where some financial aid is possible.</p>
<p>I also think your room and board number ($20K) is high. The numbers I have seen range from $8K to about $12K and they range at schools based on how much a student eats and spends.</p>
<p>
Think much of CCs? There are actually intelligent students out there attending CCs. This would not be the first who had to do so for money reasons (but maybe the first in that income bracket).</p>
<p>Thank you Erin’s Dad.</p>
<p>Listen CC’s have their place,but i seriously doubt anyone with stats of the OP attend a CC…Having lived in areas of the east coast that have great CC’s,they still don’t have the caliber of that student…</p>
<p>Fwiw, i graduated from a great CC decades ago,and i was at the top of the graduating class…and fwiw, my stats couldn’t hold a candle to the OP…</p>
<p>A bit more info, i was also in my 20’s, and the students who i went to class with were a diverse group…many were in their mid to late 20’s…Students who were younger were disengaged,and were likley attending because they couldn’t get in anywhere,and it was ‘expected’ that ine should attend collge…so they lit their parents money on fire for a year or less, and dropped out</p>
<p>Erins dad, i didm’t say there were NO smart kids at CC’s, but as a percentage of the student body,they are rare</p>
<p>The University of Pittsburgh has a full-tuition scholarship that you seem to qualify for, based on your SAT scores. Then you would be on the hook only for room, board, books, etc. The scholarship covers all future tuition increases too. It’s a great deal. The only drawback is that Pitt picks and chooses the kids who get it, and the process can seem arbitrary. So despite your excellent scores, no one can tell you, “You’ll definitely get the scholarship.” But you should look into it, and there are lots of opportunities at UPMC for research projects, internships, etc. All applicants are screened for the scholarship. Just make sure to submit an essay.</p>
<p>[University</a> of Pittsburgh: Undergraduate Admissions & Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.oafa.pitt.edu/universityschlrs.aspx]University”>http://www.oafa.pitt.edu/universityschlrs.aspx)</p>
<p>My D attended 3 semesters of CC & then transferred to her dream private U. She took the SAME courses taught by the SAME profs at her CC that were teaching at her flagship U but saved us a LOT of $$$ that we are paying toward her dream private U. Many believe the private U she attends is the best in the world for her field, bar none! </p>
<p>qdogpa, you have a great deal to learn about CCs & its current demographics, especially in light of the current difficult financial situation. In CA, CCs are a very popular cost-saving way for kids to get a great & affordable education as well. Graduating with little or no debt is a very important goal for folks who plan to attend grad/pro school or they will be paying their crushing debts forever and it will greatly limit their options in life!</p>
<p>*But even getting that would still leave around $20,000 a year in room and board/other fees. *</p>
<p>That’s a bit high…unless housing there is pricey and personal expenses are high…and you plan on a few roundtrip airfares home each year…especially if airport shuttles are also needed. </p>
<p>Room
Board
fees
personal expenses</p>
<h2>transportation</h2>
<p>It can all add up!</p>
<p>I agree with MDmom…if the goal is med school, then grab a big tuition scholarship at a school that has good science programs and good pre-med advising.</p>
<p>you can graduate debt free or will little debt!</p>
<p>My younger son is pre-med…and he has a full tuition scholarship plus 4500 per year. It costs us almost nothing…but we still have med school to pay for . ugh!!</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay?</p>
<p>(While I think CCs are fine, this student has other options…and CCs are not the best choices for those who are pre-med.)</p>
<p>HImom, for this particular case,CC is NOT the answer… I have said numerous times,get the best education you CAN afford…but honestly, you do get what you pay for…check out the graduation rates of many CC’s,not so good…though i know nothing about CA CC’s</p>
<p>Kids who can get into great Us generally have many options, which often include free or close to free rides at less prestigious Us. This often includes in-state Us. My S’s val rejected all the great offers she received & chose to go to our state flagship U with a full ride + extra outside scholarships, where she graduated with honors as well as LOTS of research experience & saved a ton of $$$. She was also accepted to Mayo in Rochester for med school where the 1st year was a full-ride! Her parents are thrilled!</p>
<p>One of the reasons that CC grad rates are low is that they take pretty much anyone who wants to attend. As you posted above, folks attend for varying reasons and those who are very motivated may not stick around to get any degree or credential but transfer out as my D did. It was a useful place for her to get credits which apply toward grad requirements at a very low price–it worked for her & only the OP can decide how and it it would work for him/her. </p>
<p>There are also folks who leave CC because they can’t afford the time off to continue to take courses as they need to support themselves and loved ones, sometimes working multiple jobs. There are also folks who just want a course or two to enhance skills and have no interest in anything else there. CCs are there for them as well.</p>
<p>That said, D had difficulty meeting intellectual peers there but has no regrets about having completed courses there & feels her teachers were great.</p>
<p>Wow, did not expect this many responses, but thanks to everyone for their input. Someone mentioned going to the instate flagship university, which in my case would be Uva. However, they’re known for being very stingy with merit aid, meaning that despite my stats I’d have to pay full cost. Which would still be $18,000 a year. I think Vanderbilt at least has better options for merit aid, with numerous academic scholarships ranging up to full tuition. And the room and board is around $13,000 for Vandy, so I suppose I was a bit high with my estimate. I guess now it begs to be asked, how would I pay for the room and board expenses assuming that was the only undergrad costs I’d have to pay? I have a sister who’s most likely going to be going to college in fall of 2014, so it really wouldn’t be a good idea to deplete my family’s funds. That’s pretty much why I thought of private loans. And as for CC, that’s a definite no. I mean not trying to sound arrogant or anything, but I didn’t work hard all through high school taking all the AP classes I could just to go to a community college where slackers at my school end up at. If it really comes down to it I could get a full ride at Old Dominion University, a local school within 15 minutes of my house which offers the scholarship based solely on my SAT score. But, I really do like Vanderbilt, visited once and loved the atmosphere. Plus it would look much better to have a 3.5 at Vanderbilt than a 3.5 at a ODU, right?</p>
<p>And I should also add that my parents do have an excellent credit score with Discover, which does offer loans from what I’ve heard. Plus they’ve been loyal customers for around a decade or so. Does that make a loan specifically from them any more viable?</p>
<p>@OP - have you sat down with your parents and asked them how much, if anything, they feel they can contribute?</p>
<p>Granted, college costs take a big chunk out of a single year’s income, but perhaps they have been saving for your college expenses.</p>