<p>High school senior from northern ohio applying to many colleges and planning on studying premed</p>
<p>GPA: 3.78 (4.19 weighted)
ACT: 34 composite
AP US Gov: 5
AP Chem: 5
Currently taking AP physics and calc
Many extracurriculars (sports, youth groups etc)
Many volunteer and travel experiences (volunteer camp counselor, boy scouts)
Shadow physicians and help out in nursing school</p>
<p>Well I'm applying to many schools and I'm in a weird predicament</p>
<p>Schools:
UNC Chapel Hill (mother alumni)
Duke University (have someone who may be able to get me in, but then I MUST go)
University of Virginia
Elon University (backup)
Ohio State University (backup)
Miami Florida combined 8 year med program HPME (brother goes there)
University of Florida (backup)
University of Southern California bacMD program
Vanderbilt
Emory</p>
<p>Well I enjoy warm weather and southern schools (I love california but parents won't let me go unless I get into the combined program). Visiting UNC, UVA, duke, elon and some of those around there, UNC seemed to be my favorite. The atmosphere just seemed friendly and I loved the school.</p>
<p>Well my dad sort of setup an interview with someone who has a lot of connections with Duke. If I tell him that Duke is my first choice, he could probably get me in; however, I HAVE to go there. </p>
<p>So should I tell him the truth that the combined programs are my first choices and then UNC, duke, and UVA are tied for next?</p>
<p>Also, lets say I do get accepted to every one of these schools (of course I won't). Which does everyone think would be a best fit? I am a hard studyer, but I'm a very social and outgoing person that loves community stuff and athletic programs. The combined programs are nice because I won't have to go through applying to Med school, but some of the other colleges have better undergraduate programs.</p>
<p>If I were in your shoes and had a near guaranteed shot at getting into Duke, I would do it. You get a great education in a great social (and athletic) environment there. Of course, I’m not you, so go with what your heart tells you. For premed, you also should consider the med school acceptance rates of the graduates from the colleges you’re applying to.</p>
<p>Alright I’ll think about it some more. Do you know if Duke lives up to its serious and strict atmosphere or is that more of a rumor? I’ve had some say yes, some say no</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard about Duke, mostly the current administration is concerned about things like social development in its undergrads so they push heavily for “social programming”. That’s just what a friend of mine has told me, so he could be completely off. He’s never complained about strictness there and thinks it’s a generally fun place just with a sort of odd administration.</p>
<p>Yes, you should tell him the truth. Even the most powerful connections at colleges can’t use them too often, so he must be a good friend or associate of your dad’s. Be truthful.</p>
<p>Strict? Not at all what I hear from the employees I’ve had who went there and from my kids’ friends. I’ve heard about a very open party culture.</p>
<p>I am with you that if I can get into a combined program, I would rather do that. I don’t want to apply to med school, go through the whole thing again, gpa, test scores…</p>
<p>But I heard that the USC Bac/MD program is very difficult to get into, like < 5% acceptance rate. If I know for sure that I can get into Duke, maybe that would be a better choice. Yeah, difficult choice.</p>
<p>I haven’t been to USC before, but I have family in LA and I just love the area. I wanted to apply to UCLA but my parents would never let me go.</p>
<p>Let’s say I don’t get accepted to either combined program. Which of the 3 (UVA UNC Duke) would be the most suitable? Those 3 seem to be my top choices right now and my parents’ too. Although, I am starting to like Vandy</p>