Stanford vs ASU Barrett Honors vs Georgia Tech Honors

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi everyone! I'm needing some advice in choosing a college. My top choices are Stanford University, Arizona State University (Barrett Honors), and Georgia Tech (honors). I plan to major in biology, cell biology, or biochemistry, because at this point I want to go into medical research. </p>

<p>There are internship and undergraduate research opportunities at all of them. </p>

<p>Stanford is the most highly ranked, but it would cost my family at least $50,000 per year, which is pretty tough on us, especially because my parents are looking to retire soon. I would be in debt from undergrad and have NO money for graduate school left.</p>

<p>Georgia Tech (with honors) would cost around $30,000 per year, and I would have money left for graduate school.</p>

<p>Arizona State (with honors) would cost around $13,000 per year, and I would definitely have money left for graduate school.</p>

<p>These amounts include tuition, room and board, books, fees, etc. </p>

<p>I have been looking into MD/PhD programs, and some are fully funded if I can get into them. However, I'm not completely sure this is what I would like to do. I would like to know my chances of getting graduate school funded and which choice would be best, considering financial issues. I have toured all three campuses and loved them all.</p>

<p>If you have any information on these or other schools to which I've been admitted (Berkeley, UCSD, UChicago, Wisconsin), please share! I have to make a decision in just a few weeks!</p>

2

<p>Yikes, this is difficult. Personally, I would feel guilty taking away money from my parents’ retirement, but if you can swing it, Stanford is one of the most desirable schools in the country… Hard to say no. ASU is decent enough, being in Barrett will give you lots of opportunities, but GT is probably the better school. However, 4 years at ASU = 52k, 2 years at GT = 60k… Depends how much you want to spend.</p>

<p>You say you loved them all. Can you tell us what you liked about each, finances aside?</p>

3

<p>Are your other four schools at list price (and in-state or out-of-state for the public ones)?</p>

<p>Debt is not a good thing if you are doing a major which has relatively low pay levels. (Obviously much better if you get into MD school, but MD school is expensive.)</p>