I was accepted into both colleges, but I’m unsure what to choose. For context, I’m an Asian IB HS senior hoping to get into a good medical school (preferably on the northeast or west coast). My parents have saved a college fund of 40k for me.
Pros of Smith:
Accepted as a Stride Scholar, meaning a merit scholarship, research stipend, and a paid research position in a field of my choice as a freshman and sophomore. This is a really big pro as I am pursuing an English degree but would still like to do research pertaining to STEM. I would also form a close relationship with my research advisor, a faculty member.
Open curriculum and easy to switch majors
Smaller classes
Women’s college and smaller student population. I like the student culture much more here.
Location → possibly better chance of getting into Med schools in Massachusetts and the NE in general (unsure if this is true)
Nicer campus (but this is negligible)
Better quality of life like free music lessons (since the tuition is so high)
I prefer the weather here, and I’d prefer to leave my state and experience a completely different environment.
Cons of Smith:
60k (net price) for freshman year, 40k for the following years since my brother will also be in college and Smith considers this for financial aid. Would definitely not be the best choice financially, especially if I want to save money for medical school. I want to be rational financially, so this is a significant drawback. I don’t mind paying off loans in the far future though.
Won’t accept AP/IB credits
Pros of UT Austin
In state tuition! 30k per year (including housing) and probably less for the years following freshman year as I plan to live off campus
Accepts all my AP/IB credits. I will be a “sophomore” as a freshman due to the amount of credits UT will take.
Accepted in the Honors College of Liberal Arts, so I can take honors classes in the Natural Sciences as well → smaller classes
Cons of UT Austin
May be difficult to find research opportunities pertaining to STEM since I will have to compete with many others as an English major
Less pretty campus, larger student body → I know I’ll still be able to find “my people” but I still connect more with Smith’s student culture. I’m not into sports, sororities, and a “big college” environment.
Smith sounds like the best fit indeed.
However…
The difference between UT and Smith for 4 years is 60k total. So, if your parents use their 40k savings and can cashflow the 30k/year + you take the 5.5K federal loans, you still need to find 15k per year. Can your parents add 10k per year (meaning they’d have to pay 40k out of income and some from the 40k college funds) if you start working and saving all your money?
If that sounds impossible, then alas Smith is off the table. Fortunately, UT with Liberal Arts Honors is a good alternative
Going to Smith will not help you more than having gone to UT Austin, when applying to med schools in the Northeast.
You can’t afford Smith. It’s going to be 60K this year, and you hope that it will be 40K next year - but you really cannot count on that. <30K/yr makes more sense. Plus you’re gonna need money for med school. Unless you win big merit money, you’re probably going to med school in TX too (you lucky gal, lowest tuition in-state and many med schools).
Go to UT Austin, and take the max federal loan you can every year, because you’re also gonna need money for med school, gonna need to borrow for med school, and after it’s all over, you can probably do the federal loan forgiveness after 10 yrs working for public or non profit.
Those amounts are well less than 1/3 of the tuition costs at these colleges…and way less at Smith. Any loans above these amounts will either need to be cosigned by your parents or take out by them. Are they on board with doing this?
In addition…medical school will cost roughly $100,000 a year by the time you get there…if you do. This is funded largely by loans loans and more loans, and the bank of mom and dad. You want to keep undergrad loans to a minimum.
Re: medical school. I would suggest you choose an affordable undergrad school that you really like. You can get to medical school from either of these colleges. Put medical school aside for now…and concentrate on a great undergrad school where you will enjoy being for four years, can do well, and will be happy.
A “good medical school” is where you get accepted. You are fortunate to be from Texas where the public medical schools are mandated to accept something like 90% of their class being Texas residents. And as noted, the costs will be less too.
But as I said…right now, really UT Austin looks like the only affordable option for your family. Unless I’m missing something…and UT Austin is a great school! And your list of pros for UT Austin is spot on!
If premed, the student really needs to spend all 4 years on campus, not accelerate - however, judicious use of AP credit for placement (NOT in STEM) would mean lighter semesters, such as sophomore or jr year when OP would be taking orgo, or more flexibilty for advanced science electives.
@confusedpremed: do you have any choice similar to Smith (LAC, women’s college) that is less expensive?
Exactly. Maybe this student could graduate in three years, but should they do so?
Also, not mentioned but any AP credits this student has for required courses for medical school applicants…the student will be expected to take upper level courses in that discipline IN college. That will take time.
IF your parents agree to spend more for Smith, you could gather evidence of all the elements that show you really can’t pay 60k a year - sudden electricity bill due to the peculiar TX system, medical bills, costs related to siblings (not pets though). Indicate your parents will stretch to (50k) with considerable sacrifice but you can’t make it work while Smith is your 1st choice (only say this if its true). If they haven’t packaged work study yet, ask if they can add $3,500 in work study and whether they can reconsider, in light of the documentation attached, the amount of FA&scholarship.
You can ONLY do that if Smith is your 1st choice and your parents agree that if the college lowers the total they will pay for it. You cannot negotiate with the costs of UT btw because for FA purpose it’s not a ‘peer’ for Smith as your instate flagship, and you cannot ask such a review iddly, with no intention to follow through on your end, because it requires a lot of work for them at a time when Financial aid is being taxed due to the FAFSA mess.
You’re lucky to have such a fantastic Flagship located in a fun city and your hard work earned you not only admission in your major but also Honors so no matter what you have great choices.
Btw did you get into any other women’s college that may not be quite as expensive as Smith?
The assumption is that this TX resident will attend a TX medical school since this would be the “easiest” (relatively speaking) pathway and the least expensive.
Which may be a plus for Smith (discover another part of the country before returning) and a plus for UT (cheaper to travel to TX med schools from Austin).
For what? Just to see them? At this point most medical schools are still doing virtual interviews, although I’ve heard that some Texas schools are doing in person.
Reduces the applicant’s costs associated with applying to medical school by reducing travels expenses
Helps med schools, teaching hospitals and healthcare system fulfill their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint
Most applicants prefer virtual interviews
Reduces the amount of time applicants must spend away from the classroom, employment or other commitments
Separates recruitment from assessment, leading to less bias during interviews
Currently only 2 TX med school require in-perosn interviews and about 5-6 non-Texas med schools. (In place like KY and WV–which don’t really consider students without strong ties to the state so this student wouldn’t be applying to these anyway.)
Have you been here in the winter? We live in New England. My daughter was born and raised here. She cant wait to get out of the freezing cold. It’s actually one of the main reasons she ED to Rice.
She wants to be able to wear shorts in December. Some people love it and others don’t - but if weather is a consideration - understand what it’ll actually feel like between November - March.
