Hey, I realize that this topic has already been beaten to death, but I just want to ask some questions specific to my situation. Please excuse my wordiness and grammar in advance. I’m a current high school junior and am exploring college options. I come from a fairly well to do family (I am not eligible for any type of financial aid), and my college fund will sit at around 150k by the time I graduate. Based on my standardized test scores (35 act), I am guardenteed a full scholarship w/ room and board at my state college; the college has a top 40 med school according to USNews. I am also looking at private universities, like WashU and Duke (cost of attendance is over 240k for 4 years). This leaves two possible scenarios:
1. I attend a private college and take on debt to cover the tuition. I then take out more loans to pay for med school. This would leave me a couple 100k in debt.
2. I attend the public university on a full ride. My father says that by the time I graduate from college he will be able to fill my college fund with enough money to pay for the totality of medical school tuition. I would graduate with no debt.
I have shadowed a large number of surgeons and physicians in town and they all recommend option 2, but then again they all attended this college minus one. Is the prestige really worth it for undergrad? What do you guys think?
1. I attend a private college and take on debt to cover the tuition. I then take out more loans to pay for med school. This would leave me a couple 100k in debt.
2. I attend the public university on a full ride. My father says that by the time I graduate from college he will be able to fill my college fund with enough money to pay for the totality of medical school tuition. I would graduate with no debt.
I have shadowed a large number of surgeons and physicians in town and they all recommend option 2, but then again they all attended this college minus one. Is the prestige really worth it for undergrad? What do you guys think?