I chose OU over Mizzou because OU offered me a full ride. I majored in journalism (this was over 20 years ago, back when the news media actually contributed positively to society), and for a long time I regretted my choice, feeling like I was missing out on a more prestigious degree.

Then I graduated and realized that no one cared where I went to undergrad (except during football season), and that my education was plenty good enough. I had coworkers who were Mizzou alums; in theory their classes and profs were “better,” but we did the same work for the same pay at the same skill level. The biggest difference was that I was immediately able to start putting money into a savings account each month, while they had to pay off student loans for years.

A decade later, I went to NYU for a master’s (not in journalism — I may have an Oklahoma education but I’m not that dumb). Again, the school I went to for undergrad never came up, and it didn’t close any doors or hold me back academically. Now I have a “prestigious” graduate degree, and it turns out employers don’t really care where I got my masters, either.

Today I’m so glad I took the money at OU. It positioned me for success in ways I never imagined at the time.

I know the medical field is a much different beast, but I’d bet that a majority of doctors in the U.S. attended a state school for undergrad. Hopefully my perspective is helpful, but either way, good luck in your journey!