<p>Hi everyone, I've recently been admitted to Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Cornell, and Johns Hopkins. My intended major is biomedical engineering, and I was fortunate enough to be admitted to Johns Hopkins' BME program. In terms of financial aid, Vanderbilt is giving me a very good deal, and Johns Hopkins is asking for roughly $15k more than Vandy per year. I have yet to hear back from Northwestern and Cornell regarding financial aid.</p>
<p>I definitely value academics over social setting, and I would prefer the warmer climate of Vanderbilt over the bitter cold of Northwestern and Cornell. However, the weather isn't of too much concern, and in no way immediately disqualifies those schools. I also prefer a more urban setting campus-wise, but I have heard that Ithaca us a decently sized and equipped area. With respect to the social scene, I definitely want to go somewhere where I will be able to have fun without feeling the pressure of having to become a part of the Greek life. Furthermore, I want to go to med school after undergrad, so I was wondering which of these schools will allow me to keep a competitive GPA throughout my four years. Thanks for the help everyone!</p>
<p>Sounds like Hopkins will give you a great experience in that it’s not too cold, in an urban environment and Hopkins BME is essentially like gold. Hopkins is also quite a social school but it’s played down a little bit by some people because the students are quite intellectual and enjoy the academic work there.</p>
<p>I think being at an east coast school too gives you a lot of easy chances for interviews at internships and job related stuff because of access to DC, Boston, NYC and Philadelphia. </p>
<p>Thank you for the input WealthofInformation Sadly, Hopkins is asking me to pay more than double of what Vanderbilt is asking. Also, I just received my Northwestern financial aid, and it was actually pretty decent, falling squarely between Vandy’s and Hopkins’. If I do end up attending Hopkins, my parents will have to take sizeable loans, and I do not want to put this financial pressure on them unless it is absolutely necessary. I also feel that Cornell’s financial aid will be great–It will probably be better than Northwestern’s. Is Hopkins BME truly worth the price?</p>
<p>No. Your undergrad degree will ultimately carry much, much less weight than your graduate degree. If medical school is indeed on the horizon, with all the debt that will incur, choose a college that will minimize undergrad debt AND still make you happy. Vandy sounds like it best meets these criteria. </p>
<p>If you were talking about going into biomed without an MD degree, I’d more seriously consider Hopkins, despite the cost.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback Bala I’ve been discussing finances with my parents, and both Northwestern and Vanderbilt are viable options. Seeing as Cornell will undoubtedly match at least Northwestern’s financial aid, which is the best option between Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Cornell?</p>
<p>As of right now, I can’t make up my mind xD Cornell and Northwestern definitely have the whole “prestige” factor, but I don’t think that Vanderbilt is too far behind in this respect either. I want to go to a college that will provide me with good lab/engineering facilities. Does this automatically make Cornell the best choice?</p>
<p>I think the fact that you are interested in engineering should probably discount Vanderbilt – it’s just not as strong in engineering as the other three. You also mentioned that you were worried about a strong Greek scene, so that’s another knock against Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Ithaca and Chicago can be bitterly cold during some weeks throughout the winter, but it’s not as bad as anywhere else throughout the Midwest and Northeast. </p>
<p>If you’re dead set on biomedical engineering, Hopkins is a great choice. But if you think you might be interested in other types of engineering as well, Northwestern, and especially Cornell, can offer more in terms of breadth.</p>
<p>Both Northwestern and Cornell have strong Greek scenes, but I don’t think it overpowers the campus like it does at some other schools.</p>
<p>Thank you for the input Cayuga. I’ve looked over the rankings for biomedical engineering, and they are as follows: Northwestern, 12th; Vanderbilt, 15th; Cornell, 21st. However, I know that Cornell’s biomedical engineering program is very new, and by the time I am a junior/senior, it will be ranked much higher (the program has already climbed more than 10 ranks since its inception four years ago). So, I don’t think I can completely knock off Vanderbilt, because its biomedical engineering program does indeed seem to be very competitive with the other two…This is so hard :(</p>
<p>Can you visit? I think NW is a much more ‘happy’ place than Cornell and at least you’ll have access to Chicago. I think having read your threads and taking Hopkins out because of cost, Cornell because of location, I would say NW over Vandy. GL.</p>
<p>You’re very fortunate to have such great choices.</p>
<p>Oh, and to answer the previous question, I am very committed to biomedical engineering. I am practically 90% positive that I will pursue a degree in it for my undergraduate years.</p>
<p>It’s too bad that Hopkins is too $$ because their program is literally the best in the world for BME. Like I said however, NW seems like the best choice given your limitations. GL</p>
<p>Hello again Wealth XD So far from what I have researched, Ithaca is a great college town. Granted, it is nowhere near the size and scope of Chicago. I think I am beginning to lean towards Northwestern, but the temperature/campus/price of Vanderbilt and the facilities/prestige of Cornell are very, very alluring.</p>
<p>Just got the financial aid from Cornell, and it is a little better than Northwestern’s. However, Vandy would still cost me 6k less per year. So, in terms of cost, in increasing order: Vandy<Cornell<Northwestern, with Northwestern costing about 2-3k more per year than Cornell. What do you guys think? I really appreciate all the input so far, thanks CCers :)</p>
<p>While all of these are fine schools and you couldn’t go wrong with any choice, I wanted to comment on this upthread:</p>
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<p>That’s right - there are absolutely no businesses or commerce or need for engineers anywhere in this country other than the Northeast. @@ I swear - the people on here who think that anything other than the Northeast is practically uninhabited continues to amaze me. There are real cities other than DC/Boston/NY/Phila! Honest!</p>
Sadly, Hopkins is asking me to pay more than double of what Vanderbilt is asking. Also, I just received my Northwestern financial aid, and it was actually pretty decent, falling squarely between Vandy’s and Hopkins’. If I do end up attending Hopkins, my parents will have to take sizeable loans, and I do not want to put this financial pressure on them unless it is absolutely necessary. I also feel that Cornell’s financial aid will be great–It will probably be better than Northwestern’s. Is Hopkins BME truly worth the price?</p>