Crazy for turning down WICHE funds?

[romeslate]

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Being an AZ resident, I am eligible to receive state funds through the WICHE program as long as I am accepted into and attend a West Coast optometry school. If anybody isn't aware of the program, basically the state of AZ will pay just about half of my tuition for four years as long as I return to AZ to practice.

I have been accepted to SCCO and am eligible to receive the funds. I just interviewed at NECO, and I know there is no guarantee that I'll get in, but just in case I'd like to think this through. Basically, would I be completely insane for turning down WICHE funds and going to NECO? I loved the school and city, really loved it, but the prospect of turning down roughly $60,000 in free money seems ludicrous.

I also am interviewing at Pacific in three weeks, where if accepted I'd be eligible for WICHE funds but at that point I am cutting it close for the WICHE deadline.

Sorry that was so long. Crazy or not that crazy, let me know. Many thanks.

 

[BKtomodachi]

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[eyepoker]

the program only pays for half of the tuition? I thought it was a full scholarship deal. Anyways, how long do you have to stay in practice over in AZ if you do take the offer? and do you want to practice in your hometown? are the demographic of the population and the environments what you want to have when you practice?

 

[broncos24]

i think for COLORADO and WICHE.. it's 2 years. You have to work in Colorado for 2 years... but if you are teaching at an optometry school, you don't have to work there RIGHT AWAY. But then again... you need to keep them updated and get the OK.\

I can also get WICHE... but i decided to go to ICO instead. I decided not to even interview at SCCO.

 

[cunikki]

for colorado its still 4 years.. but anyways
YES YOU ARE CRAZY!!!! i was in a very similar situaion (got accepted to neco and pco) i LOVED the town of boston and the cute building that neco was in but i went to scco because of the far superior education in EVERY WAY! i dunno; the board scores were higher , the clinic was much nicer and newer with more equipment, the staff is amazing.
basically its up to you because if you think you will spend the next 4 years regretting not going to boston than you should go, but i know about 15 people in my class that got into boston and did not go there because of the quality of education (including several with parents who went to that school)

 

[eyestrain]

Sorry that was so long. Crazy or not that crazy, let me know. Many thanks.

1000% Crazy. Like I've said before, go to the cheapest school! It's very difficult to understand the amount of debt you'll be dealing with while you're in school and not paying it. Trust me, after graduation it gets very real. And with the interest rates being higher now (although they did drop recently), you need to go the school that will cost you the least amount of $$$$. You'll have fun wherever you go, and if you go to the cheaper school, you'll be able to have fun after you graduate too.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

Unless you would be TRULY miserable at SCCO or Pacific, I wouldn't consider giving up WICHE... that's just too much money. Another thing to consider is are you guaranteed to get WICHE as long as you go to one of those two schools? In Nevada, I had to compete against all of the other students applying that year in order to get the funding. You usually don't find out until late spring, so you may end up forking out a deposit to hold your spot at NECO until you hear from SCCO.

 

[broncos24]

I think if you'll feel MISERABLE at your home-state for the years after graduation.... I would just turn down WICHE. I know... I agree.. it's pretty crazy to turn it down. But I know FOR SURE I never want to get settled down for those few years after graduation in COLORADO<--home. (not saying colorado is bad.)

When I think about it... Even though the school and the people are great at SCCO or PACIFIC, I would loathe being in colorado afterwards. That's my only reason. You just have to weigh it out.

 

[romeslate]

I appreciate the candid responses. I didn't think making a decision on where to go to school would be so difficult, but having options certainly isn't a bad position in which to find oneself. Thanks again.