NYU versus Einstein

[OrbitalOverload]

Hey All,

I know these threads have been made before but I just wanted to rehash the old conversation of Einstein versus NYU.

In short, I am having a difficult time deciding between both schools. NYU has claimed a place in my heart throughout the entire admissions process. Being the place where I have done most of my research for the last few years, I have also made close personal connections with people in the community there that I would love to develop as a student at NYU.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed my interview day at Einstein, and they have offered me a 160K scholarship over four years. NYU's base COA is still >15k then Einstein, so the savings of going to Einstein are immense.

Other factors include my feeling that I will want to match is a competitive residency position (would like to keep my options open for sub-surgical at a good institution in NY).

Thanks in advance!

Orbital

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[mcatjelly]

Why wouldn't you want to save 160k???

 

[deleted577188]

Save the money. Become the same physician. Go to Einstein.

 

[butternutsquash]

Choose Einstein.

 

[Affiche]

Einstein. One of my best friends just chose Michigan over Oakland despite Oakland offering her 1/2 off tuition. She's OOS for MI. No one understands why on earth she made such a financially unsound decision.

 

[ChrisMack390]

Einstein. One of my best friends just chose Michigan over Oakland despite Oakland offering her 1/2 off tuition. She's OOS for MI. No one understands why on earth she made such a financially unsound decision.

Do you mean U of M or MS? If you mean U of M this is a completely reasonable decision.


OP - just go to Einstein. That's a massive amount of money. You can still do research at NYU if you want to (I hear they have a subway in New York). Einstein will not hurt your chance at a great residency at all.

 

[Affiche]

U of M. She also had free rent at Oakland and living in Ann Arbor is incredibly expensive. Over the course of 4 years + interest, she'll be paying ~$200,000 extra than if she just went to Oakland. For a girl that wants to go into primary care? Yeah, I don't think that's completely reasonable.

Edit: maybe I just really like my money, but I can't see myself ever paying 200k extra just for prestige.

 

[Psai]

Go where your heart leads you

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

I can see both sides of the argument. Money is great and all, but so is living with no regrets and going where you will be happiest. If you think you'll be close to as happy at Einstein and not regret passing up NYU, then obviously go there. If you might say "what if" for the rest of your life, then follow your heart.

 

[Affiche]

Factoring in the scholarship + base costs, you'd be paying $220,000 more to go to NYU, which will be around $300,000 once you factor in the interest. If you're going to choose NYU, make absolutely sure you understand the cost you're paying to do so.

 

[medic86]

U of M. She also had free rent at Oakland and living in Ann Arbor is incredibly expensive. Over the course of 4 years + interest, she'll be paying ~$200,000 extra than if she just went to Oakland. For a girl that wants to go into primary care? Yeah, I don't think that's completely reasonable.

Edit: maybe I just really like my money, but I can't see myself ever paying 200k extra just for prestige. Oakland matches just fine.

Playing Devil's advocate:

What if it was Oakland vs. Harvard in this particular instance? 😛

Edit: I'm just curious!

 

[Affiche]

Playing Devil's advocate:

What if it was Oakland vs. Harvard in this particular instance? 😛

Edit: I'm just curious!

Well, if it's Harvard....

Just kidding. Me, personally? I would still choose Oakland if it was significantly cheaper and I thought I would be happy there. I'm starting my third gap year right now and paying back my undergrad loans is not fun. It's easy to not think about loans when it's an abstract number that doesn't affect your life yet, but the truth is that one day it will. Being in debt isn't fun. It makes it more difficult to save money for a car, house, vacation etc. because you owe someone else money. You're earning money to give it to someone else. Disclaimer: I also don't want to go into academics or a particularly competitive specialty, so I'm afforded the luxury of choosing a school based on fit> prestige and knowing that my career will be just fine.

 

[unnumzaan]

Clearly NYU's prestige factor isn't enough to sway the collective SDN ego on this one.

 

[Iridescent]

Clearly NYU's prestige factor isn't enough to sway the collective SDN ego on this one.

Let's be real. It's not 160k worth better.

Especially when it's in the same city, albeit slightly different environment.

