What would you do?

[trudub]

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So here is a hypothetical situation:

You get into your top choice medical school and it is a great school. Let's even say it is a top five medical school. At this school you do not get any financial aid in the form of scholarships or grants, it is all going to be loans. You will come out of school with let's say a $150,000 debt. You also get in to your state school. It is an average medical school. At the state school though, they offer you a full ride scholarship. So, your loans will only be for living expenses. You will come out of school with let's say a $30,000 debt.

What would you do? Why?

 

[LoneCoyote]

I would take my state school any day. If only a UC would let me in with a free ride

But seriously I think it depends on what kind of doctor you see yourself being. If you really want to do academic medicine you might be better served with the degree from the top school. If you see yourself as a primary care physician, your state school could be the best way to go. Personally, I want to minimize my debt load as much as possible, and would take the free ride. But I know that debt is less of an issue for some people.

 

[solousy]

Good question, all the more relevant for me since I will probably never be in this situation 🙁 .
If I got into my state school (Umass) I would be there with or without scholarships, and I would be so grateful that I would donate a kidney if they asked for it. But UMass is an awesome school, and a perfect fit for me (and I probably won't need that other kidney). My application would only elicit tears of laughter from most accreditted US medical schools, and I would be lucky to achieve acceptance to the Medical College of Azerbaijan nevermind Cornell or Harvard. But if I was a superstar applicant, and my state medical school did not rock quite as hard as UMass rocks, I would be just as torn as you are. Its difficult to answer this question because I don't know whether you want to stay within range of family, or whether you want to do research or family practice or whatnot. So I guess the cliche stands: Do what you think is best for you. Thank you for allowing me to waste your time.