University of Rochester vs UCR

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URochester v UCR

Help deciding between UR and ucr for premed pls

University of Rochester vs ucr (in state)

Hii everyone I need some help deciding between these 2. For reference, I plan to major in neuroscience/cog sci on the pre med track (for now)& I’m from california.

While I’m interested in medicine, I’m not 100% sure about it &I’d like to explore more career options & I know Rochester is a lot more flexible than Ucr. If I decide to do medicine, both schools have a great medical school so I have access to shadowing, internships, research etc. Rochester gives me a lot more access to research (I got a $4500 grant) & the smaller class sizes r a lot more appealing. However, I would probably stand out a lil more at ucr? My stats r above the 90th percentile for admitted students so I can prob get a good gpa. But I heard it’s p difficult getting classes u want bc of the sheer number of students :frowning:

I def prefer Rochester but cost is a huge factor :// I’m in state for ucr but w/o finaid which would put cost of attendance at around ~30k. Rochester on the other hand would put me in debt abt ~60k. I’m also a bit worried abt the weather LOL

It’s hard to justify double the cost of attendance but I rlly like rochester & can def see myself going there :frowning: I was also accepted to NYU (impossible to attend bc it’d cost me over 80k :// ), scripps (around 70k), northeastern (same as scripps :weary:)

& I’m waitlisted at ucla, ucsd, and uci

I was also offered the ttp for usc (my dream school :’) but I wanted the 4 yrs experience so I’m not sure if it’s even worth it to pursue

Please leave some comments on why thank youuu I appreciate it😭

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Undergraduate debt is not a good thing to bring along to medical school if you get in. Nor is it a good thing if you graduate with a degree in neuroscience, where post-graduation pay levels tend to be low, without going to medical school.

If you are interested in practicing medicine in inland southern California, you may want to note this program at UCR: Thomas Haider Early Assurance Program | School of Medicine Student Affairs

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Where would the 60k debt come from?
You, as a student, are allowed to borrow 5.5k for freshman year. Are your parents co signing 10k a year for you? Is there any way they can pay some of UR’s costd out of pocket or from savings?
Considering you’re a bit undecided on med school and most would be premeds actually don’t make it to med school (either they find something more interesting to them or they aren’t admitted) it would make URochester a better choice, except the cost seems out of reach.

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