UCSF ($150k) vs. Weill Cornell ($50k)

[BlessTheMakerAndHisWater]

To preface, I'm East Coast based. Basically all of my friends and family are out here, and I've only ever traveled out to California twice in my life (second time being the ASW for UCSF). I'm a first-gen Hispanic immigrant to the US, come from a low-income background, and I'm fortunate to have zero debt right now (got a full-ride for my undergraduate state school).

The thought of coming out of med school with minimal debt presents itself as very attractive and liberating. I've visited NYC many times before, and I always enjoy my time there - though I can't help but shake the feeling that the city would become very overwhelming/claustrophobic living there.

A change of scenery is never something that's scared me. I'd really dig the opportunity to venture to the West Coast to plant seeds/build community and gather new perspectives. I really fell in love with SF and UCSF's culture after my visit, and have a difficult time envisioning myself elsewhere for medical school.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on whether or not the price difference would be enough to topple the scales towards Cornell, even though my gut is telling me to go to UCSF. I'm not sure which specialty I want to pick yet, and I can't tell how much more difficult it'll be to pay off the extra $100k once I go from resident to attending. Sooo would it be foolish of me to pick Cornell for the money and potentially be regretful of my choice? Should I just bite the bullet and take out the extra $100k for UCSF?

• UCSF Pros: City + nature, school culture (health-equity/social justice), school name, massive Hispanic community within the student body, true P/F all four years, no rankings/AOA, Cal-Fresh (SNAP/EBT), more of a laid back environment, faculty make themselves incredibly available to the students, free and accessible mental health services.
• UCSF Cons: Extra $100k debt, less affordable housing, no health insurance grant, further from family/friends (would have to start from scratch), likely need to get a car for clerkships (extra $$$).
• Cornell Pros: 90% COA covered in grants + health insurance grant, strong global health opportunities, beautiful facilities, proximity to the school through affordable student housing, raving/EDM culture, music in medicine program, students seemed very fun to be around (work hard play hard culture).
• Cornell Cons: F/P/HP/Honors clerkships + rankings + AOA, less flexibility in curriculum, less access to nature (feels difficult to "get out of the city"), smaller Hispanic community within the student body, NYC can be claustrophobic and overstimulating at times.

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[hydroflaskhomie]

Great choices here.

I love where Cornell is in the city - it has the best NYC location IMO out of all the schools.

Cornell is a grind and UCSF definitely has the edge on P/F here.

I'm pretty split on this one - $100k is pay-offable, but it seems like you would be happy at Cornell. Also, at Cornell you won't have to pay as much to go home for holidays/don't need a car for clerkships/have built in good housing. I'm leaning Cornell here just because I think the edge UCSF has might not be a $100k + incidentals mentioned edge.