UTK vs Penn

[jek1117]

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Hello everyone!

Trying to decide where to go. I visited CSU last week and loved it, my only hesitation is the cost. Here's some info:

-equine focused, want to pursue residency in internal medicine or ECC so internship placement and possibility for tracking is important to me
-love the outdoors, hiking, climbing etc. a huge plus for mental wellbeing
-currently at umich, so wouldn't mind a change of area
-TN resident- in state tuition at UT
-15k scholarship at UF- OOS tuition is 45k in comparison to 30k at UT
-really want a progressive/left leaning area, I'm from Nashville/ currently in Ann Arbor which is very liberal and I'm most concerned about some of the locations (Knox, Gainesville)
-will be taking out loans for entire tuition but supported for rent/cost of living

Would love any thoughts on these programs! Im visiting UT next week, will miss UFs preview days, and planning to drive down to tOSU in April

 

[WildZoo]

Go to UT.

First of all because you're going to save a buttload of money with in-state tuition. That is the most important point, especially with the federal student loan situation being what it is right now.

Knoxville is a college town so it's not really normal east Tennessee vibes culturally, leans pretty liberal (for Tennessee) maybe not quite as much as you're used to? But I lived there for 7 years and it's a good place.

The outdoors portion is obviously a plus there.

UT still doesn't track afaik but your clinical schedule is pretty malleable with electives and such. Their equine caseload is not going to be as high as some other places that have more sports activity, but still decent (from my perspective as a zoo med person, whatever that is worth). The equine med faculty were also some of my favorite professors.

I only had a couple of classmates go equine specialty route but those who did were successful in that endeavor.

 

[breezywonton]

happy to answer any specific questions about UT! I’m a current first year and i’m loving it! i’ll be at admitted students day this week but could always meet up with you separately if you plan to visit on a different day to answer any questions or show you around! : )

 

[vampyrica]

as someone who attends CSU, this weekend was very much to hype everyone up and show you all the shiny new things at the school. BUT after the financial breakdown, COA of 90k a year (+/- depending on what your needs are) is alot. 360k with 160k of that being private loans and not including interest.

go to the cheapest school, and come visit us on your summers for some rotations/internships!

 

[jek1117]

Hi guys,

I have narrowed it down to these two options, unless something changes scholarship wise. I received a decently large scholarship from Penn which would cover over 1 yr of tuition and make my loans under 200k and a 60k difference from UT, which is my in state.

I want to go into equine medicine through an internship and hopefully residency, so large equine caseload is important to me. Is 60k a small enough difference for me to choose the school I like better? (unsure which one yet since i haven't visited either, just starting to think about it) especially since I'll only need federal loans either way.

 

[jek1117]

happy to answer any specific questions about UT! I’m a current first year and i’m loving it! i’ll be at admitted students day this week but could always meet up with you separately if you plan to visit on a different day to answer any questions or show you around! : )

Thank you!! Im visiting this week for admitted students day so I'll definitely reach out with any questions 🙂

 

[JaynaAli]

Equine notoriously pays far less than other types of practice, so I would absolutely go to whichever option is cheapest. 60k turns into far more than 60k when factoring in interest. It’s good that you’ll be under federal loan limits with either option, but in my opinion, there are no opportunities a school could possibly provide that are worth paying an extra $60,000. So much of vet school is what you make it and the experiences you seek out for yourself. Do future-you a favor and minimize your loans.

I’d do some decently crazy things to be given/save $60,000 at this point in my life.

 

[supershorty]

I have merged OP's 2 topics on this.

 

[WildZoo]

Agree with Jayna. 60k is not "small" by any means. 60k plus interest even less so. Especially when you're wanting to specialize, you are losing additional years of earning potential while you're making intern and resident salary, and equine med doesn't tend to make up for that once you have your real adult job as quickly as other specialties do.

60k is likely more than you'll make per year while going through specialty training. I think if you frame it in terms of "what could I do in my life without an extra 60k+ in loans to pay back" it helps make the decision for you. You can also look at loan repayment simulators and see how much it changes your payments.

You can get yourself some good externships and summer experiences to set yourself up even more for success if you don't feel like you're getting the experience/caseload you need, and for far less than 60k. But I promise UT isn't lacking in equine caseload even if they're not hitting Penn numbers.