 

[mw18]

I think they're both great schools. I think you can/will match into a competitive residency from either. I'm different from the mainstream, I guess, because I always think you should go with your heart. If you're asking me what I would do, I would probably go to Einstein because I don't see a $220k difference between them. But I made a similar decision to you choosing NYU between two schools that almost certainly don't have that much of a difference in prestige (for explanation to others purposes, nothing to do with my choice). So I understand YOU picking NYU, and would probably advise that.

Also, another thing that people hate being mentioned because it is a government program that will likely be changed (with a decent chance of grandfathering) is using the PSLF if you are going to have a long residency (mentioned surgical subs) and if you have an interest in academic medicine. Tons of SDNers will (correctly) point out that it may not exist, even to current borrowers, in its same form - but if it does with PAYE/IBR you will likely have paid the same amount to Einstein/NYU by the time ten years has passed and your loans are forgiven. Obviously a risk, though.

Also, I completely understand why someone would choose Michigan over Oakland for that amount of money. Any physician can do any specialty and have any career from any med school, but a career that makes $300,000 more over its lifetime seems plausible from Michigan. I will admit, I don't know much about Oakland, but I wouldn't have had an issue with that choice.

 

[Banco]

As someone who has looked into all the NYC schools, I can sympathize with you OP, NYU was one of my top choices during the app cycle. But 220k MORE to go to NYU? (And then 350k+ with interest) Absolutely not worth it.

Simply put Einstein is an excellent school in the NYC region, and has given you 160k in free money. If your goal is to match in NYC, then Einstein is not going to hold you back in any way.

Maybe ask NYU if they can give you some aid? I doubt this will make much of a dent but worth a shot. Overall I would understand going to NYU if the alternative choice was a very low tier or new school, but when compared to a great school like Einstein? I would have a hard time justifying it. Save the money, buy yourself a place in NYC when you're a practicing physician haha.

 

[Temerit]

I don't think it's worth the additional 220k in debt, unfortunately...

The good news is Einstein is a fantastic school, you'll have great opportunities for residency, and you'll still be in NYC.

 

[OrbitalOverload]

Decided to go with Einstein in the end. Couldn't justify the extra $200K +. Was a very difficult decision but I am at peace with it. Looking forward to starting at Einstein!

 

[maccu5000]

Great decision, OO. Remember, it's not just money + interest, but money + interest + money that could be earned if invested properly. All told, you probably saved yourself over $400,000 and gave yourself more spending money during the years you can enjoy.

 

[ChrisMack390]

Not to mention - Einstein is great! I would love to get in there.

 

[Gandyy]

Einstein is a great program! Solid mid tier MD program.

 

[Doug Underhill]

Congrats on Einstein, it's a great program.

 

[Psai]

Einstein is a great program! Solid mid tier MD program.

who are you?

 

[Gandyy]

who are you?

lol , what kind of question is that?

 

[md-2020]

who are you?

This borders on creepy bro.

 

[itsogre]

lol , what kind of question is that?

guessing he meant who are you to make that judgement call

 

[Gandyy]

guessing he meant who are you to make that judgement call

Ah, Well its a mid tier MD program. You dont have to go to Harvard to say its a great program right?

 

[Goro]

Let's get to the point: Do you like taking the 6 train Uptown, or Downtown???

 

[Banco]

Let's get to the point: Do you like taking the 6 train Uptown, or Downtown???

No one likes taking the 6 train uptown, let's be real

Ah, Well its a mid tier MD program. You dont have to go to Harvard to say its a great program right?

Yeah I dunno what he was trying to say, it is a great program.

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

Eat a bunch of ice cream + chipotle, go into a food coma, wake up and make a decision.

 

[Affiche]

Live in Ypsi/Saline/further along I-94 etc.
Become diehard Wolverine
???
Profit

I'll grant that paying twice the tuition is a lot.

Eh, we're already die-hard wolverines. We don't need to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to say that lol.
And maybe, but she's living in a studio apartment 2 blocks from the hospital. Die-hard about primary care. Not the wisest financial decision, but at least she's still a Wolverine!