<p>@AZWolves6</p>
<p>I'm inclined to disagree depending on what residency program we are talking about. Assuming that a good undergrad can get you into a better med school (i.e. better residency placements), it might not be such a bad investment. For instance, say you wanted to be a plastic surgeon. You'd be making probably $300K a year and that is an extremely competitive residency field.</p>
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<p>Would you please cite the facts upon which you base this assumption. The last time I checked, medical schools were much more interested in MCAT scores and GPA's than the school attended.</p>
<p>People need to calm down with "omg i got a full ride somewhere omg must go there" if financial items are not a concern. The point of going to a high level school is that finances aren't a concern. If finances were a concern, it would be Pepp. for sure, but as they aren't, don't think for a SECOND about going to Pepp. The very point of these expensive colleges is for you to go to them if you don't have to worry about money.</p>
<p>It's about the experience and your own path in life. Choose wisely</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help you guys! I guess it's between the isolation of notre dame or the hugeness of Ann arbor........I think I'm crossing off Pepperdine because (i know this is incredibly INCREDIBLY immature) I really think it might bother me knowing I worked that hard throughout all of high school to go to a school I could get into with a lot less......I might also have a hard time keeping up my work ethic in the middle of that lovely weather/with those who aren't as hardcore about academics as a i am</p>
<p>I really do appreciate your advice, thanks!</p>
<p>and y7bbb6, didn't u get into ND? I'm pretty sure your status thingymabob says you did (tho maybe I don't know how to read them right or something....) did u end up choosing BC/UCLA?</p>
<p>If you are a devout christian/protestant, you might be uncomfortable with very strong catholic presence at ND. This is not a small consideration to just glance over. At Michigan there are many types of religions represented in large numbers. You might find yourself not quite as "isolated" there. By the way; earthquakes, fires, and landslides are not uncommon around Malibu. It's not perfect.</p>
<p>I'm a UM grad with a son at ND. I think ND is a better undergrad experience. More attention, smaller classes. Socially more conservative. The "strong Catholic presence" is intrusive only in a positive way, i.e. an ethos of service. My son was raised catholic and has been to mass exactly once (Thursday night milkshake mass at Dillon Hall.) As a junior, the segregated dorms and parietals bother him a bit, but he LOVES Notre Dame.</p>
<p>I understand that bdmrad. But as you stated your son was raised catholic, which i believe is about 80% of the student body at ND. Hopefulfor2012 stated that she was a "christian." Obviously her religious affiliation is very important to her lifestyle. That is why i felt she might feel a bit out of place being at a school that is overwhelmingly a different religion than her own. It's just something to think about, not a condemnation of ND.</p>
<p>My advice is to go blue.</p>
<p>Thanks novi for the heads up and bdmrad for the advice......since I have next weekend free, I think I'm going to visit them each one more time</p>
<p>I'm not sure if I'd feel out of place as a protestant, but my brother has a good friend who goes to ND who is protestant, and I think he really likes it (I really don't walk to him that much at all- I'm not super close to my brother and his friends)</p>
<p>I hate decisions</p>
<p>Notre Dame doesn't make Protestants feel uncomfortable. There are two interfaith groups for Christians of all stripes that meet every week: 4/7 and Iron Sharpens Iron. Plus Protestant Bible study groups for men and women and Campus Ministry will help arrange rides to local churches if you are not Catholic.</p>
<p>Even if you are a Protestant, you'd find that the Catholics share more of the same values with you than the non-Christians.</p>
<p>Except that some of you are going to hell. But that's another story. ;-)</p>
<p>One myth I have repeatedly seen on this thread is that somehow, classes are smaller and students get more personal attention at Notre Dame. If that is the case, it is not so by a significant measure. </p>
<p>A very good friend of mine transfered to Notre Dame from Michigan after her Sophomore year at Michigan. She was admitted into both out of high school, but being a resident of Michigan, her parents pressured her to attend Michigan. However, She applied to transfer to Notre Dame after her first year because it had always been her dream to attend Notre Dame. Obviously, she was raised a very devout Catholic (as was I), and really felt that she would fit in better at Notre Dame. She definitely prefered her experience at Notre Dame. It was a better overall fit. But according to her, the academic/educational aspect of her experience was roughly the same at both schools. In fact, she felt that Michigan had a more intellectual, academically diverse and generally thought-provoking environment that was more conducive to learning. Although often asked about class size and personal attention, she always maintained that she felt no difference between Michigan and Notre Dame. To her, it was a question of social fit and preference. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that I am not suggesting that Notre Dame doesn't have small classes or personalized attention. What I am saying is that Notre Dame is not as great in that respect as some on this thread are claiming it to be and Michigan is not as bad as some of you may believe. At the end of the day, Notre Dame is not a LAC with fewer than 1,500 undergrads. It is a pretty large private university with over 8,000 undergrads. Once a school is over a certain size (I generally draw the line at 4,000...5,000 undergrads tops), small classes and personal attention are no longer going to be a strength of that institution.</p>
<p>The real difference between Michigan and Notre Dame isn't class size or personal attention. The main difference is campus environment. I recommend the OP go for fit.</p>
<p>thanks a lot! I've been trying to figure out if Umich really was huge........this helps! Though I did attend ND's biggest class, an intro Chem course- and it really didn't feel big at all, but the UMich class I sat in on was supposed to be one of the smallest (they say all math classes are supposed to be small) and it seemed pretty big to me (not as big as the ND class, but def half as big)</p>
<p>but seriously, thanks......and chance I could shoot your friend an e-mail (you can pm if u want, I also understand this may not be possible at all, but thanks anyway!)</p>
<p>2 more weeks..............</p>
<p>I have not kept in touch with her. We were at Michigan together in 1992-1994 and I kept in touch with her until we graduated in 1996. I know she eventually went to Case Western for Law school and last I heard, she was working for a Senator in DC.</p>
<p>thanks anyway!</p>