Move to Pittsburgh or stay at the University of Washington?

[mahnster13]

Sooo... my family is moving to Pittsburgh because my dad is getting a new job out there (he is afraid Boeing is going to tank). I am still undecided as to whether I want to go to med school or dental school because I have yet to do any shadowing whatsoever, and first quarter of my freshman year was a bit of a wake-up call (I'll be lucky to have a 3.2 GPA after this quarter at UW). So I have two options...
-I can stay here and try to make enough money with my job at Target to afford rent with my girlfriend and another couple we're talking about moving in with. I would have to take the bus to commute 30 miles south every day, work probably more than 30 hours a week AT Target, and somehow squeeze in enough time to study.
-I can move to Pittsburgh with my family and not have to worry about rent or anything like that, all I have to worry about paying for is school, which is no huge problem because of my federal stafford loan. I still have to pay about $900 a quarter for the difference between tuition and my loans. We would be within 4 hours of our family in Ohio again, and I hear that UPitt's med school is pretty close to their undergrads... But, I would be leaving my girlfriend out here.

I am not asking anybody to make the choice for me, that is completely up to me to decide. But as far as the two schools, UWash or UPitt, which of the two schools would be better as far as helping my chances of getting into med school or dental school(I'm planning on majoring in chemistry regardless of where I end up going)? Also, if my parents move but I stay here in Washington, would that swith my tuition here at UW to being charged as out of state?

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[brooklynblunder]

there's no difference for med school admissions i believe, but you might want to consider instate/out of state aspect when applying.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Working 30 hours a week could seriously hurt your GPA if you are already struggling with it. I would worry more about how you are going to maintain a good GPA more than whether Pitt or UWash is a better choice for medical admissions. You have to have the GPA to even get to that point.

 

[amakhosidlo]

If you attended High school (spent your senior year, actually) in Wa, it doesn't matter where your parents go, you're in-state regardless.

I'm pretty sure UW is still way cheaper than U. Pitt. Both will get you where you need to go, go wherever will end up leaving you with the least debt.

Also, as a college student you can do better in terms of pay rate than Target. Try Huskyjobs.

 

[ForrestG]

-I can stay here and try to make enough money with my job at Target to afford rent with my girlfriend and another couple we're talking about moving in with. I would have to take the bus to commute 30 miles south every day, work probably more than 30 hours a week AT Target, and somehow squeeze in enough time to study.

I see trouble all over the place with this scenario.
1. Moving in with your GF when you are 18 or 19.
2. Commuting.
3. Working 30 hr per week.

Professional school aside, these three factors will strongly diminish your chances of even graduating in 4 years. If you have other U of W options (like moving closer to campus, sharing a house with 7 guys, and cutting back on work), maybe stay, but if this is the only scenario you are willing to consider, go with the family.

Otherwise, you might find yourself back here on the nontrad board in 15 years like me. 🙄

 

[kami333]

Washington has 1 medical, out of which 1 has instate preference.

Pennsylvania has 7 (?) medical schools and 1 DO school, out of which at least 3 (?) have instate preference.

 

[amakhosidlo]

Washington has 1 medical, out of which 1 has instate preference.

Pennsylvania has 7 (?) medical schools and 1 DO school, out of which at least 3 (?) have instate preference.

Goooooooood point.

NM OP, Go to PA. In fact, run.

 

[orthomyxo]

I can stay here and try to make enough money with my job at Target to afford rent with my girlfriend and another couple we're talking about moving in with.

This has absolutely nothing to do with your question, but working at Target SUCKS!!!!

 

[schrizto]

I read on SDN somewhere that being IS for the state of PA isn't that great because their state related medical schools are semi-pubic and not fully public and their preference for in-state reflects their funding.

Being a WA resident sounds great because UWash heavily favors WA residents and it is also a top-notch med school. I don't know how being IS or OOS is determined by these states, but having lived in WA for that long might make you still a WA resident even if your family is in PA.

And I can confirm that Pitt's medical school is on the undergraduate campus.

