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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school.  He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin. He didn’t get merit from any of them. He did get the provost scholarship at VCU for 16k/yr so that 64k goes towards med school. He will not need to take out any loads for med school. [/quote]

What if he decides he doesn't want to go to med school...which a ton of kids do?  Why would you have him apply to a school like Vandy or UT Austin or Colgate, knowing they give almost zero merit aid?

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I don't undestand?  Then he does not go to med school, what do all those kids do? They do someting else LOL!  I think his chances are high. His dad is a doctor, his grandfather is a doctor, his uncle is a doctor, he knows exactly what he is getting into.

we did not dictate where he applied, or where he chose to go. He does know exactly how much money he has for undergrad and med school and made his decision accordingly. He also knows that his GPA and MCAT and ECs/research are absoultly critical to getting into a good med school. [/quote]

DP: And it's much easier to have a near 4.0 and have time to study for the MCATs if you are at a school like VCU (when you got into T25 schools as well).  Yes it will be challenging but nowhere on the same level as doing premed at Vandy or Colgate or UT Austin. And you are correct---he will have the ability to do research as an undergrad at VCU and volunteer at the hospital,etc.  He will have an easy time building the full resume for Med School applications.  People somehow think going to the tippy top schools is always the best.  If your intent is med school, law school, any type of medical graduate school, it's often not the best.  Going to "a slightly lesser school" where you can shine and will have an easier path to success is the smarter path.  
Either way, he gets his undergrad degree for virtually no cost to you (just R&B).

If only more people thought this way[/quote]

DP: I'm a Vandy alum and can't really quibble with the VCU choice. Particularly if he did or will do the guaranteed admission program. https://honors.vcu.edu/admissions/guaranteed-admission/
[/quote]

Yup---VCU is an excellent med school.  And it's instate tuition is very reasonable.  If your goal is to be a doctor, it's an excellent path to ensure you go straight to medical school and don't have to spend a year or two "studying for the MCATs and applying and hoping you get in".

Do you care where your doctor got their degree?  I don't--beyond I'm not keen on seeing one who went to medical school in the Caribbean (those are known to be slightly lower level, easier to get into).  But as long as they are board certified there is not different between a Harvard med grad and a vcu grad---both will be outstanding.

[/quote]

Don't disagree with you as a patient.  I don't know how the "business" market works with MDs.  Do Harvard med grads get the offers from the top plastic surgery, cardiology, orthopedic practices vs. VCU?  Honest question.  There must be some reason everyone wants to attend Harvard med compared to VCU med.

I mean, the median income in the DMV for a doctor is $287k.  Good living, but nothing fantastical, especially considering you gave up your entire 20s.  [/quote]

All the more reason to do Undergrad for virtually free and medical school with in-state tuition. That income looks much better when you have no debt [/quote]

I mean, wouldn't you rather take on debt and make $3MM/year with one of these top practices?  Better yet, shouldn't you pursue one of the myriad other careers that can get you to this salary level without the massive opportunity cost of being in school?[/quote]

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