Deciding between (USC+big merit scholarship) VS (???)

Hawkwings
Tue, 05 Apr 2016 17:38:36 +0000

First question, are you going to put that $80k difference away in savings in preparation for your child eventually attending med school?

I do find that number kind of high… is that $20k per year for housing, food, etc? I’m not too familiar with what everything the Stamps scholarship offers, to could you explain what makes up this cost difference?

It’s hard to say whether being a Stamps scholar will be viewed as more desirable by med schools. However, it is safe to say that med schools will weigh your child’s accomplishments in undergrad (whatever he or she does during undergrad) more strongly than accomplishments in high school (getting awarded whatever scholarship for undergrad).

If you are happy with both schools and think your child will do well at both, and if you’re willing to kick in the extra money, then perhaps you can put more stock into the less-tangible things that your child has preferences about? What does he or she like better?