IMO I'd go to PA in this situation, however. Working 30 hrs/week, commuting, and studying sounds taxing.

 

[kami333]

I don't know how being IS or OOS is determined by these states, but having lived in WA for that long might make you still a WA resident even if your family is in PA.

A big factor is whether your parents claim you as a dependent on their taxes, if they do there's a good chance he'll lose residency status. (Some states let you claim "strong ties to the state", such as having grown up there or having extended family but to my knowledge Washington is not one of those states)

 

[searun]

I see trouble all over the place with this scenario.
1. Moving in with your GF when you are 18 or 19.
2. Commuting.
3. Working 30 hr per week.

Professional school aside, these three factors will strongly diminish your chances of even graduating in 4 years. If you have other U of W options (like moving closer to campus, sharing a house with 7 guys, and cutting back on work), maybe stay, but if this is the only scenario you are willing to consider, go with the family.

Otherwise, you might find yourself back here on the nontrad board in 15 years like me. 🙄

I completely agree with you. The OP must raise his gpa to have any realistic hope of getting into an allopathic med school. It is unlikely to happen if he stays at the U of W under the conditions you succinctly summarize above. Girlfriends come and go. Move to Pittsburgh with your family, focus on your studies, find a new girlfriend, and don't live with her. Make getting into medical school your #1 priority and push everything else to the side.

 

[Helen Wheels]

Washington has 1 medical, out of which 1 has instate preference.

Pennsylvania has 7 (?) medical schools and 1 DO school, out of which at least 3 (?) have instate preference.

Pitt is not one of the medical schools that gives any preference to in-state residents, by the way.

 

[metalgearHMN]

I read on SDN somewhere that being IS for the state of PA isn't that great because their state related medical schools are semi-pubic and not fully public and their preference for in-state reflects their funding.

eww...?

Go to PA OP. UW is the only medical school in WA and it serves Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. So all of those kids are considered "In-State"

Otherwise, post a pic of your GF and we can decide that way

 

[chman]

eww...?

Go to PA OP. UW is the only medical school in WA and it serves Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. So all of those kids are considered "In-State"

Otherwise, post a pic of your GF and we can decide that way

That's not completely true. They set aside room for these groups, but preference is still given to WA residents.

A couple things to consider OP:

- There is a lot of cheap rooms for rent around the UW. I rented one when I moved out at 17 for $300 bucks a month, which is real cheap for Seattle.

-Are your parents planning on claiming you as a dependent? Residency will be your main issue. You already have WA residency, so your main issue is whether or not you can get it in PA.

-UW is a tough pre-med school. But depending on what school you go to in PA it could be just as tough. I think that considering your job and all you have done pretty well. Have you looked into working at the HUB? They have great benefits and work hours.

-Unless you and your girl have something special I would think twice about moving in with her just because it is convenient.

-Do you like it at the UW? If you do why rock the boat. If you don't then it is a good excuse to transfer.

-It sounds like PA med-schools don't give preference to in state applicants? If that is so then there is no real advantage. If it is the opposite then I say go, because UWSOM is tough to get into, even as a WA resident.

 

[mahnster13]

If I move, I will be looking to transfer to the University of Pittsburgh to major in chemistry. And I was actually kind of thinking Ohio State for med school because I am from that area and would have a lot of family around there. But Pitt's med school would be pretty cool too 🙂
I decided to move out there with my family. Otherwise I might very well end up being a non-trad in 15 years lol. And yes, working at Target DOES suck, and as soon as I move I will be looking for something else.

 

[ksmi117]

Since this is a pre-college topic, I'm moving it to the hSDN forum.

