<p>NYS resident so Bing is obviously cheaper, but i think living in a city would be a good experience for me being from rural upstate NY. My parents are pushing Binghamton but I have not visited Northeastern yet but I have already been accepted to Pitt. I want to be sure I pick the right environment for me and not just pick a school because I am trying to be defiant or make my parents happy because after all I will be the one who pays for it! So far though Pitt is my first choice mainly because of the amount of research that is there and I feel like my open-minded/realistic personality might fit in better in Pittsburgh. I intend to major in physics but i understand that this can easily change, but I am sure I will be taking heavy science courses either way. All comments/ advice are appreciated thank you.</p>
<p>Definitely visit Northeastern before making a decision. Northeastern has the co-op system, which could be very good for a pre-med student, allowing you to get experience before applying to med school.</p>
<p>You can go back and visit the school but if you are planning to go to med schools and money is an issue at all, I’d give the nod to Bing. Academically the school is excellent and the money you save versus going to an OOS or private college may help pay for for med. school. Unfortunately finances are a part of the college decision process.</p>
<p>If you can, take your time and visit the schools and find your best fit. Wait to see what discounts/scholarships the schools may give to determine the difference in price, and then make a decision about whether any added cost is worth the attending one school over the other. If you are going to be miserable at a place, you likely won’t be as successful there either.</p>
<p>You need volunteer, physician shadowing, and research experience, on top of great grades, recommendations, and MCATs. It doesn’t really matter how you get them, but the ease of how you are able access these things as a undergraduate student can matter. </p>
<p>For instance, if you are limited to a summer or semester-long program in a research lab, you aren’t going to really get anything accomplished as far as gaining a real understanding about the projects you might be thrown on to. A goal for your should be to get some sort of authorship on a publication, or at minimum some presentations. A semester or summer is not long enough to get integrally involved in any type of actual research project, or develop one of your own that has any real substance. Being able to work in a lab(s) over multiple consecutive semesters is how you become involved in such projects, and also how you develop pretty decent relationships for recommendations. So if research is a priority for you, you really want to look at the ease of accessing such opportunities, year-round, particularly considering the academic and social calendar of a typical undergraduate. In other words, if you can only get into a lab on weekends, that isn’t really going to work either…you need access to lab opportunities, several days a week, several hours a day for consecutive semesters if you are serious about it. If also helps to have a variety to choose from because any one particular lab may just not be a good fit for you or your interest, and having a variety to choose from or get different experiences in is probably a good idea.</p>
<p>Now, don’t get me wrong, you don’t need that type of time commitment from the start, but as you get further along and find a lab setting that you like, you ramp up the amount of time you devote to a research project (and may end up spending summers working on it too).</p>
<p>So that said, how universities help facilitate getting their students into local and serious undergrad research opportunities, and the variety and quality of those opportunities, is pretty important.</p>
<p>I want to be sure I pick the right environment for me and not just pick a school because I am trying to be defiant or make my parents happy because after all I will be the one who pays for it</p>
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<p>How will you, the student, be paying for OOS rates at UPitt? Doesn’t it cost about $38k per year?</p>
<p>In another thread, you indicate that your SAT is in the 1800 range…if so, then you won’t be getting merit scholarships from UPitt. </p>
<p>If I were you, I would not be spending a bunch of money on an OOS public - especially pursuing some kind of pre-med plan. 75% of pre-med students end up never going to med school…often because they don’t end up with the needed grades. </p>
<p>If you’re considering taking on big debt for undergrad with a career plan of becoming a doctor, that is not a wise risk.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids: Thanks for the comment and the interest! It will be me paying off the debt in the end, no? And although I do not expect a merit scholarship from Pitt I do expect some financial aid and local scholarships that should help make a dent in the $35k price tag. I want to make sure that nothing will hold me back from doing it is what I want to do, if that comes at a price of $35k vs. $20k I personally would be alright with that. At the end of the day I am pursuing a degree in physics I know majors change but I’ll be getting a degree in the sciences that will pay bills if I don’g get into med school.</p>
