<p>I'm intending to enter with a major somewhere along the lines of biochemistry and/or neuroscience.</p>
<p>I'm a fan of U Pitt for its programs and it seems like the right distance and price tag.
Cornell is about the same distance. I LOVE the atmosphere and programs. SO expensive though!
As for Duke, I know they have outstanding programs, and I might enjoy the change of scenery.
I like the idea of an Ivy League degree because I know it'll help in today's job market, but I just don't know if I can sacrifice that much for the tuition. I also don't know if I would be able to handle the academics, although I am at the top of my class.</p>
<p>I have a 4.0, am currently salutatorian (but may be able to pull of valedictorian upcoming senior year), and am taking classes at the local community college as the majority of my senior year requirements. I've taken the SAT twice, combined score of CR 760, Math 650 (result of answer sheet errors on my part), Writing 800. My extracurricular are very strong as well, (i won't go into much detail) with features like senior class president, active volunteer in 5 organizations, Empire Girls State delegate, Leo Club, Interact Club, 3 sports, so on.</p>
<p>Any suggestions, opinions, or personal stories welcome!! Thank you!</p>
<p>Will you take the SAT again? If not, the 650 may make Cornell and Duke difficult. Your scores might be high enough to get you merit aid at an LAC in the 20 - 40 range on US News. (Grinnell, I think, has excellent sciences and may provide merit aid. ) You might also want to look at University of Rochester. Pitt’s sciences are supposed to be very good, but make sure to examine other possibilities for better price tags as well so you have an array of options.</p>
<p>With over a 1400 CR+M, you’re likely in line for Pitt’s honors college, and perhaps some merit aid. 1450 seems to be the where people have reported on here to really start getting some help.</p>
<p>Pitt’s undergraduate neuroscience program is as good as, if not better than, Duke’s and and Cornell’s. But, keep in mind, that with an undergrad degree in neuroscience, you are likely going to eventually be looking at graduate or med school (depending on your interests). I can’t speak of what is available for people with a BS in biochemistry, but you likely won’t stop at a BS in neuroscience unless you want to change fields. Your experience, research wise, as an undergrad is going to matter a lot more than where you’ve done it at, along with things like GPA and GREs. Although Duke and Cornell are outstanding, and their overall schools have a better reputation than Pitt, Pitt’s reputation in the health professions and biosciences is viewed quite differently, particularly within the health/bioscience field. It actuality, Pitt has a larger research complex and medical center than either of them. (NIH funding rank: Pitt #5, Duke #11, Cornell in Ithaca is somewhere in the 70s or worse) The bulk of Pitt’s medical center and research laboratories is literally right smack on the undergrad campus, making it especially convenient to do real research projects or physician shadowing as an undergrad. Duke’s is also close, but you may need to shuttle to it depending on where you are, but it is essentially on campus. Cornell’s is is ~170 miles away in NYC. Honestly, I would focus on Duke or Pitt for neuro, particularly give your price concerns for Cornell.</p>
<p>But, as in any case, go where you’ll be happiest, and therefore likely the most productive, and also consider the type of research you might be interested in doing (neuroscience is a research field) and the opportunities for undergraduates that exist for getting involved in that research at all three schools. Even though there is less bioscience research going on at Cornell, it might have exactly what you want, so look at each fairly.</p>
<p>Duke’s hospital south entrance is literally 50 feet away from the Soc/Psych building on Duke’s main west campus. It’s basically as close as you can get. Obviously, the medical center is huge, though, so certain buildings are farther away, but I assume that’s the same at Pitt. Duke’s neuroscience undergrad degree is only a few years old I believe as it used to be part of the Psych department (although many bio courses were required as well). I know people who were in the program and they all enjoyed it and were able to partake in pretty interesting research as an undergrad. Research has been going on in this area for quite a long time at Duke even though it wasn’t formally offered as a degree (plenty of courses were available in this area even before the major). Biochem is not available as a major at the undergrad level, but there are biochem courses available to take. </p>
<p>Pitt is also a great choice for the biosciences and its lower tuition is certainly a positive. I’d suggest visiting them and then applying to all three (assuming you enjoy the visits) and see where you get in and any financial aid offers if you are applying for aid. It could turn out that Duke or Cornell is cheaper depending on your financial circumstances.</p>
<p>All three are great though so you really can’t go wrong. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you all.
I am taking the SAT at least once more and the ACT as well.
No, I haven’t taken any SAT II yet because it isn’t offered near my area, and I want to make sure it’ll be useful before I do it.
I’ve visited both Pitt and Cornell, but I guess the real question at this time comes down to if it’s actually worth it for the Ivy League rep (provided that I’d even get accepted).</p>