<p>I am going into premed (I know a lot of people drop out, but I will not be one of those people). Going to Duke would cost me about $32k each year and USC (with the scholarship) would cost about $17 k each year.</p>
<p>PROBLEM: Visited both numerous times and my destiny is to go to Duke. I am a dukie and love Duke so much. However, I would also love USC. Problem is, you guesed it, finances. Going to Duke is perfectly realistic but there would be no money for med school (assuming I get in). Also, Duke grades are A LOT harder to earn (in terms of a high GPA). USC would be easier, less stressful, cheaper on my family, etc. However, Duke is an unbelievable college and I personally believe it's the best college in the country. USC would have huge class sizes (talked to premeds there). These are very disjoint ideas, but I just wanted to list a very few (out of the hundreds of things I would list if I could)</p>
<p>Overall, given your experience in premed, med school, etc.</p>
<p>What would you do and what would be your rationale? thanks!</p>
<p>I assume you are referring to Southern Cal and not South Carolina with your USC; am I correct? My reason for asking is you haven’t stated where you live and want to make sure you are including travel costs since you are looking at schools on opposite sides of the country. Unless you live somewhere between the two there is going to be a cost factor involved in travel that will add to/subtract from the difference you are quoting</p>
<p>I’ve said this before on other threads but will say it again. Med school is VERY expensive and as phonyreal and others have said , most people end up financing most of, if not the entire cost.</p>
<p>Having the ability to minimize or eliminate undergrad debt is something that should not be taken lightly, especially in light of the new health care reform.</p>
<p>My S was fortunate enough to be able to graduate debt free due to his undergrad scholarship. He recently told me that he is at minimum, $150-200K ahead of many of his med school classmates who are now piling med school costs on top of their already high undergrad debt.</p>
<p>Incidentally, to the OP, my S has a number of USC grads in his med school class including two of his roommates. You CAN get a good education and CAN get to a top med school if you attend USC.</p>