Updated: UPenn, Harvard, and Mayo Clinic (Full Tuition Scholarships)

[kandaka]

(See post-visit update in replies)

Hi everyone,

I would love your advice as I make a final decision between medical schools. I’m extremely fortunate to have full tuition scholarships to UPenn, Harvard, and Mayo Clinic (Rochester).

• At UPenn, I was awarded the 21st Century Scholarship, which covers full tuition plus living expenses — no need to reapply for aid each year.
• At Harvard, tuition is fully covered, but I would need to take out loans for living expenses (~$20–30K per year) and reapply for financial aid annually since it’s need-based.
• At Mayo Clinic, I received a full tuition scholarship — no need to reapply each year — but would still need to take out loans for living expenses (~$20–30K per year).

Here’s what I’m thinking about each school:

UPenn Perelman School of Medicine
Pros:

• Loved my interview experience – students seemed genuinely happy and supportive
• Diversity of Philadelphia and many community engagement opportunities
• Global Health Track and other specialized certificate programs
• Ability to take free classes at other Penn schools (Wharton, Law, etc.)
• Overall collaborative environment
• Ability to pursue dual degrees (MPH, MBA, etc.)
• Free iPads 🙂
• Excellent match list

Cons:

• Graded clinicals (instead of pass/fail)
• Potentially competitive environment
• Surrounding area in Philly is allegedly sketchy/dangerous (concern about safety)
• Would be away from family and friends

Harvard Medical School
Pros:

• Unmatched prestige and global reputation
• More international recognition — could open doors if I choose to work abroad later
• Extremely extensive alumni network and connections
• Research opportunities across all major hospitals and departments
• Ability to pursue dual degrees (MPH, MBA, etc.)
• Pass/fail all four years (both pre-clinical and clinical)
• Location in Boston — close to friends and my current support system
• Opportunity to continue my current research projects at Brigham and Women’s
• Parents would be thrilled if I attended Harvard
• Strong global health network
• Excellent match list (potentially slightly better than the rest??)

Cons:

• Would need to take out loans for living expenses
• Need to reapply for financial aid every year (need-based aid)
• Interview experience was less welcoming compared to UPenn
• Mandatory classes from 8 am to noon every day (might not even be recorded!!)
• Might not be able to start research immediately due to class commitments (not sure how true this is)
• Boston winters 🙁
• I’ve also heard rumors that Harvard graduates may feel less clinically prepared for residency because of the heavy emphasis on research (would love clarification from anyone with insight into this!)

Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Pros:

• Full tuition scholarship
• Incredible clinical training and mentorship model
• Very small class size = highly personalized attention
• Access to Mayo’s world-class facilities and diverse, complex patient population
• Lower cost of living in Rochester compared to Philly or Boston
• Excellent match list

Cons:

• Geographic location — Rochester is much smaller and less diverse
• Maybe less emphasis on research compared to the other two
• Fewer community engagement and global health opportunities compared to Penn and Harvard
• Slightly less name recognition outside the clinical world, especially internationally
• Would be away from family and friends

Right now I’m mainly deciding between UPenn and Harvard, but I want to give Mayo a fair consideration too.

If anyone has thoughts based on fit, long-term goals (academic medicine + advocacy), financial factors, or personal experiences at these schools, I would really appreciate your advice!

Thank you so much for reading and for your help!!

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[newkungfukenny]

I feel like Mayo is definitely out of the running.

If you were to go to Harvard you’d have to ask yourself what exactly are you paying 120k for? Do you think those pros are worth the 120k: p/f, close to support system, etc? (There’s no wrong answer)

If worth it, go to Harvard! If not, then Penn!

 

[newkungfukenny]

But also might be worth to see if H matches aid?

 

[RockClimberMed]

Free iPad tho...

 

[Mr. Macrophage]

It sounds like location is very important to you, and that you aren’t a big fan of Rochester. You also seem to potentially want a dual degree MBA! With that in mind, I wouldn’t consider Mayo here. Everyone and their mother knows Mayo (even abroad), but as you noted, the name is recognized due to the hospital and clinical excellence, not other fields like business! Harvard and Penn would give you a serious leg up there.

