<p>Hey everyone! I am planning on majoring in neural science/neuroscience while on the pre-med track. I have become aware that the majority of pre-meds drop out in the first year but I want to take on the challenge. I was admitted into NYU, Rutgers (in-state), TCNJ (in-state), and Drexel. I recieved 3,500 from Rutgers/ SAS Honors Program (doesn't really mean much), about the same from TCNJ/ Honors Program (again doesnt mean much) so they come about to be 20k per year. Drexel gave me 20k (honors program but AGAIN make a big difference) so it will be around 40k per year. NYU gave me 8k so it be around 58k. Money is not a issue for my parents' income but I don't want to spend money just for a "label". Campus wise I love Rutgers, NYU and Drexel. TCNJ seems a little boring and too close to home. So my question is which college would give me the best undergraduation education, experience, prepare me for the MCATs, research opportunities, doctor shadowing, and basically for a decent medical school?</p>
<p>You could excel at any of those schools but I feel that NYU would provide the best academics. Plus if you do decide to drop out of pre-med, you’ll have plenty of top-notch departments to choose from at NYU, whereas the other schools may not offer as many majors or as many high quality professors. NYU also has the Langone Center to possibly intern at, and they were named best hospital this year so that would be an incredible opportunity for you. Plus the social and cultural benefits of living in NYC are unparalleled. If money isn’t an issue, I would definitely choose NYU.</p>
<p>If not though, I’ve always heard Rutgers is pretty good for pre-med. However, my close friend who goes to Rutgers for pre-med says the classes are a little too easy, as in she had no problem getting A’s in organic chemistry and other difficult pre-med classes. Maybe you would learn more at NYU than Rutgers, but Rutgers would give you a better GPA.</p>
<p>As for Drexel, well, I think their pre-med is better than anything else at that school but I’ve also heard awful things about Drexel academics and campus life so I would avoid that.</p>
<p>In sum - if you’re looking for the best & most challenging education experience possible, I would say NYU wins hands down. I wouldn’t say you were paying for a “label” in your case. Classes here are definitely tougher than Rutgers - I took three classes there in sophomore year of high school (I live 15 min away from Rutgers), did nothing, and got A’s without blinking an eye (Macro, Micro, & Psych classes). And I basically learned nothing that Wikipedia couldn’t have told me. And most of the fellow students there won’t challenge and inspire you, as they are state school students so in general they won’t be as high caliber as NYU students. Of course there are the honors students there and other exceptions, as Rutgers is a large school, but I’m just saying that the average Rutgers student can’t compare to NYU students. And the Rutgers campus is quite frankly disgusting. But that’s just my personal opinion.</p>
<p>If you have to ask and love Rutger’s campus why not go there? If your goal is premed and if Rutgers is not as hard, it will give you an opportunity to do exceptionally well and get a higher gpa and still get into a good medical school. I was sitting next to a 40 year old doctor at a soccer game yesterday and she went to NYU undergrad and she said it’s very interesting to see all the different paths her colleagues have taken all to get to the same place as doctors at a huge group practice in Berkeley Heights, NJ. </p>
<p>It’s 24k all in for Rutgers with your scholarship and 56 all in at NYU with your scholarship. I realize you say that the money is not an issue. Is it really not an issue? I mean the difference is $128,000. That means your parents could afford medical school. Or they could put the down payment on a condo/BMW/doctor partnership for you after you graduate. </p>
<p>It’s a lot to think about. Good luck!</p>