So I got admitted to Emory and Pitt, and need to decide in next week! I think I want to major in psychology, so I have been looking more closely at each school’s program. Pitt’s web site feels a bit easier to navigate/find stuff out vs Emory’s. I have reached out with some questions to both schools. I think Pitt offers supervised field placement at undergrad level for credit whereas Emory does not - or at least I don’t know for sure. Not sure if that matters a lot or not.
Since I have visited both campuses and like both universities in general (even though they do have some significant differences), I wanted to see if anything about the major would sway me one way or the other… so wondering if anyone who is a psych major in one of these schools has any advice, etc. I’m most interested in understanding how research and internships opportunities may vary between the two (in reality) along with how easy/flexible to double major/study abroad.
I may want to go on to a phd in clinical psych or md in psychiatry- but these are just options want to explore more in next year or so
Thanks - as I am really torn at this point between the two, see pros and cons related to each.
@Movieman12
With your interests, there are a number of different majors you might pursue at Emory:
Psychology
QSS with Psychology Focus
Neurobiology and Behavior
QSS with Neurobiology and Behavior Focus
QSS = quantitative sciences for social science disciplines
Psychology Department/Research & Study Abroad (Samoa, Summer 2017)
http://psychology.emory.edu/home/documents/undergraduate/2017_study_abroad_flyer.pdf
Psychology Department/Research & Study Abroad (English Isles, Summer 2017)
http://psychology.emory.edu/home/documents/undergraduate/2017-bristishisle-abroad.pdf
Psychology Department/Research
http://psychology.emory.edu/home/research/undergraduate.html
NBB
http://www.nbb.emory.edu/
QSS
http://quantitative.emory.edu/prospective/qssmajor/
So, some possible differentiators from Pitt are:
- You can study psychology with a more rigorous mathematical bent if you choose.
- You can study psychology with a more rigorous neuroscience bent if you choose.
- You can do #1 and #2.
- Emory has strong intro biology, chemistry and physics classes that will prepare you well for the kinds of thinking you need on the MCAT.
@Movieman12 : I think typically Emory’s is more “sciencey” and clinically focused if that matters. Like if you look at many of the special topics upper division course offerings, some of them might as well be internships (check on how many course based opps there are at Pitt. Emory has ones like this: http://atlas.college.emory.edu/schedules/index.php?select=PSYC&view=cse&ms=PSYC&t=5171&sc=PSYC&cn=473&sn=00P and this: . http://atlas.college.emory.edu/schedules/index.php?select=PSYC&view=cse&t=5179&sc=PSYC&cn=385&sn=1 In addition, it is probably one of the only schools with a 2 semester introductory sequence (most schools, even great privates have the one standard psychology course that is a harder or easier version of AP psyche whereas psyche majors at Emory must take this if they have no AP along with a straight psycho-biology course: Quite an interesting nuance for freshmen: http://psychology.emory.edu/home/undergraduate/faq.html).
NBB also has a clinical practicum course if you are into that sort of thing.
BTW, I do NOT find Pitt’s psych website easier to navigate. I struggled to simply find the course offerings, but what I was fortunate to find was their syllabus database.
It indeed appears that Emory’s may overall have much more of a neuro slant across the curriculum whereas Pitt appears more traditional with opportunities for those interested in the scientific and clinical applications of psyche. I am really not surprised. I would rather not sway but just inform you of this difference. Also, generally many students majoring in psychology or even taking the courses in it comment that the courses are often much more challenging than their expectations ( especially transfers who are often very surprised how prevalent the research design/science slant is in many of the courses). This can be good or bad I guess (good training but more stressful if you expect the standard experience where most psyche courses are gut classes or simply desire a much bigger emphasis on social psychology). I suppose if you don’t want to engage that deeply in the classroom you can just dodge those courses, but they are typically the better ones with the better teachers (as is always the case at Emory and perhaps many other places). However, given your interests, you may like Emory’s program a lot. I cannot comment too much on Pitt’s, I can only go based off of what I see on their website.
I am interested in sciences too, and trying to decide if a BS vs BA in Pysch makes that much of a difference or is it more about what classes you chose to focus on. I do admit choosing the right classes in college seems more daunting than high school.
I guess I did consider Pitt’s web site more friendly due to the syllabus section and this
http://www.psychology.pitt.edu/undergraduate/experiential-learning/supervised-field-placement section.
I was wondering if would have similar opportunities as above at Emory, but harder to find details on Emory site. Not so much concerned about whether get any academic credit for it, but more to explore what I might want to really do in the future. I’ve done some shadowing and volunteering in high school, that has helped given me a better feel for what I may want to do and don’t want to do, etc.
@Movieman12 : That isn’t userfriendliness that is just, “puts different things on website”. Friendliness means is literally easier to navigate more so than what and how something is included lol. It was nice they had it, but it wasn’t the easiest thing to find.
Also, you need to keep an open mind regardless of what you did in HS. You should view those experiences as informing what you would want to delve deeper into or would want to try, and of course Emory has similar opportunities whether through various fellowship programs or whatever. They may be hosted by the psychology or other departments. Also, keep in mind that Emory kind of runs things in North Georgia clinically, which means many of the extra and co-curricular opps at Grady or on main at Emory will have direct Emory connections. I wouldn’t really worry about this.
BA and BS makes no difference, it is about the course work and the things you engage in. BA/BS definitely is irrelevant for medical school, and for graduate schools, they look more carefully at course selection and whatever readies you for the field you are applying to, Mainly your research record or experience and solid performance in challenging courses carries the day in the latter.
@bernie12 so separate subject, do you know if any way for me to tell which dorm is which LLC like Health and Happiness, etc. for next fall. I’m curious but can’t seem to find anything on this, seems like it changes year to year… I am leaning toward Emory
@Movieman12
What are the cost differences between schools? Are you in-state at Pitt?
You need to know that ~50% of Emory undergrads will graduate as PRE-MED. Half of the school. The school is very science based, with very high ranking Bio and Chem programs. These are the strengths of the school. Emory is also far better ranked for psychology than pitt. If cost is not an issue, you should go with Emory, even though it will be harder.
@AimingTop50
Nowhere close to 50% of Emory undergrads apply to medical school, though more Emory undergrads in absolute terms apply to medical school than do undergrads from U of Pittsburgh:
https://www.aamc.org/download/321458/data/factstablea2-7.pdf
In 2016-2017, 357 Emory undergrads applied to medical school.
In 2016-2017, 283 U of Pittsburgh undergrads applied to medical school.
@Movieman2
Here’s the link to Emory housing options for first year’s:
https://www.emory.edu/HOUSING/UNDERGRAD/opt_infresh.html
Are you asking about themed housing?
WEIRD, my tour guide said that 70% of people start off as premed but only around half of them remain? Maybe he said or meant pre-professional.
@AimingTop50 : Half of 70% is 35%…even that is generous and why would you believe a ridiculous number like that? That person was just throwing out some numbers to emphasize that many come to pursue that.