<p>Now I want to be a doctor and NU offers the most direct path to that. How do these programs differ (academics, opportunities out/prestige, recognition in the medical field)? This is tough decision although I know I'm very lucky to have the opportunity :) Thanks.</p>
<p>Most of the guys I know in HPME chose it over HPMYS.</p>
<p>Put very simply – you have the opportunity that virtually guarantees your admission to a top medical school. If you change your mind for any reason (many students do) you are admitted to a top university.</p>
<p>If you go to Duke or Yale, you have a very good chance of getting into medical school, but every year there are a number of pre-meds at these institutions who don’t get accepted, and a percentage who do get accepted to Medical school, but to one less prestigious than the one you’re already in.</p>
<p>Reputation – NU and Duke have comparable reps. Certainly absent HPME, some with the choice of the two go with NU some go with Yale. Most would admit that Yale is currently more prestigious than NU, and fewer people admitted to both choose NU. </p>
<p>Bottom line – if it were me – this would be a no brainer. Go with the sure thing at NU.</p>
<p>Definitely Northwestern especially with the HPME. Once you turn that enrollment deposit it, you are GUARANTEED to become a doctor (unless you do horribly in college) and make $300,000+ per year. How amazing is that? Do you really want to risk your future in this economy? It’s not worth it, especially since Northwestern is awesome to begin with. Plus, even if you do really well at Yale, there is no guarantee you will get into a top-caliber med school like Northwestern. I chose Northwestern over Yale without HPME. Btw, if you haven’t seen Northwestern’s medical facilities, it’s amazing. It’s in a premier location downtown by the Lakefront. Congratulations- you’re a big shot now should you decide on Northwestern, and I know you and your parents will be extremely comforted knowing your future is pretty much set.</p>
<p>You only live once, go to Yale. The fact is, you might change your mind about becoming a doctor and if so, Yale will give you a lot more flexibility to help you decide what you want to do and a Yale degree outshines a Duke or NU degree everywhere in the world.</p>
<p>You’d be crazy to turn down HPME.</p>
<p>HPME is the best combined med program in the country.</p>
<p>If you absolutely want to be a physician, go for HPME.</p>
<p>Have a sibling who did HPME and is in the very tops of her specialty; she, along w/ many of her classmates turned down HYPS.</p>
<p>As for Yale, there are people w/ Yale degress (as well as degrees from other HYPS schools) who have crappy jobs (relatively).</p>
<p>Duke and Northwestern are so closely ranked and similar in profile (except for Duke’s basketball team and location) that you could go to either but only one gives a medical admission.</p>
<p>So your choice comes down to HPME vs Yale. HPME saves you an year if you so choose. You will be spending that year at Yale writing essays and going to interviews. I know people who have given up HPME to go to Yale or Harvard or Stanford personally and someone graduating from HPME now who gave up Stanford and I have seen a person on CC give up Harvard to do HPME last year.</p>
<p>How man people really want to study for/take the MCAT and then do the whole application process all over again (it’s already bad enough going thru the whole application/interview process for residency)?</p>
<p>IF you are certain of a career in medicine AND Northwestern is a place you’d find yourself happy to be, HPME is indeed the unequivocal answer here. There is no substitute for the peace of mind that will come from already being admitted to a top 20 medical school obviating the need to worry about grades and MCATs. You’ll be handed the freedom to study whatever you choose undergrad from philosophy to physics, you’ll be allowed the freedom to extend to a 4th year before beginning medical studies and do pretty much whatever you want - work with the WHO, Doctors Without Borders, do bench or clinical research anywhere in the world, trek across South America, play ski/surf bum, or possibly get an MPH in International Health. The program is, in quality, flexibility and opportunity, the best of its kind.</p>
<p>PM me with any specific questions or concerns.</p>
<p>k&s is right on the dot. D chose Cornell undergrad over a few 7 year medical programs (not HPME), only to go through the nerve racking process of maintaining her GPA, MCAT test, interview process etc etc. Funny thing is she ended up the same medical school where she had gotten admission after her HS!</p>