Help me pick a College!!!

[Premedprincess00]

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Hi everyone! I am a sophomore in college and gearing up to transfer for fall 2016. I've been accepted into 5 schools so far
BAYLOR
TEXAS STATE
TEXAS TECH
TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

Baylor has always been my dream school They offered me a awesome Financial Aid Package (34k in grants and scholarships). However I will still have to take a lot out in loans. The debt after graduation is what scares me the most.

The other schools are safety schools for me, but they do not offer my major which is Neuroscience. I am a pre med student with a 3.6 GPA. Im having a hard time making a decision so can you guys give me some insight?

 

[eteshoe]

Hi everyone! I am a sophomore in college and gearing up to transfer for fall 2016. I've been accepted into 5 schools so far
BAYLOR
TEXAS STATE
TEXAS TECH
TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

Baylor has always been my dream school They offered me a awesome Financial Aid Package (34k in grants and scholarships). However I will still have to take a lot out in loans. The debt after graduation is what scares me the most.

The other schools are safety schools for me, but they do not offer my major which is Neuroscience. I am a pre med student with a 3.6 GPA. Im having a hard time making a decision so can you guys give me some insight?

Unless you plan on going to med school for free (possible), you really can't avoid loans

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

At least in my mind Baylor seems leaps and bounds better than the others, but Texas is sort of it's own beast and I'm not too familiar. What would be the cost difference between Baylor and the next best school?

 

[Premedprincess00]

At least in my mind Baylor seems leaps and bounds better than the others, but Texas is sort of it's own beast and I'm not too familiar. What would be the cost difference between Baylor and the next best school?

Baylor is a private university, so their in state tuition is around 34k compared to 6k-10k for the other schools.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

Is that 34k in grants and scholarships in total or per year?

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

I take it you're a TX resident. So two ways to think about it:

1) you are going to have ridiculously cheap state med schools, so taking on the extra debt now to improve your chances down the line sounds reasonable

2) as a TX resident, you have the luxury of having a rather uncompetitive group of state schools at your disposal. A competitive school like Baylor may not be necessary, and you could save the money and While still having a good shot at the state schools

 

[Premedprincess00]

Is that 34k in grants and scholarships in total or per year?

Per year, so I need about 25k left to have the complete amount.

 

[order66.exe]

Per year, so I need about 25k left to have the complete amount.

Go to the cheapest school where you can get the highest GPA and still have access to typical premed opportunities (research/volunteering/shadowing). You don't need a 100k in debt before you start med school.

 

[Premedprincess00]

You all are making some great points! Thank You so much

 

[ac62994]

Play the game.

As having been discussed millions of times, where you go for Undergrad doesn't affect your chances at any Medical School (especially in Texas). Go to the cheapest and "easiest" school. Get that GPA up.
And as for "premed" opportunities - it's really up to you to pursue them, no matter the school.

 

[ZX10R]

TCU offers a neuroscience degree and is not a safety net school. It is known for its grade deflation among Texas medical schools (avg TCU UTSW admit has a 3.6gpa compared to their 3.9 avg mat). If you excel at TCU you will reap the rewards but very few do (<10%). However, I would pick the school closest to where you live now and if Baylor (Failor) is your dream school you should go there.

But you still need to think long term finances. Baylor, TCU, or any private school will cost you an Arm and a Leg! So, I wouldn't recommend unless parents can help or you get a killer scholarship. It's not worth carrying that debt through med school and you won't get scholarships for med school (well I got 6K my first year and that was that). Say you have to pay 24K per year (plus living expenses) that's a minimum of 92K even before med school. By the time you goto med school it will cost you probably 120K. This is the avg for Texas [including living costs], but tuition in Texas has been steadily increasing the last 2 years and I'm afraid this trend will continue 🙁. Leading to a low-ball estimate of 92+120 = 212K overall without interest; something you will need to consider.