<p>S has been admitted for both excellent schools. Rochester offers him $15,000/year merit based scholarship. UT offers nothing and he didn't get into the honor program he wanted. He will be doing bio/pre-med and may go for medical school afterwards. S is a Canadian citizen and currently living in Texas, so we can pay in-state tuition if he goes UT Austin. Rochester will need $40K/year after scholarship, but UT will only be ~22K/year. There is ~18-20K difference per year for two schools. Please offer your comments which schools we should choose. Thanks.</p>
<p>My son got accepted to both schools, and it looks like he is choosing Texas. We’re OOS, but planning on his getting in-state residency starting the second year. He will start out in biomedical engineering, but he loves biology and is seriously considering medical school. Interesting statistic he learned yesterday: 1/3 of BME students go on to medical school, 1/3 goes to grad school, and 1/3 go into industry right after graduation. It’s a versatile degree, it seems.</p>
<p>I think Texas is just a great school, and has so many resources to offer students. I can’t see paying the extra $18-20k myself. Almost $80,000 more for 4 years?? Medical school is so expensive that using that money for undergrad doesn’t make sense to me.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>I agree with MaineLonghorn. Save the money for medical school.</p>
<p>Thank you for replying my post. One thing we have considered is that UT Asutin doesn’t have a direct medical school associated. Since my son is a Canadian citizenship, there is very limited opportunity or choice for him to go medical school in the states. It seems Rochester does offer some opportunity if he does his undergraduate there. Rochester has a decent medical school if I am right.</p>
<p>I agree with earlier posts. While Rochester is a good school. I would go to UT. Save the money for Medical school. Austin is a better place with far better weather.</p>
<p>Could your S go to Medical school in Canada. I know that undergrad Ed in Canada is so reasonable. Tuition is close to 5-6k a year. Did you consider any of those schools.</p>
<p>Finally, you have plenty of time to figure out Medical School. Have him go to the place he will be happy, and you can afford.</p>
<p>Hi Socaldad42, we didn’t try any Canadian colleges. Yes, most main Canadian colleges are public schools. I believe they also charge out of province tuition. We have been lliving in the states for many years and didn’t check them out this time. Thanks.</p>
<p>UT does have a medical branch in Galveston. I know they cooperate - here’s a link to a PhD/MD program for biomedical engineering students (just as an example):</p>
<p>[MD/PhD</a> Program | Description](<a href=“http://www.mdphd.utexas.edu/]MD/PhD”>http://www.mdphd.utexas.edu/) </p>
<p>There must be similar programs for biology majors who are interested in medical school.</p>
<h2>Thanks, MaineLonghorn. I have also posted my questions to Rochester forum. Here is one reply from WayOutWestMom. I find this reply is very hepful and like to share with you all. </h2>
<p>There are several issues in play here.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Residency. Texas in-state medical schools weigh Texas residency very heavily in their admission decisions. If you (his custodial parent) plan to remain in Texas until after your son applies for med school, residency doesn’t become a an issue. However, if you’re not staying or unsure if you will still be a Texas resident, then UT is his best choice since he may be able to maintain his residency status. (See: TMDSAS Medical: Residency Information) Texas has 6 (?) in-state medical schools and one’s in-state medical school is everyone’s best chance when it comes to med school admission. Also, you and your son should know that the fact that your son is not a US citizen will disqualify him for admission to many US medical schools. (Unless he has permanent residency.)</p></li>
<li><p>Cost. Can you, the family, afford the approx $20,000 per YEAR difference in the cost of a college education? Will you and/or your student be taking out loans to make up the costs not covered by FA? If the answer is yes, then UR may not be the best choice. A medical education, even at your in-state public medical school, is expensive. And there is little FA except for loans available. A medical student who is already $80,000 in debt before taking out another $100,000- $250,000 in loans will be paying off his education for the next 30 years.</p></li>
<li><p>Pre-med itself. Medicine is a long and demanding career path and your son is still young. What is the likelihood he will change his mind about medical school? Over half of all college student change their majors at least once after they start college. Approx 1/4-1/3 of UR’s entering freshman identify themselves pre-meds; fewer than 100 end up actually applying at the end of 4 years. This is true, not just at UR, but at most colleges. The attrition rate among pre-med students is huge for variety of reasons.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>That said, UR is strong in the biological sciences and offers good pre-med advising. </p>
<p>(I have a “maybe-pre-med” Bio major sophomore at UR. Her experiences there have been excellent; however–and this is heresy here at CC–I think it has more to do with the kid and less to do with the school. She would have thrived at any school she went to. She’s persistent and driven and she makes her own opportunities.)</p>