Choosing Schools

[Tense]

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I recently received an interview invite to AVC, but getting up there would eat up half of my savings. I have already been accepted to SGU, and the deposit for that is due before the interview, and that would leave me with very little money in the bank.
I was wondering how other people were ranking the cost of attendance with which schools they are planning on going to. SGU is cheaper, and if that's where I am going to end up, I'd rather save the money on the trip and give the interview up.
I really don't have many people to talk to about this. The vet I work with is super nice, and a recent grad of AVC (and has asked me to get some ketchup flavored chips for him on my trip already) and I feel a little bad disregarding what sounds like a great school just for money. A lot of money, but I worry that I will regret not going down the road.
I haven't had a chance to visit either school, but simply based on their interactions with me, I would lean to St. Georges, with all the effort they went through to contact me before I even hit submit on the application.
I had been holding out for an IS interview, but I missed the cut there.
Any advice, opinions, or comments?

 

[Bisbee]

My opinion is that, if you have the money even if it will be tight, you owe it to yourself to go to AVC for the interview. I'm sure both schools are great, but giving yourself more information can only be a good thing. In the end, the extra money to travel to AVC for the interview will probably be a drop in the bucket. Anyone else with thoughts?

 

[jmo1012]

My opinion is that, if you have the money even if it will be tight, you owe it to yourself to go to AVC for the interview. I'm sure both schools are great, but giving yourself more information can only be a good thing. In the end, the extra money to travel to AVC for the interview will probably be a drop in the bucket. Anyone else with thoughts?

correct me if i'm wrong OP, but you are concerned about finances beyond just the cost of traveling to the interview, yes? that's what i took away from you post

if that's the case, i would pretend for a moment like you have 2 acceptances, and think about how you would decide on which school to attend. if you would go with one over the other for financial reasons, then it's not going to be worth your time and money to interview with a school you ultimately wouldn't choose.

best of luck, what a tough decision! i swear i'm not being biased towards SGU-i'm here because it was cheaper to come here than to go out of state where i was looking at (and IS wasn't a good option for me). many people are very conscientious about debt and finances so don't feel badly about all of that! it's a lot of money and at the end of the day you have to be able to swallow what you're paying and what you'll be paying back!

you might also email SGU and ask for an extension on the deposit-i've heard they're usually happy to do it

 

[LetItSnow]

Any advice, opinions, or comments?

Normally I'm all in favor of gathering data. But in this specific case, my advice would be: Future you thanks current you for going to whichever school is cheapest.

(Before someone calls me hypocritical for not picking a cheaper school than UMN; I had other considerations at play, like uprooting and moving my family away from both in-laws, selling our house while the market was bottoming out, etc.)

 

[finnerma]

I'm with Bisbee, you owe it to yourself to check out AVC and make the most informed decision you can. If it were me, I would always wonder "what could have been" if I didn't go to the AVC interview, but thats just how I think. Go with your gut, either way you're going to be a vet, right?

 

[jmo1012]

I'm with Bisbee, you owe it to yourself to check out AVC and make the most informed decision you can. If it were me, I would always wonder "what could have been" if I didn't go to the AVC interview, but thats just how I think. Go with your gut, either way you're going to be a vet, right?

just to play devils advocate, i got my acceptance and turned down another interview invite afterwards because i knew SGU was the school i wanted to go to. i've definitely not regretted it. not even for a moment (and my dad even made me wait 24 hours before notifying the other school and cancelling).

either way the choice is yours 🙂 good luck!

 

[Trematode]

Also, you should take into consideration that life at SGU is going to be completely different than life at AVC. Are you 100% convinced that you will be able to handle living down in the Caribbean? Also, traveling expenses are also likely to be more for SGU than AVC.

 

[lostbunny]

Also, you should take into consideration that life at SGU is going to be completely different than life at AVC. Are you 100% convinced that you will be able to handle living down in the Caribbean? Also, traveling expenses are also likely to be more for SGU than AVC.

Yeah, and also if you can't handle the snow- stay out of the kitchen!!

I'm with Bisbee's idea that its worth you while to check out AVC since you applied there anyway. If anything, its a trip to PEI which is a very beautiful place with really nice people. In the end, how much is it really going to cost you... a grand or so at most? A grand added onto the massive tuition for OOS/Int'l schools is nothing, in my opinion. But I'm all about experiences and travel, so I'm bias (As we all are at least a little bit!).

But.... you said yourself that SGU is the school you wanted to go to from the beginning. So if you're heart is set on it, then decline the AVC one.


ETA....
You don't have ketchup chips in America?.... they're called "Ketchup chips", not "ketchup flavoured chips", *ahem.... Americans..... 😉

 

[Trilt]

ETA....
You don't have ketchup chips in America?.... they're called "Ketchup chips", not "ketchup flavoured chips", *ahem.... Americans..... 😉

In 'Murica those are ketchup flavored chips, actually. And sadly significant portions of the country don't have them. I bring several bags back every time I visit my family in Canada.

 

[PetPony]

I bring them from Germany often times. Although I prefer the Paprika Chips (bell pepper powder on them). Those are my absolute favorite!
😍

 

[that redhead]

Shoot me a PM if you'd like an American perspective of AVC. It is super costly getting to/from here, but there are a couple of options if you have more time, like flying to Portland, ME and driving 8hrs, or taking the train and driving 2hrs from Moncton, etc. If the cost of getting there is the only issue, I'd encourage you to attempt to figure it out. While I would probably choose the cheaper school myself, there's definitely a difference in lifestyle between here and SGU. Again, feel free to PM me if you have questions 🙂

 

[Tense]

Thsnk you guys for the advice and perspectives. I decided today to decline the interview. Cost of getting up there was a consideration, but the difference in total price was part of the final decision. That, and the effort St. George's has gone through to contact me before I even hit submit on the application drew me more to them.
The weather was also a consideration. I do not tolerate cold well.
The doctor I work with will just have to wait until he goes up next month to visit his wife to get his chips.

 

[jmo1012]

Thsnk you guys for the advice and perspectives. I decided today to decline the interview. Cost of getting up there was a consideration, but the difference in total price was part of the final decision. That, and the effort St. George's has gone through to contact me before I even hit submit on the application drew me more to them.
The weather was also a consideration. I do not tolerate cold well.
The doctor I work with will just have to wait until he goes up next month to visit his wife to get his chips.

congrats on your decision, i know its a tough thing to do! let me know if you have ANY questions about life/school/anything SGU 🙂 it's a tight knit family and they really do continue to make the effort to make you feel welcome the whole time

 

[lostbunny]

good job- once you make a decision, you just feel so much better!! And honestly... ketchup chips aren't THAT great. lol. ..... though I am dying over here in Australia having been deprived from Kraft Dinner (American: Mac n' Cheese) and Smartfood 🙁 !!!!!!

 

[lostbunny]

In 'Murica those are ketchup flavored chips, actually. And sadly significant portions of the country don't have them. I bring several bags back every time I visit my family in Canada.

*ahem* considering she was asked to get them IN CANADA, they can be referred to as ketchup chips from here on!

😛

 

[jmo1012]

good job- once you make a decision, you just feel so much better!! And honestly... ketchup chips aren't THAT great. lol. ..... though I am dying over here in Australia having been deprived from Kraft Dinner (American: Mac n' Cheese) and Smartfood 🙁 !!!!!!

they dont have kraft mac n cheese in australia??? oh no!!!! 😱 what would i do 🙁

 

[RadRadTerp]

they dont have kraft mac n cheese in australia??? oh no!!!! 😱 what would i do 🙁

Develop a taste for Vegemite (coincidentally made by "Kraft in Australia")?