BU vs Northeastern vs UMass Amherst

Hi guys,

I’m choosing between the above three schools and feel kind of in the dark about which one to go to because I just can’t trust the marketing gimmicks that glorify each of them. Which should I choose?

I’ve been wondering about how the reputations of the schools/their biology programs compare (or whether that even matters in terms of med school). Also about how easy it is for a student at each to attain intern/externships/job placements and if anyone knows if any of these schools make it easier to transfer credits to other degree programs/schools that would also be great.

I got into the honors program CHC for UMass, and no honors for NEU and BU.

I live in the state of MA and intend to major in biology with a premed track, med school theoretically in my future. We would be paying around 29k for UMass (maybe less with the koplik scholarship), 50k for Northeastern, and 55k for BU. We’re thinking that with grad school in the picture, the cheaper the better but I would love to know people’s input. Thanks so much!

These really are some great schools. I really like the Boston area too!

For pre-med you want to spend the least amount of money on undergrad because med school will be very expensive and likely will require loans. On cost I give the edge to UMass. Not worth spending upwards of $80000 over 4 years when you would basically taking the same premed courses at each of these schools. Personally, I don’t think med schools care if your courses are honors or not. They care how your grades are in the premed courses and overall gpa. But at some schools grading is actually easier in honors courses because the profs know everybody is top of the class. You should ask around how difficult the honors course grading is, because you don’t want the extra rigor and olympiad type competiton to adversely impact your gpa. That being said, CHC honors has a great reputation and is extremely difficult to get into. So congrats on that!. The honors dorms are the best on campus and UMass dining services are the best compared to your other two choices. So you will have the most comfort and least cost. And academically in honors you will be challenged, as if pre-med is not difficult enough. Be careful though to balance your courses because you need a high gpa for med school.

Thanks so much! very helpful.

UMass Amherst. Great pre med.

Not that you go to college for the food. God lord my dining experience was not memorable. But UMass Amherst just was ranked in Princeton review as #1 for dining and food for universities