<p>Hi all (:</p>
<p>I got a call today around 2 EST and discovered I had been accepted to WUSTL off of the waitlist. I’m currently desposited at Brandeis University, and need some advice on where I should go (I have a couple weeks to decide). I’ll be flying out to WUSTL in the next couple weeks to visit campus.</p>
<p>Some relevant information…I want to study premed, and both programs are good (Brandeis has a 76% admit rate to med school, a premed at WUSTL I talked to said theirs is low 80s). Brandeis is very close to my home (~10 miles) so it has the convenience factor for it, but I also would like to get away (St Louis is good). I am quirky/a little bit nerdy and seem to fit into the Brandeis community well (similar to the uChicago community in terms of personality) and am not sure how WUSTL is. Money is not a matter for me at either school – thoughts?</p>
<p>Both are great schools and are academic peers. You will get a fine education at either and either will prepare you very well for medical school. From an academic and prestige point of view, it is a wash. Athletically, it is also a wash since both schools are in the same conference–the UAA.</p>
<p>Culturally, they are very different places. St. Louis is definitely not in New England and very little in the city will remind you of Boston. It is, instead, sort of a weird mix of mid-western and southern culture and values. It is also a very troubled city; St. Louis has for years been rated the most dangerous city in America (that’s right, its even worse than Detroit!). Now the area of the city where the university is located is quite nice and relatively safe–but large swaths of the city simply are off limits to students. And while Boston has a long history of difficult race relations, the situation today in Boston is like nirvana compared to the strained race relations of St Louis. When you visit, make sure you see more than just the Wash U campus and the Arch. </p>
<p>One wonderful benefit of Brandeis is its proximity to Boston–one of the most intellectual and culturally advanced cities in the country. Boston is frequently described as the best place in the country to go to college. You will never hear anyone describe St Louis that way. If it were my decision, the geographic difference would be decisive. On the other hand, I do understand the desire to go to school away from home. But since your parents are 10 miles away and since I presume that you will be living on campus if you went to Brandeis, you will probably find that you will have sufficient independence while still being able to go home whenever you want (for a home cooked meal, for example). St Louis is an expensive airplane ride away.</p>
<p>Both schools will have a high percentage of pre-professionals. At Brandeis, that fact is somewhat mitigated by the schools dedication to an agenda of social justice (you know, Brandeis is frequently called the Berkeley of the East). You may or may not find that appealling but I can assure you that you won’t find the same emphasis on social justice at Wash U. </p>
<p>I will say that I suspect that most people would find the campus at Wash U more appealing than Brandeis’ campus (collegiate gothic compared to mostly modern) and first impressions are important. On the other hand, after about a week of classes you will tend to stop noticing the buildings so I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on the attractiveness of a campus.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>haha, i see you posted both here and on the brandeis facebook page. brandeis all the way!</p>
<p>synny201, I never post anything, but I wanted to let you know that you are beyond lucky to have gotten into WashU. I went there last summer for their HSSP program for high school students, and absolutely loved it. I spent five weeks on campus, met amazing people, stayed in dorms - the works. And let me tell you, I would go there if I were you. The campus is beautiful (don’t listen to bonanza about the safety), the people are beyond friendly, and there is a great life for anyone on the quirky side. You would be a great fit.
As far as pre-med goes, WashU is great for research, but not so much if your focus is primary care. They won’t baby you there, as I’ve heard Brandeis will do if you beg, and the classes are no walk in the park. But if you are focused, you can do it. Brandeis is an amazing school, too, and there is more one-on-one attention from what I know because it is a smaller school. What it all comes down to is your visit there and how big of a transition you want to make for college - going far away, or staying close to home. Whichever you choose, you are going to have let one really good school down, but that doesn’t even matter. Just go to St Louis and see all the magic for yourself, as I did last summer. Oh, and WashU has amazing food. Trust me :)</p>
<p>To be honest, both of the schools (as far as pre-med is concerned) are on the same playing field. But most importantly, it’s about where you’re going to spend the next four years of your life. You’re going to want to love being there. I’m the first to admit that I know a few students who do not love being at Brandeis (my roommate this past year who I’m living with again). But many students (myself included) are in love with the school, environment, and people. There is literally a “Brandeis Bubble” that exists, and if you think you’ll fit into that large bubble, you’re going to love the next four years, and if you don’t think you’ll fit into it, then I’d say go WashU.</p>