Just looking to bounce some ideas around on these choices. Note I am a nontrad student coming from engineering, with also a special interest in applying machine learning to medicine (this is what my former job entailed)
Cooper:
Pros:
- Cheaper COA (~120k cheaper)
- Wife has better job opportunity of 50k+ more / year (graduating from dental residency w/ 400k debt, so not like I'm getting a free ride)
- Close to Wife's parents - so could live there for 1 year and 10 minute train ride to the school
- Really felt like the faculty cared about the students? Seems trivial I know, but was nice
- Still have some friends in Philly, which is another train ride away
- P/F
Cons:
- Camden is bleh
- Less research focused/opportunities
- Kinda trying to get away from NJ, as is my wife. A lot of neat places in the country to live
- Lower step scores
Wake:
Pros:
- Really enjoyed the school itself
- P/F
- Students seemed wonderful and enjoyed talking with them
- Better research opportunities as school has much better funding
- There is a gym nearby the school - trivial I know haha, but I know that balances me out and gives me a big break as needed
- Lower cost of living in NC
- Higher step scores
Cons:
- Cost of Attendance
- Wife would be taking a lower salary with worse hours
- Didn't get a feel for the staff of the school? Probably just a reflection of the interview process & no "second look"
I'm not too sure how to consider match list/step 1 scores as both are kind of dependent on the individual?
Finally - given I am a nontrad student, COA is a big factor to me. I remember from undergrad how I was living at home and throwing a big chunk of my starting engineering salary at student loans. At that time, it was only 1/3rd of my salary, I can't imagine it if it ends up being double my starting salary? I can't say I know what speciality I'd enjoy but between my wife's pay cut AND the COA difference, the opportunity cost ends up being closer to 300k?
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Cooper:
Pros:
- Cheaper COA (~120k cheaper)
- Wife has better job opportunity of 50k+ more / year (graduating from dental residency w/ 400k debt, so not like I'm getting a free ride)
- Close to Wife's parents - so could live there for 1 year and 10 minute train ride to the school
- Really felt like the faculty cared about the students? Seems trivial I know, but was nice
- Still have some friends in Philly, which is another train ride away
- P/F
Cons:
- Camden is bleh
- Less research focused/opportunities
- Kinda trying to get away from NJ, as is my wife. A lot of neat places in the country to live
- Lower step scores
Wake:
Pros:
- Really enjoyed the school itself
- P/F
- Students seemed wonderful and enjoyed talking with them
- Better research opportunities as school has much better funding
- There is a gym nearby the school - trivial I know haha, but I know that balances me out and gives me a big break as needed
- Lower cost of living in NC
- Higher step scores
Cons:
- Cost of Attendance
- Wife would be taking a lower salary with worse hours
- Didn't get a feel for the staff of the school? Probably just a reflection of the interview process & no "second look"
I'm not too sure how to consider match list/step 1 scores as both are kind of dependent on the individual?
Finally - given I am a nontrad student, COA is a big factor to me. I remember from undergrad how I was living at home and throwing a big chunk of my starting engineering salary at student loans. At that time, it was only 1/3rd of my salary, I can't imagine it if it ends up being double my starting salary? I can't say I know what speciality I'd enjoy but between my wife's pay cut AND the COA difference, the opportunity cost ends up being closer to 300k?
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!
