I’ve been fortunate enough to have been accepted to both the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, but I’m facing a money issue. I only have loans as financial aid for Michigan, and my parents will pay $5,000 a year. That leave me with about $22,000+ a year in loans, and $80,000+ in debt overall. In comparison, I have been given a $12,000 a year loan to Wayne State University, so it would cost me about $7,000+ a year in loans.
The real issue is that I plan to go to medical school after undergrad, so having a lot of debt isn’t desirable. However, I know Wayne State and Michigan aren’t comparable academically. I know most people who go into college as a premed end up leaving the premed track, so I want to do a CS degree as a backup. I feel that in the event that I drop out of the premed track, I can get much better returns on a CS degree from Michigan than Wayne State. I know I could always transfer out of Wayne State, but I hate the idea. I would much rather go to one school for 4 years than go for 2 years and transfer.
I’m not sure what to do. I’ve wanted to go to Michigan my entire life, and it has everything I want in a college. There is pretty much nothing I like about Wayne State, and I feel that I deserve to go to somewhere like Michigan after all the work I’ve put in. For that reason, I’m very heavily leaning towards Michigan, but I’m open to other options. If I were to go to Michigan, I fully intend to work my butt off. I will get a job this summer and throughout the school year, and I’ll apply for scholarships nonstop. I’ll even become an RA if that takes some of the cost off housing. I’m willing to do anything to attend this school. Sorry for the long post.
Summary: I’m deciding between UMich and Wayne State for premed. While I love Michigan much more, it will cost me over $60,000 more in debt before med school.
Money should definitely be a factor, but why pay $7,000+ a year to be somewhere you don’t want to be? I’m at Michigan currently and I was offered half ride scholarships to other schools before making my choice, but I didn’t want to be somewhere I hated for 4 years of my life. Even with a lot of schooling ahead of you, these four years are definitely a monumental part of your life and your happiness is essential to your success.
On the flip side, as a current student, one consideration you might want to take is Michigan’s rigorous pre-med requirements and extremely challenging CS program. I obviously don’t know your abilities but if you were admitted, you have certainly earned your spot at Michigan. However, it might help to know that some of the CS classes though usually require about 16 of hours a week outside of the class and pre-med has some weeder classes like Calc 1. It’s definitely not impossible as many students do these majors, but it’s something to think about. Work study jobs and being an RA consume a lot of time, and to be stressed with money and not be getting the grades you want wouldn’t be good for your success though either.
Ultimately, go somewhere where you can see yourself being not only successful but happy. If money will be too much of a stressor though that it would affect your emotional or educational well-being, that should be a consideration. Michigan is definitely a tough school and I considered other schools in Michigan until the last day, but now I’ve loved my time here so far and I couldn’t see myself anywhere else. I hope this helped as I’ve tried to make this as least biased as I can, but I hope you go blue this fall! Best of luck!
Thanks for the answer! I really don’t think the stress of the debt would bother me too much, I’ll just focus on making the most of my education. I may end up changing majors if it doesn’t work out, but at least Michigan has many good fields to choose from.
How do you plan to take out $22,000+ a year in loans? That exceeds the limit unless your parents sign for additional private loans. Are your parents willing to do that? And will they qualify for that much debt load ($65,000+) by the time you are a senior?
It’s not just the stress of the debt (which I fear you may be underestimating) you need to consider, but the reality of how you will pay your tuition bills. As MIMimma notes, you are limited in what you can borrow (about $5500 per year). And scholarships are often a one time payment and most are for smaller amounts. You need to have a realistic plan as to how you are going to pay the bills before you enroll. While collegestressin gives you good reasons to choose Michigan, s/he is not going to be paying your bills. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but you need to give this serious consideration. You can’t approach this thinking , “well, I’ll figure it out later.” And if med school is at all in your future, you need to come out of undergrad with as little debt as possible since med school is going to cost around $300,000. Good luck to you - I really do hope you figure it out.
Talk to advisers at medical school in Michigan. They’re going to be your best resource. I know one got in UM medical school after undergrad at Wayne and one after undergrad at UM went to LCC to retake prerequisites messed up at UM and finally got in MSU medical school.
“The University meets the full financial need of all Michigan resident undergraduates who apply by priority aid application deadlines and accept all aid offered.”
My parents seem willing to take out a lot in loans, and make a few other financial maneuvers to help pay. I am fully aware of the potential debt, but I’m thinking it might be worth it for a good place I really want to attend rather than a lesser place I don’t like. I don’t know… it’s a really difficult decision here. I have a twin who’s going to college with me this year, and another sibling who’s going next year, so I’m hoping I’ll get financial aid then. I just hope to make a decision I won’t regret.
The real issue is that I plan to go to medical school after undergrad, so having a lot of debt isn’t desirable. However, I know Wayne State and Michigan aren’t comparable academically. I know most people who go into college as a premed end up leaving the premed track, so I want to do a CS degree as a backup. I feel that in the event that I drop out of the premed track, I can get much better returns on a CS degree from Michigan than Wayne State. I know I could always transfer out of Wayne State, but I hate the idea. I would much rather go to one school for 4 years than go for 2 years and transfer.
WHY ASK?
