<p>Princeton, Penn, and Columbia are all great universities. You would not be making a huge mistake choosing Penn or Columbia.</p>
<p>However, please consider all aspects of this decision. Start by reading this parent’s description of their son’s experience at Princeton Preview. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12465099-post18.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12465099-post18.html</a> Also the Preview experience can be artificial and not provide a good picture of the university. See: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12480529-post30.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12480529-post30.html</a> </p>
<p>The new chemistry building will provides great lab opportunities for undergraduates and is a major attraction for new faculty. See: [Princeton</a> University - New Chemistry Building reflects its environment](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/70/64C28/]Princeton”>New Chemistry Building reflects its environment) Read students comments about the molecular biology department. [Princeton</a> University - Department of Molecular Biology - Profiles](<a href=“Department of Molecular Biology”>Department of Molecular Biology) Most molecular biology department students obtain paid research internships and in the past 25 years over 160 undergraduates have co-authored significant research papers. Other areas popular with pre-med students include The Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, The Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the Princeton Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, Engineering Biology, and Chemical and Biological Engineering. The Woodrow Wilson School’s Program in Global Health and Health Policy is outstanding. See: [Woodrow</a> Wilson School of Public and International Affairs | Program in Global Health and Health Policy (GHP)](<a href=“http://wws.princeton.edu/centers_programs/chw/program-in-global-health-/]Woodrow”>http://wws.princeton.edu/centers_programs/chw/program-in-global-health-/) The acceptance rate to med school has been 90% to 95%. </p>
<p>I am a little surprised that since you are from Maine that you would prefer Philadelphia or NYC. I liked the small town atmosphere of Princeton. After graduation I lived in Manhattan. I left after several years because I was tired of the polluted sky, the constant concern over personal safety, and the general hassle of NYC life. You might enjoy this. However, if you want to go to NYC you can take the train from the edge of the Princeton campus and be in NYC in a little over one hour. </p>
<p>In the past the freshman biology course was taught by Noble Prize winner Eric F. Wieschaus and MacArthur genius fellowship winner Bonnie Basler. My freshman physics professor later won a Nobel Prize. I can promise you that the pre-med courses will be challenging and interesting. The 6:1 faculty student ratio and the required office hours of the professors ensure that you will have the opportunity to meet with professors and ask questions. </p>
<p>Here is a previous post about pre-med at Princeton: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12339390-post28.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12339390-post28.html</a> </p>
<p>Here is another HS student’s impression of Columbia: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12392038-post18.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12392038-post18.html</a> </p>
<p>Here is a thread comparing Princeton and Penn engineering: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/1120443-penn-vs-princeton-constructive-advice-greatly-appreciated.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/1120443-penn-vs-princeton-constructive-advice-greatly-appreciated.html</a> </p>
<p>If you send me a PM request I will email you a longer description of the Princeton pre-med program. Good luck in your decision.</p>