<p>To the OP:</p>
<p>You mentioned that your daughter is interested in research and/or the medical field. Here is a thread I started on the Premed program at WashU. Please feel free to post questions on the WUSTL 2014 subforum or to PM me with questions.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/wustl-2014/882472-washu-premeds-questions-answers.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/wustl-2014/882472-washu-premeds-questions-answers.html</a></p>
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<p>My daughter had heard the foregoing, redundantly, directly from peers, reliable, non-complaining kids, and it was the only thing, besides the lack of a coast, that deterred her, so she is headed to Tufts, ED, and really thrilled. </p>
<p>And I quite agree with the poster that picking a school based on the USNWR is so worthless. Both schools are very fine schools, and I don’t believe for a moment that the Wash U. students have some sort of academic superiority over the Rochester kids. I know very bright kids at both. </p>
<p>Both schools are excellent, academically. I know very bright, hardworking students at both schools. But, again, I don’t hear the phrase “academic zealousness” associated with Rochester, and I do hear it about Wash U., not infrequently.</p>
<p>I think she can’t go wrong with either school. Only you and your family can decide if $60,000 is enough to choose one school over another.</p>
<p>As for physics…my husband is a PhD Physicist and has many colleagues who are Rochester grads - both undergrad and grad school. They have a very well respected Physics department. I will also vouch that the opportunity to do undergrad research is probably the most important criteria for getting accepted into top science grad programs. </p>
<p>Good luck with the decision!</p>
<p>Thanks again for all the good advice. I will be sure to update with our impressions after we visit each school again and post her ultimate decision. DD had said in the past she almost hoped she wouldn’t get into WashU so she wouldn’t have to decide between them. DH and I will support whatever decision she makes. It will be an exciting April!</p>
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<p>What happened in just one day of engineering classes to cause her to change her mind? My ds applied into engineering. Should we be worried?</p>
<p>Don’t be worried. D was BME - she went to the first BME class and just felt overwhelmed/underprepared. Think she panicked a little bit early but is happy with the change. Her statement to us was that “BME was not what she had expected it to be.” It’s a great program.</p>
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Not quite. The Take 5 program does allow some students to go for a fifth year tuition-free, but not to complete degree requirements. The student must have been able to graduate in the fourth year, and in fact, I believe they do actually graduate with their class. Take 5 is a program which allows students to propose a further course of study, perhaps in an area that they didn’t have the chance to explore before, or in an area in which they want to do additional in-depth study.</p>
<p>My d is a junior at Rochester, and what swayed her was its nurturing, non-competitive environment. She loves it there. And I will say that we know kids accepted at WashU who were rejected from Rochester, as well as vice versa. I think the “caliber of the student body” argument is without statistical significance.</p>
<p>I heard one plus of UR is U. Rochester offers a fifth year with free tuition (don’t know about room and board expenses) to study a subject you did not study as an undergrad, and the student has to apply for the fifth year option. Since the OPs child is not highly social, I suggest looking at the clubs, extra-curriculars, and religious resources to see if there is anything at either of these schools which provides an easier social fit and opportunity to make friends of similar interests. Another thing to look at is study abroad–every school is different in terms of opportunities for study abroad and can possibly save money junior year if your child chooses to study abroad in a cheaper tuition location. I suggest the OPs child go to the accepted student’s week-end, stay overnight in the dorms, eat the food, and then see where the better fit is. You might also want to inquire about med school and science grad school acceptance rates.</p>
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<p>I had the feeling I had that wrong! 
