BU vs Hofstra (Massive CoA Difference)

[AnonPanda1]

I'm 50/50 right now so why not ask SDN for their opinion.

BU:

Pros:
Better opportunities (research and match list) and better for my career.
More urban life that I prefer and opportunities to meet my future significant other.
Loved the Dean of Admissions.
Nice housing but expensive. (subsidized guaranteed only for first year)

Cons:
The CoA, before interest, is $150,000 more than Hofstra. I come from a middle class family so it's a lot of money.
Faculties, interviewers and students left a neutral impression. However, I only met a small subset of the people there so it would be silly to make a judgement based on that.
Facilities looked older.

Hofstra-Northwell:

Pros:
Loved the students and faculty.
Everything is brand-new.
They believe in their students in a way that I see few schools do.
$150,000 cheaper than BU.

Cons:
Mandatory lectures (but forces interaction which I like)
Doesn't have the "prestige" that BU has but the difference is minimal IMO.

If money wasn't a factor, I'd choose BU but unfortunately, it isn't.

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[Neuroplasticity]

Are you interested in academics?

 

[AnonPanda1]

Are you interested in academics?

I want to guide the future of medicine and medical education whether through teaching and/or leadership. I dream big so it might just be youthful naivete speaking but I would like to see myself one day as the first Asian US Secretary of Health.

 

[hungrybox]

BU for sure. Go to the school without the crazy faculty. Plus, do you really want to live in Long Island?

 

[787593]

Mandatory lecture? Heeeeeeeell no

 

[TheCoolBean]

This decision basically boils down to money versus prestige/location, so you have to weigh whether the negligible difference in prestige and the better location is worth the money. The condition of the facilities are a non-factor in my opinion. Mandatory lectures are like a double-edged sword. Some like it because it encourages class camaraderie and prevents slacking off, while others find it a pain to be forced to go to class. It's up to you to choose what you think of it.

If I was making the decision, I would go with Hofstra. The difference in reputation is less significant than the difference in money. However, I will concede that Boston may be better if you want to go into academics, but I could be wrong. You would be giving up Boston, which is definitely a negative, but Hofstra is close enough to NYC to meet your significant other if that's a worry.Best of luck on the decision!