<p>Now that the college application is over for just about every high school senior, it is the time to finally make the decision for where we will spend the next four years (or for some, possibly less) of our life. I was accepted to some really great schools like NYU and BU. However, horrendous financial aid has implored me not to even consider these schools as options. </p>
<p>My choices have now been narrowed down to two schools: Stony Brook University and Shepherd University (8 year B.S./M.D. program; also known as the MedSTEP program). I interviewed at the WVU School of Medicine on Thursday (for the MedSTEP program), and will find out my decision on or around the week of April 10th, leaving me with enough time to still decide. </p>
<p>Stony Brook University Pro’s:
-Great undergraduate science program(s)
-Research opportunities abound
-Shadowing/Internship opportunities abound
-Would graduate with no debt, even if I didn’t receive help from outside scholarship programs (only 6k/year instate tuition)
-Very close to family
-Decent reputation
-Won’t have to live on campus (hopefully)
-The ability to choose specialized science courses (Neuroscience, for example)
-Connections with the Stony Brook School of Medicine (received a letter of recommendation from an Anesthesiologist affiliated with the university during my shadowing time with him)
-Overall a better ranked school than Shepherd</p>
<p>Stony Brook University Cons:
-Campus life isn’t that great
-HUGE intro classes (I’ve heard anywhere from three to five hundred students)
-I’ve heard that even classes at the 300 level can be crowded
-Classes taught mostly by TA’s, not professors
-Educational budget cuts (New Yorkers, you know what I’m talking about) could possibly hinder opportunities for the future
-Everybody is trying to get the attention of the professors
-There is just no way that I am guaranteed an acceptance into medical school...this worries me
-Cutthroat competition
-Presumably no support from the faculty, since most of them only seem to care about research
-No diversity
-Huge pre-med population = Tons of competition
-Science courses are notoriously challenging</p>
<p>Shepherd University B.S./M.D. pro’s:
-A small, close-knit college feeling
-Guaranteed pre-planned, medically related activities to do over the summer
-Research is also easy to find
-Guaranteed acceptance into the West Virginia University School of Medicine (a great medical school)
-Only need to maintain a 3.5 GPA and score a 24 on the MCAT
-Monthly seminar-enrichment activities
-Enormous support (especially for MedSTEP students) from the faculty and pre-medical advisors
-Decently sized campus (not too big, not too small)
-There is the possibility of graduating early (giving me one less year of tuition and one extra year of physician’s salary)
-I’m not pigeonholed into a specialty like primary care – I would have the ability to match into whatever I want, wherever I want. No hidden “conditions” for this B.S./M.D. program
-Scarce pre-med population = no competition
-Barely any TA’s
-Only 3-6 students are accepted; could be used to my advantage when entering private scholarship competitions</p>
<p>Shepherd University B.S./M.D. cons:
-In the boonies
-Five to six hours away from home
-I am always considered an “out-of-state” student, tuition wise
-The WVU School of medicine costs around 62k each year for out-of-state students
-The possibility of graduating with enormous debt from the school of medicine
-Undergraduate institution is relatively unknown outside of West Virginia
-You lose the guaranteed med school acceptance if you decide to apply out
-WVU School of medicine requires additional coursework like philosophy, sociology, or even U.S. History. Quite frankly, I’d prefer not to take those
-Tuition for undergrad may pose a problem (6k tuition with no room and board at Stony vs. 26k tuition with room and board at Shepherd)
-No diversity here either
-Less variety in science courses
-May not provide a challenge (I know I said Stony's science courses are notoriously challenging, but I want something in the middle)</p>
<p>-Sorry for the huge list, but I want to have outside opinions on this.</p>