<p>D got accepted at both schools and plans on majoring in Biology or Psychology (Pre-Med). She loves both schools. The schools will cost about the same. She did accepted in Liberal Arts Honors Program at Providence College. Both our good schools. What school do you think is better? </p>
<p>I have the perhaps-incorrect impression that Holy Cross is a notch above, academically, but Providence is in a more pleasant town, these days.</p>
<p>^ ^</p>
<p>I don’t think your impression is incorrect. Holy Cross is considered by many in the NYC/NE area as a notch or few above Providence. </p>
<p>Things might have changed, but among many Catholic families and HS classmates’ parents back in the mid–'90s…they tend to rate it more highly than BC. However, a large part of that might be BC’s perceived reputation for big sports/partying campus culture with heavy drinking whereas they perceive Holy Cross as having far less of that and having a “more serious” academic atmosphere. </p>
<p>I agree with Consolation but I would give a greater nod to HC. PC had 59.7% admit rate last year and HC had 33%. HC is test optional so comparing standardized test scores would not be fair. </p>
<p>As Consolation pointed out, Providence offers more than Worcester.</p>
<p>Yes, I should clarify that the notch in question is quite large. 
Providence has the rep of being more sports oriented.</p>
<p>strongly suggest you visit. While both are Catholic, they have two different cultures.</p>
<p>HC is a LAC; Providence is significantly larger. Wooster is kinda run-down, IMO.</p>
<p>HC alums are strong supporters of their school. Check out the premed program at HC. While strong, it is restrictive, in that if they don’t deem the undergrad applicant worthy, they will not provide a recommendation for med school. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No doubt BC had the reputation, since back in the 70’s, it had a large commuter population. But today, BC is much more selective than HC.</p>
<p>Top decile of HS Class:</p>
<p>BC - ~90%</p>
<p>HC - 57%</p>
<p>Prov - 37%</p>
<p>Visit both–because there’s a huge difference between Worcester and Providence. Worcester is a sad place with little to offer college students. </p>
<p>We visit campus of both schools couple of times. Both of them have pros and cons. Yes, I know about Worcester being run down but that does bother us to much. HC campus is very nice. PC has nice campus too and Providence is a great city. However, right outside of PC campus is not great area. This is a very hard choice for my D and us. I think comes down to which school is stronger and has better academic’s? Example: BC is a lot stronger school than Stonehill. Is that the same comparsion between HC & PC or are they look at as equal?</p>
<p>both schools teach bio and psych and have plenty of premeds; they are two of the most popular majors on nearly every college campus.</p>
<p>Since most of the “academic” experience occurs outside of the classroom, it becomes a matter of which school that your D thinks she would prefer to call home for four years. And only she can answer that – not “us”.</p>
<p>They are both fine schools, but as others on this thread have already stated Holy Cross is generally considered to be academically a notch above Providence. That said, if she has a favorite – a school where she feels more comfortable that should be part of the final decision.</p>
<p>Holy Cross. It has a great reputation and is, if memory serves me correctly, the alma mater of a current Supreme Court justice. </p>
<p>Now is the time to get out the course catalogs and see exactly which courses she will need to take. When we toured HC, many students were double majors. At PC, I think there is a much more structured set of course requirements. This was several years ago, so check it out and see which approach works better for her. In New England, HC has an excellent reputation for biology and pre-med.</p>
<p>The game has change now. HC does not give out merit scholarships and they just sent us our FA package. Very disapppointed in their FA package. We did not receive any FA from HC other than $7,000 in loans. We received at Providence College a Liberal Honors Program Merit Scholarship for $18,000 a year ($72,000 for four years). We will have to pay $40,000 to attend PC or $57,000 to attend HC. That is a $17,000 a year and $68,000 total difference. That is a lot of money. I know now that HC is better school than PC but is it woth $17,000 a year? </p>
<p>bump</p>
<p>With medical school in the sights, unless the kid so prefers HC over PC, I’d have no hesitation picking PC. None at all. Also the grading curve might be a lot stiffer at HC, and the med schools aren’t going to give you an inch as to whether you took O-Chem at a tougher school or not. Not one bit. GPA is all. To me it’s a no brainer, since there was a question to begin with. The only hesitation is if kid is in love with HC and you have the money to make it happen, and the amount was on the table. Even then I’d point out the cost ramifications and offer to bank the difference and give it to the kid for graduation, or maybe half the difference. If it comes down to borrowing, absolutley go with PC. And I do love HC. </p>
<p>I don’t think HC is worth $57k and I don’t think PC is worth $40k. At these prices, my kid would go the our state flagship U.</p>
<p>I would contact both the bio department and the career center at both schools to see if they have dedicated pre-med advising, which can be a huge plus. I would also ask for their statistics on med school admissions. While you D may change her mind, it’s good to know how much she will (or may not be) supported in her current goals.</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies. </p>
<p>cptofthehouse: I think she likes HC little btter than PC but not much. She know HC is better rank school and they have great alumni. She likes the city of Providence though. I heard the grading curve is tough at HC. Also, I am hearing from you and other people on CC that the undergrade school you attend does not matter when applying to Med-School. I thought better school like HC would matter but people are telling me it does not. Thank you for the information.</p>
