Need help making a decision [CA resident, pre-med, $33k-$86k]

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Need some help with my college decision. I am from California, Asian, and male, but I prefer to attend a school on the East Coast if possible. Didn’t get into UC Davis, accepted to UCR, accepted to Chapman with merit, but still expensive, so not interested.

Major: Biology on pre-med track. Cost is a major concern, especially since I am planning med school. (I don’t qualify for financial aid)

Below are the schools, any merit, and the final direct cost.

Lehigh- no merit (86k)

U Rochester- 15K (79k)

Brandies- 28K (70k)

Pitt- no merit (61 k)

Umass Amherst 14K (47k)

RPI 38K (46k)

Udel 14.5 K (47k)

Bing 8.5 k (43k)

Stony Brook (pending honors college)15 K (39k)

Clark 40K(37k)

Hofstra Honors College 49K merit (33k COA)

My parents can afford about 45k a year with 529 savings, some loans, and cash flow, so Lehigh, URochester, Brandeis, and Pitt will have significant loans. Is there any chance of appealing for more merit?

I visited Stony Brook and Hofstra. I like the possibility of going to NYC. I liked the small class sizes and opportunities that Hofstra seems to provide for pre-med students, but I don’t know anyone who went there. Stony Brook seems to be more competitive, with large class sizes. There is a large Asian community, so that might be a plus, I am not sure. I heard there are a lot of commuters, but hopefully I can find some out-of-state students.

U Rochester and Pitt seem to offer many opportunities, but is it worth it if I have to take out loans? I like urban areas or those close to a city. Not rural areas. Having a great social life and a collaborative, diverse student body is also important to me. Please help me narrow my decision.

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Regarding loans. The limits for federally funded loans are now $200,000 and that includes any federally funded loans you take for undergrad school. Medical school will cost $100,000 a year or if you end up attending. So…you need a plan for financing all the way through.

I guess I wonder why your CA colleges aren’t an option. You can take the required courses for medical school applicants anywhere.

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What could your parents afford without loans?

So Hofstra seems reasonable - even though it might clear out on weekends. SB too. RPI is great - but engineering focused. Is that ok for you?

I’m guessing Bing works with a small amount of loans.

The first cut is where can I afford - sans loans - Hofstra, Stony Brook, Clark, RPI. I’d choose from them. Hofstra will be a regional draw but it’s a fine school as frankly, are the others. The SUNYs all lack geographic diversity.

Then if you’re willing to take on loans - you can only borrow $5.5K the first year and $27K overall - you could consider Bing and that’s about it. Seems UMASS and UDel are a stretch.

‘So do you want small - Clark. Mid-size Hofstra / RPI - or larger but not huge - like Bing.

Alternatively, you still have time to apply to others - that might be cheaper stat dependent. Or you can go to Riverside.

It’s not just this four years but med school too. Check with UCR to see if you get preference at their med school - because if so, it might be worth it for better odds at in-state med school tuition.

But I’d make the decision based on what I can afford sans loans - and I wouldn’t assume you will regularly go into the city. You’ll be studying, taking part in clubs.

Good luck.

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I would choose from the schools you could attend without loans.

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Have you visited RPI? Great school for all STEM majors. I am an alum and have a first year there as Biochem… great school and outcomes afterwards. Many students fly from the West coast to attend… also Troy is a great small little city walking distance to campus.

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I haven’t looked much into RPI, hear it’s more of an Engineering school. Would that be harder to keep a very high gpa as that’s the most important thing for med school applications

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UCR med school preference is for a certain area and I am not from there. I live in the Bay Area

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Sorry, forgot to say that we can afford 30-35 k per year without loans

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Again, not only engineering. The Dean’s list contains many students, so GPA can be high. Also, not sure if you know, but they have a 6 yr Ba/ MD program with Albany Med School.

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Well, you can’t really afford $45K then. There’s a reason the feds limit you to $5500 the first year.

Even UCR might be more than that.

I’d choose between Clark and Hofstra and maybe SB.

But i’m not sure you’d be happy at Hofstra. It might clear out on weekends and you’ll be far from home. But the same could be said at UCR and Stony Brook.

Alternatively, you could apply other places, stat dependent, that you can still go cheap - but it will be schools like Kansas, Alabama, Mississippi State, Central Michigan, and more. They could, if you have a test score and it’s good, save you even more - and be flagships - but not East Coast.

Any other in-state or WUE options? Live is long, you can move to the East Coast after school or for an internship.

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So you only have Hofstra as an option with no loans? Hofstra is a fine school but it has a number of commuters and some residential students go home for the weekend. Take a hard look at student life there. Perhaps look at Clark again.

I’d revisit state public options.

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UCs are about 40-45 K too. Stony and Hofstra are cheaper than my in state due to merit scholarships. My parents are willing to fund whatever they can for med school even if it’s through loans. Family income is about 330K but with all job cuts and uncertainty out there they dont want to take too much risk for undergrad.

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What is your SAT/ACT score and unweighted GPA?

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You can only borrow $200K including undergrad and med school. There’s lots of limits placed on - which frankly - will protect you from beyond crazy debt.

It sounds like they have funds if they make $330K - but they are being conservative. Are you sure they can’t afford a bit more?

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With what’s in the 529, we can manage 45-50k/year

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They can manage 45-50 K. I have two older siblings and parents paid for their college. One just finishing

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Again, not only engineering. The Dean’s list contains many students, so GPA can be high. Also, not sure if you know, but they have a 6 yr Ba/ MD program with Albany Med School.

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1370/3.9

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You have given a few different maximum budgets. IF it is $45k then I’d certainly look at SUNY Binghamton.

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Lots of WUE schools would hit (actually crush) and are still taking apps. Not a huge Asian population but an Alabama would be $26K or so. Miss State and UAH less. Kansas, WVU under $30K. Central Michigan 20K. I’m sure there’s more. WUE schools where you could still get - certainly $30K or less.

You can go East - you have options - those are very regional schools including Clark but the merit schools often are.

Not sure if Asian population matters to you but SB is 40%. Bing half that but still substantial. Clark 7% and Hofstra 16%. RPI is 22%.

The South/Midwest will be less but much less in Asian life.

Check out WUE schools.

The other thing to look for is school committee letters. RPI says this - The Committee also submits a Pre-Health Committee Letter on behalf of applicants.

In essence, they decide who can even apply or realistically get into med school. Not all have them. RPI does. You might check the others to see if they do. If they have it, isn’t bad - just that you should be aware of it. If they decide not to give you a letter, it could be the death knell.

Here is the wue savings finder if you’re interested in more.

The good news is - you can afford some on your list - have you visited all? Maybe a weekend trip to SB, Hofstra and Bing would be worthwhile - or Clark. You can do Hofstra and SB in one day. You noted going into NYC. Clark might offer similar to Boston. Bing - doesn’t really offer access to a large city…just another thought if that matters. Nor do any I mentioned that you could still get into that are cheaper.

Good luck.

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