Scholarship to Drexel vs a T10 school

[bongeywash]

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I am trying to decide between Drexel who gave me a great scholarship versus a T10 school in a great location(high cost of living) that gave me no financial help. I am in a situation where I would have to take out loans, especially at the T10 school.
Thoughts?

 

[acciobutterbeer]

What are your long term goals? If you want to leave the door open for academic medicine, you might want to seriously consider the top 10. If you are set on a speciality that tends to be less competitive, the name doesn’t matter as much.

Also, what is the total cost difference over all four years?

 

[ctvlf6]

If it’s the 120K scholarship at DUCOM, plugging it into a loan calculator, if you were to pay it off over 4 years after residency (tall order depending on specialty), you’re really saving $266K in lifetime payments at the 7.6% interest rate.

Something to consider.

 

[bongeywash]

That is true. I want to pursue a specialty but not sure which one. The difference would be around 80k. Thanks for the input!

 

[acciobutterbeer]

Is it $80k per year or total over the four years?

I was looking at a cost difference of $60,000 over four years and for me that would be worth it! Better research opportunities for me

 

[IlDestriero]

Does the 80k include the difference in estimated cost of attending both schools? Philly vs Boston or Palo Alto for example might have a significantly different estimated 4 year COA.
You should look it up and factor that in as well.
Assume you’ll pay double by the time it’s paid off.
80k alone might not move the needle much but 120+ is a different story.

 

[puahate]

That's tough because i am really not a fan of Drexel but that's a lot of money they are paying you.

 

[Deecee2DO]

Honestly depends on what you want to do. Academic medicine or uber competitive specialty (surgical subspecialty, derm etc at a top tier program) the T10 will make it a lot easier and open more doors for connections etc. If you simply want to be a doctor and arent picky then go for the scholarship. Realistically, if you go Drexel its not like you cant still do academics or uber competitive specialties youll probably just have to work a little harder with slightly less doors open. Its not like were talking DO vs MD where most people would say go MD it opens more doors; Were talking MD vs really good MD which makes the difference slightly more marginal. Either way, not a bad place to be in OP-Congrats

 

[WedgeDawg]

I’d go T10 unless you are trying to do primary care.

Also moving to X vs Y

 

[ctvlf6]

That's tough because i am really not a fan of Drexel but that's a lot of money they are paying you.

Have you attended Drexel, or is that just based off what you’ve read on SDN?

 

[DrRiker]

I’d go T10 unless you are trying to do primary care.

Also moving to X vs Y

I mean, Drexel matches into good residency programs. Drexel wouldn't stop OP from being a cardiologist. Even an academic cardiologist. It just might not be the best foundation for Nobel prize winning research at MGH.

 

[puahate]

Have you attended Drexel, or is that just based off what you’ve read on SDN?

News, SDN, other medical students ( i used to live in Philly), ranking ect

 

[CarpeDiem1993]

What's the top ten school?

 

[bongeywash]

Wow! Thanks for the opinions everyone, really gave me good things I need to think about.

 

[Quantal Reasoning]

Drexel, that's too much money to pass up.

 

[pilgrampirate86]

I agree