<p>I'm torn between these schools. I'm OOS for all three. Money isn't a huge problem but it definitely helps. My intended major is Pre-Med so my main goal in the end is to get into Med-School (possibly Physical Therapy if that doesn't work out.)</p>
<p>I wanted to go to a school that had friendly people, didn't revolve entirely around greek life, was spirited, and had a good science department. I don't think any of these are bad choices but I can't choose!</p>
<p>Ohio State-Main Campus:
Pros: Big scholarship, Honors Program, School spirit, I could continue graduate school there if I wanted to
Cons: Idk how much of a difference being an honors student makes. All my teachers tell me "don't go to OSU" (bad reputation?) In kind of a gritty part of Columbus.</p>
<p>Penn State-Main Campus:
Pros: School is like a family, I love Happy Valley, safe area, supposedly helpful professors and VERY impressive grad-school/job placement rate, I'd be continuing a family legacy
Cons: Haven't heard from the Honors College but I don't think I'll get in. I could always apply later but I still may not get in. I would have to continue grad school elsewhere.</p>
<p>University of Wisconsin-Madison: (I actually haven't heard back yet but I plan on being accepted... maybe not though!)
Pros: I absolutely love Madison, they have a very good science department, could continue graduate school there (Physical therapy you can get accepted to their grad school early I believe)
Cons: Higher caliber of student so I wouldn't be as competitive in grades/rankings, not in honors college, very cold, I've heard that they hate "coasties" there (which I am)</p>
<p>I guess my basic questions are:
1) Do I go where the money is or do I go where I like best?
2) Does being in an Honors Program help you or hurt your GPA?
3) Also is OSU's honors program respected? My teachers don't seem to think so.</p>
<p>I'm not going to base my decision on this discussion board but if anyone knows more about these schools maybe it would help me make it! Personal experience.... friends/family who have gone there... etc</p>
<p>How big a difference is the money (net cost after applying scholarships and non-loan financial aid), especially in terms of debt and/or money left over for medical school? Remember that medical school is expensive.</p>
<p>My parents are paying for my entire undergrad education but med school is on me. My dad works for a private university that pays about $22,000 a year toward my education where ever I go, so scholarships help but I can go to any of these schools for around the in-state price before that is even added. That’s why moneys not really a big issue. They’re not paying for a penny of medical school though so I’m more concerned about where I’ll get the best education rather then where I’ll spend the least money.</p>
<p>If the last three months have proven anything, it’s that Penn State is very isolated and almost cult-like in its self image. I’ve met many Penn Staters who truly and sincerely believe that PSU is looked at the same way as Cal, UVA or Michigan, and no amount of outside opinion seems to sink in.</p>
<p>In all reality, Wisconsin would be at the top of the list for both rankings and selectivity. Ohio State and Penn State are virtually identical in rankings and admissions stats.</p>
<p>Do all the things that make you more desirable as a med school candidate - good grades, prep for MCAT, engage in activities that show a genuine interest in medicine. None of the schools will give you a differential advantage in med school admissions.</p>
<p>At schools this large, there will be friendly people (and not-so-friendly people), and plenty of opportunities for social interactions that don’t require Greek membership. There are some small LACs where this may not be true, but not at mega-universities like these.</p>
<p>All three schools are “spirited.” That’s a distinguishing feature of football factories.</p>
<p>As far as a “good science department,” once again, at schools this large, and for a pre-med major, any of them will have a science department that is more than adequate.</p>
<p>So I’d make the decision based on cost and feel.</p>
<p>Penn State is hardly the best of the three. Not even second best. UW>OSU>PSU overall and especially in biosciences. Not even close. Not hat much colder either–and sunnier with a huge lake fronting campus. </p>
<p>For my money, Wisconsin is easily the best school of the three, and Madison is the best college town. But I get the legacy thing. I agree with those who say for pre-med it really doesn’t matter; it’s your college GPA and MCAT scores that will determine your future. Go where you think you’ll be happiest and where you’ll be most productive as a student; no one can answer that for you.</p>
