<p>you also have to consider that many undergrads from the same school as the med school might have come in through early pathway programs, because they are still taken into consideration for class statistics. also, however many early pathway programs there are at a school reduces the number of spaces available to those not in a pathway, so take that into consideration as well. a class of 150 with 20 early pathway spots essentially only has 130 spots for others.</p>
<p>I don’t understand the obsession with cities. Seriously. Med students don’t have time go make the trip even an hour south if you go to Columbia. In my view, all this “nice cities” talk is a cover-up for the fact that kids see certain places on TV and think they’re glamorous. It’s the equivalent of wanting to be a brain surgeon because that’s what Patrick Dempsey does.</p>
<p>Durham is fine and it most certainly is not “gang-ridden.” Like any major city, you don’t want to be in the bad neighborhoods alone at night. Durham also has plenty of nice locations: Southpoint, the Triangle, Ninth Street, etc. And people go to Franklin St. because it, also, is accessible. And Duke’s campus is absolutely beautiful anyway.</p>
<p>And the most astonishing thing about North Carolina is the smiles around the town. I’m a California boy, so it took me by surprise when I could walk into a restaurant with a large group – no reservations – and the staff was perfectly understanding and friendly about it. And the next time I was in there, the waitress remembered what my “usual” was. Folks you barely know will invite you to their homes for Thanksgiving, you can walk into any local bar for the Carolina game where the powder blues will hassle you playfully, and your hallmates’ parents really want to get to know you when they come in for parents’ weekend.</p>
<p>New Haven is also fine and certainly not gang-ridden. Like any (medium sized) city, you don’t want to be in the bad neighborhoods alone at night. But it too has its highlights: Wooster Square, East Rock Park, the New Haven Green. Folks aren’t quite Durham-friendly, but they’ve got California beat by a mile.</p>
<p>By comparison, New York City and Berkeley have their own unpleasantries. Between the secondhand marijuana, the folks shoving obnoxious flyers in your face, and the filthy streets, Berkeley often makes me think they’ve invented time travel after all: You mean this isn’t the 1960s anymore? And of course, people in New York will shove you if you take too long at the ticket window, give you dirty looks if you have the gall to bring a backpack on the subway, and laugh at you when you fall into a puddle. </p>
<p>(Why do those not seem like hypotheticals?)</p>
<p>I’ve lived in DC, Tucson, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Berkeley, Durham, St. Louis, New York, and New Haven. (Soon: Boston.) Trust me. The reputations of these places are quite very nearly backwards from the reality.</p>
<p>Whatchu talking 'bout BDM? I’m going an hour (actually more like 20 minutes thanks to the express train) south this weekend and next (second look is on its way)! We regularly go down to see broadway plays and other theatrical stuff. The hard core shoppers, which I am not one of, also do a lot more than I do downtown. I admit I don’t go terribly far south very often, but that’s just because I’m a fuddy duddy. This definitely evaporates after second year, but we have one week intercessions built in between each block at least. As a whole though I do agree that there are entertainments to be had in most cities and that NYC is more glamor than day to day extra entertainment. When I lived in Phoenix I still had access to everything here, be it broadway level plays or extravagant shopping, it just wasn’t as famous.</p>
<p>I do not think it is a matter of “obsession” about cities but a question of personal preference. Durham is not “fine” and to many students a reason not to go to Duke. Yale is one of my favorite med schools but again New Haven “looks better in the dark” (just like the lightbulb joke).</p>
<p>I rather deal with New Yorkers honest rudeness and dirty looks than with the hypocritical smiles of others. (I lived in North Carolina for many years and had plenty of exposure to southern hospitality…)</p>
<p>San Diego may be a lovely place, but lacks the vibe of New York or Chicago. Again, it is a matter of personal preference and to many people a major factor in choosing a school to attend.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think you’re off on medical students not being able to enjoy their areas. A lot of first and second years I’ve met have had ton of time to pursue activities. 3rd year this goes away, but three out of the four years isn’t bad.</p>
<p>My D has received a good fa package to Saint Louis University…and has been admitted into the Medical Scholar Program (which is a direct path to SLU Med School (depending on MCAT) beginning in her Junior year. .Plus other honors…BUT she has also been admitted to Notre Dame… with great, high honors (still waiting for fa package). She loves both schools and is wanting the Catholic feel. The distance away from home is SLU 1/4 the distance than ND. … For many years she has wanted to be in the medical field, but… only a small percent of students actually continue on to medical school, many change majors etc.
I would like to have opinions on which university would be the most beneficial. In 2005, 17 Notre Dame graduates actually went to SLU for Medical School, which is a high number compared to the admittance into the other graduate med schools (Georgetown was actually the highest with, I think, 24) But… if a change in major… would SLU or ND be more beneficial? She is will be entering as a freshman… with a Biology major in mind. Thanks for any advice.</p>
<p>BDM</p>
<p>I rarely disagree with you but you may have been away from Durham for too long. Two years ago UNC student body president Eve Carson was kidnapped and murdered by two apparent gang members based in Durham. This came after a major local festival was permanently canceled (after fifty some years) due to major gang violence. Following Carson’s murder, the State Atty General and Governor created a commission to study gangs in North Carolina. The results were that Durham is indeed the center of gang activity in the state and a special gang task force was created to try to combat the growing problem.</p>
<p>Duke’s campuses are indeed beautiful and the Nasher Art Museum is certainly someplace special but, truth be told, these days Durham is for the most part not a place you want to be unless you really have to be there.</p>