I know there was a post similar to this, but it didn’t really give me the information I wanted.
I’m looking to go into Neuroscience/Biology with most likely a pre-med track and love research. I’m having a tough time deciding between Johns Hopkins University, Rice University, and Cornell University. What are your thoughts?
Thanks!
Johns Hopkins is really good but pricey. Can you afford it?
CORNELL
Agreeing with @0br0123 ~ Cornell out of these three.
Yeah I can afford JHU so price really isn’t the problem for me. I also forgot to mention I am a Woodrow Wilson Fellow for JHU and so I get 10,000 dollars strictly for research funding.
Why do you guys think Cornell? From everyone else I’ve talked to, Cornell was the first thing they ruled out because of its size, location, and less prestige than the other two. Also, JHU trumps Cornell in the amount of research opportunities it provides. I’m not trying to be biased, but I’m just questioning so I can see your perspectives…
JHU and Rice are IMO better options with connections to research opportunities at nearby hospitals. The massive Houston medical centers across the street from rice are hard to pass up, with potential for research and shadowing opportunities.
All three have very strong departments and opportunities for research not measurably different from one another at the undergrad level. Personally, especially talking pre-med, I’d choose the least stressed campus I could find. Rice, is a kinder, gentler, more supportive environment in my experience.
@0br0123 and @StanfordSwag why do you guys think Cornell? @jym626 JHU has a med campus that undergrads can research at too, so wouldn’t that give JHU undergrads more opportunities for research? Plus I get 10 grand for research at JHU so I’m thinking JHU wins on the research side of things. @1190 I agree, Rice seems to have a more supportive environment, but I heard the research and prestige JHU holds gives you a better chance for med school and grad school opportunities… have you attended Rice?
Well actually, I would pick JHU for Neuroscience/Biology. They have an exceptional department for that and do compelling research.
prestige wise, I didn’t think Rice came close to Cornell at all. JHU does have more prestige and would definitely benefit you for the med school track.
JHU > Cornell > Rice
IMO
I said Cornell at first BC I love that school
Awesome thanks guys!
JHU students have no greater opportunities for research than those at Rice. The number of pre meds at Hopkins is historically quite substantial with deep and superb resources that must be shared, obviously, among that larger cohort. Rice is a smaller school with a measurably smaller pre med subset. The Texas Medical Center (and this being Texas where everything other than Rice is big) constitutes the largest complex of its kind in the world - literally across the street from the university. It hosts not one but two medical schools - Baylor and UT - along with international clinical powerhouses like MD Anderson, Texas Heart Institute, and Texas Children’s. Hopkins is deservedly a top name in medicine but at the undergraduate level, these institutions offer interchangeable research opportunities. Again, I see no advantage for you in med school apps in having chosen one over the other and would encourage you to go where you feel you’d best enjoy your next four years.
BTW, I have no dog in this fight having attended none of these schools. But I have visited each repeatedly, and remain connected to friends at each institution.
@1190 How accessible are the opportunities at Texas Medical Center for Rice undergrads? Can undergrads at Rice get research opportunities at these Medical Schools and Hospitals just as easy as JHU undergrads can get research at the med campus?
I would rule out Cornell, particularly difficult pre-med from what I’ve heard. Besides that Rice seems like it would be less intense than JHU for pre-med but both successfully send many kids to medical schools so take your pick. The research funding at JHU sounds nice, but it is just a recruiting tool so don’t give it too much weight. With research: you only need to find a lab or two which you will be able to no matter where you go so I wouldn’t worry too much about that.
Yeah JHU seems the obvious choice. Congrats on amazing options!
I would definitely rule out Cornell and JHU. If you can stand the heat, rice seems like the place.
@DrGoogle Why is Rice better than Cornell and JHU (i.e. why would you rule these two out)? I just like to know the perspective/reasoning you have and maybe it can help me make my decision!
I think those 2 schools have more hardcore students, I’m trying to avoid the word cut throat. Both of my nieces went to Rice and seemed to have a great experience. One even married a guy she met at an alumni event. Off topic I know.