WHAT WOULD YOU DO???? LOW DEBT? or HAPPINESS?

[Nikki]

Ok guys, I'm really torn because I have no idea where I want to end up and I really don't want to make money an issue, but it's really hard. So, tell me what you think between . . .

Mayo: full tuition scholarship, but definately not my top choice (location and diversity suck to me)

U of Mich: $15,000 scholarship x 4yrs for an out-of-stater, but my top or second choice

Case: no money yet, but my top or second choice

Indiana (cheap!!!)

Pitt

U of Chicago (I haven't been accepted yet, but if I were it would probably be ranked up there with Michigan and Case, so let me know what you think about this one too)

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[GS]

Nikki, you gotta tell us why you would be happy at Case etc. (personal reasons etc.) What do you define as happiness?

 

[eagle26]

Low debt IS happiness!

 

[matthew0126]

okay. so i've never been cleveland. but i do remember my poll a couple of weeks ago in the lounge, of where would you NOT want to live, and cleveland won in a landslide!

is it the school that is so awesome? or do you just buck the trend and love cleveland

 

[oldman]

you got mayo? i wanted mayo real bad, but they rejected me. i wish i could have your spot at mayo.

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Nikki:
•Ok guys, I'm really torn because I have no idea where I want to end up and I really don't want to make money an issue, but it's really hard. So, tell me what you think between . . .

Mayo: full tuition scholarship, but definately not my top choice (location and diversity suck to me)

U of Mich: $15,000 scholarship x 4yrs for an out-of-stater, but my top or second choice

Case: no money yet, but my top or second choice

Indiana (cheap!!!)

Pitt

U of Chicago (I haven't been accepted yet, but if I were it would probably be ranked up there with Michigan and Case, so let me know what you think about this one too)•••••

 

[mvalento]

i don't see how you'd have much debt in ANY of these scenarios. that's coming from someone who'll graduate in 2005 with ~180K of debt. i'm quite happy, though.

bud

 

[eagle26]

IMO..you would be foolish NOT to go to Mayo. I'd give my left nut for the chance, location and diversity regardless. It's only 4 years! Then you can go to somewhere "diverse".

Joe

 

[sandflea]

definitely go where you'll be happiest. you have to spend four years of your life there, and is the money you might save really worth four years of being miserable? i'm probably going to turn down my state school for a horribly expensive private school where i know i'll be happy. you'll find ways to manage the debt, but you can't get four years of your life back.

 

[phd2b]

Go with the least debt in a place that you can stand the most...this is akin to the old public vs. private school debate.

The quality of these schools don't differ all that greatly, though their reputations may.

All else being equal, try to come out debt free!

BTW, cool poll!

 

[MiamiMarmot]

Nikki-

I'm on the Pitt waitlist. Pitt's my first choice. As soon as you rule out Pitt...can you please, please, please withdraw your application! I don't want to sound pushy but I'm dying to go there!

Thanks,

Marmot

 

[locitamd]

Hey Nikki -

First off, congratulations on your accomplishments, and on having so many great choices. Since you've asked for opinions, here goes mine: four years is a long time to sacrifice being somewhere where you know you're not going to be all that happy. That being said, if you go for total happiness, will you spend 4 (or 15 depending on how long it takes to pay back your loans) second guessing yourself over finances? Perhaps go for a split between the two, the school which offers some money and a high degree of happiness. Reaching a compromise between the two might offer you peace of mind all the way around.

Just my $.02, congrats again and good luck with your decision.

P.S. sorry we won't be meeting again at Pitt :wink:

 

[Nikki]

Thanks guys for all of your input . . . keep it coming. I think a good balance is what I will strive for here.

MiamiMarmot I will definately withtraw as soon as I rule out Pitt. I am applying for financial aid to see what happens though because I definately was impressed with Pitt as well.

