Feinberg v Tufts

[red leader]

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First off just let me say how lucky I am to be accepted to medical school in the first place.

I am trying to decide b/t Feinberg and Tufts, I think I have ruled out UW-Madison and OSU. Feinberg has offered me a scholarship that covers a little under 25% of tuition and Tufts a scholarship that covers about 50%. I think if money was not an object I would choose Feinberg over Tufts, though it's hard to wrap my mind around turning down that much money. Also my gf will be moving to Boston for grad school so the whole Boston-Chicago thing would not be ideal.

Basically my question is should I factor in the $$ from Tufts in my decision? Feinberg is the higher "ranked" institution and I felt more at home there, but I would be saving money at Tufts and be close to my gf in Boston.

Are the opportunities/residency placements at Feinberg really that much better than Tufts??

Any advice/comments are appreciated!

 

[Kelevra]

You'll get tons of different, yet valid opinions. Including "girls come and go."

But as for money, 50 vs 25 can sometimes be justified. You'll just end up taking full loans like everybody else. Except you'll get about 25% paid for. Medical is tough. Go where you'd be overall happiest. Money doesn't save suicide/depression.

 

[resiroth]

Staying near your gf is something that only you can evaluate. Ideally you have a strong support system wherever you end up going.

We need the final dollar amounts to better address your Q, but yeah, you definitely should factor money into your decision, as well as all the other variables.

It seems like you slightly prefer northwestern, but not by a huge amount. If the difference in cost of attendance is 80k say that will balloon up to 120k at graduation. The answer then can be phrased would you rather have 120k in the stock market at graduation from tufts or 0 from northwestern, since loans are kind of like reverse index funds lol.

Also: seriously evaluate whether you can make the long distance thing work, since in a high-stress low-time period such as med school I would be skeptical of it working if you were 1000 miles apart but maybe that's just me.

Both are good schools, northwestern is a bit higher on the totem pole but it's not like top 10 vs 50 or top 5 vs 50.

It all comes down to how much debt you're comfortable with (will you be super stressed out about it or blasé?) and what future you see with your gf.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Moving to school-specific discussions.

 

[Willy38]

I vote Northwestern. I'm in a similar predicament balancing personal stuff with the school I like better. No one can really lend much insight into the personal aspect of your decision but as far as schools go I'd go where you will be happiest (whatever that means to you). You only get to do medical school once!

(plus Northwestern is in an absolutely amazing part of chicago)

 

[Earl Simmons]

Feinberg

 

[Kelevra]

Northwestern.

 

[RedPhys]

Feinberg

 

[qwerty89]

if you are serious about this girl go to Tufts and don't look back.

Source: M4 post-match

 

[red leader]

Thanks for all the responses everyone.

Some more concrete numbers: if I was to take out full loans for each school (1 year)...
Feinberg: COA- Scholarship = 65k in loans
Tufts: COA- Scholarship = 43k in loans

I think my gf and I would try long distance if I chose Northwestern, not something I'm thrilled about but if it works out it works out. We are pretty serious but we also know that we have to go to the best fit for us. So I think I need to make that decision myself and not base it off of my relationship.

I think deep down I prefer Northwestern, maybe subconsciously for the prestige factor as well. Both schools are in great cities and large research institutions, I think Northwestern is structured a little better for those of us that are research oriented.

If the difference in loans is only 20k should I just choose the better school? Or is the difference in ranking between Northwestern and Tufts negligible? I've heard from some physician mentors to go to the best school possible, and from others to the cheapest. It would be great if some post-match people or PDs could also comment!

 

[Temerit]

Well it's 65 - 43 = 22k * 4 = 88k + interest, so by the time you pay off could end up being a difference of about 150k. Like others have said the degree to which being in the same city as your gf will influence your decision is really a personal thing. I think like you I would deep down prefer Northwestern, but that $$ combined with having an SO might be enough to sway me.

 

[LSD-25]

Feinberg by far. Here are my impressions from my interview day at Tufts: Tufts can be one of the most expensive schools in the country and that says a lot considering that it lacks a specific purpose or focus or pull a lot of medical schools have (my thoughts after my interview day were "seriously?! what's the point of this place?") and is fourth banana to Harvard, U. Mass and BU when it comes to hospitals and opportunities. The neighborhood it is in is also super sketch and there are strip joints across the way...yea not the nicest place to spend the next four years of your life especially compared to feinberg.

Feinberg on the other hand is amazing. Dude, girls come and go, and you'll hate yourself for passing up Feinberg, even if she's the love of her life. I could understand passing up feinberg for U. Chicago or Harvard, but just don't pass it up for Tufts. You'll really regret it. Feinberg has so many more opportunities for your future, and to build a way stronger career, pursue your goals, have so many great connections, etc. Tufts is meh on its best day with regards to all of those things.

 

[pennies124]

It seems like you are looking for reasons to convince you to go to Tufts because logically it makes more sense financially and because your girlfriend is there. Maybe you want others to help you with that decision to go to Tufts because you want it to be a sound decision. You should really be asking yourself if you went to Tufts over Feinberg then would you regret it? If the answer is yes then there's your decision. If the answer is no then go to Tufts. You are the only one who has to live with the decision. Once you do make the decision then don't look back and ask yourself what if.

Also I know you mentioned the money part but honestly you will realize that yes money is important to consider, but you have to know that in the end money isn't going to be the driver for your happiness. It was mentioned that some say go to the best school while others say go to the cheapest. Do what will make you happiest.

 

[red leader]

Yea I think you're right... I was looking for reasons to go to Tufts even though deep down I prefer Feinberg- and some sort of confirmation that that was ok $$ or not. I did some soul searching this weekend and realized that I wanted to go to Tufts for reasons (location, gf) that have nothing to do with my medical education. Looks like I will be going to Northwestern!

Thank you to everyone who commented!

 

[LSD-25]

Yea I think you're right... I was looking for reasons to go to Tufts even though deep down I prefer Feinberg- and some sort of confirmation that that was ok $$ or not. I did some soul searching this weekend and realized that I wanted to go to Tufts for reasons (location, gf) that have nothing to do with my medical education. Looks like I will be going to Northwestern!

Thank you to everyone who commented!

🙂. You made the right call!