 

[amakhosidlo]

Sooo... my family is moving to Pittsburgh because my dad is getting a new job out there (he is afraid Boeing is going to tank). I am still undecided as to whether I want to go to med school or dental school because I have yet to do any shadowing whatsoever, and first quarter of my freshman year was a bit of a wake-up call (I'll be lucky to have a 3.2 GPA after this quarter at UW). So I have two options...
-I can stay here and try to make enough money with my job at Target to afford rent with my girlfriend and another couple we're talking about moving in with. I would have to take the bus to commute 30 miles south every day, work probably more than 30 hours a week AT Target, and somehow squeeze in enough time to study.
-I can move to Pittsburgh with my family and not have to worry about rent or anything like that, all I have to worry about paying for is school, which is no huge problem because of my federal stafford loan. I still have to pay about $900 a quarter for the difference between tuition and my loans. We would be within 4 hours of our family in Ohio again, and I hear that UPitt's med school is pretty close to their undergrads... But, I would be leaving my girlfriend out here.

I am not asking anybody to make the choice for me, that is completely up to me to decide. But as far as the two schools, UWash or UPitt, which of the two schools would be better as far as helping my chances of getting into med school or dental school(I'm planning on majoring in chemistry regardless of where I end up going)? Also, if my parents move but I stay here in Washington, would that swith my tuition here at UW to being charged as out of state?

Uh...no it isn't.

 

[298609]

Pennsylvania has 7 (?) medical schools and 1 DO school, out of which at least 3 (?) have instate preference.

which ones give pref? jefferson, upenn, drexel, temple, penn state, pitt, (all md obvi) then LECOM and PCOM (do). idk about the do's but i dont think any of the md's give pref.

 

[schrizto]

Since this is a pre-college topic, I'm moving it to the hSDN forum.

it isn't a pre-college topic, the OP is considering a transfer pretty much... please move it back.

 

[mahnster13]

Uh...no it isn't.

No it isn't what?

 

[mahnster13]

Since this is a pre-college topic, I'm moving it to the hSDN forum.

I'm pretty sure I'm in college right now buddy... the full reading of my original post would reveal this mystical fact to you.
As far as everything else, I think I have decided to stay. I love it out here, and the increase in cost of tuition at UPitt would end up costing me the same as it would to live out here. My share of the rent in TOTAL will be about 400 a month, and as long as I can put enough money away to pay for tuition (which is almost $5,000 less per year at UW...), I think I will be fine. The reason my GPA is so low is because this first quarter has been a wake up call for me, who knew that college is harder than AP classes?
As long as I can get a job doing research at the UW, then I think I will be able to handle everything else. It'll be hard, but it will be more than worth it in the end I think.

 

[amakhosidlo]

I'm pretty sure I'm in college right now buddy... the full reading of my original post would reveal this mystical fact to you.
As far as everything else, I think I have decided to stay. I love it out here, and the increase in cost of tuition at UPitt would end up costing me the same as it would to live out here. My share of the rent in TOTAL will be about 400 a month, and as long as I can put enough money away to pay for tuition (which is almost $5,000 less per year at UW...), I think I will be fine. The reason my GPA is so low is because this first quarter has been a wake up call for me, who knew that college is harder than AP classes?
As long as I can get a job doing research at the UW, then I think I will be able to handle everything else. It'll be hard, but it will be more than worth it in the end I think.

👍. Good decision. OP feel free to PM if you want any UW-specific advice.

 

[yanorglu]

Wow, unless your dad is one of the engineers getting laid off next month, I don't see why he's so alarmed...hell, the thing flew just this morning.

 

[mahnster13]

Wow, unless your dad is one of the engineers getting laid off next month, I don't see why he's so alarmed...hell, the thing flew just this morning.

I know, it was a huge relief. And with how stupid the other company is being as far as the interview process (not returning calls, making him fly out to PA for drug testing, etc.) it sounds like they may not even be moving. But who knows if he may be one of those engineers getting laid off honestly? ://
It doesn't matter though, I'm going to bust my ass and get into medical school either way. Got my last final tomorrow!!! (advanced general chem) Then I'm done with autumn quarter.

 

[yanorglu]

What makes him think Boeing is gonna tank, though? Aerospace has always been cyclical. We're set for a boom once the Everett factory starts spitting out planes meant for delivery.

Also, if his degree is in mechanical or electrical as opposed to aerospace, odds are he can find a decent job here in Puget Sound anyway. Why go across the country?

I ****ing love UW, man. Don't go to PA.