<p>I really like all three schools. I am from the north but have no problem with changes in weather or anything. Really I am just looking for the school with the most to offer both in the next four years and in the future. I am planning on majoring in Biology and maybe go pre-med. Some other interests are IR and Neuroscience. There is some pressure from the parents to go to Georgetown but this is not really a factor...it's my decision after all. I really am conflicted between where the opportunities will lie for me. I really can't make up my mind without some support I guess from people either experiencing the same thing or have an insiders view...ALL ADVICE IS APPRECIATED!! I would really appreciate any help...this is seriously one of the hardest decisions of my life and I have to make up my mind SOON!! Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>If you want to be at a school with under 2,000 students, go to Davidson. If not, go to either Tufts or Georgetown.</p>
<p>As far as Tufts vs. Georgetown, I'd go with Georgetown since it's a much more fun place to be. The classes at Tufts are smaller though.</p>
<p>For pre-med Georgetown does far better than Tufts and Davidson. Georgetown Med is very friendly with Georgetown undergrads when they apply. There may even be a guarantee program for students with a certain GPA at Georgetown (I think it's 3.8, but you can look it up). I would definitely go with Georgetown. Davidson is very overrated and Tufts is a school for Georgetown rejects (no offense).</p>
<p>Davidson is overrated?</p>
<p>Davidson could be the most underrated school in America. If it's the LAC close-community experience you want, that's it.</p>
<p>agreed- davidson is one of THE MOST UNDERRATED schools in the country</p>
<p>no way is tufts a school for georgetown rejects. they are at least on the same level.</p>
<p>
[quote]
For pre-med Georgetown does far better than Tufts and Davidson. Georgetown Med is very friendly with Georgetown undergrads when they apply. There may even be a guarantee program for students with a certain GPA at Georgetown (I think it's 3.8, but you can look it up). I would definitely go with Georgetown.
[/quote]
that's quite a misinformed opinion. Most people will agree that pre-med at Tufts is a lot better than at Georgetown (whose much more known for IR). Tufts also has such a "guaranteed" medical AND dental program which you can apply during your sophomore year.</p>
<p>I don't agree with your tufts=georgetown rejects statement. I got into both, and will probably choose tufts over georgetown, because georgetown isnt' that special outside of SFS and IR...</p>
<p>I really appreciate this discussion because these are the same worries and thoughts I was having. Milkmagn...what do you want to major in and how have you started to lean towards Tufts over Gtown? Also, would you eliminate Davidson all together? I feel as though an undergraduate degree there wouldn't take me very far but I may be very misinformed...campus and people-wise I liked it there the most.</p>
<p>I think the first decision you have to make is whether you want the LAC experience (Davidson) or not. There are many pros and cons to LACs in general and Davidson in particular, which I won't go into here, because they've been exhaustively covered elsewhere. </p>
<p>If you decide that Davidson isn't right for you, then start researching Tufts and Georgetown.</p>
<p>Go where you are most comfortable, and feel challenged, and med school will pretty much take care of itself. (and 3/4 of students who enter as pre-meds change their minds.)</p>
<p>An undergraduate degree from anywhere won't take you as far in some fields as an advanced degree will. I feel sure that an undergraduate degree from Davidson or any other very good LAC will take you as far as an undergraduate degree from either Georgetown or Tufts. I think mini has it right--go to the school you like best. (Davidson has very good premed advising incidentally, but it is also true that premeds often change their minds.)</p>
<p>You should make an effort to contact someone at Davidson who can answer your questions about the school. Do they have a staff or student who reaches out to accepted (but undecided) students? Because Davidson is so small, there aren't too many alumni floating around.</p>
<p>One of my oldest son's best friends wound up at Davidson. He has had an outstanding experience, including a semester in Africa in the public health field. Certainly the opportunities are there, and if you like the close-knit environment, I would say that in no way will Davidson hold you back.</p>
<p>andrew- see what i said about davidson on this board- <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/495581-brown-vs-davidson.html?highlight=davidson%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/495581-brown-vs-davidson.html?highlight=davidson</a></p>
<p>It really is a one of a kind education! If you liked the campus and people at davidson the most then go! dont worry about the prestige of a name or what other people say. go with what feels right! Also, if you are interested on pre-med/ biology Davidson is a great choice. there is a 98% acceptance to med school!</p>
<p>Any school that claims a 98% acceptance rate to med school is lying. It may mean that they have only provided med. school committee recommendations to a percentage of those who wanted to apply. Or they have systematically weeded out future pre-meds, who would have made great doctors had they gone to second-rate state schools and been stars (and had more opportunities for internships, mentoring, and research).</p>
<p>Whenever you see a stat like that, you know it is propaganda in the worst sense of the term.</p>
<p>Doesn't mean Davidson isn't a fine school. Just means that, if this is what they put out, they don't have an honor code when it comes to their marketing.</p>
<p>As a Davidson alum I can tell you that Davidson doesn't put out that kind of 'propaganda'; they do put out actual facts-that they have a 90% med school placement rate over the past 10 years for their premeds who go through the premed cmte. The 98% quoted above is apocryphal and appears nowhere outside of fanciful imaginations. I will say that in my medical school class here in Texas-there are 6 Davidson graduates in my class alone, 1 from Tufts, 1 from Georgetown, figures from 2007 incoming class at UTHSCSA so you do the math.</p>
<p>Right. And what about those who didn't make it through the premed committee? Folks who would have made perfectly fine doctors, close to the top of their classes, had they gone to a mid-grade state university?</p>
<p>So...how many didn't make it through the premed committee, or were "discouraged" by the committee from applying? How many couldn't get recommendations when they asked for them? Or - the most important question - what was the attrition rate of students who enrolled thinking they were premed?</p>
<p>Davidson is an EXCELLENT school. It is one of dozens of excellent schools that puts out sleazy med school statistics. (My alma mater - #1 LAC - does the same.)</p>
<p>"what was the attrition rate of students who enrolled thinking they were premed?"</p>
<p>Who could track such a meaningless statistic? At some community colleges the entire freshman biology class might raise their hands to the question: "how many of you are premed?", that doesn't mean that after they fail a couple of chemistry classes that it is a realistic aspiration. I agree that statistics are played with, but to have any meaning at all, there must be some sort of reasonable standard. My only point was for the OP, Davidson is a very good option for a potential premed-I went through the program and have first hand knowledge of it. I can't speak for Tufts, G-town or Willams.</p>
<p>I think the point here is that some schools weed out the premeds so that only the strongest get a rec from the premed committee - and this boosts their med school acceptance rate. Others allow all who want to apply to med school to access their premed committee - their acceptance rates are likely to be lower. But I suspect this has a bigger impact than just assessing statistics - the former schools are also likely to have a more competitive situation, if the premeds know that not all of them are going to be able to use the premed committee.</p>
<p>But on the larger point, there is no question that Davidson is a top school with a tremendous undergrad education (IMHO, for many students better than that provided by larger universities) and that grad school admissions committees are very aware of these small LACs.</p>