<p>I was accepted as a transfer to Penn and Georgetown recently. I am having a really hard time deciding between them. </p>
<p>Currently I am doing very well academically and socially at Villanova so it will be somewhat tough leaving, but is it worth it? I am pre-med and know that both Penn and Gtown have better med school acceptance rates than Nova. Is the hassle of transferring and the possibility of being "knocked out of your groove" worth a Penn or Gtown education?</p>
<p>If it is, then I still dont know which between Gtown and Penn...I have visited both campuses and like Penn's a little more. I felt like it was much better kept and it seems like Penn puts a lot of investment into the facilities. I dont know much about the social life at each. Any HELP on this part would be very appreciated. I have thought that Gtown would be more fun and chill than Penn...am I wrong??</p>
<p>All my life I have wanted to go to Georgetown and so it seems to be glaring out at me to choose it. However, I think I really was only attracted to its name and basketball team when i was younger and so that feeling has just sort of stuck...In other words I dont think my passion for it is overwhelmingly justified. </p>
<p>Lastly, the academic factor...some of the largest factors for premed are GPA and research. Is it easy and readily available to do research at Penn? Also, will my GPA take a huge hit by going to Penn? I am afraid that my GPA may fall alot at (more so at penn than Gtown) and I will be in trouble for med school acceptance...This would be terrible. I generally work very hard (I wasn't able to go out even one weekend this semester), but at times like to have fun, relax, and need to set aside at least an hour a day to exercise. Is this manageable at gtown or penn?</p>
<p>if you’re doing well at villanova academically and socially…STAY THERE. in my opinion, neither penn nor georgetown would be worth the risk. if you’re doing well, there’s no need to change up what’s working for you. i can’t speak for georgetown, but i do know that transferring to penn is tough due to their stringent policies on transfer credits and applying then to the gen ed requirements. all of your credit may indeed transfer, but close to none of them will be allowed to be used for anything other than electives (i.e. you’ll basically be a freshman in terms of your gen ed requirement-fulfillment). as such, you might be looking at spending an extra semester or year.</p>
<p>now if that extra time would be worth it to you (which it may be…to each his/her own), and you think penn or georgetown would provide you with a more conducive environment (i.e. research, urban, greater opportunities, etc), then go for it. but i doubt it could be much more conducive than what you’ve got going for you now. if your grades are great and you feel you stand out at villanova, you won’t have a problem competing against penn and georgetown students come med-school application time.</p>
<p>If you care about your future career prospects, then transfer to penn. If the four years of social life at Villanova are more important to you, then stay where you are. I think Penn’s social scene is great, so personally, I don’t understand the hesitation.</p>
<p>Also, you’re crazy if you think people at Penn can’t find an hour a day to exercise…</p>
<p>Well, Penn’s GPA is tough if you go to the Wharton School where they have a curve. But, as a pre med, it really doesn’t matter which college you come from really. You have to have a high GPA and MCAT scores, etc…Penn and G-town may give you more options down the road though.</p>
<p>The curve helps way more often than it hurts. </p>
<p>OP, I feel no hesitance in recommending Penn for pre-med even if you’re doing well at Nova. Penn’s pre-med resources are extraordinary, but yes, it will work you hard. Just remember that the reward for that hard work is pretty great.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the responses! I do feel that Penn in the long run will provide me with the best academic experience and maybe even in the short run with the best social experience considering its a “social ivy”. I am starting to become concerned about axc’s comments though. Does penn really make their transfer students go one extra year to complete requirements? That seems very, for lack of a better word, rude…I also believe that I have to reply to penn with yes or no before my credits are even evaluated…Does anyone have more information on this!?</p>
<p>happened to a good friend of mine who transferred…even if you took a writing seminar at villanova, chances of it transferring over in terms of credit to cover penn’s writing seminar requirement is incredibly low (source: a number quoted to my friend from the transfer advisor). as a result, he will have to stay an extra semester and apply a cycle after me to medical school.</p>
<p>again, you should take a bunch of different folks’ opinions on this, but coming from a penn pre-med already accepted into medical school, my contention is that you will get roughly the same academic experience at villanova, and the thought of transferring to penn or georgetown despite your academic/social success at villanova is, well, dumbfounding. you’ve already found a path to success–don’t mess up what works for you!</p>
<p>you don’t need to worry about future career prospects any further than your medical school plans. many students come from non-ivies and attend EVERY medical school (the least regarded and the highest regarded), and you don’t need to say you went to penn or georgetown to be as successful as a penn/gtown undergrad…you need a gpa (which is largely treated equally across every university) and an mcat score (derived from your own personal studying). why risk your already-great gpa? i do not see this as one of those times to take a chance…</p>
<p>penn’s resources for extra-curricular opportunities, research, health-related experiences, etc are great, so don’t get me wrong…but i think it would be imprudent to suggest that villanova’s resources/advising pales in comparison to penn’s/georgetown’s. you are at absolutely no disadvantage staying at villanova, and my personal belief is that you could jeopardize your gpa, your time, and your sanity (b/c transferring IS certainly tough on you mentally and physically), and those risks would outweigh most reasons to transfer.</p>
<p>Facing the same problem!
Accepted to both Penn (CAS) & Georgetown (SFS). I’m having a hard time deciding between both schools–& as much as I’ll miss it, I know I definitely want to transfer from my current school. </p>