<p>OK, so I am dead set on going to medical school and have much experience in the field already so just assume that plan stays the same. I want to likely go into radiology because I had a job assisting with it and shadowed another radiologist thanks to my uncle who is an M.D./Ph.D. and got me hooked up pretty easily to the right opportunities. I also assisted him during a medical trip to Honduras.</p>
<p>Now, I have two areas of interest outside of medicine, which is the "job" field interest and why I am going for an M.D. in five years hopefully. My other two are physics and philosophy. However, I do not want to major in philosophy because it is too risky for me to undertake on a path to med school because I already know so much philosophy history but may hate it as a class. I know for sure I can gets the grades in physics. (I did very well in everything, but I am just more comfortable with a science and this is my favorite.) HOWEVER, I love the idea of the biophysics undergrad major. But I am not decided on whether that is worth giving up my top school, which does not have that major undergrad. With that information, here are my my accepted schools...</p>
<ol>
<li>Princeton University</li>
<li>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</li>
<li>University of Pennsylvania</li>
<li>University of Chicago</li>
<li>Duke University</li>
<li>Northwestern University</li>
<li>Cornell University</li>
<li>University of Virginia</li>
</ol>
<p>Of my rank in general preference, Penn is the highest with the biophysics major and Princeton is the highest overall. Is it worth giving up an acceptance letter to Princeton, which is so great for undergrad in so many ways (all schools should fill the financial need gap but Princeton is giving me the most with all grants, but seriously, the difference is not huge between these and it is basically all grant aid). I visited both. I simply cannot decide yet. Part of me thinks I will feel less pressure at Penn because physics is big at Princeton. But I am 2/445 in my class and have all the test scores (35 ACT, 2360 SAT with 800 Math and 790 Reading) to indicate I can do well anywhere. The Princeton name alone just seems so... BIG. I was so happy to get in with basically no true "hook" just a good total app. I did not apply to Harvard because I hated it. Same with Yale. So these are it. Stanford was too far away (in Ohio) for leaving home right now, so did not apply (on paper that is my fave school and would be ecstatic to go there for med school if I am so lucky).</p>
<p>Sorry for the obnoxious new kid messy first post. But I'd like to hear your thoughts even if they are subjective. If you have extra help for the major, that's cool too.</p>
<p>How did you already receive acceptances to all of these schools? How did you apply ED to 4 schools (Penn, Cornell, Northwestern, and Duke) along with SCEA to Princeton and EA to MIT, UVa, and Chicago? This doesn’t make any sense.</p>
<p>The only possibilities I can think of are likely letters and/or scholarship notifications or a violation or SCEA/ED policies. Both would be very unlikely.</p>
<p>This is a bit suspicious… Were you really accepted to all of these school or are you just proposing a hypothetical situation?</p>
<p>All athletic recruits except EA to M.I.T. and Chicago. I decided not to play, got a revised decision. Got D1 recruits from many schools I did not follow up on or apply to. Best soccer school I got an offer from was UVA BY FAR (there were a few schools as good like Indiana that backed off, only fitting when they go win the NCAAs). No scholarships to the Ivies, but the aid was projected to be nearly as good. Call me crazy. I don’t want to play in college. I am not good enough to go pro, and even if I did, it would not be for any pay worth skipping medical career. The funny thing is… I know a few people who successfully applied ED to multiple schools and used the finance excuse, because the schools won’t argue it, to “get out” of the ones they did not want to attend. I was more about getting decisions lined up as the athletic departments and such said they could. If you may, can you please just answer the question? Have to decide SOON if only for my own sake of getting sleep at night.</p>
<p>I will post all the letters as long as my personal info can be covered. Of course, it doesn’t matter if it IS hypothetical because I am not your friend. Seems this is more about competition than any advice. Until I get the letters and image host them after school, please answer question? Anything at all on the substance? Or do people just not know. Come to think of it, for the time being, I am a LIAR but interested in the hypothetical. You win. (I take it athletics is not understood, not the same process at all). But yes, hypothetical only. Give me one thing to add to my decision. If not I’ll decide without it. (Likely next week)</p>
<p>Penn and Princeton are both terrific choices. For premed, I would say that an advantage Penn would have is the presence of its Medical School and hospitals, including the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, right on campus. That affords you research and volunteering/ mentoring opportunities that would not be available at Princeton.</p>
<p>The college experiences are different - compare urban v. suburban, Greek v. eating clubs - I don’t know what you would prefer. Philadelphia (and its restaurants, clubs, parks, museums, historic sites…) is part of the Penn experience. Penn seems more social and seems to provide more of the typical college experience, if that’s a factor.</p>
<p>Thanks to those that answered. I did think it was interesting. And yes, the Penn med school connection was a huge plus. I even visited the med school when there. It is weird because I still have this Princeton letter with the letterhead and it is on my bulletin board. But I chose the University of Pennsylvania. The way it fit such a pristine place in that city just felt energetic but safe. I think I can get opportunities at the med school even if just helping for free. And frankly I feel I can be a bit more relaxed with Penn biophysics majors than Princeton physics majors. The curriculum is not much different for the majors but the interest in the biological angle and my experience with certain radiology docs, when I was worried a few years ago that I would not have enough passion to fight through the premed game, really made me want to stick to that interest, even if I someday become some other type of doctor. Though so many people think I am a geek for liking radiology diagnosis so much, but I had a great experience and learned to love physics and calc in high school after being a bit intimidated at first compared to other AP classes, but being an athlete I kind of like being part geek . . . as long as I am not a “nerd.” Now I can play intramural and dominate without having my life revolve around the sport that will not be a career. So to Penn I shall go.</p>
<p>I don’t use forums a lot, but even with this decision done I still enjoy reading the analysis of those educated in this area. So maybe I’ll find a different topic to post on now that this is decided. Thanks for any interest and aiding others in their quandaries. And good luck!!!</p>