Dammit. I swore I wouldn't do this, but...

tommerbommer · May 10, 2005

I must....cave....to....peer....pressure....

Some of you might remember a thread I posted about a month ago regarding UPitt w/scholarship vs. Cornell. If not, you didn't really miss out on too much so don't lose any sleep over it.

In the interim - very recently, in fact - I received my financial aid offer from Cornell and have had to revisit the decision.

I'm 95% sure I have made my decision, but I'm curious to see where group sentiment lies. And...since there is another recent posting that just puts all of the money stuff out on the table, I figured I'd be gauche and throw it out there.

As I stated in a caveat to my former posting, I really do appreciate being in this position and do not feel that this is some kind of terrible dilemma. As the final day to decide gets closer, I primarily just feel nervous about medical school in general.

Thanks to all of those out there who have helped me to with my decision so far, and I'm curious to see how you all vote.

sunsweet · May 10, 2005

I know you're probably sick of hearing this, but go where you're happy! Don't think about it so much - they're both obviously great schools - just ask yourself, deep down in your heart, where do you really want to be?

Good luck, I know, its hard. I've been fighting with myself trying to figure it out too!

teh-t · May 10, 2005

in my opinion your merit scholarship award will be more prestigious than the "grant"
In compiling your CV for residency, you will list "Presidential Scholarship" for example in addition to your diploma, wheras you will just have your diploma to list for Cornell

take the merit money

Without Wax · May 10, 2005

tommerbommer said:
I must....cave....to....peer....pressure....

Some of you might remember a thread I posted about a month ago regarding UPitt w/scholarship vs. Cornell. If not, you didn't really miss out on too much so don't lose any sleep over it.

In the interim - very recently, in fact - I received my financial aid offer from Cornell and have had to revisit the decision.

I'm 95% sure I have made my decision, but I'm curious to see where group sentiment lies. And...since there is another recent posting that just puts all of the money stuff out on the table, I figured I'd be gauche and throw it out there.

As I stated in a caveat to my former posting, I really do appreciate being in this position and do not feel that this is some kind of terrible dilemma. As the final day to decide gets closer, I primarily just feel nervous about medical school in general.

Thanks to all of those out there who have helped me to with my decision so far, and I'm curious to see how you all vote.

CORNELL!! it is in such a nice neighborhood.

sunsweet · May 10, 2005

teh-t said:
in my opinion your merit scholarship award will be more prestigious than the "grant"
In compiling your CV for residency, you will list "Presidential Scholarship" for example in addition to your diploma, wheras you will just have your diploma to list for Cornell

take the merit money

I agree that its more prestigious, but will that really help out in residencies? I mean its great to have, but does it really give you anything more than a slight edge?

seethrew · May 10, 2005

one thing i discovered in investigating a similair issue is that financial aid awards vary year to year based on funds available and your annual application. merit money is usually more secure. i researched this because at more than one school where i got need aid, they were very sketchy about guarantee-ing it for any other year. one school had zero funds available this year for need aid scholarship. i got the picture that this is a fluid situation for some schools.

still. i agree. follow your heart and u will be happy. maybe poor. but happy. i decline a more prestigous school with better aid because i did not think i would be happy there. hard to do, believe me. but i think i have to trust myself.

we all worry about debt. what if, god forbid, we died after 2nd year. wouldn't you have wanted to be happy. :laugh:

thats soooo xtreme :laugh:

teh-t · May 10, 2005

in addition to what seethrew said, i would just add that a slight edge is better than no edge at all right? 😉

sunsweet · May 10, 2005

teh-t said:
in addition to what seethrew said, i would just add that a slight edge is better than no edge at all right? 😉

oh, definitely. I just wanted to know for myself whether or not it was more than a slight edge.

Although I have to say I would rather go where I'm happier than get that slight edge (unless its more than a slight edge, lol).

seethrew · May 10, 2005

teh-t said:
in addition to what seethrew said, i would just add that a slight edge is better than no edge at all right? 😉

whats ur opinion on a double edge... :laugh:

iampurestyle · May 10, 2005

Heeeeeelllllloooooo....again, and again it comes down to location.

I think the perceived prestige difference between Cornell and UPitt is negligible.

Cornell: If you're the kind of person who thrives on competition and on serving wealthy patients, then definitely pick Cornell. This school is LOADED. They have state of the art equipment and possibly great networking opportunities due to its Ivy status. Many people laud the fact that they're done with lecture by 1:00, but this requires a strong sense of discipline since you'll have such unstructured time. It is in a trendy neighborhood filled with the best restaurants and cultural resources. I mean, you can't beat New York. The down side is that you probably won't have lots of time to indulge, or will be too short of money.

UPitt: Also in a great city. You get tremendous value for your money (eat very well and have enough left over to buy extras like leather couches & cappuccino machines) and there are a ton of things to do. (I've lived there for 12 years). The school also has great facilities but probably has a more diverse patient base than Cornell. If you are interested in surgery of any kind it would behoove you to attend UPitt, especially for neurosurgery.

The students are obviously different at each school, and I cannot say how you felt/ meshed with them. Trite and cliche as it may be, go where you feel the most content, and rid your mind of "reputation". It's such a joke. You become a world leading physician based on hard work and intelligence not the updrafts of prestige. My vote is UPitt.

teh-t · May 10, 2005

seethrew said:
whats ur opinion on a double edge...

a double edge cuts both ways 😛

Medikit · May 10, 2005

I think you should choose the school that you like the most and act as if there was no scholarship award at all.

eag · May 10, 2005

Go where you would be happy. If you would be happy at both places, go where you would accrue less debt.

Bfriccia1 · May 10, 2005

tommerbommer said:
I must....cave....to....peer....pressure....

