Hi! I was just wondering if anyone could give me some insight on the pre med programs at these four schools? How cut throat are the programs/How good are their advising committees/Medical school acceptance rates, etc… For me, all colleges cost the same except of Bucknell . Is it worth to pay whole tuition for Bucknell? I get into owner program in all colleges except of Bucknell.
I have a child doing the pre-med program at Muhlenberg. From what I have been told, the program is not cut throat. In fact, the kids are very supportive of each other. It is, though, very hard, and weaker students are weeded out. I believe that Muhlenberg has a very high acceptance rate to medical schools because of this weeding out process. If you received a scholarship to Muhlenberg and not to Bucknell, I personally don’t believe that Bucknell is worth the cost if it is only pre med studies that you will be persuing. Note that Muhlenberg does not have a pre med major. You would need to meet requirements for applying to medical school and taking the MCAT but major in an academic subject such as biology, psychology or even theater. It is this way at most schools. You may want to examine the academic offerings at both schools to see what your options are and if the schools offer academic programs you would be interested in. For example, if there is any chance you would be interested in engineering, Muhlenberg doesn’t offer a stand alone engineering degree the way Bucknell does. You would need to transfer to Columbia to obtain an engineering degree through Muhlenberg’s joint engineering program with Columbia.
THANK YOU for information
Muhlenberg has a great campus, very nice facilities and excellent food. Ursinus is very rundown.
Unless money is a non-issue for your family, I would take out Bucknell due to cost, especially with med school down the line. I would choose Muhlenberg over Ursinus for reasons detailed above.
So IMO it comes down to Pitt or Muhlenberg — which is a clear cut difference between a large state school and a small LAC. Is there a preference as to the type of college experience preferred? I happen to be a big fan of LACs with small classes, easier opportunities to do research with professors etc. but if a person craves the big school experience (with all the activity, big time sports, etc.) then Pitt would be a good choice. I know people who have been very happy at both Muhlenberg and Pitt but they are really two very different schools.