<p>So here's my dilemma...</p>
<p>I was offered a full tuition scholarship to Emory's Oxford campus (along with the opportunity of playing on their tennis team - a huge plus for me) and a 2/3 tuition scholarship to Emory's Atlanta campus. My financial aid offer for Penn sets my parental contribution at ~33k/year with no loans. This will significantly change my family's lifestyle, and although my parents assure me that it's perfectly fine, I still feel a bit guilty. I want to do pre-med and possibly do a MD/PH.D program at a top medical school.</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on where I should go? I'm posting this in Penn's forum too.</p>
<p>Well definitely U Penn is better. However, (I could be wrong on this) but UPenn is known for its Business Program, I am not sure how good its medical program is. I would not go to Oxford. If I would you, I would attend Emory. It is a very prestigious school, and a whole heck cheaper.</p>
<p>ahhhhhhhhhh- penn's med program is fantastic. a lot more so than emory's. and would you recommend the atlanta campus even though the degree you get once you graduate from emory doesn't mention anything about oxford? that tennis offer is still weighing heavily on my mind...</p>
<p>Emory is a great school and is excellent for pre-med students. The hospital is right on campus. Research and volunteer opportunities abound. The tennis teams are fantastic at Emory, as you know. I find the campus more intimate than UPenn - it is a nicer size to me. My D is a sophomore and has friends there that gave up Penn for Emory and are happy. You can PM me if you have specific questions. Visit both though and talk to students. they are both great schools. Emory is great about merit money and reserves some for rising soph, jr and srs. Good luck</p>
<p>auraeight, Medical school is EXPENSIVE! Save as much money as you can for your undergrad because you will be sure to need it for Medical school. I say take the money and go to Emory. Yes, Penn is slightly better (not as much as you would expect) but there is nothing you cannot accomplish at Emory.</p>
<p>For $33,000 over four years, I'd go to Emory. UPenn is "higher ranked" so maybe a bit more prestigious but not $130,000 worth. Emory is a top 20 school with an international reputation. You are obviously bright and talented and will do well anywhere. If you do well at Emory or UPenn, you'll get into a great med school. I'd save your money and your parent's money and go to Emory.</p>
<p>I agree with posts #2,6 & 7. Emory in Atlanta is a great opportunity for pre-meds as the hospital is right on, or very near, campus and the Emory area is very safe. Oxford at Emory is quite small and a bit rural so you will spend the extra tuition dollars on transportation to Emory in Atlanta and to events in Atlanta. I love tennis as well. Atlanta's tennis leagues are the most active in the world. And the competition includes former pro players. Atlanta is tennis crazy! Also, the students at Emory are similiar to the students at Penn, so you will do well at either school. If tennis is your passion, then Atlanta is the number one tennis town in the country.</p>
<p>DON'T GO TO OXFORD. My cousins live in the neighboring town, Covington, and there's absolutely nothing to do there! You'll need a car and at least 30 miles worth of gas if you want to do just about anything social or intellectual off campus. I'd pick UPenn, but if it's going to destroy the rents' pocketbook, Emory (only the Atlanta campus) is a great school at a great price.</p>
<p>Oxford is actually fun, and there is plenty to do for the most part. If you're looking for a party, you can find one easily. Intellectually speaking, there are weekly events through the Oxford Studies program which will "stimulate the mind" if you will. There are research opportunities here as well. My friend is going to Jordan this summer to do some hands on anthropology work with our professor. Don't listen to the overwhelmingly condescending posts about Oxford because almost all of them are not true...</p>
<p>Post #10 is very misleading in my experience. I have been to the Covington area over 100 times and that was 98 times too many! ( Once to get there & once to get out of there.) In my opinion, post #9 is giving you good & accurate advice.</p>
<p>ok, let me try and rephrase myself... For the most part (during the week) students stay on campus and there is an intimate atmosphere as everyone knows each other. We use 'Covington' merely for QT and Walmart. A lot of people go to various clubs and bars in Atlanta, and it is very easy to carpool. It's only a 35 min. drive to Emory's main campus, and we are allowed to use all of the resources there (library, gym, cafeterias, etc.)
Essentially, if you want to do pre-med, A- Oxford is the cheapest option. B- the classes are smaller and individual attention and it is very easy to attain if wanted. C-Professors tend to be more demanding as they form relationships with their students and personally drive you to do your best unlike some professors at main campus who can't because the classes are just too big. D- Recently, Oxford is considered to be on the same pillar as main campus academically due to Emory's provost, Earl Lewis (I don't have the source to back up that statement, but he came to oxford for a lecture and explained the situation)
Other than Oxford being in the middle of no where, its relatively close to Atlanta, and most people are content hanging out on campus. I thought I was going to hate Oxford due to its location and size, but its not that bad. The location of Oxford has not determined the experience I've had.
Lastly, if you come in with AP or IB credit, its very feasible to graduate a semester early from oxford and spend five semesters at main campus.</p>
<p>So basically...Emory's med program isn't as good as Penn's, but it's not that much worse right? What can y'all tell me about the easiness/difficulty of classes at Emory? Are the grades deflated much?</p>
<p>Oh, and if I go to Emory (either campus), I'll be graduating as an Emory Scholar. Does that make any difference to med schools when they weigh the relative prestigiousness (don't know if that's a word haha) of Emory?</p>
<p>Sorry for all the questions..</p>
<p>Oh, and I can't graduate from Oxford early if I go, due to my scholarship. It's a requirement I stay 4 semesters or something...ugh.</p>
<p>Won't 2/3 tuition at Emory still leave you with about 30K? The same as Penn?</p>
<p>No, 2/3 tuition at Emory would leave me about 11k tuition to pay, along with another 10k or so of fees and stuff so that'd be about 21k. But like I said, if I go with Emory, I would probably have to go to Oxford. I don't get too much say in this particular decision haha</p>