<p>neom3x11, how did you end up deciding to go to hpme? I'm in kind of a dilemna (although good one!) of choosing b/t hpme and some other schools. But its very possible I will be in hpme next year! Do you have AIM? Maybe we can talk</p>
<p>Thank you, NEOm...</p>
<p>felicity4ever, sunninights, jcr182... i'm having a hard time deciding between hpme and stanford. i think its cause i'm some sort of grass in the wind and whenever i hear an argument for one, i'm swayed, and then...vice versa.
anyway, have any of you come to any sort of decision yet... what are your thoughts thus far?</p>
<p>This is for any current HPME students (at this point probably neom3X11 seems to be the only one who reads this)
1. What are the science classes like? Are they big lecture halls? Is the atmosphere really competitive or do students help each other out? How is the curve? Is the average set at a B-, C+, or C? Does Northwestern even have pluses or minuses? Also, what are the laboratories like? Are they included with the course, or do you get extra units for taking them? Do most courses have formal lab reports that need to be typed up each week?</p>
<ol>
<li>On a completely different note, where would you recommend living? Where do you live now and, do you like it? Are the HPME kids pretty spread out among the dorms?</li>
</ol>
<p>Legopan...aren't you a current NU student? I don't...understand...</p>
<p>ellen:</p>
<p>1) The science classes are usually big lecture halls because so many people take them. I'm sure the classes get smaller as you get to upper level courses though. The atmosphere is extremely non-competitive, and everybody helps each other. The curves depend on the class, but in organic chem, it's usually pretty low...around B-. Yes, NU uses pluses and minuses. Labs are included with the course, are usually pretty time-consuming (including lab reports that need be typed up every 1 to 2 weeks), and are hard enough to be a class by itself...but they're not lol.</p>
<p>I'm not going to recommend any places because each place has its merits and flaws...it'll be pretty useless debating them. However, I live in Elder Hall right now, an all-freshman dorm, and although the facilities are kinda bad, the community feel is great. I wouldn't recommend it though. Yes, the HPME kids are all spread out among dorms. There's probably at least one in each dorm on campus lol.</p>
<p>oh haha this is legopan's girlfriend. i'm using his login because i don't have one, and yes he's at northwestern already.</p>
<p>otherwise i'm just a senior in high school. with that dilemma that everyone here seems to be faced with</p>
<p>Is it possible for some HPME acceptees to put up some stats for us `07ers? ;D</p>
<p>i decided im going to hpme next year... it's a tough decision to make but i thought about it for a long time... and well... when i thought about going to northwestern, i fell asleep without one bit of worry... other schools haven't given me such confidence or satisfaction about my future...</p>
<p>ill post some stats tomorrow... im tired and i have a lot of work to do right now...</p>
<p>l8ter guys (and good luck with you decisions! i hope to see some of you next year!)</p>
<p>haha i see. I know ur bf, he was in my freshman seminar. congrats on ur acceptance!</p>
<p>Legopan, I've decided on Harvard over HPME, partly because of the huge financial aid package I received from Harvard.
I know it's a really tough decision, but in the end, whatever school you choose, you will most likely be happy no matter what.</p>
<p>Felicity did you ever regret your decision to do so? I'm faced with an identical situation. Its Harvard w/ Full ride v. HPME w/$10,000/year. Was the financial aid the only reason why you chose H over HPME?</p>
<p>Legopan's girlfriend,
I'm still really confused about everything, haven't come to any sort of concrete decision. Trying to decide between traditional 4 year college education and HPME, and on top of that I can't decide which of the 4 year colleges I like more (Yale or Stanford). I hear you on the whole grass in the wind thing...!! I'm going nuts! People keep giving me advice and I keep reading more and more about the advantages of each one but honnestly I'm not sure. If u want to talk about it and try to decide together, IM me at obsessive113, I'd love to talk :)</p>
<p>Wow. I havent been back here in ages. Good Luck to everyone still deciding!!!. . . it's difficult to make a decision, I know. Since all of you are deciding between comparable schools, I would say choose the place with the most opportunities for you. . .and less expense, probably, if that's even a factor.</p>
<p>ok... someone asked for stats of HPMEs so here are mine...</p>
<p>SATIIs: Math IIC 790, Chem 790, Physics 730, Biology 720
ACT: 35 composite- English(34) Math(35) Reading(36) Science(35) writing: 12</p>
<p>ECs: </p>
<p>Eagle Scout with 6 Eagle Palms and recieved scouting's highest Catholic religious award. Assistant Scoutmaster of my troop. Venturing South Florida Council Advancement Chairman.</p>
<p>Competitive Rower- state champion the past two consecutive years and was bow seat of my school's boat for Nationals last year (came out 6th in the nation). I am a lightweight and row in my school's varsity boat.</p>
<p>Emergency Room volunteer- 3 years. </p>
