<p>Hi all,
thank you for the spirited discussion and interesting commentary... I hope to offer some guidance when I know more about the college admissions process.</p>
<p>So I was wondering which school would be better as a pre-med and prospective chemistry major. In US News, the two schools are ranked about the same in chemistry. At Penn I could apply to the Vagelos program, which seems very cool.</p>
<p>Also, how much of an advantage is it (besides less paperwork) to apply early?</p>
<p>By way of background, two semesters of college math past Calc BC (through multivariable calc and linear algebra) and four semesters of chemistry past the AP (orgo I and II, inorganic and physical). Plan to take ODEs and PDEs this year. My college credit is at the flagship campus of a state university- 3.9 college GPA.</p>
<p>Completed the Physics C exams, biology and computer science AB. All exams with 5s. </p>
<p>Unranked at a private school in the NE, I would guess top 5%. Our school doesn't participate in external math or science contests.</p>
<p>Also part of the all-state orchestra, 2350 on the SATI and four 800s (math IIC, US history, chemistry and physics) and a 780 in writing. </p>
<p>(Big) negatives- don't play sports, no summer job (classes instead) and am Asian. </p>
<p>As monstor344 said, Princeton does not have an early application option. Seeing as you lack both a summer job and sports, I would consider applying to UPenn ED (if it’s really what you want). I know someone who was able to get into UPenn ED with no sports, and only one AP class in his freshman-junior years. </p>
<p>The advantages of applying early are showing the college that you care about the process, and are taking it dead seriously. I would encourage a visit, campus tour, and interview to see if that college is specifically what you’re looking for, besides the prestige.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I got into Princeton and a Penn dual degree program RD (though not the Vagelos program) without a summer job (unless you count teaching a schoolchild English for a fee for no more than 50 hours) and without sports (unless you count what I did freshman year of HS). So, while they’re negatives, they definitely aren’t deal-breakers.
Good luck!</p>
<p>AmyC92- if you read this- I think you have a great shot at both schools and will probably get into Vagelos- I tutor undergrads in chemistry and math and you’ve accomplished alot already in high school (pchem is one of the toughest classes in undergrad anywhere).</p>
<p>where else are you applying? I would suggest the top schools in chemistry- MIT, Columbia, Northwestern, Harvard, Caltech and Stanford.</p>
<p>I got into Princeton and Penn Wharton, here in the orange bubble, and lovin’ it. Hit up the eating clubs one night and you’ll see what I mean ;)</p>
<p>Amy I think that it is wrong to give advice on which university to attend to HS students that you have never met. Since you live in the NE visit both schools. </p>
<p>Since you already have a strong math background you might be interested in the The Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics. The program in Quantitative and Computational Biology is designed for students with a strong interest in multi-disciplinary and systems-level approaches to understanding molecular, cellular, and organismal behavior. The curriculum introduces the students to experimental and analytic techniques for acquisition of large-scale quantitative observations, and the interpretation of such data in the context of appropriate models.
[Princeton:</a> Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics](<a href=“Lewis-Sigler Institute”>http://www.genomics.princeton.edu/) </p>
<p>I am originally from the Midwest and I am familiar with the quality of Northwestern. But since you bring up the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships you should note that Princeton has the most Goldwater Scholars.</p>
<p>Competition for the Scholarship is exceptionally intense. Universities are allowed to nominate only four undergraduate students per year to receive the final Scholarship. As a result, the Scholarship is widely considered the most prestigious award in the U.S. conferred upon undergraduates studying the sciences. Through March 2006, Princeton University has had the most Goldwater Scholars with 64, followed by Harvard University with (60), Duke University (58), Kansas State University (57), and the University of Chicago (53). </p>
<p>Amy do not over emphasize the Vagelos program or the ABC scholarship at XYZ University. Princeton treats every student as an honor student. Every student is expected to do independent research. Every student develops a close working relationship with a faculty member. Every student is given sufficient financial aid so that they can graduate debt free. Other universities have special scholarships for students with high academic potential or honors programs for selected students. Princeton treats every student as worthy of a special scholarship and every student is in an honors program.</p>