<p>@wgmcp101 Thanks for the reply! That is great advice considering I haven’t thought that in depth on lab time. That is a pretty big reason right now why I am leaning towards Pitt, because of their immense opportunities to be a part of research and get my name out there a bit. I spread myself thin throughout high school trying to do everything I liked but I don’t want to make the same mistakes in college obviously. Very helpful info for evaluating the different schools</p>
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<p>Actually, no you will not be responsible for paying for college, since no college will give you that kind of loan. So, no, it will not be “your debt.” And more importantly, most Frosh matriculants never make it to med school; thus, the odds are that you won’t have that fat income to pay off the debt.</p>
<p>IMO, Pitt is the superior school for premed, but not at 2x the price. And, personally, I don’t think the coop system is good for premeds. Med schools expect you to do it all in four years, not take a semester or two off, and then graduate in 5+.</p>
<p>Unless you come up with some serious free cash, Bing is your only play here. </p>
<p>You can apply to Pitt’s summer research programs, which are outstanding. You get paid a stipend and free housing.</p>
<p>I do expect some financial aid and local scholarships that should help make a dent in the $35k price tag. I want to make sure that nothing will hold me back from doing it is what I want to do, if that comes at a price of $35k vs. $20k</p>
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<p>Unless you’re low income, do not expect “free money” from UPitt. </p>
<p>What is your EFC? </p>
<p>Do you understand that you can’t borrow much…YOU can only borrow 5500 as a frosh…that’s not enough. To borrow more requires co-signers…and that’s a bad idea. Plus you shouldn’t be borrowing much for undergrad…especially if considering med school.</p>
<p>As for private scholarships…those are mostly for SMALL amounts and only for FROSH year…what about the other years?? The bottom line is that with your good-but-not-high stats, your chances for get many private scholarships are quite small.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids I don’t know the exact numbers, but its not that high. But if Pitt is the best school why not dish out the dough, even if it is a state school is it not still worth it if the education is the best? My parents can afford to send me there but, I want to make the best decision I can when picking my school. And yes my stats are good but I have a lot more to offer than stats to a school which is part of the reason I want to become a doctor.</p>
<p>@bluebayou Thanks for the advice.</p>
<p>I don’t know the exact numbers, but its not that high. But if Pitt is the best school why not dish out the dough, even if it is a state school is it not still worth it if the education is the best? My parents can afford to send me there </p>
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<p>Can you clarify? You say that your EFC isn’t high, but then you say that your family can afford to send you to UPitt as an OOS student. If that’s true, then it doesn’t sound like your EFC would be low enough to get any “free aid” from UPitt. Your EFC would have to be quite low…like below 5000 in order to get a Pell Grant. If you don’t qualify for a Pell Grant, then I don’t see how you’re getting any free aid from UPitt.</p>
<p>You say that you don’t know your exact EFC…well, about how much is it? </p>
<p>Are you thinking that your family can afford to send you to UPitt because they can afford their EFC? </p>
<p>“But if Pitt is the best school why not dish out the dough”</p>
<p>If your parents can easily pay all the costs of UPitt, then it might be worth it. If going there requires loans or hardship, then not…a good SUNY would be just as effective.</p>
<p>“because after all I will be the one who pays for it”</p>
<p>You’re not being very clear…in one post, you say you’re paying for it…in another, you say that your parents can afford UPitt.</p>
<p>please clarify…</p>
<p>Apply to all of them, then see what each offers. There isn’t much advantage to deciding now. Pitt is known to offer pretty good merit aid and it may bring your costs down.</p>
<p>As far as Pitt summer programs, see my comments above. They’re certainly better than nothing, but not as good as putting in multiple semesters on the same project. I do know Pitt has intramural-only Brackenridge Undergrad research fellowships through the Honors College (which is open to all Pitt students).</p>
<p>Is an MD/PhD program something you are aiming for? Then research takes on added importance.</p>
<p>Take your time, do your research, factor in the cost differences, visit the campuses.</p>
<p>Also, if there is a lab that you have identified as a place you’d really like to get involved in, don’t hesitate to send an email to the professor indicating your interest and as desire to learn more about the lab. Some labs are more open to undergrad students than others. It is better to find out sooner than later, no matter what school you end up at.</p>
<p>Again, in the end, only you can decide if the cost difference between on school or the other is worth it. </p>
<p>I can’t emphasize enough, take visits to these schools, talk to people already in the programs, contact and talk to the faculty.</p>
