<p>Alright so I have a blessing entrenched by a curse in its own. I'm having a tough time deciding where I actually want to go. So many people around me are saying that passing up the opportunity to go to Harvard is inconceivable and I truly agree with them. I don't, infact, agree with those that say that this decision is a "no brainer." Sure Harvard offers some opportunities that Duke probably just can't. But Duke in its self is a great university and would surely serve me well as a pre-med student. I guess my dilemma truly is, how much does going to one school over the other affect my chances of getting into top medical schools. Does going to one school over the other offer any benefits in terms of switching majors? I'm planning on doing BME or switching to neuroscience if I go to Duke, and most likely neurobiology at Harvard, or anything else that interests me.</p>
<p>I would go to Duke so that way you can get into Harvard for med school. I’m guessing Harvard doesn’t inbreed.</p>
<p>I would choose Harvard over Duke. I have seen some top students ( High School valedictorians ) get low GPAs in the first and second year at Duke. The curve in Duke is way too harsh. There is a possibility that your grades may prevent you from even applying to Med School ( This may not happen to you but why risk it if you are intent on becoming a Doctor? ) Go to Harvard where the curve is not so bad even though it is #1 rated school.</p>
<p>GO TO HARVARD 90+% acceptance rate to med school</p>
<p>^ not to Harvard’s med school</p>
<p>@rbouwens: I think you’re thinking about MIT’s admissions to their own graduate school from their UG.</p>
<p>I don’t think being at a particular UG affects your chances at getting into the School of Medicine. </p>
<p>In fact, you might be at an advantage because you can research/volunteer at the School of Medicine and get amazing LoR’s.</p>
<p>When applying for admission into Harvard’s SoM, during your interview, they might be like “Your LoR writer is my best friend! How’s he doing!?” or something like that. </p>
<p>Point is, for the most part, you have an equal opportunity as any other person. “In-breeding isn’t something that’s usually considered for Medschool”</p>
<p>Harvard takes lots of Harvard kids to their med school. Stanford takes lots of Stanford kids. Yale takes lots of Yale kids. It happens. </p>
<p>That being said, you might be better off on the Duke and Harvard forums asking current pre-meds about their experiences.</p>
<p>@curmudgeon. That sounds like a great idea.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Incorrect. Indeed, just the opposite.</p>
<p>re: BME…anything with an “E” can be a gpa killer. You might want to think long and hard about that road.</p>
<p>My professor for dual said that none of the top schools inbreed, so I’m basing that assumption on him. He wasn’t referring to med school, however.</p>
<p>“I guess my dilemma truly is, how much does going to one school over the other affect my chances of getting into top medical schools.”
-You chance of getting into top med. school will be determined by your gollege GPA, MCAT score as first criteria, then your medically related EC’s and possibly others in your area of interests and finally your social skills (at interview). How Harvard vs Duke will influence all of the above is up to you to decide. Opportunities are awesome at any place, including non-ranked, lowest ranked state UGs. More opprtunites are open for top students. But to have a chance at any Med. School in the USA, you got to be on top, period.<br>
Which school is matching your personality and wide range of interests the best? Which one gave you better Merit package?
BME will be extremely challenging at ANY UG, including any public state school, just like any engineering major. Many pre-meds do not consider any engineerig since it tends to lower your college GPA. But if you like challenges, why not?</p>
<p>Well said. ^</p>
<p>That’s just it. I do not want mg gpa to suffer and seeing as I don’t want to be an engineer persay, it would surely suffer. Neuroscience is always an option though</p>
<p>Sent from my ZTE-Z990 using CC</p>