Vandy or state school? Please help!

[daisy44]

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Ok, here's the dilemma I'm facing: Vandy or my state school. I'm leaning towards my state school purely for $$ reasons but I'd really appreciate some second opinions, especially from current med students or med school grads.

Price: I got a merit scholarship from my state school, and only 2 grand in financial aid from Vandy, so I'm looking at a price difference of $120,000 over the course of 4 years. If I went to my state school, my parents would be able to pay in full, so I'd graduate debt free.

Ranking: Vandy is #15. State school is something like #70. HUGE difference.

Reputation: Vandy wins. I know people say that ranking doesn't matter, but I feel like Vandy's top-20 status must confer some sort of advantage when it comes to residency selection.

Specialties: I don't know what field I want to enter, but I don't feel like I'm intending to go into ROAD or any of the super-competitive specialities. I definitely don't want to do research.

Feel: Vandy is way prettier and I got a really good vibe. Also in a much better city...but my state school is closer to home, which would be really nice for me. But a fun city would be nice too.

I know this is my decision ultimately and no one can tell me what to do, but I guess I'd like to know what you would do if you were in my position. Especially those of you who are currently in or have attended med school. Is that 120k worth the sizeable drop in reputation and ranking??

Gracias.

 

[metallica81788]

Your parents wouldn't pay the equivalent amount of your state school toward Vandy?

 

[daisy44]

Your parents wouldn't pay the equivalent amount of your state school toward Vandy?

They would, but I'd have to take the rest out in loans, so I'd have 120,000 in loans.

 

[metallica81788]

They would, but I'd have to take the rest out in loans, so I'd have 120,000 in loans.

That's not that bad at all compared to everybody else, for what it's worth.

Most people will be going into at least 200k of debt from loans.

 

[specter]

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer here. It's all up to personal preference...is the satisfaction of going to a prestigious school worth 120k of debt to you? It would be worth it it some people, others would rather have less money to pay off.

Prestige is a debatable issue, and we don't want to open that can of worms again since it's been discussed to death on SDN. Just remember, your med school is your med school forever, and you'll never get those 4 years of your life back...so make sure you go somewhere you think you would be happy/proud to be. You will be able to pay off your debts, contrary to what some doomsayers are forecasting regarding physician reimbursement.

 

[ButImLETired]

Ok, here's the dilemma I'm facing: Vandy or my state school. I'm leaning towards my state school purely for $$ reasons but I'd really appreciate some second opinions, especially from current med students or med school grads.

Price: I got a merit scholarship from my state school, and only 2 grand in financial aid from Vandy, so I'm looking at a price difference of $120,000 over the course of 4 years. If I went to my state school, my parents would be able to pay in full, so I'd graduate debt free.

Ranking: Vandy is #15. State school is something like #70. HUGE difference.

Reputation: Vandy wins. I know people say that ranking doesn't matter, but I feel like Vandy's top-20 status must confer some sort of advantage when it comes to residency selection.

Specialties: I don't know what field I want to enter, but I don't feel like I'm intending to go into ROAD or any of the super-competitive specialities. I definitely don't want to do research.

Feel: Vandy is way prettier and I got a really good vibe. Also in a much better city...but my state school is closer to home, which would be really nice for me. But a fun city would be nice too.

I know this is my decision ultimately and no one can tell me what to do, but I guess I'd like to know what you would do if you were in my position. Especially those of you who are currently in or have attended med school. Is that 120k worth the sizeable drop in reputation and ranking??

Gracias.

I mean, I could tell you why I love Vandy and why I think it's a great choice, but the bolded is what worries me the most. Vanderbilt is definitely very academic. We have a required research project, and their ranking IS based on research. If you have zero interest in scholarly projects and a possible future in academics, the reputation/ranking/whatever is sort of pointless anyway. So if that's really the case, I'd probably go with the state school.

 

[JJMrK]

Ok, here's the dilemma I'm facing: Vandy or my state school. I'm leaning towards my state school purely for $$ reasons but I'd really appreciate some second opinions, especially from current med students or med school grads.

Price: I got a merit scholarship from my state school, and only 2 grand in financial aid from Vandy, so I'm looking at a price difference of $120,000 over the course of 4 years. If I went to my state school, my parents would be able to pay in full, so I'd graduate debt free.

Ranking: Vandy is #15. State school is something like #70. HUGE difference.

Reputation: Vandy wins. I know people say that ranking doesn't matter, but I feel like Vandy's top-20 status must confer some sort of advantage when it comes to residency selection.

Specialties: I don't know what field I want to enter, but I don't feel like I'm intending to go into ROAD or any of the super-competitive specialities. I definitely don't want to do research.

Feel: Vandy is way prettier and I got a really good vibe. Also in a much better city...but my state school is closer to home, which would be really nice for me. But a fun city would be nice too.

I know this is my decision ultimately and no one can tell me what to do, but I guess I'd like to know what you would do if you were in my position. Especially those of you who are currently in or have attended med school. Is that 120k worth the sizeable drop in reputation and ranking??

Gracias.

I'd go to my state school every time and twice on Sundays in this situation.

 

[alibai3ah]

I'd go to Vandy over the state school in a heartbeat since there is such a HUGE difference. The cost of 120K is big but still at the end of the day will open many more doors for you. Go with Vandy (I would)

EDIT: And you have no idea if you want to do research or not later on. It's much better to have that option rather than regret it later on. Plus research will open up more opportunities to go into specialities into major academic hospitals.... if that's what you decide to do.

 

[neutropos]

With the information you provided us, I'd say absolutely 100% go to your state school.

120K of extra debt is certainly not worth it.

 

[Hoody]

Vandy. 😍

 

[pelliper]

i'd say that your answer will depend partly on what specialties you are thinking of entering. if you want to do something highly competitive, vandy will open doors. if you're not planning to do a highly competitive specialty then your state school will be fine. 120k is no drop in the bucket but you will not be the only med student with that sort of debt load.