UPitt vs. SUNY Stony Brook

College Search & Selection
1

I want to pick between my two top safety schools that I’ve already been accepted to before RD decisions come out, so that I have a school that I’m already in love with before the stress of other decisions.

General Info: pre-med track at either school, intended bio or neuroscience major, NYC resident. Still waiting for honors college info and need-based aid info from both.

UPitt

  • got 80,000 in merit scholarship (20,000/yr), so tuition would be 10,000
  • Room and board + meal plan = ~12,000
  • Pros: love the location both because it’s in a city and has amazing internship opportunities at UPMC. This is more petty but I like the social scene, think the campus is beautiful, and like that its a little bit farther away from home. I’ve heard that pre-med is a little bit less cut-throat here as well, which is good.
  • Cons: would cost 10,000/yr more for a school that is very similarly ranked to Stony Brook

Stony Brook

  • In state and got full tuition scholarship, so 0$ tuition
  • Room and board + meal plan = ~15,000
  • Pros: Good med school nearby too, highly ranked science programs
  • Cons: Super competitive pre-med program, too many pre-med undergrads on campus, lack of a social scene, too close to home.

Overall, I think I’m leaning towards UPitt, but I’m not sure if that’s just a silly petty decision. What pick would u guys make?

2

Can you afford the extra cost easily? If yes, sounds like you like Pitt Better and it’s a great school. If that extra money is a hardship, Stony Brook would be the pick. Minimizing debt is key for med students. Congrats!

3

I would pick Stony Brook because is cheaper and if you are truly want to be free debt going to a potential med school than yes. Would only pick Pitt if its something you like about the program and courses they offer compares to SBU. Many students from State school go to Med school come from State schools. So whatever you choose pick the right one

4

“This is more petty but I like the social scene, think the campus is beautiful, and like that its a little bit farther away from home.”

While decisions about college should weight academic factors heaviest, the social issues, aesthetics and other quality of life issues are important. They are not “petty”.

5

Pitt has alot of opportunities for research and shadowing if you pursue pre-med. #4 in NIH funding means alot of funding to support undergrads in research labs across UPMC as well as the other 3 hospitals on/near campus as well as research labs in the SOE-biomedical engineering. Anything health related, I would look at the NIH funding for Stony Brook $63MM, 195 project grants vs 1127 project grants with $536.5MM in funding.