Does Which Undergraduate School You Go To Matter?

[PartyTheNightAway]

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Long story short- Im broke. Im set to graduate from a community college with a degree in biology. I applied to two schools that were near me- Rutgers and New Jersey City University. I got accepted into both. NJCU is about 300$ a credit, while Rutgers is close to 850$ per credit. The only way I can afford Rutgers is if I take out a loan- which I really dont want to do. So my question is- Does it really matter where I get my undergraduate degree from? I have a 3.8 GPA and good extracurricular activities. The only thing that is holding me back right now is money.

 

[doc05]

Yes. It matters. Rutgers is a pretty good school. I have never heard of NJCU.

 

[altblue]

Yes. It matters. Rutgers is a pretty good school. I have never heard of NJCU.

Rutgers is definitely a good school, but I don't think the difference between those two matters as much as, say, the difference between Harvard and NJCU or even Harvard and Rutgers.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Long story short- Im broke. Im set to graduate from a community college with a degree in biology. I applied to two schools that were near me- Rutgers and New Jersey City University. I got accepted into both. NJCU is about 300$ a credit, while Rutgers is close to 850$ per credit. The only way I can afford Rutgers is if I take out a loan- which I really dont want to do. So my question is- Does it really matter where I get my undergraduate degree from? I have a 3.8 GPA and good extracurricular activities. The only thing that is holding me back right now is money.

I went to Rutgers for a few years. I enjoyed it. According to @efle's info, what university you go to only matters once you get to the top universities. The difference between Rutgers and NJCU is probably not going to matter too much. You'll just have to work harder to get your ECs.

 

[getdown]

No, it doesn't matter.

 

[Stroganoff]

In hindsight, I wish I would have chosen a much cheaper undergrad instead of racking up 6 figures of student loan debt at Private U or out-of-state Public U. You have medical school for that; there's no need to get a head start.

Don't make my mistake! Choose a place where you'll succeed academically. And saving a ton of money is icing on the cake. Don't let the prestige bump of Rutgers trick you into going there if it's just going to burden you later. Heck, if you do well at NJCU or wherever, you can always apply to fancy medical schools and residency programs in the future.

 

[Lucca]

Depends on a lot of things. Student debt is bad but *some* debt can be worth it, depending on the school.

Going to a better school can:

1. Make it easier to find good opportunities for research or other ECs

2. Provide you with better footing if you change your career plans along the way (which is very common and should not be underestimated).

3. Have more resources for their students in terms of living/workstudy/uni employment/networking potential all of which could help you minimize your debt.

Notice how these things have very little to do with being a premed. Im a big believer in advising students to pick their UG based on their goals and preferences and not for the sake of gamesmanship.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Rutgers seems to have gotten more expensive. When I applied there, I also applied to another school. I got into both and got a “full” scholarship to the other school, but their “full” scholarship actually only covered half the tuition. Rutgers was still cheaper, so I went there. And if you were a full time student, you paid the same tuition regardless of how many credits you took. It was like $14k a year.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Its still 14k/year for in-state residents full-time (my SO just graduated from Rutgers SAS, and tuition is listed here). You only pay per credit if you're a second degree student, or part-time.

I'm actually kinda confused by OPs post, since $300/credit at NJCU is their tuition rate for in-state students. The numbers OP cited for Rutgers however is their out-of-state tuition rate - their in-state rate is much less at $374/credit (or 14k/year full-time), and i'm not sure why OP would be paying OOS tuition at one NJ school, but in-state tuition at another.

If the costs do end up being that similar, imo I can't imagine not going to Rutgers (nationally recognized university with a great reputation, lots of institutional support for pre-health students, great opportunities for research etc.) vs. NJCU (a school most people in New Jersey don't even know exists, nevermind outside of it, and where you'll be basically on your own), but that's just me.

Ah yeah. I was gonna say, I remember Rutgers being pretty damn cheap. If it’s still that cheap, definitely go to Rutgers.

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Rutgers and New Jersey City University. I got accepted into both. NJCU is about 300$ a credit, while Rutgers is close to 850$ per credit. The only way I can afford Rutgers is if I take out a loan- which I really dont want to do.

