@mathyone Yes, I am into STEM. I’m probably going to major in math, computer science, or engineering. But I also appreciate the humanities and from what I’ve read and seen it seems like more of those types of people are at Harvey Mudd than at Caltech. And it seems like Caltech is more inclined to admit students who have strong extracurriculars demonstrating their commitment to STEM, which I lack. They also have less diversity, which may make me feel a bit awkward. But that’s just the impression I got, it could be wrong. But that’s why we’re visiting! And yes I want to work had, that’s why Harvey Mudd and UChicago are so high on my list.
University of Chicago had only molecular engineering as a major…no other kind of engineering.
@thumper1 Yes, I know, I’ve been on their website many times. My two main interests are math and computer science, engineering is third. Thanks for the help.
You may want to include Cal Poly SLO to your list of safeties - better than UC Merced for what you’re interested in.
My feeling about U Chicago is that it is very intellectual and nerdy. They really want thinkers, I sense. Those are good things, IMO. The work load is supposed to be intense. It does have the infamous, and apparently untrue reputation of “where fun goes to die.”
I think Cal Poly SLO is as hard / harder to get into than Berkeley for CS. And it’s all done by a formula I think, so I don’t know if URM will help. I think it’d be a great place to go for you - but I’m not sure if it’s a safety.
Edit: I just looked at her stats again, and they’re terrific, so you’re probably right that this is a safety.
I am a parent of 3 and it pains me to read how inflexible your parents are. CS and engineering are excellent majors and no, you don’t have to be a good talker. Many in the field are not good talkers due to the high quantity of autism in the field. Plus, you do have to speak well to be a physician because in residency, you will be constantly challenged to answer questions by the doctors on staff, alongside with having to speak with patients. You actually would speak less in CS/engineering.
My advice is to at least choose the school where you feel most comfortable with the students, campus, food, dorms.
My husband is a physician and I can tell you, it’s a torturous road so if you have no interest at all, the odds are stacked against you. He went to undergrad in the 80s and completed his MD in 1990 and it was bad back then but it’s worse now (as far as competition). You could have a stellar resume and still not be accepted to any med school. Sure, it’s a stable income, but requires a lot of years: undergrad (4), med school (4), residency (4), optional fellowship (2). Meanwhile, the CS majors have already started on their near-6-figure incomes after completing their undergrad degree. In addition, some physicians barely earn over 6 figures (internists, pediatricians, family practice). Unless you are a surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist (earnings in the double-digits), then being a physician, while reputable, is not the highest salary potential. He is an anesthesiologist but told our children to study CS!
You will you deal with the most competitive students (who will ruin your experiments/not share info/see everyone else as competition), and all for your parents? There are many pre-meds, but only the select actually become doctors. And believe me, they aren’t always the smartest.
Another point that is to be considered, and needs to be said, although can be harsh, is that America is a majority Caucasian country and not everyone is open to having a doctor that is not Caucasian. We live in California in a diverse area so it’s no issue, but there are other parts of America where there is racism.
A good way to ruin your chances of becoming a doctor is to select an engineering degree, where it’s most difficult to attain a high GPA. If you do want to get into med school, however, select the easiest major because your GPA needs to be very high be competitive. You will take pre-med classes along with your major, which will prove your worth. You don’t need to be a science major to be accepted into med school.
Compare the salaries and time it takes to become a doctor, argue that you have no interest in being a doctor, and maybe those are compelling reasons to convince your parents. For you to become a low paying doctor, doing something you hate is a waste of a life. Best wishes.
The other issue is that a new physician will probably have $240,000 to $300,000 or more of debt just from medical school. Even at physician pay levels, that can take decades to pay off, and can lead to a life of choices under financial pressure (e.g. pressure to choose a high paying medical specialty due to the need to pay off the debt, ethically dubious choices in patient care due to being able to bill more).
Lol, your mom thinks UCB is more prestigious than Caltech…
Cal Poly SLO is an excellent school to apply to, but PLEASE don’t apply to it as a “safety”. Its admissions acceptances has the reputation here in CA of being somewhat unpredictable. This is possibly due to the fact that it awards “bonus” points for things that most folks wouldn’t normally think about (such as a 5th year of English) – so maybe the disgruntled high stats applicants who have applied and been rejected in the past didn’t even look at the bonus point system – in which case it would be less unpredictable – but nobody has the numbers on that. Apply if you think that you may want to attend – but do make sure you have some true “safeties”.
Re: #69
CPSLO also admits by major, so using overall admission stats to determine reach/match/safety may result in an unpleasant surprise to applicants aiming for popular majors.
"They also want me to be a doctor, by the way. (But they are against engineering for some strange reason). I don’t want to be a doctor at all.
How can I show my parents that prestige isn’t everything? "
- First, unfortunately, you cannot change your parents or anybody else for this matter.
However, you are absolutely correct and more so specifically in both cases of Medical School and Engineering career, it does not matter which college you attend to be successful. Medical schools do not care about the name of your college, there is whole list of very important facts about you that they would care, name of the college is not on this list. Engineering firms do not care either and most of them hire from the local colleges anyway no matter if they are low ranked and unknown.
But despite being right and your parents being misled, your battle is the losing one. Being right is not everything. If they are paying, you got to go with “the wind” so to speak and not against it, it is simply much easier and much smarter. Believe me, YOU WANT your parents to be on YOUR side. Make a peace with them, they only want the best for you, despite the fact that they are incorrect. Here is your lesson for the rest of your life, winning the battle is not as important as winning the war.
You will achieve your goal if you put your mind into it, no matter what college you attend.
At the end, YOU will be the decisive factor, not the place and not your parents. Focus on this, develop the plan how to achieve your goal and let your small battle with your parent to be behind you, just be smart and let it go!
Best wishes!