I’m curious. I can’t seem to find a listing on the web that has a comprehensive comparison including cost of living(Room and board), books, all those miscellaneous fees etc, not just comparisons based on tuition. If you come across a really good link with a listing please share, i’m curious. I’m sure someone out there has done the math. It may not be exact but a good estimate is just as good. I tend to think the cheapest Med schools( overall cost) are in the South West or South East, but, i could be wrong.
Not sure who would go through the effort. There are differences in tuition based on whether in-state or out-of-state. Most schools will give you that information in their financial aid section. They list the cost of attendance which includes everything from car payments to eating out.
The cheapest schools are state schools and just look for those schools in the cheapest states. Without question the cheapest schools are those in Texas for Texas residents.
Texas! WooT!!
NC IF you can get state residency!
for a starting point, the AAMC publishes the
Tuition and Student Fees, First-Year Medical School Students 2012-2013 .
You then cross compare with a
Cost of Living Calculator OR Cost of Living List
you can get a good idea of what it the overall costs
I’d say some are in California, but for sure, in the great state of Texas, tuition is among the lowest in the country in all our public schools as well as in the only private school (Baylor College of Medicine). All schools have tuition fees below $20K/year. Compound this with generally low cost of living compared to major cities, and you get very affordable cost of attendance. Of course that is if you are in state. If you are out of state and accepted (which is quite difficult), then you generally receive $1K which makes you automatically eligible for in state tuition. Most schools here practice the trick because by giving 1K, you save 20K or so…
- redo-it-all Said:
I'd say some are in California,
IMHO, the competitiveness of the state schools in Cali ameliorates ANY financial savings, LOL!!!
Hey Path
I am not sure what you mean by “ameliorates”, you probably meant annihilates or something like that (but I am not sure as my English is very imperfect).
I agree, that the cheaper the school, the harder and California is known for the competition.
I also know that it is hard for students in Texas, because by law, 90% of entering students have to be from Texas (except for Baylor). So the competition is fierce as well for out of staters.
So I am keep ready about great, inexpensive schools in Texas that admit 90% instead (i.e. easier to get in if one lives in Texas?)
So if I am 2 years away from starting application cycle, single and not tied down to a real estate, should I look for a job in Texas and relocate? How long would it take me to get a residency status there?
Also, what are the odds I will be excepted in Texas, what if I will have to move across country again when I graduate?
Also, how is the economy in Texas? I am ready that the cost of living is reasonable - does it mean the jobs do not pay very well or hard to come by?
- Olivia Said:
So I am keep ready about great, inexpensive schools in Texas that admit 90% instead (i.e. easier to get in if one lives in Texas?)
So if I am 2 years away from starting application cycle, single and not tied down to a real estate, should I look for a job in Texas and relocate? How long would it take me to get a residency status there?
Also, what are the odds I will be excepted in Texas, what if I will have to move across country again when I graduate?
Also, how is the economy in Texas? I am ready that the cost of living is reasonable - does it mean the jobs do not pay very well or hard to come by?
So if I am 2 years away from starting application cycle, single and not tied down to a real estate, should I look for a job in Texas and relocate? How long would it take me to get a residency status there?
Also, what are the odds I will be excepted in Texas, what if I will have to move across country again when I graduate?
Also, how is the economy in Texas? I am ready that the cost of living is reasonable - does it mean the jobs do not pay very well or hard to come by?
If I were in your situation, I'd move to Texas and here's why:
1) The cost of living is very, VERY reasonable.
2) Instate tuition is VERY reasonable.
3) Medical-ish/research jobs (my training area) are pretty plentiful in places like Houston. Of course, this is going to depend on what your current skills are.
4) The 90% in-state acceptance deal is about as good as it gets.
Just understand that it can take YEARS (2-3) to become eligible for in-state status unless you have ties (family) to a state.
Finally, what it sounds like you're asking is if you do everything right will you get admitted to med school in Texas, and I don't think anyone can answer that question. Like a lot of things in life, you simply give it your best shot and hope for the best. If it's something you really want, you just keep at it until you achieve your goals.
Also understand that a lot of the questions you want answers to are going to require extensive research on YOUR part since anything you get here will be anecdotal and everyone's situation is different and individual.
Thanks for the responses everyone. I thought the Carolina’s, Georgia and Florida had some cheaper schools. I guess Texas has the cheapest in the U.S. I had no plans to apply to any schools in Texas, i do have family there so maybe i should expand my options. I would have to live in the State i’m assuming 1 year to be considered a resident. I wonder since it takes a whole year anywhere after being accepted to start med school, so if you apply and relocate to the state you are accepted, so technically you become a resident during that waiting period right? so your tuition by the time you actually start the medical program should be in-state right?
I can speak to this…since this is basically what I did by relocating from Phoenix, AZ
Yes, you have to be what the state calls, “gainfully employed” for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. Sounds subjective? Well it ought to be since the state can accept or reject whomever they deem as not “gainfully employed”
Most importantly, please visit a city or town in TX to see if it a good fit. I made the mistake of not doing this and even though I now am a bonafide resident of the “Great State of Texas” I was about ready to put a bullet in my head because I hated it here so freaking much.