<p>Have played the clarinet for 9 years. Am in the Florida Youth Orchestra. </p>
<p>Mu Alpha Theta Member. Math & Science Team. Science research- Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalist. </p>
<p>I'm also a professional paintball player and my team is currently best in the Eastern Conference of the WPL (world paintball league). I am captain of the team this year.</p>
<p>Writer for the school newspaper and creative literary magazine.</p>
<p>Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. </p>
<p>Faith in Action Club- project leader for the March of Dimes. (2000+ hours of comm. service)</p>
<p>Honors: Cum Laude, National Hispanic Scholar, National Beta Honor Club, AP Scholar with Distinction.</p>
<p>Junior year classes: Calc AB AP, Stat AP, Psych AP, Eng Lang AP, Phys B AP, Span Lit H- took Calc BC over the summer
Senior: Multivariable Calc, Euro AP, Eng Lit AP, Bio AP, Spanish Lit AP
GPA 3.8 unweighted
Ethnicity: Hispanic</p>
<p>APs: Calc. AB- 5, Eng. Lang.- 5, Psychology- 5, Physics B- 5, Statistics- 4, US History- 4.</p>
<p>College Credit: completed college courses at Harvard (chem), University of Richmond (biogenetics), University of Virginia (national government), and American University (leadership in medicine and healthcare).</p>
<p>These are just my stats and I somehow managed to get into the program. I am sure there are a lot of other people here that blow me out of the water... I hope this helps...</p>
<p>LunKnot, i saw from some of your previous posts that you don't like the atmosphere at NW? you mentioned bigotry and racism?? am I just blowing this out of proportion? please elaborate, it would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>Everybody's experiences are different. I highly think Lunknot's experience is an anomaly. And if you judge Northwestern as an institution by any ONE person's comments, whether they're mine or any other person's on this forum...you will have a highly one-sided opinion. Experience it for yourself! Although I disagree with Lunknot's comments, I do respect and acknowledge them.</p>
<p>Oh, btw, hi Zach's mom!</p>
<p>When I was at NW for the interview, I felt the students quite snobish actually (maybe it was just coincidence). But, anyhows, that was one of the reasons I turned down HPME. I'm from a small NJ town, which has close, tight community. Cliques and groups were not existent during high school. Northwestern, however, seems to have some of these, which really turned me off.</p>
<p>hydrogen3k, you seem to really dislike Northwestern and it seems like you want to criticize it every chance you get. Let me substantiate that by a few quotes from the last few posts you've made about NU.</p>
<p>
[quote]
When I was at NW for the interview, I felt the students quite snobish actually (maybe it was just coincidence).
[/quote]
[quote]
HPME is really nothing. I got into HPME and Rutgers BA/MD, and thought, like most people would, that who in the world would leave HPME. But after doing extensive research, I found out, surprisingly, that HPME is not worth it, financially and other factors.
[/quote]
[quote]
Personality is priority and at Rutgers people are very friendly (a lot than the people who I met at Northwestern).
[/quote]
[quote]
Although Northwestern ranks high, it is not that amazing.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Because you are not a student here, you cannot possibly have the whole picture about Northwestern. Even though Lunknot still has negative comments about NU, at least she's a student here and her comments can be more substantiated. You admit that your opinion is formed by your visit during your interview - my experience has been that who your host is and what they do with you largely defines your impression of a school, and that impression is very one-sided. Your comments are a little disparaging to us that actually attend Northwestern, love it here, and have to read about your criticism all the time. Anyway, take what you will. Hope you're enjoying your time at Rutgers!</p>
<p>I have to agree with hydrogen3k some what. I personally know two advanced students in the HPME program, and the way they (and their parents) go on and on about their admittance into the program demonstrates some of the arrogance to which hydrogen3k alludes. </p>
<p>I think that it took a lot of courage for hydrogen3k to turn down HPME. He certainly did not give in to what seems to me (and I could be wrong) to be its excessive and exaggerated claims. I some times wonder whether there is a lot of hype surrounding NU's HPME, that tends to overshadow other equally good programs. NU's Feinberg medical school is a great institution and I can only hope to get in such a place. But it is not the only outstanding place for medicine! Nor is it the best combined BA/MD program!</p>
<p>Yes it is an opinion. One needs to hear both sides of the story. Your institution deserves accolade, but that does not mean that it should always receive it. I think people may relate to what I have to say or be able to see what I saw (not just be blinded with such brand loyality).<br>
Don't get me wrong, but college selection seems a little overrated. To me, it's an exageration of brand loyality. But, then again, that's just me. Also, if you don't like what I'm saying...well, sorry...but it is my opinion and it may help someone.</p>