How to leverage financial aids?

[sweatybrain]

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So I have a bit of a dilemma. I am considering 2 schools.

School A is very very cheap. I will probably have to spend no more than 70-80k for tuition. However, it is very far from my family/friends, and in a location that I am not too thrilled about.

School B is expensive. I'll probably have to shell out more than 100k for the 4 years. It is, however, a school that I prefer for its location and student body.

Do you think it's bad taste to write to school B and let them now how much I would like to attend the school...but also let them know that I have another offer from a school which is much cheaper?

What is the most tactful way to do this?

(p.s. reputation-wise, they are about equal. On the US News ranking -- if that means anything -- school A is ranked slightly higer than B.)

 

[jennie 21]

In the end, the difference between the two schools is only 20k. That's not that much, when you look at the overall cost of your education. It's not only tuition--don't forget about room and board and living expenses, also. In total, you'll probably end up paying 150k+ for your education (if you figure ~$20,000/yr. for living expenses). When you look at it that way, 20k doesn't make that much difference compared to a)the total cost of your education b)your future earning potential and c)the value of your overall level of happiness during medical school. If you really think you would be happier at the school close to home, then I think 20 thousand dollars is a relatively small price to pay for being happy during your four years of medical school. So, my advice would be to go where you think you will be happiest.

 

[scootad.]

I agree - 20k is nothing in the grand scheme of things. If you were talking 100k difference that would be a different ball game.

 

[Gimlet]

Do you think it's bad taste to write to school B and let them now how much I would like to attend the school...but also let them know that I have another offer from a school which is much cheaper?

What would you be trying to accomplish by writing a letter to this effect? I doubt they'll play ball and come back with a lower price in order to get you to attend their school. This is higher education, not car sales. 🙂 Most schools would be happy to let you go to the cheaper school so they can take someone off their waitlist.

 

[Blade28]

$20k isn't much. Go where you'll be happier.

 

[medic170]

What would you be trying to accomplish by writing a letter to this effect? I doubt they'll play ball and come back with a lower price in order to get you to attend their school. This is higher education, not car sales. 🙂 Most schools would be happy to let you go to the cheaper school so they can take someone off their waitlist.

Exactly. If you don't want to pay school B's higher tuition, you can be sure that someone else will. All med schools have more qualified applicants than spots, and they are not going to accomodate you.