Duke or Penn for Neuro

<p>Hello all, I'm looking for people who've done either the biology major with a concentration on neurobiology at University of Pennsylvania or the neuroscience major at Duke University.</p>

<p>I'm currently considering both universities for my undergraduate education, and I'm interested in pursuing a pre-med track with a neuroscience major. From what I've gathered by reading through CC, both colleges offer an excellent pre-med track and education, so I'm not too worried about that.</p>

<p>I'm very interested in undergraduate research, and it seems from what I've heard, Penn has a great deal of neuro-and medicine related research available at its hospital. However, I've also heard good things about Duke's undergraduate research.</p>

<p>I will only be able to visit UPenn, so I was wondering if someone who's gone through one of the two above majors could share his or her experience with me. Hopefully I will be able to answer my own questions from reading them. Thanks!</p>

<p>Hi Enceph,</p>

<p>I have a few friends doing the neuroscience major here and I have to say, there are <em>so</em> many research opportunities available. Nearly everyone I know is in a lab or doing independent study - there’s a huge undergrad initiative to get involved in research.</p>

<p>As a pre-med interested in neuroscience, you could do very well academically in either school. There’s no clearly superior choice in that realm.</p>

<p>I think it comes down to social fit. Duke has waaaay more school spirit than Penn, and is much more of a traditional college experience. Penn is in the heart of Philly, though, so if exploring a city is really important to you, then that may weigh more heavily. Duke has much nicer weather (as someone from the Midwest, I absolutely love it here) and is a bit smaller and more intimate than Penn overall. </p>

<p>Again, you really do have to visit both schools to get a good sense for which one feels right for you. I know that Duke Admissions offers a $500 stipend for Blue Devils Day if you’re getting significant finaid, so if that’s what’s preventing you from visiting, you should reconsider it!</p>