<p>Hey everyone!</p>
<p>So I have received my admission decisions and was accepted into RPI and Case Western for biomedical engineering. I was also accepted into the Dual Pharmacy program at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL. Where do you all think I should attend? I am mostly interested in biomedical engineering, but the dual pharmacy seems hard to pass since I don't have to do the PCAT. I liked Case Western's campus the best followed by RPI. For the dual pharmacy program, I have to go to Illinois Institute of Technology for 2 years (My least favorite campus). Then for 5 years, I attend Midwestern University (Very nice campus).
Here's the link to the dual acceptance program:Dual</a> Acceptance Programs</p>
<p>Do you want to be a pharmacist? Or a BME?</p>
<p>Two very different job functions once you graduate.</p>
<p>If you want to be an engineer, go to Case. I went to RPI, I know current students at RPI, and if you are slightly favoring Case right now, it would be a better choice.</p>
<p>If you want to be a pharmacist, well, you know.</p>
<p>I agree with Magnetron about Case over RPI, but otherwise, it’s a career decision. Since that might be hard to make now, it’s worth considering that Case (or RPI) would give you the flexibility to change tracks.</p>
<p>My initial career goal was to major in BME. Do you all think that the field of pharmacy is saturated?</p>
<p>Also, I received the most aid from RPI.</p>
<p>Hey OP, my best friend is headed to CWRU (unless he got off the waitlist or WashU St. L while I have the choice between several school and RPI! For what I know, RPI has an excellent career placement program, on top of its pretty strong engineering education! They publish career reports annually and from what I remember, close to 50% of its undergraduate graduates get full-time jobs with starting salaries about 70,000! That’s why my dad is leaning much to RPI, as opposed to UMich and my other choices.</p>
<p>Magnetron, if you see this, may you elaborate more? I mean so far I’m hearing good thing from RPI, except that I believe I’m looking more for a traditional college expereince and is so far considering UMich over RPI. I’d wish you to provide more insights into RPI’s academics/student life for me and OP!</p>
<p>
It’s not about where you received the most aid but where the costs are least. What is the net cost to you for each school without considering loans?</p>
<p>How do I find the net cost? For example, the estimated family cost to attend RPI $17,324, but I would have $11,500 for loans every 2 semesters. For case Western, the estimated family cost is $19,572 and for the loans (Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Subsidized loan, Federal direct Unsubsidized loan) I would have $12,000. For the dual admissions program, for 2 years at IIT, the efc is $20,534. However, when I go to Midwestern, I have to pay $57,564 for 4 years.</p>
<p>Joly - have you had the opportunity to speak to any working pharmacists? One of my neighbors is a pharmacist - her company laid off all the part timers, a number of the newer hires, and is generally making life miserable for those still working. No way would she have allowed her kids to go into pharmacy. Some pharmacists may have better experiences, but I don’t know any. Also, if you want to be an engineer, those years of studying pharmacy and the money spent will be a total waste. In the grand scheme of things, the costs for you between Case and RPI are pretty close together. Case is rated slightly higher (not sure why), and you already like it more. </p>
<p>1311, RPI has some great things about it. It is well supported with research dollars. The graduates I know are highly successful (except me, mildly successful). They are making a real effort to be more “caring” of their students. The M:F ratio still stinks, but you’ll be too busy to care much. It is a combination of the best times and worst times.</p>
<p>Net Cost = COA - grants and scholarships. Don’t count loans.</p>
<p>You need to be careful with BME as well. There are not a lot of positions for BME graduates without a Ph.D. so many of them go on to medical school or graduate school. For a pharmacy degree in the Dual Admission program you end up with a PharmD but no B.S. so your professional path is clear. I defer to @Magnetron.</p>
<p>So once I obtain a PharmD degree, can I choose to go to medical school anytime in my life? I heard that in the next 4 years, to be considered for medical school, you would need a graduate degree.</p>
<p>The net cost to attend RPI is $28,801 and to attend Case Western is $36,534. For the dual admissions program, for the first and second year, the cost is $25,321 and for the 4 years at Midwestern, the cost is $229,456 ($57,364 each year).</p>
<p>bump… Erin’s Dad???</p>
<p>Magnetron-Not yet, but I will speak to my local pharmacists. Thanks for your help. 
How was your RPI experience?</p>
<p>Can your family afford $30K or more each year? Midwestern is obviously extremely expensive. If your parents take loans their credit score will take a hit each year. You are only able to take $5.5K in loans as a freshman.</p>