JHU vs UCSF (Logical vs Emotional)

[lols]

First post! Using this space to vent, because have talked to too many people at this point about this. Gonna get personal. You would be able to identify me if you know me. I know my friends are on SDN. 😉. (Sup! We should hangout soon.)

I am surprised and so thankful for how things have turned out. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be in this position. All I wanted to do was get in this cycle.

When I opened UCSF's financial aid offer, my brain made the logical decision to go to Hopkins. Then I got super upset and felt like I lost something.


Pathos (UCSF):
Before financial aid came out, I was pretty set on UCSF. I was born in SF, grew up there, and now am in the Bay Area for college. UCSF was THE school that held such a mystique for every Californian. When I got my acceptance letter, I thought to myself, "It would be so freaking cool to do things for the city I grew up in and make it a better place to live." My family, friends, and community are all here.

I have been involved with Asian American immigrant health and want to continue being part of that community. I want to use and further my Chinese. I want to pursue Public Health or Public Policy at Berkeley, where I have such an incredible network and community. I can identify with UCSF's mission of serving the urban underserved

I was part of an undergrad summer program at UCSF, where I met such inspiring, collaborative, and down-to-earth faculty. (Dan Lowenstein makes the most amazing TED-like talks.)

And finally, I remember as a kid, when I went to SF General hospital to visit my grandmother who had a stroke, I met an awesome UCSF student. She treated my grandma and the whole family there with such patience and kindness. (Don't know how this is relevant. Again it's just the feels!!!!!)

Logos(Hopkins):
Hopkins would be $30,000 cheaper IF I LIVE AT HOME for UCSF. Who knows how much more expensive UCSF would be if I don't?!?! (Will ask UCSF fin aid that though.) I want that option of not living at home. My parents are just way to0 involved.

Hopkins is a great school for clinical and research experience. Everything was shiny and brand-new- something I'm not used to. Been a public school person my whole life. They have an awesome public health school.

I hung out and stayed with some 3rd years for ~2.5 days. I got to meet even more students when I stayed for Liver Rounds (grabbing beer and pizza with residents and fellow students.) I got the feeling that the students there are super motivated (and intense?), but the hard work pays off. But overall, they seemed super cool.

Explored Baltimore. It was alright. Thought the architecture and the harbor was charming. I didn't feel unsafe, despite what everyone told me. I took public transit the whole time was I was there, including to and from the airport.

tldr: If I go to UCSF and LIVE AT HOME, it would still be $30,000 more in debt than Hopkins. I don't want to live at home for all 4 years, but the difference in debt would be MUCH higher (~70-80K) if I don't. Hopkins is a great school, but my family, friends, and the community I want to work with and for are all in the SF Bay Area.

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[seeinghowitgoes]

Even if you assume 12k for housing (which seems like a lot to me, but then again one of the reasons I like the Midwest is the cost of living) in San Fran and never live at home, you're only ~78k more more indebted for having gone to UCSF. That difference doesn't seem that outrageous if you really want to be in the Bay area with friends, family, etc (I mean, those things don't have a price tag attached to them, but why shouldn't they be worth that amount of money, and if they are, then I don't know that both Hopkins and UCSF don't have the logos going for them).

I can see how it's a tough decision though; ~78k is right on the border for me of being worth the difference and not being worth the difference. If the difference was actually going to be 30k I'd go the place I "wanted" to be at more in a heartbeat, so perhaps this comes down to how long you would be living at home (something I would never do even 1 year).

So guess I'm not really posting anything helpful, but really just saying both schools are obviously fantastic, congrats on the great cycle, and as long as after you make the decision you don't constantly think back and try to search for the counterfactual I think you'll end up making the "right" choice 🙂

 

[JJMrK]

First post! Using this space to vent, because have talked to too many people at this point about this. Gonna get personal. You would be able to identify me if you know me. I know my friends are on SDN. 😉. (Sup! We should hangout soon.)

I am surprised and so thankful for how things have turned out. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be in this position. All I wanted to do was get in this cycle.

