<p>I want to major in bioengineering and then go to medical school.
Right now I have been accepted into UIC engineering, UIUC engineering (i applied on the day of the deadline so i did not get into bioengineering; the spots filled up quickly) and Grinnell College. </p>
<p>I know Grinnell is a liberal arts school but there is a 3-2 program so I can get a B.A in the sciences from Grinnell and then a B.S in engineering from an affiliated school such as Columbia University, WashU or UCLA. Neither of these schools have a reputation for engineering like U of I but does that really matter? </p>
<p>Also, since I plan to become a doctor, does it seem better that I take the route at Grinnell and have two degrees? I think biomedical engineering would be good preparation for medical school and then I will also have the option to graduate school for engineering instead of medical school if I end up liking engineering more. </p>
<p>Is it worth it to go to U of I for engineering if I would be paying back 13,000 in loans for the first year? Whereas for Grinnell, I would only be paying back 5,000?</p>
<p>You can’t borrow $13,000 for one year on your own. Anything more than the max. allowed under the Stafford Loan Program (and Perkins if the school offers it) would require a co-signer. Are your parents in shape to do that for you?</p>
<p>Starting med school with sizable undergrad debt is not a good idea. If you are serious about med school, you are best off at the college/university that leaves you debt free or with no more than allowed with Stafford loans.</p>
<p>Run your numbers here, and see what you think: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Award Letter Requirements - Finaid) Right now Grinnell looks to be your least expensive option.</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I go to Grinnell, BUT… </p>
<p>If Grinnell is less than half as expensive, there’s really no reason to go to U of I. Normally, I would try to hold back my bias a little bit since I know some people are better off at larger schools, but, simply put, your situation does NOT make U of I affordable.</p>
<p>If you got approx. $45,000 in financial aid from Grinnell (logical conclusion if it would cost you $5,000 per year to attend), your family is almost certainly not making enough to pay $13,000 a year for you to attend U of I. Even if you could get a bank to loan you $13,000 a year, you have to figure that it’s not unthinkable that it could take you five or six years to graduate with an engineering degree at a public university. $13,000 a year for five or six years is several times as much debt as a newly graduated college student could handle. Even if you did get out in four years, $52,000 in debt is a very large amount of debt for undergrad; it would be a major obstacle if you tried to do med school.</p>
<p>Also, Grinnell is a wonderful school for math and sciences. Even if they don’t offer an engineering degree directly, you can do a 3-2 with plenty of other schools, including Caltech. [3-2</a> Engineering Programs - Physics | Grinnell College](<a href=“http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/physics/engprog]3-2”>http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/physics/engprog)
Note that while your Grinnell Financial Aid wouldn’t carry over to the two years at another institution, Caltech meets full need just like Grinnell, and I’m sure some of the other 3-2 options have similar financial aid resources.</p>
<p>If you plan to pursue advanced study after your bachelor’s, Grinnell also has far better placement into graduate programs than U of I.</p>
<p>Message me if you have any other questions about Grinnell.</p>
<p>MODERATOR NOTE: Please post all threads concerning where to attend college on the College Search & Selection forum.</p>