A penny for your thoughts...maybe Forum

[pecuniarygain]

In at George Mason with their $15K/year scholie conditional on top 25% (OUT OF POCKET WOULD BE 10K/YEAR)

UMaryland Leadership Scholie with $25K/year (no conditions....only need "good academic standing" at 2.0) (OUT OF POCKET AROUND 15K/Year)

Waitlisted at Columbia, but so is the rest of the world, so not holding my breath on that one.

Waitlisted at Minnesota, but the movement on that waitlist resembles the progress on health care reform...nonexistent thus far.

Waitlisted at Fordham, but the school's rep. told me that they are not as genorous with money, especially for waitlists, and I can't justify 150K over 3 years for tuition at a 30 school...but I am open to suggestions.

Wife has job in DC, but within commute of both UMaryland and GM.

Because of the market and my science background, took the MCATS and applied to Med School, and got in. Tuition at both schools in $42K/year with NO scholies. (OUT OF POCKET AROUND $50K/YEAR for FOUR YEARS). Both schools are on the West Coast. Wife gives up job.

Applied in the middle of January with December LSATs.

I "sat out" this year, and not sure how I feel about the prospect of putting my career on hold for another year to retake an exam that after the 167ish range has as much to do with luck as it does with prep.

[fatduck]

figure out if you want to be a doctor or a lawyer. figure out where you want to work after graduation.

i'll take the $0.01 via paypal - fatduck@gmail

[dpk711]

figure out if you want to be a doctor or a lawyer. figure out where you want to work after graduation.

This. Also the stips on your George Mason scholly is horrible.

[AreJay711]

I think you should have some idea whether you would prefer law or medicine. If you got to law school, UMD sounds like the winner here. Also, Baltimore / Baltimore County / Ann Arundel County are waaaay cheaper than UMD's student budget make seem so it isn't like you will really be spending that much living normally.

[booboo]

LOL @ fatduck...

He is right in that you do need to decide whether you want to be a doctor or a lawyer... Some thoughts, though, since you seem to be comparing the two options in a irregular manner: 200k for Med School is so much different than loans for Law School, you have a much higher chance of paying off your debt while improving your QOL, which may not true if something awful (pessimist here) happens during Law School.

[98234872348]

.

[Gideon Strumpet]

I want to see the numbers you get from posting this same poll on the med-school boards.

[j12]

Go to Vandy's dual JD MD program.

[skw]

Seriously? If you don't know whether you want to be a doctor or a lawyer, you need to take a year off and figure it out, PERIOD! (or exclamation point -- whatever).

[pecuniarygain]

Both are good...I've done work in both areas and could see myself being happy doing either.

I think at this point in my life I am more drawn to the practice of law, but if in three years time that means no career prospects, no opportunity to provide financialy for my family, then, I would not be so happy.

[AreJay711]

I agree that you need to cross one off the list. I also don't think that being a doctor seems that appealing really. UMD is worth the price, which is less than they tell you on the website (trust me, I live in Baltimore).

[Paste_Me]

going to med school is just as hard, i have friends out and a couple of them want to start a private practice and the costs are pretty intense. getting a hospital gig is pretty competitive and starts out with modest salary. plus it's not a 9-5 job, you would have to work odd hours some times, you might wanna think about that.

it's funny, all my friends going to med school think law school is the right path, and all the law school people think med school is the right path. i guess the grass is greener on the other side.

[kevinbacon]

I say med school!

Wish I would have taken a year of physics/the MCAT so I could have applied JD/MD.

[crit_racer]

going to med school is just as hard, i have friends out and a couple of them want to start a private practice and the costs are pretty intense. getting a hospital gig is pretty competitive and starts out with modest salary. plus it's not a 9-5 job, you would have to work odd hours some times, you might wanna think about that.

it's funny, all my friends going to med school think law school is the right path, and all the law school people think med school is the right path. i guess the grass is greener on the other side.

I like your avatar

[fragged]

Take the GMAT and see if someone will create a custom MD/JD/MBA program just for you.

[TheFactor]

Medical school is always TCR.

[Schieff]

Go to med school.