<p>Hi everyone, this is my first post on CC so please don't be too critical in case I just broke some CC etiquette.
Anyways, I've been accepted to some decent schools. Because of money and what I want to do (pre-med), I've narrowed my list down to Rhodes College, Ole Miss, and Arizona State. I am in dire need of advice and opinions for a plethora of reasons.
I really like Rhodes. Plain and simple. I'm not a fan of Memphis (both the city and the school), but I fell in love with Rhodes. The people there were friendly and intelligent, the campus was beautiful, the facilities for biology majors are impressive, and Rhodes' medical school matriculation rates are about twice the national average, and without selective advising. The only major downside to Rhodes is the price tag: for all four years, I would have to take out $22,000 in loans. I would have to pay all of that. (Half of it would be subsidized, just for the record.)
I was also impressed with Ole Miss. I liked it nearly as much as I like Rhodes. Oxford is charming, there is a lot of history and tradition in both the town and the college, pre-med students from Ole Miss tend to have success in getting in the UM Medical Center in Jackson, the people are friendly, and I would assume that there are plenty of opportunities for research, considering Ole Miss is a state flagship. The price is also appealing: after four years, I would have to take out anything from $0 to $5,000, depending on whether I go Greek or not.
Finally, I have not yet visited Arizona State, but I was accepted into their honors college, Barrett. I've heard a good deal of how Barrett is comparable to top universities and how pre-professional students from Barrett are generally successful. After living in rainy Oregon my entire life, the warm weather in Arizona is appealing and Tempe seems like a vibrant and fun college town. The Phoenix metropolitan area would probably offer me a plethora of internships and research opportunities. The amount of loans that I would have to take out for ASU after four years would be about $8,000, very little of which would be subsidized.
Thank you so much to anyway that responds. I am so stuck in deciding between these colleges, and I really want to make the best choice possible.</p>
<p>Well Barett and Ole Miss are certainly uber affordable. If you prefer Rhodes, could you work sumers to defray the cost? Have you browsed the premed forum for insights?</p>
<p>Graduating with a minimum of loans is key if you plan on med school. Barrett would give you a smaller school experience within a larger school. </p>
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<p>Is that because they attend Ole Miss, or because they tend to be Mississippi residents? If the medical school prefers in-state residents, you would not have any benefit if you are not a resident.</p>
<p>Once you visit Barrett you will be sold!</p>
<p>Are you in the Honors College at Ole Miss?</p>
<p>Currently, I’m not admitted to Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at Ole Miss, but I can transfer into it if I decide to go there.
In terms of working during the summer, I’m thinking of doing that regardless of where I go. My current financial package at Rhodes allots me $2000 per year in work study; should I contact their financial aid office about mor opportunities?
Thank you to all of you!</p>
<p>really the decision is between ASU Barrett and Rhodes. Ole Miss without Honors isn’t worth it when you have Barrett (one of the best Honors Programs at public universities in the country). </p>
<p>Work-study hours are usually limited (10 a week is common) both because of the availability of school funds and the sense that a student’s first priority should be academic work.</p>