Transfer School

[tkuczek2]

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Hey guys and girls,

My name is Tom. I'd just like a quick opinion on my situation. I am in my fourth and last semester at a community college, where I think I achieved some great academic success (3.77 gpa), although I am still taking Calculus in the summer. Basically, after this semester I will be transferring out. I got denied for Exercise Physiology at Marquette, due to no more room. Loyola was honestly way too expensive for me to even consider.. even with scholarships, etc. I got waitlisted, but I don't think I'm going to send in my Spring & Summer transcripts for it may be too late. I know we hear it forever and ever, and I've seen it on this board a lot.. Prestige does not matter. Is this honestly true? This leads me to decide between UIC and UIUC.

UIC
- Stay at home with parents/brother
- Commute downtown
- Judging by my award letter in front of me, I was only offered loans, so I'd pay around 15k + books. Honestly a lot more than I thought I was for staying home.. so after 2 years, this would be 30kish.

UIUC
- I just went to admitted transfer day today, and honestly.. Loved the campus. Environment was lively.
- Judging by my award letter, I got a 4.2k grant/year. If I dorm on campus, it would turn out to around 23k a year. This would come out to 46kish after my last two years. *Although I'm trying to calculate if it'd be a lot cheaper with an apartment with some friends to see if it'd be cheaper.
- Also, I'd loveeeeeeeee to have the college experience the last two years.

Would it be wise to add in at the very least 10k of debt to maybe even 15k of debt to attend a flag-ship public university in Illinois and one that is viewed highly as a research-based, prestigious university? Should I not even worry about this? Would you consider both amounts to be ridiculous in terms of debt after my 4 years of undergrad. Basically, I paid ALL of my first two years of college already because I was on payment plans and paid them throughout my attendance.

 

[jdaniels360]

Stay at home and save as much money as possible. Trust me on this one.

 

[tkuczek2]

Thank you for the honest opinion. I understand how important it is to save all the money for grad school debt.

 

[TTU14]

I got into Washington University, a top 3 PT school, and for my undergraduate I went to a school no one here has probably ever heard of.

Prestige might help a little bit and might help you stand out a bit from a candidate with similar stats, but I think overall GPA and GRE are king.

 

[tkuczek2]

May I ask "TTU14" how much debt you had after undergrad ? If you wish to not say, I understand. I'm basically deciding between around 46k of debt vs. 30k a debt undergrad before my graduate school. Only things that worry me is the 30k debt school is basically in the city where I'd have to commute to by car, or bus. At the same time, I wonder if the school will help me get exposed to different aspects like research, clubs, etc, or if it'd be harder being in the city, where I'd have to literally stay all day at times, due to this.

 

[TTU14]

I had a lot of scholarships and grants so my undergraduate debt wasn't bad, so unfortunately I can't really comment on that aspect.

 

[BrokenDancer]

No, prestige doesn't matter. If you'll be happier at UIUC, for ~$5-8k a year, I'd say it's worth it. Your happiness will effect your grades and your motivation to keep going with this. Your commute can also play a big role in this. A long commute, whether on public transportation or by car, can be absolutely grueling. Some people deal with it better than others, but over time it can eat away at you. My brother went to a high school that had a 2-3 hour commute each way, which at best we were able to get down to 1.5 hours. He found himself completely unable to be involved in extracurriculars, it hindered his social life dramatically, and by the time he got home, he was too tired to do anything in the area. He now lives a 10 minute commute from work and it's a world of difference. I did the same commute as him for work, and found myself okay with sleeping on the train and able to handle it, but I also can run well on very little sleep. I did get rather frustrated and sick of it after a while though. Additionally, you need to take into consideration how happy you are at home and living with your family. I was much more successful, active, and social in college living on my own than I am when I'm taking classes here at home, but my best friend is much more studious (and just as social) living at home. Everyone's different. If there's more opportunities to better yourself academically, career-wise, and just in general, that may make it more worth it as well to go to UIUC. Yes, the money adds up, but it's not such a huge amount in this case that I'd base it solely on that.

 

[tkuczek2]

I'm loving all of the honest insight. To each of you who have took the time into offering advice, it was not left unnoticed. The decision for me is due basically at 11:59 today if I want to attend Urbana-Champaign. Any last minute insight? Just curious. Getting advice from people who too are trying to get into the field too, or something related, is what I find the most helpful.

 

[tkuczek2]

Hey everyone, I'm sorry for the double post. I have recently decided that I will be attending University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) to continue my studies. A lot of factors.. A LOT of thinking.. A LOT of talking with others for advice came into this, but I've decided to stay home in the end. I just hope everyone not just for a transfer school, but PT grad school always tries to look through every pro and con, and not just try to make the quickest decision for it may just hurt you in the end. From my biology teacher, I was told of the great opportunities waiting ahead of me in the city through internships and research considering part of the Kinesiology curriculum, I believe it's even mandatory to do research/independent study/internship, which I found to be what can potentially separate me from others. The thought of saving the 15-16k for two years of debt does truly sway my decision. For some this doesn't sound crazy in choosing a school, but keep in mind.. I'm still in undergrad. If this were a 15-16k difference between two PT schools.. then it'd be a whole different story, and a lot of different aspects would come into place. In the end, it's not the "difference" that I should look at, but obviously the "total debt," which is looking like 30k for undergrad for me now. I'm hoping to nail a scholarship, or two hopefully after next year and see that number further decrease. Also, by researching some PT schools as it's not just my goal, but everyone's striving to become a PT.. is less than 100k debt just too much to ask for? 😛 Once I put out all the reasons of why I wanted to leave home, the more kept coming for why I shouldn't. Think of the type of person you are when it comes to studying. Personally, I tried a little "test" and tried to study a bit more at school for one test, and the usual I do at home studying. It may pertain to just me, but in the end, I just felt distracted in the school library even if my music was playing in the headphones. Last, once I put both curriculums next to one another and compared both by coursework.. When it came to what I liked and what I felt to be most helpful in preparing me for not just PT school, but extra certifications through which I personally want in life with my passion in fitness/health (ex. CSCS), the UIC coursework felt more dominant. Yes, UIUC I chose not to attend may be the "more prestigious school," but UIC to me is seen as strong option as its health/science/medical related careers and route to achieving your dreams in them.. is truly great.

Others factors just being that UIC has a PT school already in the building, and although I've been told it's really hard to get into, I'm hoping by working truly hard, I can be seen as a viable option because it is one of the cheapest options I've seen. My other goals since I will be staying home for school will be to try finding a PT Aide job even this summer as observing I've noticed that was something I'd have interest in and working my ass off sadly in Calculus this summer.. !!! Whoopie!