Most medical schools lose money to teach their students (true for both public and private). Harvard routinely loses tens of millions per year. It is instead the local patients, their insurance, and the state that is subsidizing part of your child’s education costs.
If your only goal was to financially penalize a red state, the best way you could do it is to have your child attend medical school there. Ironic, isn’t it?
But I recognize it’s not just about the finances, but the heartfelt belief that this is the right decision for your child. I respect that.
Of course. If something is not in the budget, it’s not in the budget.
I can imagine a family being in a hard spot if 1) home state in red state 2) budget max is for instate college and 3) child being scared because gay or transgender or some other situation more pressing than a hypothetical future event.
Yes, and some won’t look at Roe v. Wade as a factor at all. Some think it’s “the” most important factor and some see it as being somewhat of a factor. IMO, this thread tends to lean toward the it’s a big factor. Though I live in a very blue state I haven’t heard any friends bring up this topic. Then there are people for whom no school is on the list which falls into a category where Roe v. Wade isn’t supported.
For medical schools, the only specialties I can see this affecting would be OB/Gyn, some Family Med (birth control options), and some Emergency med (perhaps on the last one - it depends upon if they do emergency surgery when needed or send it to a specialist).
Are there any other medical procedures that are restricted by states that could affect doctor training?
My guy had basic “Female Health and delivering babies” in his training and first year of residency, but he never had to do any sort of abortion and said that training was only for those who wanted it. Going into neurology, he had no need. But if someone is delivering on an airplane or by the side of the road in his presence, he’ll be there for them!
I can only speak for myself - I would give my thoughts and make sure they considered any risks but I would never withhold money or any other support. My kids are extremely thoughtful and whatever decision they make is never made without thought and consideration. I trust them. It’s my job to guide them, but ultimately it’s their decision (whether that’s choice of school, major, job, etc).
I’m a little confused by the “medical schools lose money” comment too. I keep hearing medical schools are expensive. I hear on this board that medical schools can charge $400,000-$800,000 for 4 years. And medical students are essentially free labor aren’t they?
Also, I’m sure a medical or even a veterinarian school applicant can avoid applying to red state schools, if so desired.
Yes, medical school is expensive, but more like $400,000 (as opposed to $800,000) for four years at a private medical school in the US. In-state public medical school (that has state government subsidies) can be somewhat less (but still typically much more than in-state public undergraduate college or university).
Of course, medical education is also quite expensive to provide, so it is not necessarily clear whether a given medical school can at least break even.
There are something north of 150 medical schools in the US. About 30 vet schools. So presumably its easier to avoid applying to medical schools than vet schools in red states. Vet schools tend to be public schools and many (though not all) give preferences in terms of admissions (and tuition) to in-state applicants. Making selecting schools to which to apply based on factors other than cost and chance of admission more problematic. No doubt it can be done though (limiting oneself to blue or red states to suit preference). May just be increasing the chances (already changing admit to get) that you won’t become a vet.
I can see that the repeal of Roe vs. Wade will affect the thought process of some students and parents when it comes to college decisions. But I don’t think it will matter much long term as most of the fastest growing states over the last 10 years are states that trend Red and states with the largest population declines recently tend to trend Blue. It will be interesting to see if those numbers change due to how restrictive most Red states get with abortion because while I know many people who are pro-life in my partially purple state (GA), I don’t know many who are pro-life in all instances.
The new laws will affect how many specialties train and practice, although some more directly than others. As you say, most obviously OB/Gyn. Definitely also Family Medicine and Emergency Med (the ER is where you go for pelvic pain, bleeding, infections, rape…) Also pediatrics (teens at risk for pregnancy, also evals for incest, sexual abuse etc.) Rheumatology (what to do if pharmacists won’t fill your patients’ methotrexate.) Dermatology (will Accutane protocols change?) Oncology (do you dare counsel a pregnant woman with cancer about ALL her options?)Psychiatry (if a woman is suicidal due to pregnancy, or had psychosis with her last pregnancy, is that reason enough to write a letter in support of an abortion, will such letters even matter? Also what about psych meds that have the potential to cause birth defects? Still available to your pregnant patients? Are you liable for outcomes now?)
Thanks for that explanation. I can see where some of that could affect a future neurologist, esp when it comes to meds.
It will be interesting seeing how the medical side plays out, I just wish real lives weren’t affected by it in the meantime because I can see quite a few cautionary flags. It’s not exactly a scene from Norman Rockwell where every pregnancy turns into a happy family and living happily ever after.
I honestly do not understand the “no exceptions” people most of all.
I agree that this also will be interesting to see. Most folks I know of prior to this chose where to live based upon family, jobs, weather, or geographical preferences in general (mountains, ocean, etc). Even those who changed locations often did it for one or more of those reasons.
I know staunch blue voters in deep red states and staunch red voters in deep blue states, but politics didn’t cause them to choose where they opted to live as far as states were concerned (not everyone opts, of course, but of those who did…)
I wonder if that will change meaningfully at all now, and if it does, will it lead us even closer to Civil War II or other dissolution of the US overall if states get more polarized?
Are college choices just the start? And will it even be a big meaningful change there when most students stick to state schools anyway, primarily due to cost and distance? I can see schools like Oberlin and Rice suffering - not so sure about others in less “trapped” locations.
In my opinion if one has a “choice” about where to attend college then the access to such healthcare really isn’t an issue. The issue is simply one of values. The student who can afford to go to Oberlin is not going to be financially unable to go where they need to seek access to care. The instate student going to say Cleveland State might have a greater concern. The ability and cost would probably be more of an issue for them. However, they won’t have the wherewithal to object with their pocketbook. Their objections will be raised at the ballot box.
Full pay or those who can afford it won’t have problems. Not sure if it will affect those who get really good need based scholarships though.
I hope many don’t kick their daughters out if they are among those who get pregnant. Even in the old days when I was at college, one friend got an abortion because she knew her parents would never forgive her for having sex outside of marriage. (Her words, not mine, but it doesn’t seem out of line for some families.)
I don’t think you’re seeing the disconnect between what people actually want and what their politicians are trying to legislate. Not a single person I know comes to mind as wanting their legislators to do a full on abortion ban, promoting and forcing their religious views that “potential life” is as or more important than actual living human beings, but that is what the politicians from their states are trying to do. It’s quite a sad curiosity to me that a small but vocal minority of people hold enough power over politicians that they can force their religious dogma on the rest of us.
Then again, I never had to consider this issue in almost 40 years of my voting life. And now young women (and men) have to consider this for the first time in their lives when making college decisions.
My daughters never looked at any of these colleges when they were applying, the furthest colleges from their mind. One did get accepted to University of Michigan and she never gave it a visit. But I’m very surprised about Michigan state regarding abortion ban.
They both ended up in the bluest state the most accessible to abortions, but that was not even a consideration back then.