<p>I'd appreciate some people's opinions on this. I'm sure it's been addressed before, but I don't really know where to look. Without getting into details yet, I am thinking about transferring from my current institution for next fall. I am currently a freshman and will be entering next fall semester as a sophomore. I go to a fairly prestigious private school in Boston right now. I am pretty satisfied with my experience so far, minus a couple things, but that's not the most important worry right now. Mainly, I am regretting choosing to attend this school and put a huge financial burden on myself and my family. I am having second thoughts about whether getting a degree at this school is as valuable as the price of attaining it, compared to possibly getting a degree at my state school, the University of New Hampshire, for in-state rates. I plan on eventually going to medical school, so I'm wondering if even then my undergraduate degree would really matter as much. So my question is, how much does prestige really matter in the long run in applying for medical school, landing jobs, etc... compared to the price I would be paying to attend? I don't want to regret taking such heavy loans later in life when I could have gotten to the same place for half the price.
Any comments are appreciated, and I'm willing to expand on my situation if necessary. Thanks!</p>
<p>In the long run?</p>
<p>If prestige did matter, which I tend to believe that by itself it doesn't matter at all, it's only going to last you until you get into medical school. After that, when you're applying to residencies, they're not going to care - being much more concerned about how you performed in medical school. And once you're looking for actual jobs after residency, it's going to matter even less (and I'm already arguing that it doesn't matter that much to begin with).</p>
<p>If the school in your home state provides you support, go for it!
It really doesn't matter where you go to Undergrad school as long as it is an accredited College or University. </p>
<p>If financial stress burdens on your mind and you or your parents have to work inordinate hours to make up the money, it will affect your state of well-being negatively and possibly your grades as well. You will have less resources to socialize with your peers too.</p>
<p>If you are able to maintain a good GPA at your State Univ/or College, do well in MCATs, and have all your ECs done etc, you stand just as good a chance of getting into Med schools as any other candidate.</p>
<p>What you save in a State funded school today could very well pay toward part of your MD school expenses later on.</p>
<p>If you know your destination, it doesn't matter whether you get there by Mercedez or a Honda, so long as you are committed to your goal and allow your moral compass to guide you all the way.</p>
<p>BRM's right, assuming you actually end up going to medical (or law) school. Unfortunately, depending on the school we're talking about, prestige can matter quite a bit if you change your mind and decide to, say, try to push for Wall Street jobs.</p>
<p>Beyond that, I have to confess I'm not a big fan of transfers unless you actually dislike the school -- and I don't hear that in your tone. If you've found an atmosphere you like, I'd go ahead and absorb the price hit. Again, depending on the school we're talking about, their financial aid should generally keep it "expensive" rather than "devastating." And "expensive" is probably worth a school you like.</p>
<p>Transfer and save the money on your undergraduate education. Prestige is overrated when it comes to undergraduate work. You'll take the same undergraduate classes whether at a private or public university. Wait until grad school, law school, or medical school to get into debt.</p>
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BRM's right, assuming you actually end up going to medical (or law) school. Unfortunately, depending on the school we're talking about, prestige can matter quite a bit if you change your mind
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<p>...or if you don't change your mind, but find that you simply can't get into med school. As has been pointed out numerous times, over half of all applicants to med-school get rejected from every single med-school they apply to. And of course that's just talking about those who actually apply; plenty of people don't even apply because they know they won't get in anywhere.</p>