Any regrets?

[dlc]

---

Members do not see this ad.

This question is for anyone out there who had to choose between 2 different med schools, especially for those who had to decide whether to attend their state school or a top 5 or 10 school. Are you happy with your decision? Did anyone choose their state school because it was cheaper (this excludes California schools)?

 

[Coalboy]

dlc,

Check your PM's.

 

[none]

No and that is the wonder of choosing a CA school.

 

[abbeydesert]

I chose my unranked primary-care oriented state school over a top-20 school. Money was a major factor, but not the only one. I just couldn't be 100% certain that I would be happy at the expensive private school- and I felt the same way about the state school. So, I decided that it would be better to save the money and go to my state school. If you definitely like the top-5 or top-10 school better, go there. However, if you could be happy at your state school, save your money and go there. First, however, be sure to compare financial aid packages- some private schools offer enough financial aid to actually make them more affordable than many state schools. Unfortunately, the state raised our tuition a whopping 15% last year and another 15% this year- so I'm going to end up in almost as much debt as I would have had I chosen the other school!
Do I have any regrets? I'd be a liar if I said no. Overall, I have enjoyed my MS1 year- my school has a lot of great things about it and I've met some great people and had some awesome experiences. However, there are things about my school that annoy me and there are times that I find myself thinking "Gee, if I had chosen the other school, I wouldn't have to deal with this." Of course, every school has its weaknesses, so I'm sure I would have thought the same thing the other way. Overall, there are enough advantages to my state school that I'm still comfortable with my decision (in spite of the ridiculous tuition increase.)
Bottom line: go where you'll be happy- and don't let money be the only determinant of your decision.

 

[cchoukal]

my story is just like that of abbeydesert. I chose the state school for financial reasons, although they also have a very well developed study-abroad program for years 3-4. You'll never really know what you missed in either case. For me, and this will sound like it all comes down to money, but in the end, I calculated that my monthly loan payments at the private school would be about 600 bones more. That's $600 every month for ten years. That's a pretty fat car payment AND insurance. There's just no way I'd make that much more going to the "better" school; I'd never make my money back, so to speak.

The one regret I might have is that I could have moved to a new city and struck out on my own to see something new. I can still do that for residency, though, and it won't cost a dime more than staying where I am. For reference, I turned down Pitt to go to Minnesota.

If you can, check out where graduates from both of your options are matching for residency. You may see that grads from your state school are going to some pretty good programs or matching in your specialty of choice (or you may see that they're not, which is just as important).

 

[GGale]

Yes!

I turned down a full ride at a decent ranked state school for a top five school. I now realize that:

1. It doesn't really matter where you go to med school (geographically) The school I chose is in a great city that I don't really have the time to explore. I'm not studying every single second but between studying, class, the gym and the quiet, everyday kinds of pleasures that you can do anywhere (eating out, movies,hanging out with friends) I don't really get out and explore all that much.

2. No matter how you package it, PBL or traditional, classes really don't matter. Yeah, they're important so you can learn what you need to know but once you figure out what works best for you, it's just a matter of plugging through. We all end up studying for the boards, irregardless of curriculum.

Since both school that I was choosing between had similar curricula, and I now realize the real end goals (learning enough to pass USMLE I so you can work on the wards) I wish I had gone with the money. The city didn't really matter as much I thought it was going to, and while my top ranked school might have more money and more big names, it really doesn't mean much to me right now.

Gale

 

[dlc]

Wow Gale! See, I figure, it may not matter where I go to anyone else, even though some say that the name will help me, but it has always been my dream to go to this one school and I feel that I would regret it and wonder what would have happened if I didn't go. Do you mind me asking, what will your debt be like when you graduate? Are you going to do any service programs that reimburse you for tuition? Everybody has a different opinion but I don't think it would bother me to be in debt twice as long for going to my dream school over my state school (especially if I keep up on interest payments). What made you choose the top five school in the end?
Dana

 

[dlc]

Also, GGale, did you ever consider transferring to a less expensive school or do you pretty feel at this point that you might as well follow it through?
Dana

 

[Doc AdamK in 2006]

I recently chose a SUNY school over a private school (NYMC) IF I went to NYMC, which is a great school but by going to a SUNY school I save $20k per year so $100K over four years. I will live at home so I save $10-15K per year. So I save $35K per year time 4 years $140k plus the interest. Thats nearly quater of a million dollars in savings.

AK