Would you pay an extra 10k/yr for Pitt over OSU?

[sunflower79]

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Sorry, another "OMG please help me out of this terrible predicament of having to choose" thread.

Really. I am so honored.

So the money is my main concern. I love Pitt, it was one of my top choices... until I found out it was 35k/yr. OSU is 25k/yr for residents (and I can be one after first year), so to average out 4-year costs Pitt would be an extra 7k or so a year (interest not included).

Main attractions to Pitt: great clinical training, emphasis on underserved populations, reputation bonus (good for CA residencies?). Plus Pittsburgh is a cooler city than Columbus.

Advice? I have til Tuesday! 😱

cheers,
sunflower79

 

[Moskeeto]

hey congrats sunflower! I saw you got in over at the waitlist thread. I was wondering how long before this thread would pop up 🙂. honestly, you sound like you want to go to UPitt, but maybe its the excitement of just finding out. It seems like a ton of people really like UPitt, Even tho $7K is alot of money, I think it'd be worth it if you really like it.

 

[wmosudoc]

If Pitt is where you really want to go, I wouldn't worry about the difference in money. In the long run if you think you will be more happy going to Pitt, then go for it! in the grand scheme of things, $7000 is not that much money.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

I chose Pitt, and I am an Ohio resident. It was a tough decision with an overall difference of ~50K after looking at the aid packages. I just didn't feel much for OSU. How concerned are you about the $? Did anything bother you about OSU? I suggest making a bunch of spreadsheets with all the criteria you care about, appropriately weighted, and then see which one wins. It worked for me (although I still catch myself wondering...)

 

[LoneCoyote]

With your politics, background, and interests, I would pick Pitt based on everything I have heard about the city and the school. And from what I hear it is good for California residencies. A good friend of mine was set on it but at the last minute got into USC and decided to stay home.

 

[sunflower79]

thanks guys! 🙂 🙂 🙂

My dad said the same thing as Moskeeto: "what are you even thinking about?" Well, it IS my money after all. I have to be sure this is the right school for the money; it's the biggest purchase I've made so far! But I am leaning toward Pitt as you can tell.

just not looking forward to snow

🙂

cheers
sunflower79

 

[sunflower79]

One other thing a doctor colleague said to me is revealing: he's heard a lot of good things about Pitt; he's heard nothing bad about OSU but also nothing good about it either....

 

[iwannabeadoc]

Doesn't the famous, former Minnesota Vikings running back Robert Smith attend OSU?

 

[steve007]

well, 4 yrs x 7000 = 28K. that's a pretty big difference when you factor in compounded interest.

 

[sunflower79]

Originally posted by steve007
well, 4 yrs x 7000 = 28K. that's a pretty big difference when you factor in compounded interest.

you're telling me. 😕

I'm just gonna think aloud here...
Given my slight inclination toward academic medicine (in order to do community based research/interventions), and my strong interest in coming back to CA (or at least having that option as open to me as possible), my initial guess is Pitt is worth the money. It appears Pitt opens the doors that much more and I can imagine how tough CA residencies can be (esp. the good ones).

If I had to choose right NOW, I'd go with Pitt.
But I don't, I have a few days. So suggestion box is still open 🙂

 

[lola]

since i'm on the waitlist at pitt, i should tell you to go to osu, but i won't. i think you should go to pitt. you seem really psyched about it. if it was pitt vs. a uc i would say go to a uc, but osu is not that much cheaper than pitt, and if you have a desire to do academic medicine you're probably better off at pitt.

 

[sunflower79]

awww, thanks moskeeto and lola. You guys are awesome Are the bay area ppl gonna have drinks nite again so I can meet you? 😎

 

[Moskeeto]

I'm down for drinks, but I've gotta big coupla weeks coming up. My sister is getting married next saturday. so if we're gonna all meet, we have to do it around my schedule. 😛
so has it sunk in yet that you're in at UPitt? When I was flying back from my MCW interview i sat next to a PGY1 who was an undergrad, med student and now a resident at UPitt. thats crazy, he must've really liked the place. the more of your posts I read, the more i know OSU won't be in your signature next tuesday.😉

 

[lola]

i can't come, sorry. i'm moving on saturday 😱!
better get to packing....

 

[evescadeceus]

Sunflower,

OSU is 20,000 in state - 17 something tuition and 3000 books and supplies. The third year is 27,000 in-state, not sure what the fourth year is. Not sure if Pitt's out of state cost has books n supplies built in or not.

I want to look at Pitt, too. Pittsburg has a lot more to offer than Columbus, and the school sounds like it has more to offer too. But it sounds like u rounded up your numbers on OSU in-state to minimize the price difference.

