<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>after considerable thought and research i’m almost positive i’m going to do the bme program jhu. it really depends on your interests. for me it’s a no brainer because i want to study BME and go to medical school someday. hopkins is world-renowned in biomedical engineering and has one of the top pre-med programs and advising in the country. if you want to go into medicine then i’d say go with hopkins for sure. hopkins is also best for research considering something like 80% of undergrads do research, so if research is something you’re interested in then i’d look into hopkins. having access to the med school/hospital at jhu is a dream come true for a pre-med student. the faculty in the bme program at hopkins are the top in the field and are at the forefront of bme research. you also get to participate in design projects as part of the bme curriculum designing medical technologies that have the potential to be patented. apparently people turn down stanford, yale, and mit caliber schools to study bme at jhu. it’s THAT good.</p>
<p>Hopkins has no grades in the first semester (just P/F) which in my mind beats the D-plan and a core curriculum. You won’t even have to worry about grades the entire first semester!</p>
<p>Thanks. So are Hopkins courses really toughest first semester; I would think they would be easiest then if anything? And Columbia has optional pass/D/fail for any class that isn’t in the core or your major. Just throwing that out there.</p>
<p>There’s no rule saying that they’re toughest first semester. It completely depends on what you take. Most people stick with the intro courses and one or two electives. The reason for the covered grades is to reduce stress and ease the adjustment.</p>
<p>^ yeah, but keep in mind Columbia has a rather restictive core curriculum which can severely limit possibilities for double majoring and/or exploring other areas of interests for a minor, etc.</p>
<p>As far as the “strongest” school goes, that’s really debateable. I’d say all three schools are really about the same overall. Hopkins would be the strongest for BME (head and shoulders above the other two) but as far as the schools go on a whole they’re pretty equivalent. You’ll probably have the most research opportunities at Hopkins, and just so you know you can also take any class outside of your major pass/fail at any point in your 4 years at Hopkins. </p>
<p>If you’re really into the outdoors though, Dartmouth would be a much better option as Hopkins and Columbia are both in cities. You have to weigh if a stronger BME program or the atmosphere of a university is more important to you. If you like green space though, Columbia is definitely not for you, at least Hopkins has a real campus.</p>
<p>It kind of sounds like the three little bears:</p>
<p>Dartmouth is a little too small, Columbia is just a little too big, and JHU is just about right.
Dartmouth is a little too rural, Columbia is a little too urban, and JHU is just about right.
Dartmouth is a little too liberal, Columbia is a little too restrictive, and JHU is just about right. </p>