Is Chicago actually affordable?

insomniac159
Sat, 10 Apr 2010 21:08:16 +0000

Thanks for all of the advice. It really helps.

I just wanted to mention again that I’m really interested in working for the National Health Service Corps. Essentially, they pay for medical school. And for every year they pay, you have to work for them in a “rural” (that’s a loose term by their standards) area for two years. It seems like a fantastic deal.

But yes, I am also very aware that I may change my mind in the future. But that seems more like a reason to go to Chicago. As it was previously stated by hyeonjlee, although it doesn’t matter where med students go to undergrad, it does matter for other areas. And for all I know, I’ll be looking for a job right out of college. Who knows?

And I have been speaking with my parents about all of this. They are just as undecided as I am (hence my reason for posting on here to get some advice). I’ve also been speaking with some of my teachers (whom I am very close to), and actually, they’re encouraging me to go to Chicago. I have a friend there right now who loves it and is taking out plenty of private loans. =/ And about our EFC, my parents have a very large income, yes. Unfortunately, they do not share the details of their finances with me. They claim to have too many loans of their own to help me pay for MY schooling, and apparently these loans couldn’t be accounted for on FAFSA (?). We’re going to talk to Chicago about it and maybe file an appeal. Yes, I do occasionally get the sense that my parents can afford to help me a little more, but they insist that they can’t.