Hey everybody!
I’m currently deciding between NU and the University of Michigan and I had a question about the rigor of NU’s courses. I plan on majoring in Biological Sciences (pre-med) with a potential minor in Business Institutions. I need to keep my GPA above 3.6 because of the program I would be part of at Northwestern. Do you guys have any idea how easy/difficult it is to keep a 3.6 GPA with those majors/minors.
Thanks!
Go to Michigan.
Molbio - Congratulations - You have created something new - a “Chance Thread for Admitted Students” - and the usefulness of your question is about the same as a Chance Me Question. Nobody other than an Adcom can actually tell you if you can be admitted… and nobody but your teacher can tell you how you will do in a specific class.
Since you are smart enough to get admitted to NU - then you should realize the countless variables that can affect your grades. However, you also have to realize that since you DID get admitted to NU - at least somebody at the school thinks you can do the work… I am sure you realize that it will not be easy - but hey you can do it - or you wouldn’t be faced with the decision!
Or you can listen to the M poster! 
A 3.6 wouldn’t be a cakewalk at either school.
HS grades are the best predictors of college grades. Obviously you were admitted to NU so you can probably handle it. 3.6 is like a B+\A- average I want to say? True it may be a little harder than HS and NUs courses are a little fast paced with the quarter system, but if your around an A student in HS your not going to randomly get Cs in everything. You only take four classes a quarter (and 3 quarters a year), and usually only 2 classes towards your major at a time (because freshman take english seminars, have a foreign language requirement, and usually an elective/ something towards your second major/minor) so it’s not too bad if you balance and space out your harder classes throughout the school year.
I have students at both schools. Pre-med will be challenging at both schools. But, anyone who is admitted to either school certainly has the capability to do well. It will all be a function of how hard you apply yourself. That being said, if you can get into the major you want at one school without needing to apply, that might be a better choice. For example, to get into Ross at UMich, you need to apply after your freshman year (with the exception of a very small number of students who are accepted as Freshman). Many students don’t get it as it is very competitive (you need around a 3.8 to get in after freshman year). There are many other schools where you can get into the business school directly which can be a better option. But, also consider that there are many majors that can get you where you want to be. These two schools are quite different. Be sure to consider the fit for each. I love both schools. Ann Arbor is an amazing town (especially if you are a foodie!). It was a great fit for my first student but NU was a much better fit for my second student. Good luck!
My brother just graduated premed at NW- the courses are very hard, and NW doesn’t curve grades like some other schools, which results in lower GPA. You need to put a lot of work into keeping a high GPA, (which will be true most places to varying degrees).That being said he got accepted into Med school in more than one place, but his GPA was one of the weaker parts of his apps (3.5-3.6, don’t remember what).
So NW is great for premed, but keep in mind it’s quite hard to keep a high GPA, even for high achieving students.
3.5 and above is a good GPA for NU (not NW) and medical schools should know that.
If the program is HPME, you only need a 3.2 in sciences (which is much more doable; 3.6 GPA in sciences at NU is tough). Hopefully, you can find a major where you can do well and get A’s (I think that is not too difficult).
BTW, UMich is known to be tough with grading in pre-med science courses as well.
If costs are affordable, I’d take the sure med school admit, assuming that med school is the goal.