Hopkins vs. Columbia

[lili3]

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Recently got off the waitlist at Columbia and now need to make a decision between Columbia and Hopkins. I'm strongly leaning Columbia due to personal reasons that I won't go into, and their 1.5 preclinical curriculum which I strongly prefer. Both schools gave me almost equal aid.

However, I'm feeling extremely strong pressure from family to attend Hopkins (ie not paying a dime if I go to Columbia, and contributing ~20k/yr if I go to Hopkins), purely due to its reputation and the fact that they think residencies will automatically want a Hopkins Med graduate. They think I'm sacrificing this reputation for said personal reasons and that it's not worth it. No one in my family believes me when I say that Columbia is an equally excellent school and that I can still excel at Columbia. And to add to this, my family thinks that I will be a second-rate student at Columbia due to the fact that I was waitlisted and therefore must be below those who were initially accepted.

In a perfect world, I wouldn't be stuck with all this anti-Columbia sentiment in my family. So I'm asking you guys, whether you also think that I'm foolish to give up Hopkins for Columbia? And if not, do you have any ideas how I can convince my family to let me go? I've tried everything from telling them I love NYC to showing them Columbia's awesome match list (only to be countered with Hopkins' equally awesome match list).

Help would be greatly appreciated!! 🙂)

 

[el_duderino]

I can't imagine that there will really be any significant difference in residency opportunities between these two names. $80k is a good chunk of change and it sounds like you'd be happier at Columbia.

Just tell em Columbia is Ivy and Hopkins isn't 😉

 

[Selladore235]

This is a joke . . . right? This isn't real life . . . right?

Consider this: By giving up your seat at JHU, you're likely going to completely make someone's life, someone whose dream is attending JHU.

 

[lili3]

This is a joke . . . right? This isn't real life . . . right?

Consider this: By giving up your seat at JHU, you're likely going to completely make someone's life, someone whose dream is attending JHU.

And I would love to make that person's life by offering up my seat, but my parents are threatening to make my life extremely difficult if I do.

And to clear things up, even though the schools gave me equal aid, Columbia stands at 80K more expensive over 4 yrs because my parents will refuse to pay anything

 

[el_duderino]

Oh I thought you meant you'd not have to pay a dime for Columbia vs having to pay $80k for JH.

Is the reason you want to go to Columbia a romantic partner?

 

[Selladore235]

wow! that's intense. I don't understand their logic: you're not a second-rate student at a "better" school but will be a second-rate student, probably, at the "worse" school?

I really can't imagine that there are any really differences in residency opportunities btwn the schools. How creative have you been in attempting to convince them of that?

 

[lili3]

wow! that's intense. I don't understand their logic: you're not a second-rate student at a "better" school but will be a second-rate student, probably, at the "worse" school?

I really can't imagine that there are any really differences in residency opportunities btwn the schools. How creative have you been in attempting to convince them of that?

I've pretty much said everything I could think of, ie the match list thing, showing them the residency director scores from us news (although there was like a 0.2 difference that they said was then proof of there being a difference), quoting friends that I've asked who are in med school, etc etc.

But they still insist that Hopkins is still superior which I don't deny, I just think the difference is negligible. And according to them, they've asked all the doctors they know and everyone has said something to this regard: "Columbia cannot even compare to Hopkins"

And yes, because my SO will be in NYC and I felt that long distance at Hopkins would impact both my academic performance and relationship negatively

 

[alpinism]

80K isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Go to whichever school you like best.

Also, you're going to be a doctor for christ's sake, maybe its time to grow up and make your own decisions?

 

[ChEMD]

No parent wants their kid to give ANYTHING up for a girlfriend/boyfriend, so I can kind of see where they're coming from. It probably has less to do with the difference in schools and more to do about this. So you need to ask yourself, is $80k and being on your parents bad side worth your relationship, which in all likelihood won't last (just purely based on statistics, nothing personal against you). Also, there's nothing wrong with saying yes to that question, you just need to decide what's right for you.

 

[el_duderino]

Family vs love interest. That seems to be the only distinguishing factor for the OP. #problemsidliketohave

 

[lili3]

I honestly don't care for the perceived difference in reputation before Hopkins and Columbia, so if it were just up to me I'd choose Columbia. And I don't feel like I'm giving up something for my SO, but my parents obviously don't see that. I just want to convince them that this difference is not as big as they imagine...

 

[Newguy92]

I would just make sure that you look at pros and cons at each situation and determine what you value most.

How serious are things with your SO? Do you realistically see it going somewhere in the future?

You said that Hopkins would be 80K cheaper due to your parents contribution. Is that amount of money significant for you? What kind of lifestyle/residency do you see yourself in at the moment?

What is it that you prefer about attending Columbia over Hopkins other than proximity to your SO. Do those benefits outweigh the potential negatives that may result?

At the end of the day, the choice is yours and yours alone. It just comes down to what you think is most important for you.

 

[Chopin26]

When did you get the call that you got off the waitlist at Columbia?

 

[dododo121]

I guess the question is, do you see your relationship getting much more serious in the future (ie marriage etc)? If your SO is really committed to your relationship, he/she will do anything to stay with you even through some problems in the future and whether you attend Hopkins and your SO will be there no matter what. If your SO can't respect that decision, then I would serious evaluate whether you want to go ahead with your relationship. In fact, it's been shown that couples who have some issues and fight and bicker and getting through them have stronger relationships than the ones that don't.

 

[Endure]

Did Columbia recently merge with DeVry University or something? I have difficulty conceptualizing how someone could possibly believe that P&S would hold them back.

 

[jfrwu]

Columbia....

 

[hopefulMD12]

If you will be more happy at Columbia, go there. In the long run, 4 years of happiness is more imp. than 80K. BUT keep in mind that you may also be very happy at Hopkins.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

Also the distance between Baltimore and NY is negligible as well. Seriously, greyhound/bolt bus/ driving.. Not a huge deal at all. You/he could make weekend trips, time permitting.
If proximity is the reason pushing you to Columbia I'd keep that in mind. I'm in DC and go to NY VERY often, Bmore is a 45min head start so can't see the difficulty there. IMO with your parent's assistance Hopkins looks ideal, because there really aren't any sacrifices there. Your happiness will suffer if your close with your family and they hold a grudge for your decision as well.

However, if it's more than proximity, then only you know what is best.

 

[darkjedi]

You are an adult now, capable of making your own decisions. It's unfortunate that your family won't support you in your decision, but it is your career.

Zero doors will be closed to you whether you go to Columbia or Hopkins. Hopkins probably does have a slight edge as far as prestige goes, but in the end it won't make or break your career if you turn down either.

I will say though, that unless you two are planning to get married, I would advise against making life decisions based on a partner. Your own career sticks with you forever, but partners may not.

 

[Psai]

You are an adult now, capable of making your own decisions. It's unfortunate that your family won't support you in your decision, but it is your career.

Zero doors will be closed to you whether you go to Columbia or Hopkins. Hopkins probably does have a slight edge as far as prestige goes, but in the end it won't make or break your career if you turn down either.

I will say though, that unless you two are planning to get married, I would advise against making life decisions based on a partner. Your own career sticks with you forever, but partners may not.

Awesome post, I was going to write something exactly like this.