Regarding Harvard’s mandatory classes… this could be a good thing! It really depends on how you work. If you benefit from daily structure and like a good rhythm but don’t have the discipline to force it on yourself, mandatory classes could be a pro!

With that being said, $120,000 is a serious sum for two peer schools. Especially at 8-9% interest. I would evaluate if Boston+support system is worth that much to you! Given the pros and cons you listed, I would pick Penn!

 

[deleted1197021]

Omg Penn! Also that's so cool you can take classes at the other schools!

 

[hydroflaskhomie]

Definitely Penn here, congratulations!

 

[kandaka]

I feel like Mayo is definitely out of the running.

If you were to go to Harvard you’d have to ask yourself what exactly are you paying 120k for? Do you think those pros are worth the 120k: p/f, close to support system, etc? (There’s no wrong answer)

If worth it, go to Harvard! If not, then Penn!

Currently, my estimated debt would be 75,000 for the 4 years which is closer to how much I estimate cost of living in Boston with roommates would be. But still, to me that is a substantial number given I have the option to not take any loans

 

[kandaka]

It sounds like location is very important to you, and that you aren’t a big fan of Rochester. You also seem to potentially want a dual degree MBA! With that in mind, I wouldn’t consider Mayo here. Everyone and their mother knows Mayo (even abroad), but as you noted, the name is recognized due to the hospital and clinical excellence, not other fields like business! Harvard and Penn would give you a serious leg up there.

Regarding Harvard’s mandatory classes… this could be a good thing! It really depends on how you work. If you benefit from daily structure and like a good rhythm but don’t have the discipline to force it on yourself, mandatory classes could be a pro!

With that being said, $120,000 is a serious sum for two peer schools. Especially at 8-9% interest. I would evaluate if Boston+support system is worth that much to you! Given the pros and cons you listed, I would pick Penn!

I think my interest rate was around 5% and not 8-9%

 

[kandaka]

But also might be worth to see if H matches aid?

I've heard that they are usually not willing to match aid but I'll try my luck. But I'm more so less concerned about the money and more about which school is a better fit for me in the short and long term if that makes sense

 

[Mr.Smile12]

OP has a full ride plus living at Penn, right? Let's see if the iPads remain a benefit after all the higher ed arm-twisting by the White House ends... and it really won't end. Whatever you do, avoid the debt when you can.

 

[Mr. Macrophage]

I think my interest rate was around 5% and not 8-9%

Is that institutional loans, then? Federal loans are 8-9%.

 

[Mr. Macrophage]

I've heard that they are usually not willing to match aid but I'll try my luck. But I'm more so less concerned about the money and more about which school is a better fit for me in the short and long term if that makes sense

Any of these 3 schools will match you wherever you want to go, and help you achieve whatever you want to achieve.

Fit matters, but I completely agree with Mr. Smile, finances should be a major concern. These schools are too similar in potential to easily justify $120,000. That’s a down payment on a house.

 

[Student2025!]

All excellent schools! I would say UPenn since that also covers cost of living too.

 

[kandaka]

Hi everyone! I wanted to share an update now that I have visited all the schools and ask for more advice.

Mayo is no longer in the running, mainly because of its location, limited global health opportunities, and the need for a car due to minimal public transportation.

After visiting Harvard, I find myself more conflicted than I expected. I still enjoyed my visit to Penn more overall. The student body felt incredibly warm, supportive, and grounded. I could easily picture myself thriving there. That said, I think part of what made Harvard feel less exciting was that the revisit was more administrative and not very student-led. I did not get to interact with many current students, but the few I met were impressive, kind, and non-competitive.

Talking to them made me realize that Harvard may be a stronger fit when it comes to my long-term goals in global health, public health, and policy. It seems like this is one area where Harvard might truly stand out, in terms of resources, mentorship, and institutional support.