It helps if you have family, friends, or even a good small support group to help you through those rough patches.
My two cents:
I find that the older one gets the less and less the glitz, glamour, and prestige of going to a super high profile IVY league school gets to them.
A state school is just as effective (and cheaper). The best thing, imo that an IVY school gives you is a crazy potential to rub elbows with some pretty influential people; networking mostly but that’s it.
I believe LECOM’s tuition is pretty low in the realm of medical schools.
I did a bit of reading around this weekend and interviewing my friends and family. So far, so good.
I love outdoors and any new place sounds awesome - just a new playground, things to explore. Plus Texas is not too terribly far from the Rockies, CA and canyons.
There are only couple of things that will make me hate the place I am living at: very large crowded cities (read New York, Washington DC, Chicago) and a poor economy (too much stress about money).
From what I can see, economy is pretty good in Texas compared to the rest of the country. They have a large number of fortune 500 companies so corporate job should not be a problem to find. It looks like I already have few people that I know in both Houston and Dallas.
Thinking to start applying for jobs in a month when I will be closer to my class completion.
Any input? What would be better Dallas or Houston?
Hmmm…both are great cities. Houston is too big for me. I had a few job interviews in the Dallas area last summer, mostly near Arlington and I really liked that area. Have you considered Austin? I’m not sure what job sector you work in, but I think Austin is nice. Are you thinking of doing a formal post bacc or DIY? I think you mentioned it in another post but I don’t remember… I listed some factors to consider before moving in this post: http://www.oldpremeds.org/fusionbb/showpost.php?po… Come join us in Texas! All the best! 
Thank you for your response!
I am in corporate accounting, so I will have to stay close to large corporations (i.e. downtown areas). I have a competitive resume and usually interview well. So getting a job should not be a problem.
I am doing DYI. Already have an undergrad and MBA with 3.8 GPA so I am just doing core science classes while working full time. I also do not mind taking an extra year if that means in-state tuition and not rushing into a bunch of extra debt.
Olivia
I know that I wouldn’t like to live in Houston. It is very humid and the traffic is horrible. Dallas traffic is not great either, although I will have the luxury of using common transportation for my commute when I start school (who would think that using common transportation would be a luxury?).
A town in texas that I liked a lot was San Antonio. Nice little town with the river walk.
Frankly, there is nothing much to see in Dallas. You need a car for anything you want to do. The weather can get very hot in summer (which doesn’t bother me by the way). Everything is spread out. It is not like you can take a walk in downtown. When you walk here, people look at you with big eyes.
Anyway, I don’t necessarily like it. I was in Boston for 2 years and that was very nice (although it was very cold in winter and life was expensive). Yet if I was offered the choice, I would still pick Dallas. I don’t like it that much, but I like it better.
If you have friend and family around (Dallas or Houston), that is a big factor in my opinion and it can make you really happier to have those around. So definitely, go where you know somebody, where you can have a social life; because there is little you could do on your own around here (except going to the movies maybe, which I do from time to time). My wife has developed a social tissue that appears to be vital to her. Between job and kids, without her friends, I don’t know how she’d survive. I manage to survive though because I have been busy with pre-reqs and application largely, and MCAT at some point. I am starting school next fall and I know I will still be very busy. But if you have free time, for sure, in a place like Dallas, it is best to have a social life.
Hi Olivia,
My wife’s family is from Dallas so we’ve been going back on holidays for over 10 years now. I’ve never been to Houston but I know Dallas has a lot to offer for its residents. My favorite is the amazing BBQ and the tasty Mexican food. Weather is sunny so that’s always a nice plus. Also, since Dallas is a major American Airlines hub, cheap direct flights are plentiful. The only negatives I found (in my opinion) were the heavy traffic and the time it always took to get from one side of the city to the other (over an hour usually). Dallas is very spread out. If we were to ever move back to Texas, I would prefer a smaller city like Austin, TX but I understand your need to stay close to downtown areas.
With the cost of medical schools like UT Southwestern at $17k or UT Houston at $15k, I’m very envious since my state school (New York) is $30k a year. Still cheaper than $50k private medical schools though.
Do you plan on finishing your pre-reqs in Texas? I would check to see how easy it is to take classes in Texas. My wife’s cousin is doing a nursing program in Dallas and has told us how competitive it was to get into her classes. That may not apply to you though.
Good luck in your journey. Keep us posted.
- redo-it-all Said:
I know that I wouldn't like to live in Houston.
+1 thanks to being Asthmatic.
San Antonio and Austin are the only places I would ever even consider living in Texas. Moot point in my world. Due to my political activism in 1984, and some things that happened in Dallas as a result…(Don’t judge - I was 20)…I officially can never set foot in Texas for the remainder of my natural life…'nuff said.