When I opened UCSF's financial aid offer, my brain made the logical decision to go to Hopkins. Then I got super upset and felt like I lost something.


Pathos (UCSF):
Before financial aid came out, I was pretty set on UCSF. I was born in SF, grew up there, and now am in the Bay Area for college. UCSF was THE school that held such a mystique for every Californian. When I got my acceptance letter, I thought to myself, "It would be so freaking cool to do things for the city I grew up in and make it a better place to live." My family, friends, and community are all here.

I have been heavily involved with Asian American immigrant health and want to continue being part of that community. I want to use and further my Chinese. I want to pursue Public Health or Public Policy at Berkeley, where I have such an incredible network and community. I can identify with UCSF's mission of serving the urban underserved

I was part of an undergrad summer program at UCSF, where I met such inspiring, collaborative, and down-to-earth faculty. (Dan Lowenstein makes the most amazing TED-like talks.)

And finally, I remember as a kid, when I went to SF General hospital to visit my grandmother who had a stroke, I met an awesome UCSF student. And there was the most awesome UCSF student who treated my grandma and the whole family there with such patience and kindness. (Don't know how this is relevant. Again it's just the feels!!!!!)

Logos(Hopkins):
Hopkins would be $30,000 cheaper IF I LIVE AT HOME for UCSF. Who knows how much more expensive UCSF would be if I don't?!?! (Will ask UCSF fin aid that though.) I want that option of not living at home. My parents are just way to0 involved.

Hopkins is a great school for clinical and research experience. Everything was shiny and brand-new- something I'm not used to. Been a public school person my whole life. They have an awesome public health school.

I hung out and stayed with some 3rd years for ~2.5 days. I got to meet even more students when I stayed for Liver Rounds (grabbing beer and pizza with residents and fellow students.) I got the feeling that the students there are super motivated (and intense?), but the hard work pays off. But overall, they seemed super cool.

Explored Baltimore. It was alright. Thought the architecture and the harbor was charming. I didn't feel unsafe, despite what everyone told me. I took public transit the whole time was I was there, including to and from the airport.

tldr: If I go to UCSF and LIVE AT HOME, it would still be $30,000 more in debt than Hopkins. I don't want to live at home for all 4 years, but the difference in debt would be MUCH higher. Hopkins is a great school, but my family, friends, and the community I want to work with and for are all in the SF Bay Area.

Based on this post, if I were you I would choose UCSF without much hesitation.

 

[SN12357]

From the way you phrased things initially I thought you'd be asking about a full ride at Hopkins vs. full tuition at UCSF. You're talking only $30k more TOTAL indebtedness? Go to UCSF! It's where you want to be, it's near your family and support system, and I'm assuming from that you want to eventually practice in CA permanently? I don't even see a real debate here. Those things are worth $30k.

 

[Oso]

UCSF!

The extra debt is manageable and it's clear that that's where you'd be the happiest and most productive. Your work and interests in Asian American immigrant health sound very important, so keep up the good work. In the end both are awesome and will help you reach your goals, so I think it's mostly a personal decision (extra point for UCSF if you hope to practice around there eventually).

 

[Kaputt]

Go to UCSF. Your support system is there, and it has the best resources and environment for your goals. Usually I tell people to follow the money, but in this instance, you should go to UCSF. The extra debt is not that much, and you'll be a shoe-in for California residencies (though a Hopkins grad from California shouldn't have much trouble getting back, you'll be building connections at UCSF that'll last a lifetime).

 

[Optimus-Prime]

If you want to eventually practice in Cali not even an option, UCSF

 

[deleted526486]

When you say Hopkins is 30k cheaper, do you mean per year or over the course of 4 years?

I think everyone here is assuming that you mean over the course of 4 years. If that's the case, definitely go with UCSF.

If Hopkins is 30k/year cheaper, then I would definitely go with Hopkins. 120k is a heck of a lot of money (especially with interest) and it's not like you'd have any trouble getting a competitive residency coming from Hopkins.

 

[RiceKrispyTreats]

UCSF for sure.

