<p>My top choices:
Penn with Vagelos Scholars Molecular Life Sciences Program
Vandy with big scholarship (full tuition)</p>
<p>I plan to study biology and become a biomedical researcher (in neurology or pharmacology). How do the social and academic atmospheres compare at these schools?</p>
<p>I am very familiar with both schools. I would definitely go with the money and pick Vanderbilt. The culture at the two schools is very different. Vanderbilt has a big athletic culture (SEC sports) which is really fun if that is your thing. Penn is Ivy League with a very small athletic culture. Both have a big Greek scene, but it can be avoided at either school. Nashville is less expensive overall in terms of having fun, eating out etc. The weather in Nashville is much better and it is a beautiful, fun city.
The research opportunities are great and the Vanderbilt Med Center is incredible.</p>
<p>Penn is a better school, but I don’t know if it’s $200,000 better. I’d ask Penn if they want to up their financial aid offerings (though they usually only do that for people brandishing acceptances from other Ivies + Stanford), but id they don’t I say Vandy.</p>
<p>VAnderbilt is a great school equally on par with Penn but with a better social life. Go Commodores!</p>