Would this change your mind?

[ncbabyblue717]

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So after debating between UMich and UC Berkeley for a couple of weeks, I finally decided on UC Berkeley. I sent in my SIR, set up my CalNetID and declined the other offers I had. This morning, I get an email from my faculty interviewer at UMich saying that the scholarship offer has been increased from 1/4 to 3/4 tuition scholarship. That comes out to ~$50k for two years at UMich versus ~$74k for UC Berkeley, my state school. I'm wavering a bit, esp. since UMich is definitely a wonderful program. Here are the most important pros about each program (to me).

UC Berkeley
1) Small program where I can comfortably discuss my ideas and interpretations of the material. (Class size for Class of 2010 is approximately 17 students, w/ about half of that interested in management)
2) Close affiliation w/ Haas business school. While the MPH program at UC Berkeley is more community/ non-profit focused, I can pursue my interest in healthcare consulting through taking my electives at Haas and participating in the Healthcare@Haas club.
3) Close to family (my sister who is 1.5 years my junior lives in SF).
4) Proximity to SF, where I want to work after graduation. I've been told that the connections made at your summer internship are what leads to your first job, and if I go to UC Berkeley, chances are, I will be interning in SF.
5) Program is a lot more flexible in terms of number of electives and the option to extend the 3-month summer internship into a 6-month.

UMich
1) Affinity groups ensures that I will have an avenue to further explore my interest in healthcare consulting, and I will have classmates that share my career interests w/out having to go outside of the program.
2) More business-oriented. For example, the capstone consists of business case analyses for the MHSA program and UMich students are very active in participating in national case competitions.
3) Large alumni network means that going to UMich won't prevent me from securing an internship in SF or a job there. In fact, there is a large number of UMich alum in northern California.
4) Mandatory mentoring from a UMich alum.
5) Program is structured, w/ a well-designed curriculum specifically for those interested in healthcare consulting so that I am well-prepared for my chosen career when I graduate.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read this. What do you think? Is it worth the switch, or should I stick w/ my original choice?

 

[kurly212]

Looking at your pros for both programs, I'd stick with Berkeley.

 

[208808]

That family support is really important, at least in my opinion; so I would lean towards UC Berekely. And if you want to live there after graduation, why incur the costs of moving from Michigan? Living in the city for school will help you make those non-career networks that are just as important. Do you think you can try to negotiate a better financial aid package at UC Berkeley. Tell them that although you've accepted their offer another school came to you w/ a better package.

 

[kurly212]

Do you think you can try to negotiate a better financial aid package at UC Berkeley. Tell them that although you've accepted their offer another school came to you w/ a better package.

I may be misunderstanding the 50K vs 74K statement, but I wonder if the UCB package isn't actually better considering she would have to pay non-resident tuition at UMich for at least the first year. (Unless they are offering a non-resident waiver in addition to the scholarship?) But yeah, it certainly wouldn't hurt to let UCB know that you received an attractive offer from another top school. 🙂

And yes, definitely factor in the cost (not to mention stress) of moving across country (both ways, since you want to go back to SF)!

 

[ncbabyblue717]

I may be misunderstanding the 50K vs 74K statement, but I wonder if the UCB package isn't actually better considering she would have to pay non-resident tuition at UMich for at least the first year. (Unless they are offering a non-resident waiver in addition to the scholarship?) But yeah, it certainly wouldn't hurt to let UCB know that you received an attractive offer from another top school. 🙂

And yes, definitely factor in the cost (not to mention stress) of moving across country (both ways, since you want to go back to SF)!

Thank you NinaG and kurly212 for your helpful input. I just sent an email to the HPM department at UCB to inquire about financial aid. I already know I didn't met their scholarship/fellowship GPA requirement by 0.02 points, but this is a good way to inquire about additional funding opportunities. The $50k at UMich is considering 75% off their out-of-state tuition (75% off of ~$33,500) plus living expenses and additional fees. Hopefully Berkeley will give me additional non-loan aid.

 

[Stories]

Thank you NinaG and kurly212 for your helpful input. I just sent an email to the HPM department at UCB to inquire about financial aid. I already know I didn't met their scholarship/fellowship GPA requirement by 0.02 points, but this is a good way to inquire about additional funding opportunities. The $50k at UMich is considering 75% off their out-of-state tuition (75% off of ~$33,500) plus living expenses and additional fees. Hopefully Berkeley will give me additional non-loan aid.

Good luck with your aid! You should definitely be going to Cal, seems like the best fit based off of what everyone said.

 

[HPMsf]

Let's not forget about another major pro for Berkeley and major con for Umich: Climate. The Bay Area (and East Bay in particular) has awesome weather year round, while Michigan has awful weather. Freezing, dreary winters? No thanks. Picture yourself at Umich walking across campus in January and tell me if that alone doesn't seal the deal for Cal. Don't get me wrong, Umich has a great program that is very well-regarded nationally, but Berkeley also has a very strong program, and the alumni network is strongest in the Bay Area and Northern California. I am obviously biased as I am a Bay Area native that has decided on Berkeley HPM, but Cal seems to be the right program for you as well given your priorities.

 

[kurly212]

Let's not forget about another major pro for Berkeley and major con for Umich: Climate. The Bay Area (and East Bay in particular) has awesome weather year round, while Michigan has awful weather. Freezing, dreary winters? No thanks. Picture yourself at Umich walking across campus in January and tell me if that alone doesn't seal the deal for Cal.

Absolutely! I currently live in Seattle, but grew up in the Midwest. One of the major reasons I moved to the West Coast was to get away from those super cold winters (not to mention hot, humid summers). So, I applied (and was accepted) to U Minn and U Mich because they are great schools, but I was dreading having to move to either location because of the climate. I'm so glad I was accepted to UW - turned out to be the best fit for me, anyway. 😎