<p>As one of the most indecisive people in the world, choosing a college for next year is certainly not my cup o' tea. As I only have a week left, PLEASE let me know your thoughts...thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Background: premed, biochemistry major at Columbia, biology major (biochemistry track) at MIT</p>
<p>Columbia:
Pros-->lots of perks...Rabi Scholars program (pretty much guaranteed research opportunities, "special" treatment, research stipend over the summer); $12,000 financial aid (new offer...I got nothing at first...); beautiful campus; grade inflation (supposedly...correct me if I'm wrong!) = good for premed.
Cons-->pretty rigid Core (lots of requirements); I didn't really feel that comfortable there, since I'm a science nerd (damn, everyone is so cultured!); Columbia's more known as a humanities school; I like Boston better than NYC.</p>
<p>MIT:
Pros-->MIT has an amazing science program (duh); I felt like I fit in more there; core isn't as extensive; a million of my friends will be there (not the best academic reason, but still...); international prestige (for science, at least); not as many premeds = a bit less competition; no grading on a curve + collaborative atmosphere (pset parties, anyone?)
Cons-->it's frigging HARD = bad for premed; premed's supposedly a bit weak there; may have to compete with Harvard kids for internships in Boston; no guaranteed research (though I heard it's pretty easy to get a UROP); no financial aid (have to foot the fifty-something thousand dollar bill...); no "special" treatment (this is just me being vain...)</p>
<p>So, it's basically the prestige of MIT (don't get me wrong, Columbia's prestigious as well, but not as much in science...) v. the perks of Columbia...</p>
<p>So, there's my spiel...any advice would be wonderful!</p>
<p>It’s a question of big fish in small pond vs small fish in big pond. Although the issue is certainly not as black and white as you (and I) make it out.</p>
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<p>First of all, there are definitely lots of “science nerds” (as you put it) here. It just happens a significant number of them are in SEAS, but that doesn’t prevent you from making friends with them. And I know at least a handful of science-strong CC students (and I’m not all that social).</p>
<p>The Core might be a bit heavier than other schools’, but if you’re at least interested in some of them, the Core becomes not so much a chore as an enjoyable experience. And don’t worry the least about appearing less “cultured” than your peers. All kinds of kids go here, some brilliant, some very knowledgeable, some artsy, some bookish, and some just f***heads (and athletes). You’ll find your crowd, and everyone’s friendly. The whole point of Core classes is you’ll be with both more and less cultured students.</p>
<p>The Rabi program is very strong. Do seriously consider Columbia; this is coming from a John Jay Scholar, who after reading about Rabi Scholars is rather envious how useful it is. (CUSP doesn’t do all that much for us anyway.) Ask me any specific questions you have.</p>
<p>echo epa - the rabi program really is a big perk, the other scholar programs throughout the ivies are cute, the rabi program is full on legit.</p>
<p>and a final thought - liking boston v. nyc. the amalgam of towns and folks is endearing. it is, however, not the same cultural/intellectual and to an extent not the same scientific/industrial meccas new york.</p>
<p>harvard+mit are lovely combo, but columba+rockefeller+cornell+sloankettering+pharma+nyu + a lot! means you have tons of opportunities to express your scientific specifically medical research passions. </p>
<p>you can use your rabi summer money to work at rock or elsewhere, it means that you can find various mentors, that you can maximize your time academically.</p>
<p>and then the city as a resources and a learning tool is unbeatable. you can spend a lovely time in boston picking up a md/phd from harvard/mit (which quite a few columbians have gone on to), but you could never replicate what it means to come of age in the most vibrant city in the country. it means that not only will you be intellectually strong, with incredible research experience, you will become a different person by virtue of the fact of interacting with a wide array of people in a wide array of spaces.</p>
<p>astrolion has a great line about how he has learned more from the city than school, which says a lot for someone who has done research most summers at columbia. consider that your future possibility.</p>
<p>and the core is the easiest/funnest part of columbia, at least by my estimation.</p>
<p>Just from hearing what you said (I am not basing this on the academic credentials of either school), I would say go with MIT.</p>
<p>Your Pros for Columbia are purely logistical. Financial aid, scholar program, and better for premed.
Your Cons, however, are primarily about the feeling you get at Columbia and how you feel about actually ATTENDING Columbia.</p>
<p>Your info about MIT, on the other hand, is the opposite. Your Pros are all about how you seem to really love the school itself and it’s where you would be happiest. The Cons are about your future plans.</p>
<p>I get what you’re going through and what other people are saying, but I think that when it comes down to an education at Columbia or MIT you cannot go wrong. Both are amazing institutions for premed (and based on your credentials you can handle the rigor of both schools). Academics are the most important thing to consider when choosing a college, but you cannot go wrong with either option here. </p>
<p>Here’s how I’m seeing it. You like Boston better than NYC. A lot of friends are going to MIT (take it from someone who’s choosing a college now—friends technically SHOULD NOT be a factor in deciding, but they definitely are). You sound like you feel more at home in the science-driven world of MIT as opposed to the liberal arts-driven atmosphere of Columbia. The sciences are alive at Columbia and the humanities can be found at MIT, but Columbia does have the heavily humanities-oriented core. </p>
<p>I think you want to go to MIT, you know you belong at MIT, but you are afraid to make that leap. Just go for it! You cannot go wrong. Congrats!</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for all your thoughtful responses!! I (and I’m sure all the others who have procrastinated to this point) have some difficult choices to make this week…we’ll see what happens. Thank you so so much for taking the time to think this through :).</p>