LSUHSC-New Orleans vs. Regis University-Denver

[member907]

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I currently have two offers on the table. I have an acceptance from LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans and Regis University in Denver. I haven't made my decision but decided to write down the pros and cons of both.

LSUHSC New Orleans:
Pros: Save 14k in tuition costs ($50k over 3 years), could live with my mother(cheaper living expenses), family in town, girlfriend a drive away, possible board of supervisor's scholarship if I apply if I enroll, smaller class size (35)

Cons: Not where I want to live, wouldn't be as happy, no scholarship guarantee, no independent living, possible hurricane destruction

Regis University in Denver:

Pros: Dean's Scholarship Offer(20k), more fun, where I want to live, well known faculty, private university, possible living with a friend from high school, cousin nearby, my dream, new adventure, possible clinical abroad opportunities in Mexcio, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua

Cons: More expensive tuition(84k -20k scholarship= 64k in tuition over 3 years), more expensive place to live(4.7% overall more expensive living in Denver than NOLA), family not nearby, girlfriend a flight away, big class size(80), living with 1-2 roommates.

Please give me some unbiased feedback on this situation. Thank you.

 

[OneWarrior]

Congratulations on your acceptances! Based on your OP, it seems your heart wants you to go to Regis University in Denver. However, looking at the pros and cons you have laid out for both schools and not knowing your exact financial situation, I personally would opt for LSUHSC in NOLA.

Do you have any undergrad student loan debt heading into physical therapy school?

My thoughts are that the 14K difference in tuition and let's say 30K savings in living expenses that are saved by attending LSUHSC come to 44K, this amount by itself over a 10 year standard repayment plan comes to roughly 57K. Being that you know your financial situation the best, I would really try to lay out as close to possible the amount of student loan debt that you will accrue at each school. Once you have that figure, you have to ask yourself is it worth 'X' amount of money to attend Regis University over LSUHSC. You can use the repayment estimator at this link to get an accurate figure:

http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/understand/plans

You can always move to Denver or wherever you wish to practice after school. In addition, instead of having more money to repay, you will have the potential to use that money for other things. I always try to think about quality of life because PT school is only three years, but student loan debt could hang with you for quite some time. Best of luck to you during this decision-making process, it is always great to at least have options!

 

[member907]

I have one small unsubsidized stafford loan of $7500 from this school year and that is the only debt I currently have. You do make a valid point. I just don't know if a scholarship offer to a great school comes around often despite the extra tuition I would have to pay. However, my parents aren't rolling in the dough so it'd be more to live and go to Denver. I believe the connections at Regis and the ability to have more autonomy practicing in Colorado than Louisiana is another aspect to look at as well.

 

[bruyere00]

Congrats on the scholarship! That's awesome. I'm in a situation with a lot of similarities to yours (no scholarships on my end though! ha), and I know it is not an easy decision. My advice is similar to what was said above. While I think 50k vs 64k is somewhat reasonable if you think going to Regis is going to make you that much happier and provide connections for the future, I would take a closer look at what you'll rack up in living expenses in Denver as well. If it's really going to cost you 30k more to live in Denver, I would advise you look at what you might be able to make in Denver once you're working and see if that loan payment is going to be reasonable for you with close to 100k in debt. The job market isn't fantastic right now for PTs in Denver and salaries are not booming either, from what I've read and heard. It seems like your long term goal is to live and work in Denver, so heading there after you graduate with a lot less debt might be more reasonable given the average starting salary.

I don't know how serious you are with your girlfriend, but PT school is hard for couples even when they're living in the same place (as I'm sure you've heard). I would give a lot of thought to that as well. Being a drive vs. a flight away is a lot different. That being said, if you're serious you can make it work. When I interviewed there, I spoke to a student whose wife and child live in Utah. He chose to go out of state to Regis, knowing that his wife would stay behind for her job. It's certainly a hard situation, but he doesn't regret it (so far). In the end, you're the only one who can decide what the experience is worth to you. Just make sure you give it enough thought so that you're not kicking yourself down the road. Best of luck!

 

[member907]

Thanks! I think tuition wise the difference is reasonable. I'm looking at it like I don't honestly want to live with my parents again lol so I would have to take out about 30K to live off of for 3 years whether I lived in New Orleans or Denver so what it really be that much of a difference with the cost of living being 4.7% more expensive in Denver? We are serious but I feel that she will be there for me if she cares about me whether I'm 5 hours or 16 hours away because true love never fails. I just looked online however and Lousiana is the 8th best state to practice PT in, in terms of salary while Colorado is 9th worst state in terms of salary. I just think it would be high risk but also high reward going to Denver because I want to be a NBA physical therapist and the Denver Nuggets PT is a teacher at Regis. I think that could be a great connection.