I responded the way I did because you sounded like you thought you were already at the front of the class at TCNJ. That's just not the right way to go about things. I've learned that there are plenty of intelligent students at TCNJ and it would be erroneous and disrespectful to underestimate them. As far as most are concerned, you're all back to square one and starting from scratch, 1000 or 1600 score.
1. Oh, you're going to pay for medical school yourself? This is rather integral to this discussion. I had thought your parents would pay for professional school as well. Well, I don't know your situation, but if it were me, I'd take TCNJ and save that money for medical school. Obviously my history with a similar decision shows my thought process. It's far more impressive to attend a prestigious graduate school with a more mundane undergrad rather than a decent grad school along with HYP. I'll take the HYP of graduate school instead, thanks. Of course, if you can afford the $300k+ of both, why not?
4. You didn't brag about your scores but claiming yourself to be further ahead than the incoming class at TCNJ while being at median at BC is disrespectful. As for the soft factors/numbers debate, there are people with both. Thus, the discussion being skewed towards one or the other matters not when you're speaking about the best of the best.
If you had my major and were heading to grad school, well, my background already answers that. Considering your $175k in pocket, do well at TCNJ, set yourself up nicely for a great medical school, and graduate with no debt whatsoever. That should be extremely liberating. You won't have to consider money as much if you already have that $175k in pocket.
State school or a more premiere school like BC, the cream always rises to the top. You can position yourself well if you put your mind to it at either college. I doubt any school precludes potential candidates based on their undergraduate institution. Does it factor into their decision? Perhaps but it certainly won't eliminate your chances of being admitted. For law school, it matters very little. I'd rather take 1 point on the LSAT instead of attending a more prestigious school for admissions criteria, if that puts it into perspective.
If you have more specific questions, feel free.
Sorry about the girlfriend, man. At least it sets you up for a nice summer fling before heading off to college. Make sure to pick one that's heading to a U of Cali or somewhere else just as far off
