Having trouble...

Parents Forum
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<p>I have posted this in a few other places, but I thought I would try the parents' forum because it seems like people give pretty good advice here.</p>

<p>I am a senior and have narrowed down my college choices to two: Georgetown University and Boston College. Now, I'm stuck. </p>

<p>In some ways, both schools are very similar: Jesuit, Catholic, generally focused on a liberal arts education, both good in pre-med (which is my intended field). And I like both schools a lot. I visited both schools during the summer (the only time my parents and I could feasibly do college visits) and will be unable to visit again before decision time.</p>

<p>Georgetown: </p>

<p>Pros:This is the more prestigious school, and probably a better over-all university. It has the name-brand recognition. It also has its own med school, and a bunch of great bio-type majors, which is great for pre-med. Also, it has the early acceptance program with the med school, and the GERMS (EMT program) is pretty cool. DC is a great city, and would probably be an interesting place to be. And I have an aunt and uncle who live nearby (N. Virginia, about 20 min. away), so I wouldn't be completely alone (I live in MN).</p>

<p>Cons: I have, however, heard that people don't get out into the city much, and the one person I know who went to Gtown says she didn't much like it her first semester, though she is liking it better now.
Also, Gtown is a very good school, and I am afraid that I won't be able to get the grades for med school (though I don't know how well-founded this is... I've never had trouble in high school...).</p>

<p>Boston College: </p>

<p>Pros: I was accepted into the Honors Program, which sounds very interested. I LOVE Boston, and it's a great college city! I have heard that the pre-med program at BC is very good, and that it is possible to get internships and things at the hospitals in the city. I also absolutely loved the campus when I visited... gorgeous!!
My sister and brother-in-law also live in Boston (Cambridge, where my bro is in grad school at MIT), and my sister is pregnant. It would be great to be near them because then I would have that support and it would be fun to spend more time with them (they moved 2 yrs ago from MN). I am closer to them than my aunt and uncle.
I know a few people at BC, and have talked to one of them. She absolutely loves it and has nothing negative to say about the school. </p>

<p>Cons: BC isn't in the same league with Gtown, and I am afraid that by going here I would be missing out on a great opportunity.</p>

<p>I have already gotten my FA packet from BC and they were very generous. I am still waiting on Gtown. $ plays a big part in my decision, so if there is a big difference that will be the deciding factor. However, if the FA is similar, I have no idea what I am going to do...</p>

<p>Any suggestions?</p>

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<p>Any suggestions? I suggest you pat yourself on the back for having two excellent choices. Congrats!</p>

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<ol>
<li> Do you know that BC has EMS as well?</li>
</ol>

<p>[Eagle</a> EMS - Home Page](<a href=“http://www.bc.edu/clubs/eagleEMS/]Eagle”>http://www.bc.edu/clubs/eagleEMS/)</p>

<ol>
<li><p>It sounds to me from your post that you feel that you “should” be really interested in Georgetown, that they have many of the “right” things, but in fact you feel more enthusiastic about BC. </p></li>
<li><p>How would you compare BC Honors with Georgetown?</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>I am sensing the same thing as ADad – your heart is telling you BC, but the prestige factor/reputation is causing you hesitation.</p>

<p>Go to BC (unless the Georgetown financial aid package changes the equation.) And don’t look back.</p>

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<p>Nobody is ever obligated to choose a college on the basis of prestige. If the money situation is similar in both cases, you are perfectly free to choose BC.</p>

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<p>Looks like BC has a “pre-med” program of study (not a major) with a 73% acceptance rate to medical school (for the 2005-2006 application season (quick google search). I’d email them and see if they have updated figures. Support for pre-med/vet/dental, etc. students seems pretty organized with lots of institutional support.</p>

<p>[Program</a> Introduction - Boston College](<a href=“http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/premed/about/intro.html]Program”>Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences | Boston College)</p>

<p>And I would see if Georgetown has something similar.</p>

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<p>You won’t be alone in either of the schools you choose, but if you are nervous about not having your family close by, maybe BC would be a good choice. It is nice to have a little safety net , even if you don’t use it often.
My brother in law did his undergrad at BC and Georgetown for law school. You know your finaid offer is solid and love the area…it seems like your mind is made up, but you have some doubts.</p>

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<p>Georgetown and BC are not in the same league, people that would choose Georgetown as their first choice wouldn’t feel the same about BC, and vice versa. </p>

<p>I am one for getting the best value of anything I buy. In your case you are looking to get into medical schools. Why don’t you find out what’s each school’s placement rate, and their policy for placing students. Do they give recommendation only if they approve you, which would artificially raise their placement rate. </p>

<p>Another thing to consider is what if you should change your mind about medical school? What would each school has to offer if you are not going to be pre-med?</p>

<p>If both schools offer you the same financial aid, I would choose GT over BC, even though you couldn’t really go wrong with BC either. Which school you go to does help pave your future. I believe in fit, but only in so much when you are comparing apple with apple. My daughter’s three best friends go to GT - International realtions, econ majors. They were top 5% students in HS with close to 2400 SATs. They are enjoying the school.</p>

9

<p>I’m with ADad and Calmom - it sounds like you’re in love with BC but feel that Georgetown has more prestige and therefore you should go there.</p>

<p>Follow your heart. BOTH are very good schools and you’ll get a good education at either. As has been said MANY times on CC, where you do pre-med is NOT important . . . what’s important are your grades and your MCAT score. You’ll do better where you are HAPPY. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Both are great schools. Go to the one that is cheapest after Scholarships and Grants (excluding loans).</p>

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<p>Both are good schools. If you like BC best, go there. In fact, if there’s a chance that you might prefer to intern in Boston or work in Boston after graduation, BC probably would offer you a better network for meeting that goal than would Georgetown.</p>

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<p>Follow your heart. The rest will take care of itself if you take care of business.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much to everyone! Your replies have given me a lot to think about.</p>

<p>I think my main problem is that I know that I would be happy at either school, which is making the choice harder. Though I guess it’s a nice problem to have. :)</p>

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<p>One comment about BC’s honors program. My S was in the honors program as a freshman. He absolutely loved it. It seems to be highly regarded by many other schools and I believe it was essential to his accceptance as a transfer to an Ivy his sophomore year. In fact, out of the 100 transfers he was 1 of only 2 who were exempted from taking a very heavy year-long core course because of the BC Honors seminar. When you look at acceptance rates into med school see if you can get the percentage from Honors program participants - it may in fact be higher. btw - my son transfered because BC did not have the program he was looking for but otherwise he was very happy. Good luck with your decision- it seems you really can’t go wrong!</p>

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<p>My D graduated from BC and my S is currently at Georgetown. Both have had wonderful experiences at their schools - academically, personally, socially. They both took full advantage of being in Boston and Washington. Sounds like you’re trying to rationalize going to BC. Don’t worry, the honors program will keep you very challenged. As for your concerns about going to medical school…D had several friends from BC who are now attending Ivy medical schools and 1 is even now at Georgetown medical school. You have 2 great alternatives.</p>

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<p>Don’t make your decision based on rankings. BC is certainly a good school and if you prefer it, go for it. Fit and general happiness and satisfaction are important to your productivity and success.</p>

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</p>

<p>Well said.</p>

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<p>Thank you, my fellow New Englander. :}</p>

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<p>The differences in rankings between almost all the schools under discussion on Cc are irrelevant. What matters is you finding a place where you can grow and prosper and learn and be happy. Sounds like BC is where you want to go - and you will have family support near there, too! Follow your heart! :)</p>