<p>May 1st is really soon, and I can't choose. Although I'm split between 6 schools, let's just compare these 3. I'm strongly considering a neuroscience major, but I plan to explore a variety of options (especially BME if I go to Hopkins). Here are some of my current opinions on them:</p>
<p>JHU: It probably offers me the best shot at getting into a top medical school if I go that route, but it probably has less of a diversity in overall student interests. I was accepted into BME, which is a more challanging but potentially more beneficial program if I do well. I also like that there seems to be a tight-knit group of 100 BMEs within a big school (I'm used to schools with 45-60 kids per grade). My concerns are the large workload that students have complained about and there not being any major draw-factors that make Hopkins unique (D-plan / core curriculum). </p>
<p>Dartmouth: It probably has my favorite campus community. Everyone seems really friendly and thrilled to be there. I like the idea of going skiing or kayaking near campus since I'm an outdoorsy person, and I like the internship and study-abroad opportunities that come with the D-plan. My concerns are that Dartmouth is not really known for its cutting-edge science teaching and research (although research seems more accessible there) and that the D-plan might make me cram too much work into a short time frame even if I am taking less clases. </p>
<p>Columbia: I love the core curriculum that really seems to provide a well-rounded education for my classmates and I in small, discussion-based classes that change the way we think (although I hear that some teachers are duds). I also like all the great science research going on there and the learning, internship, and social opportunities in NYC. My concerns regard the red-tape bureaucratic system I keep hearing about and maintaining a strong campus community while in a big city. </p>
<p>So yeah, what do you guys reccomend. How's the workload and competitiveness at each of these schools? How's the social life? How are the classes (I prefer small, discussion-based courses to lectures)? How's the premed system and the placemend at top med schools? Any further advice would be GREATLY appreciated!</p>
<p>If your objective is to get into a top medical school, doing well in any of the three schools will get you there. Medical school is about MCAT and GPA plus research and ECs. So, IMHO, it comes down to non-academic factors.</p>
<p>Cutting edge science generally doesn’t come into play with med med classes. All three of these schools will get you into med school equally well. Choose the one you’ll enjoy for your undergrad education.</p>
<p>My son is a sophomore at Dartmouth and loves it, but he is majoring in BME and at Dartmouth this is going to mean that he has to stay for a 5th year to get what they call a BE degree. (He has explained that some students do get their BE in 4 years but it is rare.) He doesn’t mind staying the extra year at all, but, of course, it is an extra year of tuition that we had not planned for.</p>
<p>I know that JHU has a very highly-regarded BME program-maybe the best in the country- and, if that was the only factor, he should have applied to JHU. My son, however, wanted to row in college and when we visited JHU we drove to their boathouse which was a long way from campus and in an industrial part of town, surrounded by gas tanks. At Dartmouth the boathouse is right at the edge of the campus in a beautiful setting. He also met with the Dartmouth coach and liked him a lot so he applied ED to Dartmouth, got in, and has not regretted it for a second. </p>
<p>He did an internship this year that involved BME (I don’t understand it so I won’t try to explain it but it has something to do with protein, cells and cancer). It was sponsored by the Howard Hughes foundation and he got paid as well. It is open to sophomores. They are also changing the mix of required courses for BME-I think it goes into effect next year. My son explained it but I don’t recall the details. I think they are still fine-tuning this major. If you have questions that you think my son could answer, send me a PM and I will ask him to respond. He is away from campus this weekend racing against Cornell but should be able to get back to you.</p>
<p>You have a tough choice- each of these three colleges has something unique to offer that others don’t have.</p>
<p>One thing that I don’t like about JHU is that I know that it is known for cutthroat introduction classes in order to “weed out” many of the pre-meds. Although it has a high acceptance rate of pre-meders to med school, you will have to be able to survive among some of the most cutthroat kids who will do anything to get good grades.</p>
<p>Personally, I would go with Columbia, even though I don’t like it. It has some fantastic science programs and I thought… a strong sense of community although there is not really a campus, so to speak.</p>
<p>Hopkins is no more cut-throat than any other school in the peer group (MIT, Cornell, Dartmouth, Columbia etc.) when it comes to pre-med students. </p>
<p>At any school you’re going to find a significant contingent of students obsessed with getting into top graduate schools and they work exceptionally hard to get where they want to go. But nobody is stepping on anyone else to get there however, at one school more than another.</p>
<p>Columbia is definitely not known for having a strong sense of community. if you really want that, go to dartmouth. on the other hand, their research and internship opportunities are probably the best, but JHU may be neck and neck. Personally, I would go with Dartmouth, but I’m biased (ever since they sent me a likely).</p>
<p>it would be extremely false to say columbia doesnt have a strong sense of community. no its not on par with dartmouth per say, but it is still closely knit</p>
<p>These are 3 great choices and you can’t go wrong with any of them. For neuroscience or BME you will be going on to grad school or med school, so think about where you will be happiest and grow the most as an undergraduate. And what kind of off-campus activities you are most likely to enjoy–skiing or clubbing for example. Do what you think will make you happy and don’t worry about what anyone thinks.</p>
<p>I disagree acceptd. Much of the reason I transferred out of Columbia to Dartmouth was because of the lack of community. Dartmouth just has much more “casual fun”, tradition, etc. Also I think the LAC-like education with aspects such as amazing study abroad, ample thesis grants, profs who take you to dinner, etc bring Dartmouth unique advantages.</p>
<p>“You should go to Dartmouth, or your local community college. Its basically the same thing but less money”</p>
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<p>???</p>
<p>P.S. Tight community at the college level almost always involves two things: geographical isolation (i.e. schools in “college towns”) or big sports and the school spirit they foster (USC, UT). Some schools happen to have both (Clemson, UNC, Notre Dame, etc.). </p>
<p>Schools located in cities tend to have students who form their little groups of friends and then ‘melt’ off into the bustle of the city.</p>