Hi- I am trying to decide between these 6 schools to attend next year. I am interested in studying premed as an undergrad. I would really appreciate any insight/opinions you have on these schools and which one you think is the best. Thank you!
Are they all the same price?
Have you visited all of them?
As a premed, you need to minimize debt because med school isn’t cheap. You’re also going to have a certain level of stress as you go through tough classes you need to ace. Low cost and comfortable environment will matter.
They’re all potentially good choices depending on what fits for you.
@AroundHere They are all very similar in price and I have visited all of them except for Kenyon and Lafayette.
Several of your choices appear below, which seems to be a good thing for you:
http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/lists/list/the-experts-choice-colleges-with-great-pre-med-programs/199/
I’d recommend that you choose your favorites from these pairings: Kenyon/Bates and Colgate/Bucknell/Lafayette. This will be hard, but you will need to do this one way or another in any event. Then add BC to make a now reduced group of three. At that point, your final decision should begin to become at least somewhat clearer @Kman2398 .
Thank you @merc81
A huge variable is if you can live 4 years in a tiny Town (village, really) without going nuts. I thought I could, & went to a college in a town much bigger than Colgate’s or Kenyon’s, & could barely make it through the academic year. I think Bucknell, Bates, & Lafayette are in small cities, but if you are accustomed to big metropolitan area, even they might be too small. I’m sure all of them have turned out a lot of future doctors over the years, so there probably aren’t huge academic differences.
Size is not all that matters.
The friendliness of the town that binds the students and townspeople together is important. No one wants unnecessary friction from bad or even indifferent town/gown relations nor do you want a scene of evident hardship with crime and/or drug use- as extreme cases of non-starters.
There is a lot to be said In defense of small towns that have what it takes to make students, staff and faculty feel welcome e.g. organic, pizza, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, burger and fine® dining options, theaters, bars, coffee shops, bookstores, antique stores and farmer’s markets within a few minutes walk of the campus.
Incidentally, the same applies to campuses with a vibrant recreation/athletics scene for you to participate in or simply enjoy as a spectator. Applicants would be well served to take a look at those facilities too on their campus tours.
Go 'gate!
In terms of campus aesthetics, you have two of the country’s most beautiful schools on your list in Kenyon and Colgate.
and Bucknell