<p>Okay, so I didn't get into my top school (Brown), but still have really good options to choose from:
Cornell
Northwestern
Johns Hopkins
WashU
Tufts</p>
<p>Now I really have no idea where to go! I want to be a doctor, so obviously JHU and WUSTL would be really good for that. I got accepted into Cornell's College of Human Ecology, so their Human Development major also seems really interesting. But Northwestern is in such a good location, I really don't know what to choose...
I've listed these schools in order of preference, and have planned to visit all but Tufts later in the month. My parents are pushing for Ivy League, but I heard Cornell's coursework is really grueling. Hopefully, I'll know more about them later, but does anyone have any of their own opinions/experiences at these schools? Anything about academics, student life, dining, weather, etc.? Thanks!</p>
<p>You have great choices but they are all really different in terms of school culture and campus vibe and of course, location. It is good that you are visiting most of them- you will likely be most successful academically where you are happiest and most comfortable, regardless of whether it is “ivy” or not. Wash U is known for its pre-med program- what is unique about Wash U is the flexibility you have to take classes in other schools and even double major- many students combine pre-med with engineering or business.From talking to students and reading threads on CC, it does seem that Wash U is a more friendly and supportive culture-- that may or may not be important to you. Other factors you may want to consider is the role of Greek life- for example, it plays a bigger role at Northwestern than it does at some of the others. Depending on where you are coming from, Cornell is more difficult to fly into than some of the others. I would urge your parents to look at the specific program and not just focus on whether a school is an ivy (JHU, Northwestern, and Wash U are all rated higher than Cornell).</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision-making- they are all great choices!</p>
<p>Northwestern is in a great location, if you define a great location as an upscale suburb 45 minutes+ away from Chicago. </p>
<p>I would say Wash U and Tufts strike the best balance between all of your choices.</p>
<p>And, to echo norcalmom, if “ivy league” is the best reason for considering Cornell, I think you’ll come away quite disappointed.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your input, guys.</p>
<p>And to beachgirlny, I was most attracted to Brown not particularly due to its outstanding biology departments/pre-med program but to its open curriculum and general atmosphere (I know, everyone mentions open curriculum). I thought I would have the freedom to pursue a neuroscience major while still having the chance to discover new interests and take interesting courses (mostly music and art related). I like that I wouldn’t have had to necessarily risk ruining my GPA (for med school) by taking unfamiliar classes or trying new things. I also liked its proximity to Providence and the city itself. Haha it would’ve been perfect if I had gotten accepted. In my opinion, Stanford definitely feels more academically rigorous, but I really don’t know much about the school. I imagine Brown students to be carefree, relaxed, and flexible, yet responsible and serious about their education.</p>