 

[USeF]

I chose the debt-free bit for undergrad and was honestly NOT expecting to enjoy it here. Last week I put in my app for the oustanding senior award. One of the main criteria is school spirit, so I obviously have come to love this place

Yet now that I've done that for 4 years, I want to try and go to a place that I will be excited to be at from the get-go. Depends on which you did before and how adaptable you are as an individual.

try and actually make a chart and rate the schools under each category that is important to you. like make weather count 5 points (mayo gets 0), reputation, cost, student body, curriculum etc. 5-10 points each [depending on how important these things are to you] and see what you get. I saw someone do this for PhD programs and their gut feeling turned out to be right this way.

by the way, other than FAFSA, you actually have to apply for financial aid at EVERY place, or just some? I really should read my materials. bah, sleep sounds better now
g'nite

 

[THE instiGATOR]

Mayo acceptance + full scholarship = NO BRAINER!!! (sorry, but it is true)

Mayo is a great school. It's only 4 years of your life, for which you will probably spend 10+ years paying off the debt you accumulate. Michigan is just as cold as Minnesota (i'd be miserable at both, but I'd still go for the low cost school).

I also think diversity is overrated. I have all the diversity I need at home (asian & caucasian family members). I'm at school to learn, which I can do in an all white class, an all black class, an all red class, etc...

Go to Mayo.

$0.02

 

[UCLA2000]

I'd call your top choice schools and tell them that you really want to attend their school however mayo gave you a full ride. Ask them how much money is available for them to give you...

you have nothing to lose....

 

[franklinthedog]

owing money is not fun, having a scholarship is awesome. i had to pay back a student loan for 2 yrs of grad school, and it's no fun, i'd say go where it's the cheapest....you can always learn to love a place, 4 yrs is very short compared to accruing a huge debt...my .02.....good luck and congratulations though!!

 

[Papa Smurf]

The only reson I'd go to Mayo is for the reputation, and I'm not a huge prestige guy either. Nothing else appeals to me about the school. I've been up there during the wintertime, and absolutely hated it! Then again, I'm used to Florida weather so it's all relative. Plus, isn't their class really small, like only 40 students? I'd like a bigger class personally, just cause I don't wanna feel like I'm back in high school. If I were you, I'd go wherever I was the happiest. Regardless of what you choose, you can't really go wrong. You've gotten into some great schools, and many people would kill to have the opportunity to make the choices you're faced with. Good luck!

 

[brandonite]

The single thing I regret most about this whole process was not applying to Mayo. I have no idea why I didn't... It's close to my home, I don't mind the weather up here, and it's a great school. And I like the idea of a small class size - it allows you to get to know your classmates really well. And I think it's more like 60 students.

That said, don't count out the state school just yet. I really liked the students at mine when I was there, and the atmosphere was really laid back and relaxed. And I know their match list is pretty good (Canadian match, that is.). I went to a school with about zero prestige for undergrad, but I really don't mind it... Reputation is higly overrated. So, I'd agree with USeF in that matter...

 

[JJ4]

Hey Nikki -- I am in sort of in the exact situation you are in. I too am having a LOT of trouble deciding. However interestingly, debt isn't the issue for me. I'm deciding between the MD-PhD programs at Mayo and Mount Sinai. I'm from NYC so I guess the social support network is better for me at Sinai. Also it's one of the stronger MSTPs in NYC (except the Tri-Inst. Prog). However I sort of liked the atmosphere at Mayo. Yea it's not like home, but it wasn't just TOTAL emptiness. UMich is a great school (very good MSTP) but I wasn't all that thrilled with Case to be honest. I think a second look is in order in my situation. I'm going to have to take a good look at the programs and opportunities and see what happens. Funny thing, anytime I ask my other applicant friends about my dilemma they're like "Dude...it's Mayo!!! I'd give both nuts to go there." I think in the end I want to come back to NYC anyway whether or not I go to Mayo so perhaps it will be an interesting opportunity to train at the Mayo Clinic, because in all likelihood I'll never have that opportunity again -- as for residency/post-doc I want to go to a bigger city. But unlike your situation my haul is 7-8 years. The choice is very tough! Being in the area, I know all the NYC programs pretty well. So in all fairness, I think I am going to take another trip to Rochester,MN and talk to some of the students. On the day I interviewed they all seemed honest and weren't really trying to just sell me that Mayo is the best. So hopefully they could tell me about the lifestyle they have. I doubt everyone that goes to Mayo is from Minnesota...there's gotta be at least ONE New Yorker

 

[Gainer]

I really like Cleveland. Its not as bad as you have heard, because in the last decade they have gotten rid of much of the industrial garbage in the city and ahve extinguished the river.