Just checked OSU's site on cost of living in Columbus, n their estimated costs r a little low - rent n utilities estimates are based on having one or more roommates (although it isn't mentioned). Gonna go see if I can find the same info on Pitt. I'm kinda curious.

 

[Can U Feel It?]

Go to Pitt. You seem to be much more excited about Pitt than OSU, and Pitt is a better school. UPMC is a great place for clinical training, and I think that the extra money Pitt will cost will be completely worth it.

 

[xaelia]

Hey, c'mon, where's the love for Ohio State....

Wireless internet in the classrooms, no classes in the afternoons, brand-new cardiac hospital, 13,000 other graduate and professional students if your 100 opposite-sex classmates don't measure up, and a good $15k difference in budget* for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years....

*sources:
http://www.dean-med.pitt.edu/future/q_cost_attendance.asp

http://medicine.osu.edu/futurestudents/financial_aid_budget_0304.cfm

 

[sunflower79]

I think evescadeceus (sheesh, what a name) hit the nail on the head: I have sticker shock. Also I am just in plain shock. Add to that my inability to make decisions.

Thanks for the heads up on that! I will research the price tag more thoroughly. 😛

 

[steve007]

well, if anyone can't see how badly you'de rather go to pitt then they're blind. wheneverr you have REALLY strong feelings about something, then you should go with your gut. don't agonize over it, just do it.

 

[VCMM414]

Several people here have mentioned that going to UPitt over OSU helps one in obtaining a Cali residency. Is there any concrete evidence for this, or are people saying this because Pitt is ranked higher?

 

[jay c]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, and stumbled on it because I'm helping someone with their applications. I graduated from med school 4 yrs ago, finished my internal medicine residency and my first year of GI fellowship.

From someone that's been through this, with the exception of the truly top schools, there's no significant difference between many of the others. I was on the admissions committee as a resident representative for internal medicine at a major medical center in Boston. The Harvard/Yale/Penn/UCSF/Hopkins kids got first billing, then everyone else. No signif difference between most state schools (except UCSF, Michigan, UT southwestern, seattle).

so, if it's cheaper, go there... the loans will kill you later on, i promise. try to minimize them

j

 

[sunflower79]

Well,
I crunched the numbers again, this time from the website rather than from my @$$ 😳 The difference ends up being closer to $45k total + interest. Not too far off from the thread's title, at least.

*gulp*

At least it's not what my mom thought, something like $70k! 🙂

 

[xaelia]

Yep, out-of-state it's the difference between $150k (40-32-42-36) for medical school vs. $210k (52 x4) for medical school. Then factor in the years of interest....

It's real money, even considering the decent living one makes as a doctor. The stress from the burden of debt I saw on folks during my visit to University of Southern California was one of the things that turned me off from the school; the only chipper guy at the table was the one on a military scholarship.

 

[sunflower79]

OK, so Pitt it is! I am so excited!

As far as the $ goes, one of the docs I work with said I should think of it as an investment in a better education. And the debt burden won't be that much greater that I couldn't handle it. Let's hope so! 🙂

yay Pitt!

 

[Moskeeto]

hey congrats on making a choice! good luck at Pitt!

 

[LoneCoyote]

Sunflower,

Congrats on your decision! I think you'll be happy at Pitt. Best of luck 🙂

 

[dr2loo]

Congrats for getting off the waitlist! I too should tell you not to go to Pitt as I am also on the wait list. However, I will jsut relay to you that I was also impressed with Pitt, but I would consider the money. I am a little older than your average Joe, and the money is a big issue. You're talking about a downpayment on a house. I would jsut tell you to seriously check out the differences. Residency in Cali. is no sure shot no matter where you go. If you want to do a specaliaty and really like a researched based atmosphere, then Pitt may well be your choice. You might have an easier time becoming a doctor at an institution that truly expaects their doctors to be doing research on the side coming out of Pitt. However, if you want PC or to be an internist or general surgeon or something like that, then I don;t think it matters much --- save your bread! I have a very good friend that turned down a TOP medical school for her state school due to money.... the difference was big... just some thoughts... good luck and maybe we will meet next year!

 

[indiamacbean]

Sunflower,
congrats on making the right choice!! I think that our class at Pitt is going to be great and it really is an amazing school. If it makes you feel better, I turned down UCLA in-state to go to Pitt. you are going where you think that you will be the happiest and this, in the end, is the most important thing. cheers.

 

[bcdnw]

are you at Berkeley? Because you really remind me of someone that I knew through a friend of mine in Davis.

And as of now, I'm going to OSU myself. Wait-listed at too many damn UC's and USC, but I'm trying to remedy that.