<p>If you really don’t want to go somewhere, don’t dismiss that as unimportant.</p>
<p>“Apply to all of them, then see what each offers. There isn’t much advantage to deciding now. Pitt is known to offer pretty good merit aid and it may bring your costs down.”</p>
<p>I think he has applied to them. </p>
<p>He’s not going to get merit from Pitt… His stats aren’t high enough.</p>
<p>However you’re right that he shouldn’t decide now. I think once he gets his FA pkg he’ll see that he’lll get very little aid (probably just a 5500 loan) and he’ll realize that a SUNY is the affordable choice.</p>
<p>I may be misunderstanding but it sounds like he doesn’t understand financial aid and loans.</p>
<p>If you go to Bing, you will have money to go to NYC and Boston on weekends or breaks and enjoy it. It can be a disappointment to live in a city like Boston and not have the money to enjoy what the city has to offer. </p>
<p>U. Pittsburgh has to deal with two rounds of state budget cuts, but is still a great U. I believe they have cut back on merit aid.</p>
<p>wgm:</p>
<p>I don’t disagree with anything you posted. Pitt is a wonderful school, (and CNUP is impressive).</p>
<p>But the simple fact is that the OP ain’t getting merit money from Pitt. And the simple fact is that the OP cannot afford Pitt, based on what s/he has posted. And with an 1800 SAT, the OP ain’t eligible for Pitt Honors. Thus, attending Pitt is a moot point. Certainly apply, hope to win the lottery, but get excited about other, affordable colleges.</p>
<p>I also got into Pitt and am thinking of pre med there. I visited and really like the feel of the place. I think The three hospitals on campus make it really easy to get volunteer hours in for med schools. But I really don’t think you can go wrong with any of your choices for pre med. Pitt is expensive even for instate students. You need to decide if your really willing to pay 30+ a year to go there. You don’t want to accumulate debt for undergrad if your going to go 100+ in debt for school man. If I were you I would go to binghampton. They have a good science program there. Pitt is too expensive and will be more expensive by the time we graduate. I wouldn’t go there if I were you.</p>
<p>Two additional points - look at the fine print for Pitt. The tuition varies by major. The books only list the base tuition. </p>
<p>Second, the cost of living in Pittsburgh is much lower than other cities. </p>
<p>Everyone should also take a look at the variations in food and housing between universities. The total can vary by $5,000 a year, with the highest costs in NYC, DC, Boston, etc. If you like to go out to restaurants and bars, the price difference is even larger between cities. Living off-campus can be particularly financially painful in some major cities and expensive suburbs.</p>
<p>The tuition at Pitt does not vary by major. If varies by school, as in, the School of Nursing has different rates than the school of Business, Engineering, or the School of Arts & Sciences. Majors within any particular school do not vary.</p>
<p>Most pre-med majors will be in the School of Arts & Sciences, and that absolutely does not vary by major.</p>
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<p>Any cuts are going to mostly impact in-state tuition. The bulk of tuition increases with last year’s cuts were in in-state tuition rates (about 8.5% increase) vs out-of-state rates that went up 4%, which was in-line with the national average rate of tuition inflation.</p>
<p>They did seem to shift some merit aid into more need-based aid. However, I don’t believe they favor in-state vs out-of-state students for need or merit based aid. So even if the OP scores don’t warrant merit aid from Pitt, he might get need based aid. It is hard to say.</p>
<p>The state right now is pushing Pitt, PSU and Temple into privatization. Pitt is preparing itself to, essentially, revert to being a private university. These schools have always operated administratively as privates, but since the mid 60s Pitt has received state funding, and thus provided an in-state tuition discount. That funding is what the current governor is trying to phase out, and it is really going to impact in-state students more than anyone else if it gets passed.</p>
<p>After watching the movie 21 six times I’ve learned to count cards and I have been reaping the benefits at a local casino, if I keep this up I should be able to afford Syracuse University’s tuition!!! And yes I do not know much about the financial aid part of college because my dad helped with that. If Pitt only requires the fafsa then I might be getting some aid even if it is small. But correct me if I’m wrong but can’t I be admitted to the Honors College after first semester if I have the GPA and if I am going to become a doctor I definitely should have a high average? </p>
<p>@wgmcp101 I have looked into their summer research programs a bit because I was thinking about taking chem and ochem over the summers, it is just a thought, but I thought it could be a good idea because I know that those can be heavy weeder classes for pre-meds, the summer classes might be easier to get an A in and I would most likely develop a relationship with the professor assuming the class sizes would be significantly smaller.</p>
<p>Do not take premed prereqs in summer. Do you think adcoms don’t know that "summer classes might be easier to get an A…?</p>