It really is a nice city though, and it is in the middle of a pretty spectacular rebirth.

 

[Hoosierdaddy]

Nikki,

I would definitely go wherever you will be the happiest. I was in a similar situation about this time last year. In the end, I chose to go to IU (my state school), even though it would have actually been a little cheaper for me to go to UT Southwestern in Dallas (a slightly more prestigious school that was offering a substantial scholarship). Four years of med school is hard enough without hating your school and your location. I chose IU because I knew that I wanted to be close to my family and friends. Their support has been invaluable this year.

Another thing to consider is that, depending on the specialty you eventually choose, many groups are paying off the student loans of residents as a sort of signing bonus. Almost all of the physicians I've been around have told me not to worry too much about student debt. Everyone has it, and everyone pays it off in the end.

 

[Papa Smurf]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Hoosierdaddy:
•Another thing to consider is that, depending on the specialty you eventually choose, many groups are paying off the student loans of residents as a sort of signing bonus. •••••Ok, this I find hard to believe. A 200K signing bonus? With salaries contracting as they are in the medical field, I have a hard time believing groups are just forking over this kinda cash to physicians right outta residency.

 

[SMW]

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> Hoosierdaddy, I too am having a hard time believing this!! What specialities and how much debt are we talking about here?

 

[mpp]

The Mayo class has 42 students per year. The Mayo Medical School Motto (actually stolen from the old Rochester Public Library which the school now occupies) is "Non Multa Sed Bona", Latin for "Not Many But Good".

JJ4,

I was born in New York and lived there for about 8 years on and off and will more than likely be attending Mayo this fall. So they'll be at least one other New Yorker (sort of) there...Hope to see you in Rochester

 

[monchi]

The other morning I heard a story on NPR about a survey of new doctors. (Unfortunately I was not fully awake when I was listening. It was on my clock-radio, which was just waking me up.) Anyway, I caught some of it, and they mentioned that new doctors often are depressed, and the cause of this depression most stated by the residents was debt-related. Most had less than $100 free spending money each month.
I also have a few friends that are married to physicians. One in particular cannot believe the debt. He himself is a chemist (PhD level) in a large pharma. He says that his wife's debt is like paying two mortgages, and that most of her salary is going to pay her loans off. If he did not hold such a good (and well-paying) position, they would not be able to afford their home.
So my thoughts are: I wouldn't want to be that dependent on someone else's income, for my own peace of mind, even if that person is my spouse. I also think that a good portion of my happiness depends on me and my attitude. I try to make the best of my situation, although I'll admit it's tough sometimes.
Best wishes Nikki.

 

[reesie0726]

I would not go someplace where I would be absolutely miserable. You have alot of options. Go someplace that you like decently and that gives you money.

 

[Mr.D]

I guess I'm with the majority (and one of my top personal choices), Michigan. Quality of life is
important, and the UM scholarship might not be a full ride, but it would make your overall debt a little easier to handle. Diversity, cost of living, social atmosphere, location, proximity to an undergraduate campus, and proximity to family are all factors that carry different weight for applicants. Tough choice, but I'm sure in the end you'll make the best decision. Good luck Nikki.

 

[Hoosierdaddy]

PapaSmurf and SMW,

My class has been told by both a radiologist and a plastic surgeon that their groups are currently offering to pay off student loans as an enticement for recently-graduated MD's. Granted, these are both highly competitive specialties and we live in a very underserved part of the state. I don't know if these signing bonuses have a limit or if they're based on your credentials, but we've been told that they do exist in some cases. You probably won't find that in overserved (big cities) areas or in noncompetitive specialties, though.