Some of you might remember a thread I posted about a month ago regarding UPitt w/scholarship vs. Cornell. If not, you didn't really miss out on too much so don't lose any sleep over it.

In the interim - very recently, in fact - I received my financial aid offer from Cornell and have had to revisit the decision.

I'm 95% sure I have made my decision, but I'm curious to see where group sentiment lies. And...since there is another recent posting that just puts all of the money stuff out on the table, I figured I'd be gauche and throw it out there.

As I stated in a caveat to my former posting, I really do appreciate being in this position and do not feel that this is some kind of terrible dilemma. As the final day to decide gets closer, I primarily just feel nervous about medical school in general.

Thanks to all of those out there who have helped me to with my decision so far, and I'm curious to see how you all vote.

If you really like Cornell more than Pitt, then go to Cornell. The amount of monetary difference is reduced if you get that amount of money from Cornell each year versus Pitt. If you want to be in NY for residency, Cornell is a great school for that (better than Pitt). It has some great residency programs (in surgery too unlike what someone said above; they have one of the top cardiac, orthopedic, urology, general sugery departments/programs in the entire country). Unless the money is very important to you, or you like Pitt and Cornell equal, I think Cornell is a better choice.

Singing Devil · May 11, 2005

Please choose Cornell so I can get off the Pitt waitlist. 😀

Medikit · May 11, 2005

Singing Devil said:
Please choose Cornell so I can get off the Pitt waitlist. 😀

OP, you know what you must do.

DarkFark · May 11, 2005

Of all the "where would you go?" polls, I think this is among the most compelling, especially if you are like me and want nothing more than to end up in NYC somehow. That would make the Pitt offer all the more agonizingly tempting.

tommerbommer · May 11, 2005

Cornell was getting creamed early (24-5 or something like that), but the comeback kid is making a late surge! Currently U Pitt has a solid, but not insurmountable, lead and is ahead 46-30.

Geronimo · May 11, 2005

You people!

Whitney · May 11, 2005

iampurestyle said:
If you are interested in surgery of any kind it would behoove you to attend UPitt, especially for neurosurgery.

iampurestyle, I am curious as to why you say this. I checked the neurosurgery matches for the last five years and Pitt seems to have matched 3 people and Cornell matched 5. I'm not sure if the list I've checked is comprehensive, but it seemed like it was from a credible source in the Neurosurgery forum.

Here's the link:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=4698

Let me know what you think.

llort · May 11, 2005

tommerbommer said:
I must....cave....to....peer....pressure....

Some of you might remember a thread I posted about a month ago regarding UPitt w/scholarship vs. Cornell. If not, you didn't really miss out on too much so don't lose any sleep over it.

In the interim - very recently, in fact - I received my financial aid offer from Cornell and have had to revisit the decision.

I'm 95% sure I have made my decision, but I'm curious to see where group sentiment lies. And...since there is another recent posting that just puts all of the money stuff out on the table, I figured I'd be gauche and throw it out there.

As I stated in a caveat to my former posting, I really do appreciate being in this position and do not feel that this is some kind of terrible dilemma. As the final day to decide gets closer, I primarily just feel nervous about medical school in general.

Thanks to all of those out there who have helped me to with my decision so far, and I'm curious to see how you all vote.

hey tommybommer, I have an idea, why dont you nut up and make a decision? You are an adult for tits sake.

tommerbommer · May 11, 2005

llort said:
hey tommybommer, I have an idea, why dont you nut up and make a decision? You are an adult for tits sake.

Why don't you say it to my face, bi-otch! My avatar (if I had one) would slap your avatar (if you had one) upside the head.

I actually have made up my mind.

--------------
Free Willy

sunsweet · May 11, 2005

ok people, calm down!

What did you decide, tommerbommer (and why)? I think you should share! 🙂

tommerbommer · May 11, 2005

sunsweet said:
ok people, calm down!

What did you decide, tommerbommer (and why)? I think you should share! 🙂

I find verbal sparring with many anonymous partners in a consequence-free environment to actually be enjoyable. Plus, it was all talk. My would-be avatar most likely wouldn't be able to kick anyone's ass.

As for my decision, I am going against the poll. I have decided on Cornell and I am really happy that their financial aid package was significant enough to allow me to make the decision.

As for my reasons: I am convinced that the schools are comparable in terms of reputation, opportunities, etc. However, I preferred the "vibe" at Cornell. The classes there are small and tremendously diverse - they also seemed like a really cohesive, supportive bunch, and that appealed to me. Most of all, I really want to be in NYC. I know that it would still be there down the road, but I have no idea what my life circumstance will be four years from now. If I am going to fulfill my goal to live in NYC at some point in my young-ish years, now is the time.

Singing Devil - Due to my decision, another spot should open up at Pitt within the next couple of days. Good luck to you!

Tom

sunsweet · May 11, 2005

Congrats, Tom! :clap:

I'm glad you're going where you want to be. To tell you the truth, I kind of figured you really wanted to go to Cornell since you kept asking so many times! Thats the reason I would have voted for Cornell in the poll (I didn't vote because I think its a personal choice at this point, and I don't really know much about UPitt).

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great! 👍

tommerbommer · May 11, 2005

sunsweet said:
Congrats, Tom!

I'm glad you're going where you want to be. To tell you the truth, I kind of figured you really wanted to go to Cornell since you kept asking so many times! Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great! 👍

Thanks so much for the kind sentiment. You're right. It got to the point where I was just looking for some kind of moral support to follow my heart and walk away from the dollar signs.

teh-t · May 11, 2005

hey, that sounds like a well though out decision- a trait of a good physician 😉
congradulations tom!

Dammit. I swore I wouldn't do this, but...

Where would you go to med school?

U Pitt w/ 35K "merit scholarship"

Cornell w/ 17K "financial aid grant"

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