<p>pardullet: This is our first and only child and I agree with pardullet. If I had to do it all over again I would of had her applied to Honors College at a State U. It would of been lot cheaper. I did not know about those programs when we stated this process. To late now. She got scholarships from Stonehill College and Wheaton College, MA too but she really does not want to attend those schools. </p>
<p>Daughter’s Rank by School she got accepted:<br>
- Holy Cross, MA: $57K - $0 = $57,000<br>
- Providence College, RI: (Accepted to Honors Program): $57.5K - $18,000 (Merit)= $39,500
- Stonehill College, MA: $52K - $20,000 (Merit)= $32,000
- Wheaton College, MA: $57K - $20,000 (Merit) + $9,000 (Grant) = $28,000</p>
<p>** Wheaton: $9,000 Grant is need-based scholarship because my wife lost her job 4 months ago and I appealed the FA (which was $0) that they gave us back in early March and they awarded us $9,000 more this week. However, they will review our income at the end of the year and they could pull back some of the money if my wife gets a job and and our income gos up. Also, we might not receive Grant money every year. It matters what our income is. Therefore, I cannot count on it every year. </p>
<p>Also, HC might give us about $5,500 Grant because I am appealing our FA package which was $0 (other than FA loans). I will find out about the $5,500 by next week. Again, like Wheaton if my wife starts work again that money might go away. Also, it might not be guarantee every year so I do not think I can count on it every year because of our income. HC does not give Merit Scholarships.</p>
<p>HC is my daughters number one school and PC is second. She loved Boston College but did she got waitlisted at BC and Bates College. She thinks Stonehill and Wheaton (MA) are ok but she not thrilled of the schools. Wheaton seems to have different student body than other three schools. I guess little more artsy or earthly. I am not sure that accurate but it seems that way and what I read on CC. We only visit the school once and I am not sure. It could be great school. Also, She thought HC and PC was more of a fit. </p>
<p>Couple questions.
- The best school on that list above is HC. Is it worth the money vs PC - $17,000 year x 4 years= $68,000 total. I would have to borrow the $68,000 difference too.
- I know HC is the best school on the list above but I also assumed PC is little better school (not much) then Stonehill College and Wheaton College, MA. Is that true? </p>
<p>Your help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>HC is considered “better” than PC. Not worth that extra unless it’s something you won’t feel, and certainly not if you have to borrow it. And I really meant it about the grading curve and med school. Though, yes, the HC name has some more penache to those who are in the know about those two school and care, a small group that is, but yes, I’ll grant it’s true, it’s not worth borrowing, struggling for that differential. Absolutely not especially for a premed when it’s more a gauntlet to get those grades at HC. Med school isnt going to care one bit whether the school was HC or PC, let alone count a B from HC as an A at PC. It’s all gpa. And HC is a more intense school academically. </p>
<p>The only time it might be of value to go to HC is if a student has a true love for learning and research and it’s truly a passion and he’s really, really good, there MIGHT be a better chance for depth at HC. No guarantee but the possibility is there. I am saying this even as I do like HC better, by the way. I’m presenting it as honestly as I can. For a discipline like the study of Classics, HC does have more. But to get through a Pre med slate of classes with the best possible grades, I’d take PC in an instant. Also, if you stash the money, it’s that much less to borrow when going to med school or other graduate program. Medical school is scary expensive. And a lot of kids don’t make the cut. Many will go to another professional program that can also yield good wages and work in the field of health services, but these pre prof grad programs cost money and have few grants or stipends. You have to borrow if you don’t have a trust fund or other money sitting around or someone to pay for you. </p>
<p>Yes, PC is a bit higher up in most "pecking orders’ than Stonehill and Wheaton overall, though there may be programs in one school that are better than others. </p>
<p>The headmaster of my sons’ school had at least 2 of his kids go to PC and has nothing but great things to say about the school. His one Dd turned down BC to go there even though her parents said it was her choice. She got a big scholarship at PC, and she decided on her own, that much as she loved BC, loved the lustre of the name and rep, it was not worth the difference in price. Her parents did give her a dfferential as they saved a lot on that decision but did not even bring that up until she signed the PC papers. </p>
<p>For whatever reason PC is no slam dunk admissions for Catholic females around here. I know a number of girls WLed and not accepted that made my eyebrows rise, as they were accepted to some pretty selective schools My friend’s DD was one, and she is at Lafayette. </p>
<p>Do read the med school threads on the forum about the importance of grades and schools. Unless a student is set on doing research, top level research, it doesn’t matter which school, barring some schools that might be questionable in calibre and we aren’t even close to that with the schools we are discussing here. Grades are paramount. That and the MCAT scores, and the honors college, smaller classe, being bigger fish in a smaller pond will likely garner some attention and help from the profs at PC wheras she won’t stand out as much at HC and be one of the crowd. But do read about medical school requirements and what counts. </p>
<p>Really, this one is a no brainer. I would seriously even consider Stonehill because it’s a perfectly fine school for preparing premeds. I know two kids just recently who went to med school from there, and dear friend of mine is a grad, a nurse loved the school. And the money differential would take a lot of that stress away. This back and forth of trying to hang onto a award that can go “poof” at anytime is not what you need. Not for this. </p>
<p>cptofthehouse: Thank you for your great response. I will take your advice and check medical school requirements. </p>