 

[IgEdoc]

UCSF without a doubt, but then I am biased as that's my school; loved it and Da City

 

[lols]

From the way you phrased things initially I thought you'd be asking about a full ride at Hopkins vs. full tuition at UCSF. You're talking only $30k more TOTAL indebtedness? Go to UCSF! It's where you want to be, it's near your family and support system, and I'm assuming from that you want to eventually practice in CA permanently? I don't even see a real debate here. Those things are worth $30k.

I agree. If it was only 30K, I would take UCSF in a heartbeat. But as seeinghowitgoes said, UCSF would cost me ~70-80K more if I decide that I don't want to live at home. Before finding out about financialI was planning to only live at home the 1st year to save a little bit more, but now it looks like it would make the best financial sense to live at home for all 4 years. Lols, I don't know, but living at home for all 4 years has a huge price tag too.

 

[smurfsnowman123]

The money is not that big of a deal unless you save 30k per year, which would be 120k overall... that's pretty hefty.

But I think the major concern is that you need to go out into the world and explore. It sounds like your parents are very over involved in your life. Staying at home or even in SF will not significantly change this fact. SF sounds like it is all that you've known and while that is great, I think you would mature and gain a lot if you go out there and explore! JHU is a great place to really serve the urban underserved and you will have no problem matching back into CA for residency.

 

[Psai]

Sounds like you want to go to ucsf

 

[North meets South]

Doesn't seem to be that difficult of a decision. Your heart is clearly set on UCSF

 

[Flashfan]

Money isn't everything and the other things that you mentioned puts UCSF above JHU. Ask yourself if you want to be in California as a practicing physician.

 

[lols]

Even if you assume 12k for housing (which seems like a lot to me, but then again one of the reasons I like the Midwest is the cost of living) in San Fran and never live at home, you're only ~78k more more indebted for having gone to UCSF. That difference doesn't seem that outrageous if you really want to be in the Bay area with friends, family, etc (I mean, those things don't have a price tag attached to them, but why shouldn't they be worth that amount of money, and if they are, then I don't know that both Hopkins and UCSF don't have the logos going for them).

I can see how it's a tough decision though; ~78k is right on the border for me of being worth the difference and not being worth the difference. If the difference was actually going to be 30k I'd go the place I "wanted" to be at more in a heartbeat, so perhaps this comes down to how long you would be living at home (something I would never do even 1 year).

So guess I'm not really posting anything helpful, but really just saying both schools are obviously fantastic, congrats on the great cycle, and as long as after you make the decision you don't constantly think back and try to search for the counterfactual I think you'll end up making the "right" choice 🙂

Thank you, especially for the last bit of advice!

 

[DaenarysDuhh]

Thank you, especially for the last bit of advice!

What did you decide? 🙂

 

[lols]

What did you decide? 🙂

Thank you everyone for your kind advice. It was a hard decision. I talked to way too many people, who made a strong case for both sides. It came down to where I would want to live for the next 4 years. Adventuring to a new place will always be there, wherever I go.

Will be matriculating at UCSF!

 

[Espadaleader]

Thank you everyone for your kind advice. It was a hard decision. I talked to way too many people, who made a strong case for both sides. It came down to where I would want to live for the next 4 years. Adventuring to a new place will always be there, wherever I go.

Will be matriculating at UCSF!

Congrats!!!!

 

[JJMrK]

Congrats! Good decision.

 

[jfrwu]

Congrats! Good decision.

+1...BTW, I am on JHU's waitlist 🙂

 

[wiloghby]

$30k over 4 years is really not much of a difference to consider, and I am always the guy who says "follow the money". Compared to the total debt you will have, $30k is going to be, what, 15% difference? You will live at home with your family and have much better family support than you would in Baltimore. Going to a top school in the most beautiful part of the country, and having your home situation taken care of by your parents? It's a dream situation.

I'm very glad you picked UCSF.

 

[DaenarysDuhh]

Congrats!! Definitlely sounds like the right choice for you. Have an amazing time getting to know and work with your home community in a whole new way.