<p>MCAT, GPA and extracurriculars are most important to get into med school Of the schools you mentioned, Penn State is consistently ranked in the top 15 of public universities nationwide. Their Honors College is tough to get into. But if you do well, you can get in after your Sophomore year. PSU>Wisconsin>OSU. Good Luck!</p>
<p>I live in Columbus, and OSU is NOT in a “gritty” area.</p>
<p>Whoever told you OSU doesn’t have a nice campus is dead wrong.</p>
<p>Now, I don’t know entirely how much OSU stacks up against PSU and UW, but it’s bigger than both so you’ll have more opportunities. Oh, and OSU has one of the top med schools in the country.</p>
<p>Among these three schools I’d choose Madison in a heartbeat, but barrons is just making things up about the weather. It is much colder in Madison. Here are the average January temperatures for all the Big Ten schools. Madison is most similar to Minneapolis—really very little difference. And those open lakes barrons boasts about mean there’s nothing the break the howling winter winds.</p>
<p>Average January temperature</p>
<p>Minneapolis, MN 13
Madison, WI 17.2
Evanston, IL 22
East Lansing, MI 22.2
Iowa City, IA 23
W. Lafayette, IN 24.1
Ann Arbor, MI 24.1
Lincoln, NE 24.2
Columbus, OH 25.6
Champaign, IL 26
State College, PA 27
Bloomington, IN 30</p>
<p>Notice that OSU is about eight-and-a-half degrees warmer than UW, while PSU is almost 10 degrees warmer, on average. That’s a very substantial difference. </p>
<p>For comparison purposes, here are some other cold-weather schools:
Hanover, NH 19; Grinnell, IA 19.2; Middlebury, VT 19.4; Brunswick, ME 21; Ithaca, NY 21.5; Williamstown, MA 22.1; Amherst, MA 23.9.</p>
<p>One month when school is out for most of it is hardly a climate comparison. Over the year Madison is colder in winter but as warm or warmer the rest of the year. Annual overall difference is 4 degrees. Not 10</p>
<p>Not to quibble, but . . . I’m not sure anyone cares that the summertime daily high temperatures are a few degrees warmer in Madison than in State College. What people care about is how cold it gets in winter. Here are the average low temps by month (drawn from the source you linked) for the academic year:</p>
<p>SEPT: Madison 49, State College 53
OCT: Madison 37, State College 42
NOV: Madison 28, State College 34
DEC: Madison 15, State College 25
JAN: Madison 10, State College 20
FEB: Madison 13, State College 22
MAR: Madison 24, State College 28
APR: Madison 35, State College 39
MAY: Madison 46, State College 49 </p>
<p>So Madison is just a few degrees cooler in the fall but roughly 10 degrees colder in the deep winter months of December, January, and February before narrowing the gap again in the spring. But there’s no question the winters are much colder in Madison–and not just in the between-terms break from just before Christmas to ML King Day. Pretty much all of December, January, and February, Madison’s in the deep freeze, with average daily low temperatures just 2 or 3 degrees above Minneapolis, 8 or so degrees below Ann Arbor, and 10 or so degrees below State College.</p>
<p>Don’t know about you but at 5 am when the lows are hit I’m home in bed. The average highs are as follows:
Aug: Madison 81, State college 80
SEPT: Madison 74, State College 72
OCT: Madison 61, State College 61
NOV: Madison 46 State College 50
DEC: Madison 32, State College 38
JAN: Madison 28, State College 34
FEB: Madison 32 State College 38
MAR: Madison 44, State College 46
APR: Madison 58, State College 60
MAY: Madison 69, State College 70</p>
<p>And with most UW students living off campus with year leases many do spend the summers in town too. It does not completely fold-up like State College.</p>
<p>Im personally think OSU is a fine choice. Definitely the best school to attend for athletics. PSU basketball is a joke and there football is a recovering train wreck. But i think uw is a great school. Also PSU i think has a a great job placement. </p>
<p>You can’t go wrong with any of them. All three will be cold as balls so if thats a problem go elsewhere haha.</p>
<p>Wishful thinking, barrons. Nice try, though. The coldest part of the day is almost always just before, during, and after sunrise, when the warming effects of the previous day’s sunshine are spent. Sunrise in Madison in the winter is generally between 7:15 and 7:30 in December and January, and 7:00 am in mid-February. The next couple of hours after that (i.e., until 9 or 9:30) will be among the very coldest in the day, much closer to the daily low than to the daily high, and then the subsequent couple of hours (until 11 or 11:30) will still be darned cold. So unless you make a habit of sleeping until noon, you’re not going to sleep through the cold part of the day in Madison in winter.</p>