<p>Well asians tend to SEVERELY overrated med/engineering/science as professions and in general. Med/engineering/sciences aren't the great glorious careers that they make it out to be. They'll realize that when they come out of school at 32 with MD/PhD in engineering/PhD in science and be sorely disappointed.</p>
<p>hmm...it's not as much overrated, but it's a safety net. think about it, asians (i am asian btw) are the minority in a predominantly white society. So, to get ahead and be succesful (oh, success is not measured by being in forbes, whoever said that in pg. 1...also, i guarantee that although asians aren't the RICHEST...the larger majority of asians live very comfortably, which is the ideal) asian parents like to push their children to be the best they can be. </p>
<p>futurenyustudent...you'll realize that in college, you learn that you choose what you want to do. parents, at least the smart ones, won't push their children into a direction that they aren't happy in. the people that do graduate at 32 (and its usually 30 btw for those who go 4 years undergrad, 2 years med, 4 years research, 2 more med) don't care too much about "not making money while others are" cuz they're in a job they enjoy, and md-phd, btw, is bank...you're a doctor, and once you don't wanna be a doctor, you can be a professor, get tenure at a college, and you're set. I'm in a med program, trying to get into mdphd program at ucsd, and if i do succeed, i'll make sure to tell you that i won't be "sorely disappointed." </p>
<p>it's all a matter of what you want to do, and surprisingly, it is the trend that asians are generally good at math/science. =)</p>
<p>to the original poster...your friend was either just aiming really high (no problems with that...though his attitude towards you was quite a$$holish of him) or just really ignorant that there are many other colleges that exist, some that will most likely fit you better than an ivy league (though ivy's are nice =D ) the thing is, its not the asian parents that are choosing your college, its you, and when you're choosing or deciding to apply for a college, you have to consider a lot of things more htan just prestige. for example, are students happy there? how's the atmosphere? weather? social aspect? greek life? food? range of classes? distinguished professors? etc....list is endless. so yeah, just telling everyone that having the whole "i must get into an ivy" mentality is skewed, although it is always good to have high goals. this is just my opinon =D</p>
<p>
[quote]
and md-phd, btw, is bank...you're a doctor, and once you don't wanna be a doctor, you can be a professor, get tenure at a college, and you're set. I'm in a med program, trying to get into mdphd program at ucsd, and if i do succeed, i'll make sure to tell you that i won't be "sorely disappointed."
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</p>
<p>Most MD/PhDs, from what the sites themselves say and from what the students have told me, are primarily researchers, not clinicians.</p>
<p>true, but you still have the option of becoming a physician, which i hope to be =D</p>
<p>Sure, but in that case, just go get your MD. Cheaper, faster, and more clinically focused.</p>
<p>Well I was once looking at brand-name colleges, but it was not at my parents will. I am still currently trying my best to get into schools like Berkeley, Davis and Caltech (not sure if you rate the last two schools as prestigious schools)</p>
<p>It was because I think of them as having better reputation, academic/ research quality and of course definitely more passionate students. I still think of these three schools as somehwhat "higher ranked" than say some unheard of schools (which is a large proportion of US universities).</p>
<p>Idk, maybe you could look at it from a different point of view. Say why do people purchase designer stuff while the non-designer stuff are of same quality but at a cheaper price and second preferences. Surely you would admit to like driving a posh car than to some car from a backwater country?</p>
<p>Not if that car from a backwater country can fly :P</p>
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Caltech (not sure if you rate the last two schools as prestigious schools)
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<p>You're kidding, right? Caltech not prestigious?</p>
<p>Ok my bad.</p>
<p>But the logic I am looking this is from the examples given above.</p>
<p>Let's say given a choice, would you accept enrolment in CalTech or Pomona State University?</p>
<p>Surely... unless you're =P</p>
<p>Pomona State University. There is NO WAY I'm taking 5 trimesters of physics or chem. Ever. They could NOT pay me enough to take that much science. </p>
<p>I'm dying in high school physics. I died in high school chem.</p>
<p>This is why I'm going to major finance/economics.</p>
<p>Yes, I'm an Asian who hates science. Endangered species in this country.</p>
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Surely you would admit to like driving a posh car than to some car from a backwater country?
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</p>
<p>There was a time when Germany was regarded as backwater, Mercedes had terrible build quality, and the American pinnacle of the status car was a Cadillac.</p>
<p>And Korean cars not too long ago were seen on the same level as terribly built eastern European cars. Look at Hyundai today - much much better reputation. ;)</p>
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Let's say given a choice, would you accept enrolment in CalTech or Pomona State University?</p>
<p>Surely... unless you're =P
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<p>First, lets assume that the student is heavily into the liberal arts...doesn't like science much. If he or she got accepted to Caltech, you can be sure there are also acceptance letters from schools 'better' than Pomona State. It wouldn't even be a realistic choice. Caltech vs. Cornell maybe...or Berkeley, etc.</p>
<p>UCLAri - juss so you know...md-phd programs are fully funded by the university since you're doing research for them, so it is not cheaper to go through med school, which at sd, though it is cheaper than most places, will run an easy 40k/a year. saving, lets say 4x40k = 160k is a lot...and yes, i will be giving up the years of working for the program, but i believe its worth it =D</p>
<p>Hahahaha....I don't have that problem, since the highest degree I'm getting is an MBA. Get my Bachelors in finance, work as a TRADER or VENTURE CAPITALIST or INVESTMENT BANKER for a couple years, kick butt so my job will sponsor my MBA, and get my MBA from Wharton from free. And at the same time I think you get paid by the company (small stipend or something). Then when you go back your salary/bonus doubles/triples. MUHAHAHAHAHA.</p>
<p>And if I got into CalTech (I'd never apply in the first place) I'd be choosing between Wharton and CalTech, and choose Wharton without hesitation. I'd choose anything over CalTech. You can always transfer.</p>
<p>For me and college selection:
East Coast>>>>>>>>>>>West Coast
North>>>>>>>>>>>>>>South
Urban>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Rural
Liberal Arts focus>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Science focus
MAJOR: business/finance/economics</p>
<p>so you can safely say that I'm not taking anyone's spot at CalTech.</p>
<p>ENDANGERED SPECIES NO. whatever</p>
<p>ASIAN AMERICANS WHO HATE SCIENCE</p>
<p>What about mathematics? Do you like mathematics? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Math is ok.
Science, however, is a b--ch.</p>
<p>nathanmlee,</p>
<p>Cheaper is not always based on tuition alone. Remember microecon?</p>
<p>:p</p>
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There was a time when Germany was regarded as backwater
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<p>What, when it was like...Prussia? I don't think Germany's been a backwater for centuries.</p>