Again. Why ask? U have an answer to all of your own questions. Congrats now go find a job to pay ur debts instead of wasting time validating your own thoughts
@gottaknwnow How about you relax a little? This guy is literally a high schooler about to enter college, no need to do anything in between the time between the transition. Enjoy your summer @plsMichigan
Personally, I know plenty of people who chose UMich and got destroyed in orgo and p-chem and were advised not to apply to med school after sophomore year. I think some of them switched majors to economics, BCN, or Biochem. Now they work as a sales representative or do research in a lab, but I’m pretty sure the pay isn’t great.
Then I’ve met a few UMich Medical students who went to Grand Valley, Western, or Central for undergrad. Anecdotally, it seems that an easy undergraduate school is the way to go. Most schools want to see a near 4.00 regardless of which school you go. Unfair, but unfortunately that’s how it is.
But I know two students who needed 5 and 6 years to complete their undergrad since they started out as premed but switched to CS. Both are doing pretty well, one went for a masters and the other works at huge tech company.
If you’re unsure what path you want to take, I suggest you go on YouTube and watch some lectures on orgo and data structures and algorithms. See which one interests you now. And I don’t mean just watch a video for 5 mins, actually try to understand and study for 2 hours a day for a whole month because eventually you’ll be doing it anyways.
ForeverAlone, any student who does not at least manage basic chemistry probably isn’t cut out for medical school. It would be like an engineering student struggling with elementary mathematics, or a hockey player that is unable to skate.
Regardless, the point is to do plenty of studying of emulating the experience in college where ever s/he starts. That way, there’s no surprises. It is a “try before you buy” approach.
@Alexandre I disagree with you on that one. There are plenty of doctors who struggled in general chemistry and organic chemistry during undergrad. In fact one of my professors (who is a pathologist at the UM Hospital) failed organic chemistry when he took it during college. If as a general trend a student struggled through their science courses, then I do agree with you, but the analogy is not the same as an engineer unable to do algebra or a hockey player being unable to skate.
@ForeverAlone UM’s medical school acceptance rate is 14% higher than the national average. Also, UM Medical School’s incoming class is always heavily comprised of students from the undergrad (around 50-60, next highest undergrad school is at around 10).
There are small advantages that come with going to a more rigorous academic university, such as having a stronger grasp on the material on the MCAT due to studying harder, as well as having professors that push you to your limit. Of course people from GVSU, MSU, etc. make it into UM Medical School (although it is probably 5 or less kids per school), and for those that decide that they want to go for the GPA, then by all means all power to them. But I think UM academics are not as scary as they are made to be by some in here.
@hailbate
It is a moot point that pathologist is at UM hospital. He is way older than the incoming 2020 class. Things were way less competitive back in the day. I find it hard to believe anyone could fail chemistry and get into a good medical school in this era. Even if he did, perhaps his parents were alumni and donors. Or he went through a series of pathways that eventually got him there without going to the UM Medschool or residency.
Only the highest tier of students from UM undergrad will get into the UM medical school. Most likely less than <8% among all incoming freshmen who intend to be doctors. You can walk into your first semester’s exam at UMich and get wrecked (even although much studying). UM Medical school will gladly accept another applicant who got at least an A- in that class and all his/her other classes, with great research experience, high MCAT, and good interview skills because those kids certainly always exist at UMich. The stakes are high. If you thought getting into undergrad was hard, you’re in for a real treat. Even if you are a very strong applicant, there’s obviously no guarantee you’ll get in. Chance will still determine your future.
The great thing about UMich is that we have better backup plans than GVSU, MSU, etc… For example, you can transfer into COE to do Biomedical Engineering. Or transfer to Nursing school which is another top program. Or stay in LSA but study Life Sciences Informatics.
At the end of your undergraduate journey, you still have to justify your choice financially. And if you fail to reach your goals. Was it really worth it?
@ForeverAlone Yes you can still get into medical school with failing a class in college. DO Schools do grade replacement, and while it may not be an amazing medical school, in the end medical school is medical school. Even for top tier MD schools, you can do poorly in any class given you make up for it in a different subject. A few C’s or B’s will not destroy your chances at medical school.
Of course it’s extremely competitive at UM Medical School. But for applicants from UM the acceptance is over doubled compared to the average applicant. And kids who go to UM tend to be better equipped to apply for medical school than the national average in general (it’s pretty well above the national average).
I think that’s a little ridiculous to advise someone to go to a school solely for GPA or “good backup plans”. Kids struggle too at GVSU and MSU. Kids who excelled in high school TEND to (not always) do well/excel at UM. For a lot of kids, they switch out of being pre-med cause they find more interesting things to do (i.e. engineering, comp sci, etc.). If it is someone who was “lucky” to get into UM, then of course that’s a consideration, but UM kids in general do fine.
I think its ridiculous to not consider backup plans. One of the biggest things being at UMich has taught me was to have a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. But execute well at Plan A. Not everything goes smoothly. Luckily for me, I got Plan A, but that’s not the case for everyone.
I always recommend undegrad if you can at worst case, come out winning even at a less than ideal outcome. Perhaps, this is a difference in style. I play things safe incrementally and semi-pessimistic. You play things optimistically.
Among many UM students, they wish they would’ve taken things more seriously in hindsight. Damage prevention is better than damage control. Mental health is an issue on campus and academics do play a critical role.
