Georgetown, Vanderbilt, or UVA?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Okay I am going to try to make this as objective as possible while giving all the facts of my situation:
I am a pre-med student who has been accepted to these 3 schools as a transfer.</p>

<p>Georgetown:
I currently live in the DC area, and am doing cancer research in a scientific laboratory at GW. I also have a job as a medical scribe about10 minutes away from the school where I would make about $500 a month. Overall, I definitely have more connections in the area. Gtown also has a much smaller pre med program, making it more rare for medical schools to get Georgetown applicants, which I think could be an advantage to getting in. It also has a neurobiology (as opposed to neuroscience at UVA and Vandy) major which I am very interested in. The problem is Georgetown will cost around ~65k a year, which my parents would thankfully, thankfully pay for if I decide Georgetown is the right school for me. I wouldn't get any extras though, and I would have to live in a dorm for another year.
Georgetown has around ~7000 students.</p>

<p>At UVA, however, since it is much cheaper (around 20k/yr.), I would be awarded $12,000 a year for the next three years and $10,000 upon graduation. I would also be able to have a car and my own apartment in Charlottesville if I went there. I also project that UVA may be easier to get better grades in the sciences at, since I have friends that go to both schools, and as most probably know, GPA is extremely important to getting into medical school. UVA is also a research university, and I project that I could make similar, but not as good connections in Charlottesville as I do in DC. I also like the distance UVA is from my parents (around 2 hours), giving me just enough independence, but still keeping them close. UVA also has a Greek life which I would like to get involved in if I have the time (not sure if I would). </p>

<p>At Vanderbilt (around $35k/yr), I would get $750 a month, and $5,000 upon graduation. I like the Southern atmosphere Vanderbilt has, but am not so in love with it that I would make a decision to go there based on that. Vanderbilt also has opportunities for research. At Vanderbilt, I would live in a dorm for the next three years as this is their requirement for all undergraduate students. I also think I would like Nashville although I have never been there. </p>

<p>All schools have medical schools and opportunities for hospital volunteering. Georgetown is rated 22nd, UVA is 25th, and Vanderbilt is 17th according to US news.</p>

2

<p>Great choices.
Based on your comments I would say for you it should be</p>

<p>UVA (for lifestyle reasons)
Georgetown (for undergraduate focus on academics and networking)
Vandy</p>

<p>If you want a smaller more collegial atmosphere, don’t mind spending the cash and can sacrifice the Greek life then pick Georgetown.</p>

3

<p>Thanks, yes, I agree. I also think that undergrad is the time I will get to enjoy myself the most before embarking on medical school, residency, and a career as a doctor. I might as well make the best of it. </p>

<p>That being said, I have high aspirations for medical school, and even if there is only a slight difference between UVA and Georgetown, I want to make sure I choose the school that I am the most unique and desirable applicant. Being 1 of 100 in Georgetown’s pre-med doing a neurobiology would be exciting, and I think medical schools would see that I am a rare candidate. Being 1 of 1000 pre meds at UVA is concerning. Is the lifestyle worth it?</p>

4

<p>sounds like g town is for you</p>

5

<p>Georgetown is very diverse. It would not be difficult to find a preppy UVA type crowd to hang out with if you seek it out, because a lot of students come from nova, dc, md.</p>

<p>The school is also very social, so would also be able to have a good undergrad experience with lots of parties, events, etc.</p>

<p>It is not like you are trying to choose between UVA and Hopkins/Chicago. UVA and Georgetown share a lot of similar qualities from a student life perspective, but where as UVA has greek life Georgetown is like one big fraternity/sorority.</p>

6

<p>One word of caution – UVa’s neuroscience program is a distinguished major and accepts ~25 sophomores each year; you must apply, and it’s a competitive program to gain entrance.
[Description</a> of Undergraduate Neuroscience at UVA](<a href=“http://faculty.virginia.edu/neuroscience/]Description”>http://faculty.virginia.edu/neuroscience/)
Also, I would caution you about mistakingly thinking that any one of these three will be easier to get a higher GPA than the other. All three are great schools and will each be challenging.</p>