Georgetown (Full tuition scholarship) vs. UCSD (MAYBE full tuition scholarship)

[and 99 others]

So, I have a bit of a strange situation regarding these two schools.

Between these two schools, I prefer UCSD in every way. Location, weather (HUGE for me), student body, COL, curriculum, rank, etc. Except for money.

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be awarded a full tuition scholarship for Georgetown!! As it stands, I do not have any institutional aid from UCSD even after mentioning my aid from GT. However, the reason I say maybe full tuition scholarship for UCSD is because I can potentially receive a scholarship from my home government but I won't know for sure until I start school (they have a weird system). Furthermore, to receive the government scholarship, I may need to pay for the first year tuition out of my own pocket (~$50,000).

So basically, what this boils down to is taking a guaranteed full tuition scholarship from Georgetown vs foregoing it for the possibility (although it is a decent chance) of getting a scholarship from my home country for UCSD (or essentially a scholarship for the last 3 years). I prefer UCSD in every way except for the financial consideration. For what it's worth, if I knew for a fact that I wouldn't get the home government scholarship, I would have to take out loans of around ~$220,000 and would just go with Georgetown no questions asked. But for the time being, the circumstances aren't as black and white as that.

Also, I do hope to match into a competitive specialty in the future!

Please tell me what you all think and thanks in advance.

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[Grapesurgery]

Congrats on your options. I feel like this isn’t a choice anyone here should really asses, though, without important details. How likely are you to get this scholarship? 50%? 75%? Are you taking a blind chance? It’s a very interesting situation but not quite clear, honestly it’s hard to even make an educated guess. What are the details of the program? Have you spoken to someone who distributes the scholarship? With the information given I would err on the side of caution, full tuition at Georgetown vs a potential 50k out of pocket + 220k loans (from my understanding).
Since you mention coming from another country, if you are an international student, I would lean towards the full scholarship even more. Interest on huge private loans as an international doesn’t seem pretty. Seems like too large of a risk.

 

[and 99 others]

Congrats on your options. I feel like this isn’t a choice anyone here should really asses, though, without important details. How likely are you to get this scholarship? 50%? 75%? Are you taking a blind chance? It’s a very interesting situation but not quite clear, honestly it’s hard to even make an educated guess. What are the details of the program? Have you spoken to someone who distributes the scholarship? With the information given I would err on the side of caution, full tuition at Georgetown vs a potential 50k out of pocket + 220k loans (from my understanding).
Since you mention coming from another country, if you are an international student, I would lean towards the full scholarship even more. Interest on huge private loans as an international doesn’t seem pretty. Seems like too large of a risk.

Yeah it's definitely unusual. Honestly, I can't really quantify how likely it is that I'd get the government scholarship. I guess I can say over 50% that they would give it to me immediately or at least starting second year. It's hard to say for sure but it is more likely than it is unlikely.

And just to clarify, the 50k is the yearly tuition. So when I mentioned that it was assuming I'd get the scholarship starting M2 year and I would pay the 50k out of my savings and parent help. 220k would be the price tag if I didn't get the scholarship at all. You're right I am an international student so if I took out loans it would be really cumbersome. That's why I'm hesitant to release the bird in my hand. But then again, there is a decent chance I'd get the scholarship eventually.

 

[birdred23]

If it were me, I would go with GT. You are guaranteed to graduate without debt, which would be an amazing feat. I feel that it is too big a risk to pass up that much money awarded to you for something that is uncertain. Also, DC is a great place to live!

 

[and 99 others]

what home government will cover your tuition for medical school (and according to you it is not those primary stipends kinda stuff)? what state are you from? I have never heard of this

I am not going to divulge my home government. I don't see how it is relevant to the decision at all.

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

what home government will cover your tuition for medical school (and according to you it is not those primary stipends kinda stuff)? what state are you from? I have never heard of this

Maybe NA?

 

[mzlipton]

I'd go with GT. Not knowing for sure if you're going to get help from your govt + having to pay for the first year by yourself seems like too large of a risk.

