My son was accepted into both Lafayette and Muhlenberg, with merit scholarships to both (Muhlenberg would be somewhat less expensive). He is interested in eventually becoming an MD. While Lafayette is higher rated, according to several sources, does any one know how its pre-med program compares to Muhlenberg? I realize that neither college has a specific “pre-med” major or track.
My daughter was accepted to Lafayette and Muhlenberg and a bunch of other schools. She chose Muhlenberg because of the significantly lower cost and the warm community. For now she is on the pre-med track and says the courses are very rigorous. Muhlenberg is known for having an outstanding pre-med program. She is having the best experience of her life at Muhlenberg.
Lafayette is an amazing school with a great STEM program. I’d visit both on accepted student day and then decide.
I am a Lafayette alum and have several friends that were very successful pre-med students at Lafayette and went on to medical school. And the prominent pediatric urologist in our area did his undergrad at Lafayette, graduating the year before me. Small world. Which school does she like better and how big is the difference in cost? The key is for her to go where she will be most successful–gpa and MCAT scores are what will get her into med school. And minimize debt; plenty of that for med school.
Lafayette is awful l for premed, they put no money into the hard sciences and the labs facilities for bio are prehistoric. Muhlenberg is a much better choice, cheaper, has a premed reputation, and way happier kids!
@isbean, that is a ridiculous statement - our experience has been more like crazymamaB’s above. And they are building a brand new science building that will come on line in 2 years.
I know your premed son is very unhappy at a LAC and perhaps he is at Lafayette, and in any case I’m sorry about he is unhappy but no reason to bash Lafayette.
In 2 years they will have a brand new science building. It’s great they are finally putting $ into biology/premed, however unless you are going to be a future student, upperclassman and former students have had the conditions I spoke of.
Funny, your previous posts said that the only reason he stayed as long as he did was for the academics. Just because a school was not a good fit for your kid is not a good reason to bash it. My friend’s D is a current senior and loved her experience there. I have several MD friends who did there undergrad at Lafayette and are very successful today; they did not find it ‘awful.’ And if he was so miserable he had no business serving as an Ambassador/Tour Guide. How can you sell a school you hate? That’s ridiculous.
I was trying to be kind in my post, but thanks for stalking me. FYI, the tour guides are given a script for the college tours and are taught how to answer certain questions the “right” way, that was the hardest part to deal with. Don’t not judge a student who is trying to make it work and be ever optimistic nor someone who would ever perform the job without being 100% professional and effective.I stand by my statement that Muhlenberg is known for pre med and sciences, while Lafayette is not and there is a reason for that. All you have to do now, is stalk some research online for student reviews of their own schools to see which school kids are happier at.
I don’t need to look at online reviews- we spoke to actual Lafayette students and alum before my daughter chose that school over many others and she absolutely loves it and her friends appear to as well. No school is for everyone, and it is totally fine and even helpful for you to provide your son’s negative experience - getting both sides is the beauty of CC, but to simply bash a school in general because your son didn’t like it is silly. I never liked my alma mater but I’ve never told people it was a terrible school and not to go there, tho I’d certainly discuss my experience if asked…
My original response was about their science program as it pertains to premed, which is what the originator of this thread was asking about. In two years there will be a new science building, that’s a great thing, but obviously not part of the experience for any alum of the most recent generation. Is your daughter premed? If so, I would be happy to share other info as to why it’s not a great choice for premed. I know students who have attended both schools and it is well known that Muhlenberg “the caring college” has incredibly happy kids. It’s sort of like their trademark, along with also being known for premed. I also know recent alum and current premed students who are thrilled with the program and love it there, That is not to say that there aren’t happy kids at Lafayette, but in combination with being premed, I believe Muhlenberg is the better choice.
Yes, my daughter is premed at Lafayette. Once again, I have no problem at all with someone not liking the school, but your original post was so negative and non specific/over the top it wasn’t helpful to anyone. I also think though I may be wrong that you are basing your opinion on 4 year old info. Also, a new building coming on line in two years is a good thing for someone who wouldn’t be starting school until the building is already under construction, so it is important to point that out. The OP is not an alum but a current HS senior, so is concerned with what is happening now and in the near future, not necessarily what alums from several years back think.
Once again - people are asking for personal opinion so I’ve nothing against you not liking the school and saying why - just that your original post was not helpful - you have no idea how happy the kids are now at either school unless you’ve recently polled them (and don’t go by the 40 reviews on a website as proof) - I’m basing my opinion on kids who are currently there, both freshmen and seniors. Also, while one of the science buildings may be old, (and I have no idea what it looks like inside) the other one was built in 2002 so hardly prehistoric.
As far as happy students, Lafayette has a 94% freshmen retention rate which is very high, and a very high graduation rate, so kids are obviously not transferring out in droves.
Lastly, Lafayette is considerably higher ranked school than Muhlenberg which is why my daughter chose it, as she wanted to be among her peers, and that is something the OP should also consider. My daughter is at Lafayette precisely because she spent over an hour talking to a current doctor son of a neighbor of ours who went to Lafayette and couldn’t say enough about it and my daughter was overwhelmed by his love for the school. Yes, one person but he graduated within the past 10 years so it resonated with her.
Another vote for Lafayette being very strong in the sciences. My D is a recent grad and she took many lab science courses. While she was not pre-med, she has gone on grad school in a health/science-related field and feels that she is very well prepared. FWIW my D was not impressed by Muhlenberg on her visit but that is strictly personal preference. I would encouraging anyone choosing between Lafayette and Muhlenberg to visit both (they are so close) and decide for him/herself which is the best fit.