As the title states, which academic institution should I choose. I am transferring from the Virginia Community College System. The reason I originally attended community college was because medical bills from my father’s cancer treatments nearly bankrupted us. Unfortunately, as of this past December, I have been battling metastatic testicular cancer. To be honest, for all of those ill informed, this is the ‘best’ type of cancer one can contract. Even being metastatic, my original odds were 50/50. I have just finished my last round of BEP therapy, and will be finding out whether I am in remission next week. Because of my health predicament, Amherst/Michigan/UVA granted me an extra month to decide whether I will be attending their institution. I was accepted into the the college of arts and sciences for Duke/Michigan, and was accepted into SEAS for UVA. The reason I chose SEAS for UVA, was so that I could stay an extra year to complete the graduate mathematics sequences, and obtain the subsequent double major in mathematics. My goals in life, are business oriented, in general. I would prefer to go to the school that would open up the most doors for me. For reference, management consulting is my goal as of now. I would also like to not have too much debt, as my medical bills are rapidly accruing. UVA would cost me approximately $19,500 for all 3 years, with aid/grants/scholarships. My tuition for Amherst, Duke, and Michigan would put me well over $70,000 for two years.
I would choose the lowest debt. UVA is a fantastic school, you will get a fabulous education, and the others are not worth the added financial burden. Speedy recovery to you!
Go to UVA. No question.
All of those schools will provide you ample opportunities for recruiting in management consulting. UVA seems to be best for you financially, so I would choose that unless there are some “fit” considerations.
As far as consulting firms are concerned all four are roughly equal. Go for the cheapest option…and the one that is nearest to what matters most in the world, your loved ones.
First off I wish you and your Dad strength and a speedy recovery. Simply horrible that you both have to go through this together during what should be a joyous time for you to share. As a Dad I can say with complete confidence that he is extremely proud of your perseverance and determination. Getting into the schools you mention is tough, doing it under your circumstances is super human.
Which leads to my next point. You will be a success wherever you choose. All 4 options will produce great outcomes. Yes I am a Duke fan but under the scenario you describe UVA seems to make sense.
Great school, cheapest, close to home. All though it pains me GO Cavaliers. Best of luck.
Unless you have a college fund that can cover the costs of the others, UVA.
Great university. Option to stay for the extra math coursework if you want. Best price. Close to your medical team if you need to have a quick tune-up. What’s not to like?
I’d also choose UVA purely for the big financial difference.
Management consultants don’t generally go to b-school out of college, they go to work, then maybe b-school. I know nothing about Duke’s MC placement, but Amherst’s various consulting and finance programs are described here - https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/careers/amherst-careers-in/business-finance-entrepreneurship and here https://www.amherst.edu/system/files/media/LoebCenterAnnualReport1617.pdf
Amherst has the HBX partnership with Harvard B School too, if that’s an interest. http://amherststudent.amherst.edu/?q=article/2015/05/06/amherst-partners-harvard-business-school-program
If you can deal with & beat cancer, it really does not matter which of these incredible schools you attend as you will be very successful.
Thank you for the responses. I do not have a college fund, as all available funds have gone toward my family’s collective medical bills. UVA is less than 60 miles from my house, and is the hospital from which I received my treatment. I know UVA is by and large the cheapest, but from friends/recruiters I have heard that MBB usually recruits from their Business School.
At community college, I received honorable mention on the Putnam twice. I feel that this could help me with my BB/MBB business endeavors, especially if I could become a Putnam fellow. I just don’t want to go to UVA, and have all of top opportunities evade me, because of the idea that prestige>raw talent and skill. Obviously the dream would be Duke/Amherst, but I just don’t know if the debt is worth it.
This seems like a pretty easy business decision.
UVA is not Podunk U. It’s a terrific flagship university. Even ifyou could borrow $70K yourself (you can’t), doing so would mean years of a big loan payment getting in the way of business school, of an apartment near your dream MC job, maybe no car if you wind up in a place without great transportation. Go look at a loan repayment calculator and see.
But really you personally can only borrow about $7K per year. Your parents don’t seem to be in a good place to take parent Plus loans or to cosign for you.
I say this as a happy Amherst parent. UVA is an amazing opportunity at that price.
I know that I can’t borrow 70k myself, and that large amounts of loans are not a smart idea, especially due to the volatile nature of BB business. I just fell in love with the Amherst campus, and surrounding area. Understanding that:
- UVA is a fantastic public university, on par with Michigan, UCLA, and maybe Berkeley
- The loans aren’t worth it, especially if I were to fall ill again and not have a high paying job
I believe UVA is the choice with the best opportunity cost. I just wish that Amherst was a feasible option, as that campus and school is everything I could wish for.
Did you ask Amherst to take another look at their financial aid offer, given you (and your family’s) medical expenses?
Amherst takes very, very few transfers so they must really want you. If they don’t know about these medical bills you should tell them and see what they can do.
I was originally accepted into Amherst, before deciding on community college for financial reasons. I believe, the original acceptance, along with some of my other academic accolades (putnam recognition + 165/170/6 on my GRE), are why I was accepted as a transfer. The academic committee knows about the medical situation, but not the bills. I will contact them to see if that would change the financial aid package.
Definitely contact Amherst and explain the situation regarding the medical bills and their effect upon your finances (with justifying documents). Medical bills are taken into account since they’re not “optional purchases” like credit card debt.
Yes they definitely will look at those expenses. Call, talk to financial aid. They will ask for documentation and will tell you what they need to consider that in your package. Do it tomorrow if you can.
Good luck!!
I should hear back from Amherst and Duke tomorrow, with revised packages. Unless they are very compelling, I will be choosing UVA. Thank you all for the advice.
Best of luck, good health and please keep us posted.
Good luck
Best wishes and good luck. Let us know how it works out. If you do end up at UVA, I’m sure it will work out fine.