I was accepted to both University of Michigan and University of Rochester. In my opinion, University of Michigan is a (slightly) better school, however Rochester gave me more money. I made spread sheets and carefully calculated total costs per year for both schools after having recieved all my merit and financial aid.
Rochester will be $35,654.00
Michigan (out of state) will be $46,668.00
And those are both not including federal loans (which if I take would theoretically “lower” the price by $3,500 though I’d have to pay them back) but including everything else (tuition, fees, room, board, travel, books supplies)
Anyway, my parents are going to pay for my college, but I’m one of six kids, so I don’t want to totally break the bank. I think I would prefer being at a huge school like Michigan with all the football games and fun things like that. I’ve always wanted to go to Michigan. However, I think Michigan would be tougher for premed so I might come out with a slightly worse GPA. On the other hand, Rochester might be less fun, but it’s cheeper and my GPA would be better. There’s also a hospital right my rochester where I could get a lot of great internship and work opportunities. I should also mention that both my parents went to Rochester and my older brother is currently there (Eastman school of music). So I think I got a lot of aid there because I’m a legacy student. I intend to do premed. Which should I chose? I have visited both, but I can’t decide.
Basically, is Michigan worth the extra $11K a year?
Won’t make a difference in terms of medical school admissions. I would save the money and go with Rochester and take advantage of everything they offer (research, other stuff you mentioned).
i think uofrochester is the better choice here. you’ll have more opportunities to pursue research, and its curriculum is very flexible. its science department is also incredible. however, i think you should visit both if you can. uofrochester and uofmichigan have different environments. you may find yourself miserable at one and thrive at the other.
If costs were equal, I’d give the edge to URochester for its 1) more manageable size, 2) good balance between academics and sports and 3) more nationally and internationally diverse student body. UR would also be good for premed studies. However, these would be my criteria, which differ on several points from your own.
I do not agree with kalons. Very few universities can match Michigan when it comes to undergraduate research. Freshmen are virtually guaranteed one-on-one research assignments before even stepping on campus thanks to UROP and MRC. However, Rochester is an excellent university and there is no reason to spend $10k/year more on Michigan when you can save it toward medical school. Unless fit is a major concern, I would go with Rochester and save the money for medical school.
How would the $44,000 difference affect what your parents can contribute to your four younger siblings’ college costs?
Remember that the cost of the college you attend may set a precedent for your younger siblings. If your parents cannot afford the same amount for each younger sibling, that could lead to family conflict later.
If your parents actually can contribute the higher price without impacting your younger siblings, would they offer the leftover to medical school costs if you choose the lower price?
“If costs were equal, I’d give the edge to URochester for its 1) more manageable size, 2) good balance between academics and sports and 3) more nationally and internationally diverse student body.L
You make it sound as if Michigan were more concerned with athletics than academics. That’s ridiculous.
Actually, @rjkofnovi, I used a direct comparative (“more”) for points 1 and 3 only. Point 2 was intended as an observation regarding UR as compared to colleges in general.
@ucbalumnus My parents’ family income is around $200,000 (+/- 30K). I think with that income my choice will not have too much of an effect on my younger siblings, although you are right that it is a consideration and could result in conflict down the road. My parents have told me that they will pay the entire price for whichever I chose (UMich or UofR) for undergrad. However, my parents will not pay anything for medical school under any circumstances. So on the one hand, the argument of “go to Rochester to save money” holds less weight in my view as I will not be taking on any debt for undergrad at either school and will come out of medical school with the same debt either way. But on the other hand I don’t want to potentially risk putting my younger siblings in a tough spot financially for college. Let me know what you think. Also, if the costs were the same, which would you chose?
@billcsho So would you recommend Michigan? if so, why specifically?
@Capta1n1 I am very familiar with both schools. You would receive an excellent undergraduate pre-med education at each. Rochester has more of a nerdy, quirky and intellectual vibe. And more foreign students as a percentage composition of the incoming freshman class. The fact that you visited both schools and still can’t decide tells me you should pick the least expensive school. Some other comparison and contrasts are as follows: Edge to Rochester is the open curriculum and easy transferability to the business school or other schools within the University if you change your mind about pre-med. Michigan Ross business would not be a fallback option. Ann Arbor is the quintessentual college town and has a big edge over Rochester. But recent buildup of Collegetown at Rochester is a nice development. Big edge to Michigan for the big-time division 1 sports program. Nothing quite like watching Michigan BIG football and basketball and enjoying bowl games and NCAA tourney. Another edge to Michigan is the Greek life. Rochester Greek life is not comparable as fraternities and sororities don’t even have their own houses on campus (just separate floors in a dorm). I think that with your family income of around $200K your choice of the more expensive school will definitely have a limiting effect on the ability of your parents to provide the same opportuntiy to fund your four other siblings for elite colleges similar to these Universities. Save your parents money and allow the money saved to be used for your siblings. For merit aid you will need to maintain at least a 3.0/3.2 to maintain the scholarship. It will be equally difficult at both schools, because neither is known for grade inflation. Both schools will provide good research and internship opportunities. However, if you choose Michigan and get stuck in a freshman dorm on North Campus you will need a bus to go back and forth to central campus and to work or intern at UMich Hospital complex. And if you get a dorm on central campus (other than The Hill dorms) it will be a hike to get to the University hospital complex. Whereas at Rochester due to its more manageable size it will be a close walk from any dorm to the U. Rochester Medical Center/Strong Memorial hospital for intern and work opportunities. Good luck with your decison and let us know which college you select.
Looks like you really need to find out from your parents if the extra cost of Michigan would put them in a tight spot for your younger siblings’ college funding, since it looks like you are unsure. Unless, of course, you decide that you prefer Rochester regardless of price.