<p>As of now I'm split between these three for various reasons but the main one is that I haven't really decided on a career yet. (I do realize that it seems a bit early but read on an you'll understand.)</p>
<p>Princeton: Has the obvious prestige and the great focus on undergraduates. They are also generous with AP credits and have the new gap year program. In terms of choosing a major, Princeton is the least restrictive and has the most leeway. (It is also the cheapest option for me at about $1,000 a year) But there is the issue of grade deflation and a much more competitive environment that might make getting into graduate school a bit harder.</p>
<p>USC: Wasn't really a dream-school for me but since I was admitted to the Bacc/MD program (guaranteed admission into the Keck School of Medicine), awarded the Trustee Scholarship, and accepted into both Thematic Option and FSHP, USC has become much more appealing. Plus it has the best weather of the three. </p>
<p>Northwestern: Was admitted into the Medill School of Journalism (w/ out any journalistic experience, surprisingly). Would be interested in completing a bachelors and masters in Journalism is five years should I choose to attend. Also the most expensive of the three (about $7,000 a year).</p>
<p>I can't decide whether I want to be a doctor or work in publishing (more magazine editing that actual journalism) or something else entirely. Hence you can see my dilemma. With no real experience in journalism, I can't say whether I could do it for the rest of my life, I just feel intense interest. I have had an interest in being a doctor for a while but I'm not quite sure whether I would be content to do that for a living. </p>
<p>If I go to USC and decide that I don't want to be a doctor, I would have spent four years at USC I could have spent at Princeton. Medill is the same problem. Princeton would seem the great middle path but its journalism program isn't exactly renowned like Medill and getting into medical schools is a far from certain thing. (On a side note: It has been recommended to me that go to USC and see if I can major in journalism but that is in Annenberg and I was admitted into the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.)</p>
<p>I congratulate you if you read all this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. c:</p>
<p>If you were “certain” - at least as certain as any 17/18 year old can be - that you wanted to go into medicine, I’d probably encourage you to go to USC. With ANY uncertainty, I’d tell you to steer clear.</p>
<p>The $ difference between Northwestern and Princeton is not great and don’t think that should be a major consideration (minor, yes). I also doubt that your grades at the two schools will be appreciably different - Northwestern’s median GPA is ~ 0.1 greater than Princeton and don’t think this should be a major consideration (minor, yes).</p>
<p>But the schools are very different in personality and location. While Medill wrote the book on quality undergrad journalism curricula you should know that Princeton does turn out a lot of career journalists. Understand, though, it has no undergrad program - at all. These facts along with the sense you have about where you believe you’d be happier should represent major considerations.</p>
<p>I would go USC with the MD option- it is very hard to get into medical school and you’ve got that part guaranteed. If you’re not set on being a doctor, go with Princeton. You can do a masters in journalism from Medill later.</p>
<p>go to USC undergrad and transfer into annenberg (not difficult to do) while fulfilling your med school prereqs. USC annenberg is a top journalism school, as well, so it isn’t like you’re settling for a lesser journalism education.</p>
<p>at USC you will have soooo many benefits with ATPS, TO, FSH, and Bacc/MD.</p>
<p>lol biased aside, I would go with USC…you have guaranteed admission into Med school, which is like you said very very good. Although Princeton is very tempting with the price, and you can’t go wrong with an ivy. However Princeton students can be known as very snobby. All three of those schools are competitive though, and should get you into a good grad school.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision. You have a 3 great schools to choose from.</p>
<p>gadad is right! Dude, the best part at USC is auto admission in med school. I know that it’s real hard to get in med school but that’s for the average person. Just by looking at your offers, I know that if you are determined to be a doctor, you will get admitted to great med schools anyway. If you go to USC, you are pre-ordering something with a credit card for the fear of not having enough cash. The truth is: you will have plenty of cash by the time.</p>
<p>If a talented Princeton undergrad can’t get into a good med school then perhaps he was never meant to be a doctor. Go with Princeton. Buy the best thing you can at the moment! This is America :)</p>
<p>If you dont know you want to do medicine for sure, go to princeton. If you can get into Princeton, you will get into a medical school if that is what you ultimately want to do.</p>