<p>Well first of all, congrats on your acceptances to colleges! I hope that we all can make the most out of wherever we go and still remember these times as the best of our lives!</p>
<p>So I am going through a bit of a dilemma. I've gotten accepted into UChicago, gained spring admission to Berkeley and waitlisted at Columbia (and got acceptances at lesser known universities in the Chicagoland area such as Loyola, which is considered one of the better schools for pre-med in the area).</p>
<p>I plan on majoring in Religious Studies and perhaps do a dual major in Biology and plan to go to medical school. </p>
<p>I'm sure that upon reading this, UChicago must seem like a no-brainer to choose, but I am currently doing research at their medical center and the researcher that I work for as well as the her other research assistants all say that UChicago is a horrible place to go for undergrad because of deflated grading. I'd also like to have a social life in order to enjoy that aspect of college, but hearing the infamous motto "Where fun comes to die" and such other things, I'm afraid I won't be able to get that complete experience at UChicago.</p>
<p>I do, however, love the classes they have to offer and everything. I don't mind working hard, it's just the thought of cut-throat competition that worries me a bit. I want to be at a place where the intellectualism is there as well as lots of student involvement in clubs around campus, does UChicago offer this? </p>
<p>So, is the undergrad there really as bad as they say it is? Is the social life really that dull? How active are the clubs there (specifically the Muslim Student Association and South Asian Student Association)? Which university is most likely to increase my chances at placing me into medical school-into a better medical school?</p>
I had the same dilemma as you. However, after doing much research, I discovered that UofC offers more opportunities than Berkeley. This is more or less due to the small class sizes at UofC, being quite beneficial in getting to know your professors. When you apply to a grad school, you’re going to need those letters of recommendation plus if you get to know your professors, you might be able to do research with them. It’s easier to stand out in a small university than in a big one. Plus UofC has a hell of a good program in bio!</p>
<p>I can’t really speak to some of your other concerns, but I can tell you that religious studies at Chicago is absolutely top-notch. I’m sure Berkeley has a great religion faculty as well (since they have great scholars in just about every department), but at Chicago the major is small, focused and your professors really get to know you. It’s amazingly personal, and the faculty consists of pretty much the entire Div School. Some of your other concerns might mitigate the appeal of Chicago, but if you want to study religion this university is about as good as it gets.</p>
<p>My personal observation has been that people like the ones you are describing at the med center may be there on campus, but they don’t truly know much about the Chicago undergrad progam. Yes, it’s intense. But also yes, the students do have fun, there’s time for outside groups, and if it’s a priority, you can get the grades you want. I’ve never heard it described at cut-throat. It’s more that everyone is interested in learning.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about your smaller regional choices, but I do know quite a bit about Berkeley. Like Chicago, it’s world-class, an amazing place. BUT, I don’t advise anyone to go to Berkeley as an undergrad unless he or she really knows what they want, and they know that it’s important not to always take “no” for an answer. There is not a lot of advising and support, and unless you’re on the ball, for some majors, it can be a challenge to get the classes you need to graduate within four years.</p>
<p>Chicago, in part because they know it’s an intense experience, has compensated by its houses within the dorms (instant friends if you want them) and its advisors (who know exactly where you are and what you need to graduate on time, even if they aren’t always kindred spirits). Berkeley has nothing like these programs.</p>
<p>Berkeley has MUCH better weather. Much better football. And for you, it would be an exciting time to get away from what you know. But I would not make a decision based on what your med school colleagues have said.</p>