<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I am currently a rising senior in high school, and would like to go on a pre-med track at an Ivy. The amount of financial aid that Harvard, Yale and Princeton offers is ESPECIALLY enticing to me (I'd be basically receiving a full ride), which is why I'm seriously considering applying to one of them via Early Action (Single Choice). </p>
<p>As I would be applying through EASC, I need a lot of help understanding these three colleges before deciding which is best fit for me. I have heard myths that Princeton is known for it's grade-deflation while Harvard is known for it's grade-inflation. I've also heard that nearly all (90%) of the pre-med students who graduate from Harvard are accepted to medical schools. As of now, my heart is set on Harvard -I've visited the campus three times already, and it is absolutely beautiful! BUT, I figured it'd be nice if somebody could possibly debunk these rumors and provide a better perspective of these schools for me :)</p>
<p>All comments are welcome! :D</p>
<p>Harvard is by far the best ivy for pre-med studies however Penn is actually the second best based on the quality of their hospital, premed tracks, and med school acceptance rates. Yale is wore than Penn or Princeton and Princeton dosent even have an associated med school or hospital. so yea, your best choice would be Harvard</p>
<p>but</p>
<p>being realistic anyone’s chances at Harvard are slim, only 7% RD and about 18% EA
at Princeton it is also about 7% RD but 40% EA, or at least it was before they got rid of it and brought it back.</p>
<p>again you might want to consider Penn, it has RD 8.9% CAS which is the pre-med college but 28% ED but it is binding.</p>
<p>another option you might want to consider is the university scholars programs, there is one at the university of Washington in St. Louis which grants admission to both the college and med school as an undergraduate.</p>
<p>finally if the Ives fall short there is always john’s Hopkins and the other classic pre-med colleges. I too am a prospective pre-med student and have done an incredible amount of research so feel free to ask more or PM me.</p>
<p>It’s ridiculous to assume that princeton will be 40% in early. The years when it was 40% in early it was ED and the RD rate was closer to 12-15%.</p>
<p>And if you need financial aid, you really don’t want to apply to Penn early, as the other poster was suggesting. Since they have early decision, which is binding, you wouldn’t be able to compare offers.</p>
<p>I’m a humanities student, so I don’t have detailed opinions other than that one. Carry on. (And go Crimson!)</p>
<p>Yes, I am aware that UPenn is great for pre-med students. I actually was seriously considering it, but it doesn’t offer much financial aid, which is why I don’t want to be strapped in by ED…</p>
<p>I am also looking into such scholars programs, specifically the ones at U.Buffalo and Stony Brook (I live in NY). These two schools offer “presidential scholarships” that I think I’m a pretty good candidate for.</p>
<p>Another thing that’s been worrying me is whether I should just play it safe and go to U.Buffalo/Stony brook instead of HYP. If I were to go to UB and maintained a high GPA (a 3.75), I would be automatically guaranteed a spot at their medical schools my sophomore year, which is really, REALLY great. But, I’ve always dreamed of attending a top ranked school such as Harvard…</p>
<p>Any thoughts on that? I still have time to decide, but I’m curious as to see what other people’s opinions on this are - whether it’s best to play it safe and attend a state school, or to attend an Ivy League (HYP), considering my financial situation.</p>
<p>Why can’t you try for both HYP and the scholarships? Do the scholarships have decision deadlines far in advance of HYPetc’s decision releases?</p>
<p>according to princeton health professions, over 93% of princeton students get into medical school, and students with a 3.3GPA or higher are virtually guaranteed to get into medical school. even though we do have grade deflation, it has been in effect for quite some time, so all the medical schools and graduate schools know of our policy and our tough and lower grades. plus, princeton sends out a letter with your applications telling the grad schools about the grade deflation policy. there is so much more to a school than just grades. make a more informed decision on your decision to apply REA.</p>
<p>You’ll be fine at any of them. What is far more important is how you perceive you will fit into each university.</p>
<p>I agree penn is a huge crap shoot with it’s finical aid, and they do try and short sell you especially in ED but you can be released from ED if financial Aid isn’t sufficient. HPY all have superb FA programs but, no matter where you apply, if you go EA/ED you will get a worse FA package. According to past admissions statistics your best shot at HPY is SCEA at Princeton if they keep with tradition</p>