TTUHSC El Paso (Foster) vs UTHSCSA (Long)

[sufjanstan]

These are both schools I think I’d be happy at, and they both have low in-state tuition so either way I’ll be graduating with less debt than usual. Long is much closer to my family in Austin which is a huge deal to me, so that’s where I’d go if the cost was equal. However, TTUHSC El Paso has offered me $40k ($10k/year) more in scholarships, and I want to go into primary care which doesn’t pay as well. To be honest, I have no clue how big of a deal that is and how heavily it should weigh in my decision. Is being closer to home worth an extra $40k in debt? Any financial advice would be much appreciated.

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[burgerking12345]

El Paso is a great city and I loved it there but I’d SA. Having social support near by is worth its weight in gold in medical school and SA will also help keep your options open over the long run.

Over the course of your career regardless of what specialty you go into 40k is not going to make THAT big of a difference

 

[123OkayGoogle]

Maybe try to negotiate with long to see if they can come close to matching El Paso’s offer

 

[Bot Puppet]

Sounds like Long is the move here! I heard Long can be hard though. Curriculum isn’t designed for Step, and there’s mandatory attendance!

 

[wysdoc]

You could buy lots of plane tickets for your fam to visit you with $40,000

 

[thatonegrrl]

I was also accepted both places, and since primary care is your goal, I'd take the scholarship personally. Cost of living is comparable, both have lots of opportunities to work with VA (if that's of interest), and work with diverse populations and with border health issues. So at the end of the day, one gives you more financial freedom to be able to do the work you most want to do.

(I'm mostly waffling between TTUHSC in Lubbock and Long myself, if I had a big scholarship either place the decision would be so much easier)

 

[obiwan]

Maybe try to negotiate with long to see if they can come close to matching El Paso’s offer

LOL. This is not like free agency in the NFL where you can negotiate your scholarship package.

 

[Bot Puppet]

LOL. This is not like free agency in the NFL where you can negotiate your scholarship package.

Leveraging schools for more aid is not too uncommon.

 

[123OkayGoogle]

LOL. This is not like free agency in the NFL where you can negotiate your scholarship package.

You actually can. Worst the school can say is no.