 

[MyOdyssey]

I am not going to divulge my home government. I don't see how it is relevant to the decision at all.

How well established and reliable is the scholarship fund? How many students over how many years have been funded by it for all 4 years of medical school?

How many typically apply for it and how many receive it a year?

If there's an election and the party in power changes, would your scholarship remain intact?

 

[hailbate]

Personally I feel like that is way too much money to bank on a scholarship you are not sure if you are getting or not. $200k+ difference in CoA is a LOT of money. If it were like 50k, I think it'd be worth the risk, but 200k is a bit much, just my opinion.

 

[and 99 others]

How well established and reliable is the scholarship fund? How many students over how many years have been funded by it for all 4 years of medical school?

How many typically apply for it and how many receive it a year?

If there's an election and the party in power changes, would your scholarship remain intact?

It is well established and widely used. I just don't know if they will continue it. I've hard it has become harder to obtain recenty. But I've also heard medical students have an easier time receiving it since it is a higher level field. This is all word of mouth and I don't have anything quantifiable in that regard.

I don't know of anyone who got funded for medical schools but that's because I don't know any med students from my home country. I have met several people from my home country who are in other fields (bachelor's, master's, and PhD) and every single one of them have the scholarship. I also had it during undergrad. But like I said, they are making it more difficult to receive it lately.

 

[Engrailed]

No question—Georgetown!

there’s enough uncertainty in the world as it stands right now. Funding on local and federal levels are being cut left and right. Take the money while you can.

 

[and 99 others]

Looking at the poll, I honestly thought there would be way less people voting for UCSD. Can anyone who thinks I should go with UCSD elaborate a bit on why?

 

[Yhwach]

GT unless you absolutely HATE GT.

 

[and 99 others]

GT unless you absolutely HATE GT.

I actually quite liked GT. But I just looooved UCSD

 

[mt14]

I feel like only you can answer this question. There is obviously a risk waiting till classes start to see if you can get the full scholarship for UCSD, but only you can decide whether your love of UCSD compared to Georgetown is worth that risk. Also us on here don’t know anything about this scholarship, so if I were you I would try to get as much info as you can from other people who got the scholarship or an embassy/government person that can give you more of an estimate of the likelihood you will get the scholarship.

 

[cacebal]

So, I have a bit of a strange situation regarding these two schools.

Between these two schools, I prefer UCSD in every way. Location, weather (HUGE for me), student body, COL, curriculum, rank, etc. Except for money.

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be awarded a full tuition scholarship for Georgetown!! As it stands, I do not have any institutional aid from UCSD even after mentioning my aid from GT. However, the reason I say maybe full tuition scholarship for UCSD is because I can potentially receive a scholarship from my home government but I won't know for sure until I start school (they have a weird system). Furthermore, to receive the government scholarship, I may need to pay for the first year tuition out of my own pocket (~$50,000).

So basically, what this boils down to is taking a guaranteed full tuition scholarship from Georgetown vs foregoing it for the possibility (although it is a decent chance) of getting a scholarship from my home country for UCSD (or essentially a scholarship for the last 3 years). I prefer UCSD in every way except for the financial consideration. For what it's worth, if I knew for a fact that I wouldn't get the home government scholarship, I would have to take out loans of around ~$220,000 and would just go with Georgetown no questions asked. But for the time being, the circumstances aren't as black and white as that.

Also, I do hope to match into a competitive specialty in the future!

Please tell me what you all think and thanks in advance.

How were you able to get a full ride from Georgetown, if you don’t mind? That’s incredible! Congrats!

 

[Nucleophile1]

Definitely Georgetown. Their match list is solid and you won't be in a massive amount of debt.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Definitely Georgetown. Their match list is solid and you won't be in a massive amount of debt.

This one is from last cycle 🤣

 

[Nucleophile1]

This one is from last cycle 🤣

Hahaha I definitely didn't notice that! The 2021 bump from the above poster fooled me lol.

 

[ducks_are _the best]

How far after your A did you get your fin aid package? Did you submit your fafsa? How will you know if you got a full ride from georgetown!?!