<p>I've been accepted to Emory's Oxford College and UPitt for their Neuro programs and am waiting on Case to get off its waitlist. I don't know much about Oxford other than it has a LAC feel (which I do love since I'm more comfortable with smaller sizes). As for UPitt, I have a 5K/yr scholarship and only know that its Neuro department is more mature b/c of its age. I vaguely know Case's atmosphere in terms of Pre-Med and campus life but any more information on it would probably help me decide in the future if I get off the waitlist since they're all considered pretty good in Neuro/Pre-Med.</p>
<p>In general, I'm looking for a school that provides more attention from faculty as well as opportunities to dive into Med. I'm not much of a party animal, but of course would still want to have some time to explore whatever city that's nearby. Money isn't too much of an issue for me, but the friendliness + diversity of student body and flexibility of curriculum would be nice.
Another thing to note is that I'm focusing on Neuro but would like to diverge into other disciplines too, which for all I know I could possibly double major or even switch to. It's not really that I don't think I could handle med (my SAT scores are higher than 50% in all the schools, yay) but rather that I'd like to explore a variety of subjects both to ensure I like Neuro most and to understand basically anything that could affect mind and behavior.</p>
<p>Thanks for any advice you can give! </p>
<p>Emory/Oxford probably has a more interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate neuroscience (which is good since you want to expand). Both Oxford and Emory are extremely diverse (and of course curriculum is pretty flexible). Also, keep an open mind, don’t be so hellbent on pre-med. All these schools are good and have lots more to offer. Also science lectures and labs at Oxford are probably of higher quality (especially if you take the INQ versions) than many research institutions (even top ones). Focus is put on learning actual science and how to do and analyze it in many intro. lectures and labs at Oxford according to syllabi (and the friends I know who went there) , and not just learning facts. Oxford is pretty unique, especially for science education, and it will likely be even more enhanced by your sophomore year (because their new science building will open). Oxford does a lot with a little now (as in way more than research U’s with far larger and better facilities). Main campus science courses/curricula will likely have also been enhance by time you get in from Oxford (new chem. building, and added UG neuro and biology offerings). Also, what does your SAT have to do with anything? </p>
<p>If you are taking good instructors and good courses, it shouldn’t matter because you shouldn’t be taking multiple choice only tests as much (which will no doubt happen if you go to Pitt for the first year or two). If you are taking challenging science courses, it shouldn’t have that much correlation. It’s just a matter of how much you work, how resilient you are, and how willing you are to seek help when in trouble. Many good instructors’ exams will make you quickly realize that your SAT’s are completely irrelevant as they will require higher order problem solving and analytical skills. It will require a completely different sort of preparation. Main campus has some science instructors that could challenge international olympiad/Intel medalists and winners, never mind a person with an SAT score above the median (which is who mostly takes such courses anyway). </p>
<p>I didn’t mean to report my SAT scores as a way to say I’ll be fine solely because of that but mostly because I read a post or two about Pre-Med students being unprepared for the challenging coursework and comparing scores/GPAs as a way to approximate readiness. Of course, I don’t really think it’s the best way but I just mentioned that information just in case someone was thinking of bringing that up.</p>
<p>I’ll definitely consider Oxford from what you’ve said so far. Thanks!</p>
<p>I feel like it’s only relevant if you take courses that primarily rely on multiple choice and very close-ended short-answer type of prompts (like True/False, fill-in the blank, or very pointed short essay questions asking you to recall some event or content that you were taught directly. Sadly, biology courses at many schools are still run this way. Guess older instructors don’t know much better or different approaches. While not good for learning outcomes, I suppose it’s good for pre-med grades). SAT math on the other hand is a good correlate for success in more quantitative science courses (no matter the exam type) like chemistry and physics, though AP/IB is probably better for it all. </p>