<p>I want to major in biomedical/biomechanical engineering with a possible double major or minor in Economics and complete all my pre-med reqs as well to keep open the possibility of med school. I want to be able to get a full engineering degree at the same time (BME is obviously the best option for this) but want a full business background at the same time in undergrad rather than getting an MBA.</p>
<p>So anyways, I've gotten into Stanford EA and will have to pay pretty much full price there (making it very hard on my family, esp having 2 little brothers) and travel pretty far (coming from north GA). Furthermore, although I have a slew of APs, most will obviously not transfer, thus making my plan very hard to complete in 4 years.</p>
<p>In addition, I have also gotten a full ride at Vanderbilt's School of Engineering. While Stanford is clearly superior in terms of engineering, Vandy will take most of my APs, allowing me to pursue my plan in 4 years, is close by, and has great pre-med/business options as well.</p>
<p>I have also applied to Penn's Jerome Fisher program which offers a dual degree with S.Eng. and Wharton. I obviously have not found out about that yet, but it is very competitive.</p>
<p>Any recommendations as to what to do abt Stanford/Vandy? I.e. is Stanford worth $50k more a year for what I want to do?</p>
<p>Whether it is worth it is subjective, and possibly, might not be decisive. Is your family really going to let you go to Stanford with that offer from Vanderbilt? It seems you already have a plan of action that favours V.</p>
<p>If you’re planning on going to graduate school, Stanford offers something only the top few engineering schools can offer you, which is insanely top class, famous faculty, whose support could be invaluable.</p>
<p>It’s less an issue if you don’t really see yourself going to grad school – while the engineering department is very good, it shouldn’t make ridiculous amounts of difference, depending on how good your other option is – if it’s quite good, then you don’t have to worry. But it’s a very hard thing to give up a top engineering school if you’re going to grad school in the future. I mean of course, a very reputed school is a very reputed school, but if you weren’t considering giving it up, you’d probably not be posting this…I don’t know enough about Vanderbilt, by the way, just throwing something out there for you.</p>
<p>I got into Stanford and will all probability go, but I really think you should go to Vanderbilt. I stupidly did not apply to financial ‘safeties’ (but my family’s financial state is not prohibitive in any way, although I may have to take out some loans), and you have a great opportunity staring you right in the face. I don’t think Vandy will keep you out anywhere, and 50k is a lot of money when you multiply it by four.</p>
<p>hmm I’m in this same situation. I believe you get 2,000 for NMF instead of the 5,000 if you receive other merit money. Still waiting on Harvard/Stanford decisions though, but it will def. be difficult if I have to decide. Received Caltech yesterday and decided I should at least attend prefrosh weekend, although I have very little doubt that I will end up anywhere except Vandy. But then again, Cornelius @ Vandy has always been my number one. I need to keep reminding myself that and not get carried away with big names(aka Harv). </p>
<p>Planning to major in BME and then attend med school btw.</p>
<p>Yes, I went to an extensive preview session there a couple of months ago, and I plan to go back this weekend for their four-day multicultural weekend. I absolutely loved it there (the southern style/Greek life/SEC aspects appealed to me a lot), especially the laid-back atmosphere with the combination of hard-working students. And of course, I love Nasville as well. Naturally, many of the components I mentioned above are present at Stanford as well, and from what I hear, it has a somewhat similar feel except for Palo Alto instead of a big city. Regardless, both are somewhat in bubbles. I have not visited Stanford yet, but plan to do so in mid-April during their Admit Weekend.</p>
<p>Hearing this, I feel better advising you to consider letting go of Stanford…but I maintain, if you want to go to graduate school in an engineering discipline, there’s something you’ll be missing out on from Stanford for sure. It sounds like you could be happy + get a good education at both schools, so this remains my one major question.</p>
<p>don’t go to stanford, even for the grad school “advantage”- I would say any school on the top colleges list prepares you just fine for success/admissions in/to grad school. As great as a stanford education is, it is not worth being in debt for the next 20 or so years. If you can go to an amazing school for a cost cheaper than a state school- the decision is made for you.
congratulations with being accepted to both, and I hope you have fun going wherever you decide to go!</p>
<p>For biomechanical engineering major, Standford is the best. With Silicon valley next to the school, IF you can make it there, you can become millionaire in a short time. Jerry Yang’ve made it!</p>
<p>Sure, this is true, but there are many, many students who are prepared for grad school. It’s plainly easier to find more opportunities at some schools, I think. There is a select group of students who’d really really benefit from the “Grad school advantage” – there’s a reason certain schools are so regarded for engineering. It’s not even necessarily the caliber of students, it’s the resources available. Admittedly, this doesn’t matter except for the most academically oriented students, but there is definitely a class of students for which I’d say it’s worth considering paying the money and getting that education. But obviously, 50K vs. virtually free is an <em>insane</em> deal – I would think it seems so clear that “Vandy” is a good choice that I’m just trying to give reasons why one might consider not taking such a steal of a financial offer.</p>
<p>^ I believe there is quite a bit of difference in graduate school matriculation coming out of stanford v. vanderbilt. Also, there is more difference in the environment in Palo Alto v. Nashville, than the graduate school matriculation. Nashville was on a recent top 10 list, that wasn’t one of the best. If you are going to live in the SE though, those differences could be outweighed. I am not trying to flame.</p>
<p>What is Palo Alto like or, more generally, the location of Stanford? I have heard some people call it the sterile, Stanford bubble; are Stanford students truly isolated? I suppose I will get this feeling for myself when I attend Admit Weekend (fingers crossed that I will have the chance to do this), but in the waiting months, it would be nice to get an idea…</p>
<p>Palo Alto is gorgeous! I visited in December and it was amazing. Its flat and panoramic with excellent transportation into the commercial areas of Palo Alto, and with SF and SJ so close you can escape to the city whenever you want.</p>
<p>I found the campus vibrant and alive, and since I visited on a Saturday I saw Stanford students all over town.
The “Stanford bubble” exists because the campus facilitates all of your needs and desires.
It is northern california at its best.</p>
<p>bump…I have been getting a lot of replies on the Vandy thread, and of course they have mostly been pro-Vandy on the issue…I would like some dissenting opinions if yall have any?</p>