Guaranteed Admission or Cornell?

[Mabel94]

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I recently applied and got accepted into Cornell University for undergraduate studies. They offered me scholarships and aid that total almost all of the tuition, and I know that Cornell is very strong for pre-med and biology. However, a nearby state school (SUNY ESF) accepted me into a guaranteed admission program for the local state medical school (SUNY Upstate). My parents are very against my taking the SUNY offer, and have basically decided that I am going to Cornell already. However, I feel that this is a grave mistake. Considering all things, including location, finances, academics, and future job and residency opportunities, which is the better option? It may also be relevant that I do not intend to pursue a PhD at this time. My father has told me that SUNY Upstate is a terrible medical school, but I don't think this is correct.

 

[Back 5]

This honestly doesn't seem to be a nontrad question. I'm fearful of sending you to the Allopathic forum though

 

[Mabel94]

sorry, I didn't know which forum it would best go to

 

[Etorphine]

I would take Cornell, 100 times out of 100.

 

[eHombre]

With that kind of scholarship, go to Cornell. No question.

 

[aSagacious]

Moving to hSDN.

 

[Brachyury]

I recently applied and got accepted into Cornell University for undergraduate studies. They offered me scholarships and aid that total almost all of the tuition, and I know that Cornell is very strong for pre-med and biology. However, a nearby state school (SUNY ESF) accepted me into a guaranteed admission program for the local state medical school (SUNY Upstate). My parents are very against my taking the SUNY offer, and have basically decided that I am going to Cornell already. However, I feel that this is a grave mistake. Considering all things, including location, finances, academics, and future job and residency opportunities, which is the better option? It may also be relevant that I do not intend to pursue a PhD at this time. My father has told me that SUNY Upstate is a terrible medical school, but I don't think this is correct.

Cornell. A good friend of mine was faced with a similar situation: Cornell or an 8 year program through Sienna College/Albany med; she chose the later and she really regretted her decision: she LOVED Albany med, but she hated Sienna and she hated having to attend there just so she could keep her med school spot

 

[TriagePreMed]

Having the name Cornell backing you up is pretty damn nice, so I can understand where your parents are coming from. HOWEVER, I think since your ultimate goal is medicine, this will save you a ton of time and money. I would take the SUNY offer, except if there's some major caveat like having to have a 3.5 and a 32+ MCAT since at that point you'd probably be competitive at many other places and the name Cornell will land you a boost.

 

[omelas]

I'd pick Cornell.

For undergrad, I turned down a guaranteed med program (with a large scholarship) for a private school with no financial aid. I never regretted that decision (luckily my parents were able to help pay the tuition). I loved the flexibility it gave me. You may change your mind about where you want to be in four years and what you want to be doing. Pick the undergraduate school where you will be happiest, because you will do better and ultimately get into medical school without the guaranteed program.

Plus, if Cornell gave you money, how could you turn that down? 🙂

 

[DrMidlife]

Do really well at SUNY ESF and you have to go to SUNY Upstate. That means 4 years in [edit]Syracuse[/edit]...and you'd be committed to the rural medicine track there.

By contrast, do really well at Cornell and you can go anywhere you want. NYU. Stanford. SUNY Downstate.

Note that "guaranteed admission" is garbage. It's conditional admission based on your undergrad performance. The only advantage I see to the SUNY program is it helps you stay local if that's your #1 priority.

You should be open to doing other things than medicine. Go find out who you are and what work you like during undergrad, by getting off campus, and preferably by getting out of the US for a year.

Best of luck to you.

 

[AntiHouseMD]

Cornell in a heartbeat. If you have even the slightest doubt of whether you want to go into medicine, Cornell will be a much better place since you will have the Ivy League status working in your favor. Besides, why not have more choices when looking at medical schools? With that financial aid as well, you can't go wrong with the Big Red (granted you like the school, though).

So, if I were you:

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Cornell is a very strong school and with a full ride it is almost undoubtedly a great opinion. However there is a question here in regard to how good of a connection and how "guaranteed" your admission to Upstate is. If you do not even have to take the mcat and your tuition for the first 3-4 years is the same as a regular undergraduate then I would honestly recommend it over Cornell.

 

[Gigantron]

SUNY ESF has a guaranteed admissions program? I can't find it anywhere on here: http://www.esf.edu/

Either way, go to Cornell.

 

[AntiHouseMD]

Something just popped into my head: how could ESF (an environmental science school, remember) be able to get you ready for medical school?

 

[LUCPM]

This is anecdotal but one of my in-laws chose Washington University in St. Louis over a 7-year B.A./M.D. program at state school and ended up going to a chiropratic school after doing poorly at WashU. Unless one's goal is to get into one of the top-tier programs, I would take the SUNY offer.

 

[Summa637]

I wish I was 18 again and had this problem...I'd do SUNY.

 

[Bru]

Do really well at SUNY ESF and you have to go to SUNY Upstate. That means 4 years in Buffalo...and you'd be committed to the rural medicine track there.

Wait...What?

Suny Upstate isn't in Buffalo and there doesn't appear to be any commitment to rural medicine.

 

[DrMidlife]

Wait...What?

Suny Upstate isn't in Buffalo and there doesn't appear to be any commitment to rural medicine.

Busted on the Buffalo, d'oh.

Rural track is for reals: http://www.upstate.edu/com/admissions/options/suny_esf.php

 

[Scottish Chap]

Some thoughts:

if you want to go to medical school, ESF is giving it to you. It will be far easier to keep your GPA > 3.5 to keep that med school offer at ESF than it will be to stay ~3.7 at Cornell which you'll need to get into any medical school. Also, ESF and SUNY Upstate are in Syracuse, and there is no commitment to a rural track post med school--you just spend a lot of MS4 in rural areas, and in fact get better experience (always first assist in surgery, etc.). I know a lot about all three schools and I know many graduates from ESF, Cornell, and SUNY Upstate. Consider this an informed voice of reason.

If you don't know for sure that you want to go to medical school, go to Cornell. It will open more doors.

 

[owlegrad]

Merged related threads. 🙂

 

[SeminoleVesicle]

I wish I was 18 again and had this problem...I'd do SUNY.

+1

Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

 

[Chemdude]

Cornell gives merit-based scholarships? Anyway...if you choose Cornell, you're going to have to work your ass off...the workload can drive you crazy sometimes...

 

[dagnytaggart]

I recently applied and got accepted into Cornell University for undergraduate studies. They offered me scholarships and aid that total almost all of the tuition, and I know that Cornell is very strong for pre-med and biology. However, a nearby state school (SUNY ESF) accepted me into a guaranteed admission program for the local state medical school (SUNY Upstate). My parents are very against my taking the SUNY offer, and have basically decided that I am going to Cornell already. However, I feel that this is a grave mistake. Considering all things, including location, finances, academics, and future job and residency opportunities, which is the better option? It may also be relevant that I do not intend to pursue a PhD at this time. My father has told me that SUNY Upstate is a terrible medical school, but I don't think this is correct.

Go to Cornell.