It won’t matter

 

[extramilemed]

In the grand scheme? No. When applying to med school? Likely.

When I went to second look, they had a list of students accepted - read like an Ivy League attendance roll call. I don't think those kids are any more qualified, but I think there is a predisposition to assume they are smarter so their successes at their college are "better" than successes at other colleges.

Clearly, there are a lot of other considerations, like finances etc.

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Unless it’s Ivy League then not really. I went to a small time city college and got into Med school. There were others from my college that actually got into some big named med schools as well. At the end of the day adcoms are looking for people that they believe will fit their school and become good physicians, not how much you paid for undergrad.

 

[PartyTheNightAway]

UPDATE: I just want to thank everyone who has responded thus far

I just found out that I received the presidential scholarship for NJCU, so that means they will cover my full tuition+fees+books.

As far as Rutgers goes- yes, the cost to attend will be around 15,000 a year+ the cost of books. I miscalculated the cost previously because I was taking room and board into account when totaling the cost, but I will actually be living at home. So now I can afford Rutgers, but i will likely have to work full-time. I MIGHT be able to squeak by, by just working part-time, but we will see. I know for a fact that my grades are going to suffer if I have to work full time, but that is the only way I can afford to go to Rutgers.

So I guess Im still torn about what to do in this situation. I know Rutgers has the way better reputation, but Im going to sacrifice my grades in order to go there. On the other hand- NJCU is covering all my expenses, but most people outside of NJ have not heard of this school. Im worried that med schools are going to look down on this when they review my application. Thoughts?

 

[7331poas]

Is there any reason why you're scared of getting loans? Every single applicant on the planet has loans, unless their parents are rich .

 

[getdown]

If you choose Rutgers...

Second Rutgers University student found dead on campus just days after unexplained death

 

[PartyTheNightAway]

Is there any reason why you're scared of getting loans? Every single applicant on the planet has loans, unless their parents are rich .

I dont have a cosigner. My mom refuses to cosign because she is a single parent and just does not want to take on that extra responsibility if anything happened. I dont have anyone else to ask.

But trust me when I say I have tried to take out loans multiple times. Actually coming out of high school, I was accepted into some VERY good 4 year schools (several in the top 50), and I had to turn them all down because I could not get a loan. I went to several banks in my area, and each one of them said they would not allow me to take out a loan unless I had a cosigner :/

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

in this case as OP is coming from a CC, I would have a tough time not advising Rutgers. However, at nearly 3x the cost and likelyhood OP would a top student at NJCU, he/she could make it work. I would make a strong effort for strong EC at NJCU, especially volunteering and community service. Thinking further, this coukd be possible challege or diversity essay for medical school. Cost of education is a real concern. Ok you convinced me you can go to NJCU

Jersey City is also pretty ripe for EC. Pretty disadvantaged city. Know someone who works EMS there, and well it's not a fun time.

 

[MonkeyArrow]

I dont have a cosigner. My mom refuses to cosign because she is a single parent and just does not want to take on that extra responsibility if anything happened. I dont have anyone else to ask.

If I’m not mistaken, you don’t need a co-signer for federal loans for med school (Stafford and/or Grad Plus). As long as you have no overdue lines of credit or bankruptcy, you should qualify for loans up to the full COA. @gonnif can correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[The Unburnt]

If you will have to work full time to go to Rutgers, your academics will suffer AND you'll have way less time for ECs, which means your application will be weaker despite the "better" school name. Go to the cheaper school, work part time IF you really need the extra money (prob a good idea to start saving up for your application cycle even if you don't need it right now as that could easily cost you a few thousand dollars), focus on your GPA and ECs and you'll have a stellar application. I agree with what a lot of people have same- I don't think undergrad matters unless it's the difference between an Ivy and a school nobody knows, which is not your case. I went to a state school and had a pretty successful cycle, I even interviewed at some top 10 schools. Just my two cents. Good luck!

 

[oldman]

I went to a top tier Ugrad and the biggest benefit I got was a very strong pre-med office. They streamlined everything for me. Ultimately it's the total package. My GPA might have been higher a different school, it's hard to say. I found being at a top tier ugrad the professors were not as interested in my progress as they were in their own research.