The biggest factor still holding me back is the financial difference. I would graduate from Penn debt-free. Harvard would require me to take out about $100,000 in loans to cover the cost of living. I reached out to negotiate, but I was told that I already received the maximum scholarship (aside from REACH, which I did not receive). My parents are strongly encouraging me to choose Harvard, believing that I will be able to pay back the loans easily after graduation. Still, our financial situation is not ideal, and I am not sure I feel comfortable taking on that level of debt if there is another great option.

So here is where I could really use your insight: Are the global and public health opportunities at Harvard so unmatched that they justify the cost? Or is Penn strong enough in those areas that it would make more sense to go there and avoid the debt? Is the debt unreasonable in the grand scheme of a medical career, or would I regret passing up Harvard in the long run?

 

[lazymango93]

Taking on 100k of loans is definitely a lot but in the grand scheme of things can be paid back relatively easily once you reach an attending salary (others on this thread have situations with 200k or 300k in loans). Of course, in the end, you only have one medical school experience and Harvard is Harvard and the name will carry weight wherever you go - so if you genuinely value this and its edge in global health opportunities and can see yourself thriving there, it is probably worth it in your case.

That said, I doubt Penn would hold you back.

 

[catnip12]

Penn!!

 

[hydroflaskhomie]

This is very tough. Going to echo that Penn is not going to hold you back.

Couple thoughts on your pro/cons list.

- The immediate area around Penn itself is not ridiculously shady or sketchy, it's actually decently nice. The part of Philly that it is in is actually more vibrant in my opinion than the area of Boston that HMS is in. I would say overall Philly does feel more sketchy/scary than Boston as a whole though; but you should focus on the area around the medical school since that's what your life will revolve around.
- $100k is not make or break but it does sound anxiety inducing to you - this is a very personal decision but if I were you making this decision in 2025, I probably would follow the money here given the state of student loans in this country/uncertain future altogether.
- As I have said on many other threads, as a student at another school, my opinion is that Harvard/Hopkins/UCSF are a half step above everyone else in the T10 but this does not matter in practice. I can confidently tell you that you are going to match the same out of Penn and Harvard. You will have equally high class research opportunities and equal access to the Northeast sector of medical excellence.
- I'm a huge proponent of a unified campus and think that's a big pro for Penn (being able to take part in the other amazing offerings), medical school is busy and you might find it harder than you think to make it over to Harvard's other campuses (especially with that much mandatory class).
- P/F is really nice, but haven't there been substantial rumors about HMS going back to clinical grading? I haven't heard anything about clinical grades at Penn being particularly tough.
- Family/friends/support system is important but there also is some value in a fresh start/making new connections in a new city.

Altogether, I'd easily pick Penn here primarily for financial reasons and because I don't see a strong compelling differentiator for Harvard aside from the name/familiarity. But I definitely don't think you're making a huge mistake if you pick Harvard. Congratulations on excellent options!

 

[cheesetemple]

+1 for Penn. There is no meaningful difference in opportunities available for a medical student between Penn and Harvard, and you will not be passing up opportunities by choosing Penn. To be guaranteed debt-free upon graduation, especially in the current climate with PSLF and even Grad Plus loans being under attack, is huge. Penn is a powerhouse in policy and interdisciplinary work, especially with its integrated campus, and you will absolutely have access to more opportunities and resources than you could take advantage of as a medical student at Penn. Philly is a great city to live in (and agree with the above that the area around PSOM is more vibrant and fun than Longwood), and while staying with family/support system is nice, expanding your network and living in a new city in your 20s is also cool and extremely valuable. Take the full ride!!

 

[Endoxifen]

Take Penn. I was in a very similar position to you last year. Debt should be avoided at all costs. There is no difference between Penn and Harvard for prestige in medicine, especially given the extremely prestigious scholarship. It's far more impressive to be given a merit scholarship to Penn than to have debt out of Harvard. Do your future self a favor and take the title and cash.