Hi, everyone. As we near May 1st, I’ve narrowed my list of college choices down to Case Western Reserve University, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and the University of Pittsburgh. I am an English major on the pre-med track. All three of these schools are located near great hospitals that will allow me to obtain the volunteering and job shadowing opportunities needed for entry into med school. Through scholarships and grants, all these schools are within my budget. Each school also has its own pros and cons. For instance:
Case Western:
-Smaller and more intimate campus size which would allow me to get to know my professors better for letters of recommendations
-Great pre-med advisory team
-Known for a rigorous course load which may affect my ability to obtain a high GPA
UMN:
-Large research university with many opportunities to get involved
-Great location
-Offered me the most in scholarship and grant money, so it would cost me very little to attend this school
-Has the biggest undergrad population of the three which means that:
a. it might be harder to make personal connections with professors
b. I will be “just a number”
Pitt
-Excellent pre-med program
-Great location
-Already secured a future job shadowing opportunity at UMPC Children’s Hospital if I decide to go here
-Have been unimpressed with their admissions office throughout the entire process
Any advice/opinions would be welcome and high appreciated. Thanks!
All these schools may be within your budget, but if you are planning on going to medical school it really will make a difference if there are significant price differences between them as you want to save your money for med school. It sounds like UMN offered the most funding, yes? I think that would be a great choice. It is true that many of your classes would be smaller at Case (English classes are tiny), and lots of the humanities and social sciences departments there have a focus on the medical humanities. But I’m not sure that is worth a higher price with med school in your future.
I have siblings who went to UMN and to Pitt. I know very little about Case.
Certainly my Pitt sibling loved his school and feels much more affiliated there than my Mn sibling. Even though she was in honors etc, I think she did feel like a “number” at times. Their premed office did not help her much at all (UMN actually lost her med school app and when she called the med school to find out why they hadn’t offered her an interview, did not even really apologize. She is a doctor now, so I guess it all worked out, but still). So if money was the same, I’d recommend Pitt. BUT if money is a lot less for MN, I would be more torn.
p.s. don’t base your decision on the admissions office as you really won’t have any contact with them after you enroll. Your decision should be based on all of the other factors you’ve listed, plus price.
@profparent: Thanks for your reply! UMN did offer the most funding, and it only cost me about 5k to attend there. However, Pitt and Case Western will cost me about 10k per year. The prices are very similar, and my mother will graciously pay that amount.
@Booajo: That was very helpful insight. Thank you!