Penn's Vagelos MLS Program vs. Brown vs. Yale

College Search & Selection
1

Hi all,

First of all, I would like to say I’m quite new to College Confidential. I’ve read through several threads, but this is my first ever post (Yay for taking risks!).

Now onto business. I’ve been accepted into both Penn’s MLS Program and Brown, and am waitlisted at Yale. I have no idea how to choose between these schools.

I’ve done tons of research on them all, and I really prefer Penn and Yale over Brown. But this is where the dilemma sets in. I know that admissions from the Yale waitlist is minimal, but I want to be ready to make a choice should I get admitted.

Perhaps a little-bit more about myself:
I’m an International Student aiming to study Biochemistry during college. I will be truthful—I have a lack of self-confidence and am still trying to get over the rejection from Harvard that took place 2 weeks ago (Please be nice about this… I know I’m not entitled… but it still hurts nonetheless).

Goals:

  • Good social life = I want a school that has a good social life. I’m not saying a party every night, but once every 1-2 weeks would not be bad
  • Traditional college feel = I want a quad, strong undergraduate focus, <10.000 undergraduate students, smaller than a 10:1 faculty to student ratio
  • Good research opportunities = I love to research. It’s been my goal to use research to delve into pharmaceutical substances that can help cure diseases, especially in third-world countries.
  • Active Student Body = in particular, I love MUNs, Musical Theater, Rugby. A Note on Rugby: I’m probably not athletically gifted enough to be in the Varsity team, but I would love a club rugby team.
  • Good facilities = I would love a fitness center, theater, laboratories, and libraries
  • Possibility of double majoring = I want to second major in either International Relations/Studies or Musical Theatre/Theatre Arts
  • Overseas Exchange Programs = I would love to study for a semester or two in South America, Africa, or Europe :slight_smile:

So far, here is my thought process:

Why Penn:

  • Amazing, Rigorous, Invitation-Only Program (MLS)
  • Can graduate with M.S in Biochemistry in 4 years, along with a B.A in Biochemistry (Part of the MLS Program)
  • $10.000 stipend for both my sophomore and junior summers that will go towards research (Part of the MLS Program)
  • The “Social Ivy” = I like being socially active
  • Small Faculty to Student Ratio of 6:1
  • Location in Philly is unbeatable. Good restaurants, nightlife, transportation. Easy access to NY, DC, and even Boston
  • 98-100% of classes taught by tenured professors
  • Campus is pretty (as pretty or perhaps prettier than Yale’s)

Why Not Penn:

  • Graduate Population is larger than the Undergraduate Population (13.000 vs. 11.000 roughly), so it might not have as strong as an undergraduate focus
  • MLS Program involves spending 14 out of 16 weeks of summer vacation on campus conducting research (I live halfway across the world, so this means less time seeing my family and friends back home)
  • Different threads (even those on College Confidential) seem to assert that MLS Program Scholars tend to be recluses who don’t have a social life and tend to waste their college years, which I don’t want to do
  • Even those not in MLS Programs tend not to undergo foreign exchange

Why Yale:

  • Smaller Undergraduate Population (6.000 vs 11.000 in Penn)
  • Seems to have a better theater and/or international relations program
  • Seems to have better foreign exchange programs
  • Better alumni connections for future networking
  • Has a slightly higher level of prestige (Higher Ivy vs Penn’s Lower Ivy status to some)
  • Less urban setting means quieter nights and more traditional college feel
  • Better chance of snow (I love snow. Sorry, minor detail)
  • Better Biochemistry ranking for undergrads (I’m not sure about this one)

Why Not Yale:

  • May be too competitive and thus difficult to maintain a good GPA
  • Layout of Yale is very confusing
  • New Haven is a very small city that seems to be secluded from everywhere else = less opportunities than Penn
  • Yale’s location seems to be very close to dangerous areas in New Haven

If there are any Yale, Brown, or Penn alumni, particularly those who took Biochemistry or Penn’s MLS program, please help! I’m so confused as to what to choose. Any insight is welcome :slight_smile:

2

I am a little familiar with MLS and, from what I hear, it is very challenging and many students end up dropping out - in it seems more like recruiting tool than anything else.

3

@dblazer Are you a Penn student? Can you give me an idea about Penn in general and why you chose it? :slight_smile:

4

My sibling goes there and he chose it for one of the dual degree programs which has been excellent for his goals. It seems like you have a pretty accurate impression of it and hits most of your goals in terms of what you’re looking for in a college though I’m not too sure about International Relations. Penn’s science classes aren’t curved too generously - maybe ~20% get As/A- which is fewer than some schools which is part of why MLS is challenging.