Actually, the program as you describe it sounds much better than I imagined.</p>
<p>Take 5 is not really a 5th year to finish. It’s part of Rochester’s attitude that you design your own curriculum and sometimes that means changing or doing more than you thought or because you have an interest that you want to push deeper. You can apply at any time during your 4 years, except 2nd semester senior year. From the FAQ:</p>
<p>“They may be used for academic enrichment. Take Five courses cannot be used in any way to satisfy graduation, major, minor or cluster requirements. Furthermore, Take Five is not an opportunity to earn additional credentials, such as fulfilling pre-med requirements, or completing certificate programs, or the requirements of another major. Students must demonstrate on their application that they could complete all graduation requirements without Take Five.”</p>
<p>In other words, if you’re a sophomore and you want to pursue something that interests you then you submit an application. That shows what you want to do and how long it would take and your plan to get through your regular classes. You can do 4 or 8 extra classes - a semester or a year. Let’s say you’re a bio major and you want to do choreography or painting. That would be enrichment which would qualify. Here’s an FAQ answer that describes what would not be accepted:</p>
<p>“The following kinds are likely to be rejected: those that portray an interest in a variety of non-related subjects simply because the opportunity to investigate them has not been available (i.e. to remediate gaps); those that convey an interest in extending present studies in the major when graduate school would be a better alternative; those that reflect a desire to complete certificates, pre-med requirements, or are careerist in nature; those that are vague and poorly written.”</p>
<p>The important point is that it’s in furtherance of Rochester’s attitude towards education. Here’s their FAQ on what they are looking for:</p>
<p>“A successful application is one that presents a focused statement of purpose and a corresponding cohesive schedule of courses. Pursuit of the proposal should reflect a potential for intellectual growth. In addition, students must demonstrate an inability to undertake such studies during their first four years due to the constraints of their undergraduate curricula. There is no G.P.A. requirement, although the quality of the academic record is considered carefully. There must also be evidence that the applicant conferred with appropriate faculty about their proposal.”</p>
<p>My husband and I are both UR alum, still living in Rochester. My son has several friends currently attending UR and was accepted himself. (wants to “go away” to college otherwise a great fit) I cant compare since I know nothing about WashU. I do second everything from WayOutWestMom.</p>
<p>Rochester winters are truly not that bad. Yes we get snow, but we also know how to deal with it. Roads/sidewalks are plowed, people know how to drive in it. UR does have an extensive "tunnel’ system that connects a great deal of campus. I’d say the “worst” part of a Rochester winter is that it is grey here. Not a lot of the blue skies you may see in April.</p>
<p>Meeting people should not even be a concern. MANY programs are in place for her to make friends and connections, even as an introverted person.</p>
<p>The Rochester Curriculum is pretty unique. I assume you know all about the details. I have uniformly heard that students like it - although as an intense science major she may have many of her courses “pre-determined” and not a lot of room for lots of “clusters”.</p>
<p>Can’t speak to UR reputation elsewhere but in the area it is know for academic excellence and selectivity. Congrats on the acceptance btw. URMC also has an excellent reputation and provides great research opportunities.</p>
<p>happy to answer any specific questions…</p>
<p>The airport is very manageable and about 15 minutes from campus. very few prolonged weather delays - she should have no problem getting home for breaks.</p>
<p>The OP here to report on our visit to WashU.</p>
<p>Sorry, I’ve posted four times and it just disappears on me! I’ll try to figure it out.</p>
<p>D is a WashU junior and LOVES it! She is a double major in P-N-P (philosophy-neuroscience-psychology) and a foreign language, also taking the premed prereqs. She plays an instrument in two groups, plays a club sport, volunteers tutoring and at a local hospital. My D is also an introvert and generally a quiet person, but has found a strong core group of friends she enjoys. The advising is very strong at WashU D has an arts and science advisor, premed advisor, language advisor, and PNP advisor. They take medical school application very serious and offer a lot of support.</p>
<p>I’m not sure where the “competitive” label came from - in the past I have mostly heard that students decided to attend WashU because it WASN’T competitive. D has found the students to be very collaborative and not at all competitive. D was an excellent h.s. student (ACT/SAT in 99%tile, only NMF, val, etc.), but has had to work VERY hard at WashU to do well. That is okay with her, in fact, it is the reason she wanted to attend the school. She wanted to be challenged and that is what she has experienced. Her peers and friends are from around the world, and are an incredible bunch of kids. D says she is blown away by the minds she is surrounded by - something she certainly didn’t experience before WashU. Research opportunities are easily available at the medical school and right on campus (which is where D works in a lab).</p>
<p>I know absolutely nothing about Rochester except that one of D’s classmates attends.<br>
He seems to be happy there, but wasn’t an exceptionally strong student in hs.
D was also offered a scholarship at Rochester through a school science award, but chose not to apply.</p>
<p>I’ll try this again, maybe short posts will work.<br>
WashU reminded me of Disney, smiling, happy staff and students all over campus. Kids were walking and laughing together. Admissions office cracking jokes making us all feel comfortable. Students playing Red Rover Red Rover in the quad at lunch.</p>
<p>Gorgeous campus, dorms and student lounges. Buildings and dining areas made you feel like you were on a movie set. Made to order sandwiches at the carving station.</p>
<p>Info session talked about freshman orientation/activities that create bonds within each dorm. Talked about the four advisors each student gets.</p>
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<p>Haha, someone in our tour group said the exact same thing about the dorms!</p>
<p>Our tour guide, after learning DD was visiting the same class she was attending, had lunch with us and walked DD to the class and back, introducing her to all her classmates. Found out the tour guides are all volunteers and it’s a very competitive program to be accepted to. They like their school so much they love to showcase it!</p>
<p>WashU was the first school we visited 20 months ago and I was impressed then. Now, I’m even more impressed. It had a great “feel” of happy, friendly students and staff. Even the food service workers had a smile and pleasantries for us! DD loved the visit but will not even voice an opinion until we visit UR on Wednesday. We have let her know it is entirely her choice and will support any decision she makes. I remember visiting UR and absolutely loving it as well, so it’ll be interesting to compare the two. Stay tuned!</p>
<p>^^^ That’s why my freshman son is another happy student. He LOVES Wash U!</p>