Purdue [$42k] vs VT [$57k] [biomedical major, premed]

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For better community input, please provide the below details about your college offers:

Purdue (~$42k) vs VT (~$57k), both OOS for Biomedical major/ premed.

Liked both campuses.

Heard of possible grade deflation at Purdue.

Net price per year at each college, after applying scholarships and financial aid grants.

Maximum parent contribution per year.

Major/division admitted to at each college, if applicable to the college. Also, any special programs like honors programs or combined degree programs (e.g. BA/BS->MD).

If you applied to regular fall term start, specify if you were admitted to start at a different campus, in study abroad, in an online/distance or extension program, or other than in the fall term.

Desired major and post graduation goals (including if pre-med, pre-law, etc.).

If not a frosh admit finishing high school, indicate status (e.g. sophomore level transfer, junior level transfer, frosh after gap year(s)).

International or domestic student (and state of residency if domestic).

Student preferences beyond the above (including weather, class sizes, campus culture, college demographics, fraternities/sororities, distance from home, etc.).

Preliminary assessment of each college based on the above.

Why did you apply to each college you are considering?

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Can you clarify the major - Biomedical engineering or biomedical health sciences?

If it’s BME, note that at Purdue, there is a transition to major process at the end of freshman year and all students start in First Year Engineering. BME is one of the most difficult majors to transition to even if meeting the GPA cut off because it’s a small program.

I wouldn’t say there is grade deflation at Purdue but there is also not any grade inflation. I think the same is true for VT.

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Which can you afford - first off - meaning, can you afford VT?

If VT is direct admit, that’s a great thing - but it doesn’t mean you won’t get your major at Purrdue.

Then it’s personal preference.

Both fine schools.

If you are outdoorsy, Va Tech (mountains) might win out.

Good luck.

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Is premed the “kinda/sorta” intention or a serious plan? and is a career in biomed the backup plan if med school doesn’t happen?

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I would be surprised if the difference between these two very good universities would make any difference at all with regard to your chances of ever getting accepted to medical school. Either would be IMHO a very good choice.

I will admit however that I am not familiar with the ability to get medical shadowing opportunities at these two schools. Medical experience will be important.

This leads to three questions:

Which one would be a better fit for the student (whether you or your child)? “Fit” can be tough to measure, but it can be worth taking the time to try to figure out.

Does the difference in cost matter to your family?

Which one would be better for a “plan B”? The large majority of students who start university thinking “premed” end up doing something else. Some cannot keep up medical-school-worthy grades in the tough premed classes. However, many just decide that they would rather do something else. Some forms of “something else” are medical related, such as biomedical research. Some are not.

With regard to the third question, a lot of universities are very good for a wide range of “something else”.

Which does make this a difficult decision to make.

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Can your family fund $57,000 a year for you to attend undergrad without you taking out any loans…or Parent Plus Loans?

Medical schools will cost bout $100,000 a year if you should get accepted in the future. The maximum federally funded loans are now $200,000 in total, and that includes undergrad loans. As you can see…these loans (limited to $50,000 a year for medical school…if you have that much left) won’t cover the costs of medical school. If you can save money on undergrad school…can that money be used for graduate schools?

You can fulfill the required courses for medical school applicants at just about any four year college in this country.

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VT is now affiliated with a medical school complex. The hospital system is well regarded in the region. https://medicine.vtc.vt.edu/

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I think either school would be a fine choice. If they are both comfortably affordable, does the student have a preference?

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That’s good for maybe opportunities to shadow. But just being affiliated with a medical school complex doesn’t give an edge getting accepted to medical school (or take away the concerns about medical school costs).

I think if both are comfortably affordable without loans, the student should choose where they can see themselves being happiest for four years.

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If both schools are affordable I would go to the school you like better. Many students shadow at home during breaks.

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The best college is, in thwt order imho: 1/ where you can attend without parental loans 2/ preferably where you can attend with zero or almost no federal loans 3/ that you like best -

Indeed, due to the recent change in loans for professional education, you’re limited to a lifetime of 200k. With med school costing 100k/year, it means you really need to figure out a way to attend undergrad without any loans whatsoever if you’re serious about med school (or even PA or nursing schools).

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They also have on campus shadowing, if pre med is the intention.

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Thanks for all your comments. A lot to consider. We’re most likely going to go with Purdue, because of the cost. It’s very reasonable, even for OOS. My DD also got into our state flagship, Rutgers NB, but it would be $39,000. With in-state tuition!

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Congrats on the decision. Great outcome!!