 

[Osminog]

If you can't take out a loan and would have to work while going to Rutgers, then go to NJCU on the full ride...

But please recognize that this is not an easy path. NJCU has no formal pre-health advising center; the sole advisor is the biology department faculty head. Its most popular majors are music and early childhood education, and I imagine that hardly any of its graduates go to medical school. You will have to be very proactive and self-driven in order to get strong ECs while attending NJCU. You will pretty much have to blaze your own trail.

 

[altblue]

So I guess Im still torn about what to do in this situation. I know Rutgers has the way better reputation, but Im going to sacrifice my grades in order to go there. On the other hand- NJCU is covering all my expenses, but most people outside of NJ have not heard of this school. Im worried that med schools are going to look down on this when they review my application. Thoughts?

3.8 from NJCU >>> 3.5 from Rutgers

 

[oldman]

If you can't take out a loan and would have to work while going to Rutgers, then go to NJCU on the full ride...

But please recognize that this is not an easy path. NJCU has no formal pre-health advising center; the sole advisor is the biology department faculty head. Its most popular majors are music and early childhood education, and I imagine that hardly any of its graduates go to medical school. You will have to be very proactive and self-driven in order to get strong ECs while attending NJCU. You will pretty much have to blaze your own trail.

having a good pre-health center is very helpful.

 

[abcdpremed]

having a good pre-health center is very helpful.

The Rutgers pre-health department is the only reason I spend so much time on here and reddit.

 

[drbatsandwich]

I hope not... currently at a school ranked above 200 because I literally had no choice.

I've always felt like unless its Ivy League, it doesn't matter. Let your accomplishments (perhaps even DESPITE the lack of opportunities at your school) speak for themselves.

 

[PartyTheNightAway]

Ok, I have one more final question before I make my decision.

Would I get any extra points, or extra consideration, if I received my undergraduate degree from the same school that I would be applying to for med school. In other words, I know Rutgers has a med school, and NJCU does not. If I applied to Rutgers med school, would my application stand out more if I received my undergraduate degree from there? Or would it not matter?

 

[The Unburnt]

Ok, I have one more final question before I make my decision.

Would I get any extra points, or extra consideration, if I received my undergraduate degree from the same school that I would be applying to for med school. In other words, I know Rutgers has a med school, and NJCU does not. If I applied to Rutgers med school, would my application stand out more if I received my undergraduate degree from there? Or would it not matter?

My undergrad has a Med school and they supposedly look down upon applicants from the undergrad so I wouldn’t count on it, although I know some schools do have preference (Brown, etc)

 

[TheVisionary]

Ok, I have one more final question before I make my decision.

Would I get any extra points, or extra consideration, if I received my undergraduate degree from the same school that I would be applying to for med school. In other words, I know Rutgers has a med school, and NJCU does not. If I applied to Rutgers med school, would my application stand out more if I received my undergraduate degree from there? Or would it not matter?

To answer your broader question, Rutgers>>NJCU generally, but in your case you seem confident you'll succeed without loan burden, and while it sounds cheesy, you'll succeed where you're most confident. As a poster said, 3.8 at NJCU>3.5 at Rutgers. Also, if it is absolutely true that you must work at least ~20 hrs/wk at Rutgers, I'd definitely go NJCU. You'll have more free time but you should try to kill it when it comes to ECs and making an impact in your school community. That'll help you stand out.

To your specific question, it probably won't help that much. In my opinion (n=1) it seems home institutions have a positive influence if the undergrad is more prestigious than the med school. So, Dartmouth undergrad may help you get Dartmouth II, but JHU undergrad probably wouldn't help you get Hopkins II. Trend is not constant everywhere, but is just my experience (i.e. Brown med goes unusually crazy for own UG). Similarly, Rutgers probably won't help you stand out for Rutgers med. Most likely, Rutgers=other solid east-coast flagship (i.e. Maryland, etc.)>NJCU in the eyes of Rutgers med. This doesn't negate anything said by posters or me above. If you work really hard at NJCU, you'll likely get a Rutgers II (33% of NJ residents get interviewed) and hopefully acceptances there and elsewhere. It's hard to turn down the full ride. It's likely the better path, but it'll still be a tough one.