BU or U Pitt?

<p>I’m currently deciding between Boston and Pittsburgh. Both have very similar rankings overall, and in premedical studies, which I am looking at, both have fairly strong programs. Pitt has offered me full tuition and Boston half- obviously half at Boston still leaves quite a bit of money, and living costs are much higher in Boston. However, though this is very vague, it seems to me that Boston has a better reputation. If this is just in the general population, it’s not a factor that I want to weigh, but if it is a factor when looking at medical/grad school, then it is. Boston, I feel, would have greater opportunities because it is in the city, but Pittsburgh is no slouch either.</p>

<p>Does anybody have any opinions/advice? Thanks.</p>

<p>BU has an advantage in your case since it has a Med School, which would give you the opportunity to visit the Medical facilities and such (that is, if Pitt doesn't have one). From what I've heard BU has a great pre-medical program.</p>

<p>Incidentally, Pitt does have a medical school, a top 20 one, I believe, ergo the dilemma.</p>

<p>I would say UPitt because if you are getting a full ride there, you can save up money to pay for medical school, which is going to cost A LOT...</p>

<p>I had the same desicion, i got into BU and Pitt but I chose to go to BU... it depends on which place you like better. I love boston so that greatly influenced my desicion, but i am not premed and i think pitt has a better program</p>

<p>yeah and pre med at boston is a *****. they are not shy and are looking to fail you. it sounds morbid but they really do weed people out and your transcripts will suffer. I mean its obviously manageable since people do it but if you're not willing to study hard it will be harder at BU then probably most schools.</p>

<p>DJglover, is BU that hard? Or is it because of the grading deflation policy?</p>

<p>I have to disagree. Pre-med is hard everywhere. Many people who want to be doctors aren't good in labs or may be interested in bio but not organic chemistry. And very few are interested in physics at all - or have the math background to make physics easier. Heck, many people aren't really that interested in science at all but that's what the pre-med curriculum really is.</p>

<p>BU has a pre-med consulting service. A number of larger schools do. Plenty of BU grads go to med school so there is no "problem." It's just that pre-med is intended to be a grind. Try spending 6 hours in an organic chem lab. It's not easy anywhere.</p>

<p>Yeah. I've heard that from friends that are premed. It's not that it's overly hard compared to other places. It's just it's a HARD thing to study period. My premed friends know plenty of people that started premed and dropped it after their first semester of Orgo. I mean you're trying to become a doctor. It's a lot of work</p>

<p>Pitt's medical school is much higher ranked that BU! See
Search</a> - Medical - Best Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report
It is a similar urban environment, with several hospitals as part of its medical campus, and it is almost free for you! A future doctor should be able to do the simple math. Make sure you visit. It has a warmth that should be experienced that was not obvious at BU.</p>

<p>Take the full tuition scholarship if you really have no preference between the two schools, or have only a very small one. Unless you have a lot of savings to pay for Med school, I'm sure coming out of undergrad with less debt is a big plus.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice, it's looking like Pittsburgh! I'm visiting on Friday so hopefully that will be the catalyst I need to be more enthusiastic.</p>

<p>i am between those 2 as well!</p>