<p>I am currently deciding between University of Chicago, Northwestern, Emory, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Umiami (in Florida) I will be doing the pre med track and am interested in neuroscience and biology. Miami has offered me a 24,000 scholarship and I was accepted
into the honors program and PRISM(program for integrated science and math) making it have the same sticker price tag as unc. The other 3 are all around 50,000.</p>
<p>Have you had a chance to visit any of these schools? </p>
<p>They are all great choices. The money and the respect from Miami plus the sunshine would sure attract me. </p>
<p>Any chance you can get on a plane and visit U Chicago and NW? Is one of those a “Suitcase” school? (ie, most folks leave on the weekend?). </p>
<p>I know Emory is smaller than UNC. Hard to say if that means cozier classes vs. more options. How do you do swimming in big ponds? </p>
<p>You really do have some great choices. What speaks to your heart? Does the $ make a difference to your family? </p>
<p>I just posted on another thread that there rarely is the “perfect” choice. More often there are an array of options and trade offs that are incredibly individualistic. What do YOU think right now?</p>
<p>I’d go Chapel Hill.</p>
<p>You haven’t provided enough info. Is $$ important? What do YOU like about these schools?</p>
<p>Here are my preferances based on what you’ve given:</p>
<p>UNC - terrific school, research triangle. Are you in-state?
UMiami - good scholarship $$$
Northwestern - lotsa frats, amazingly hard orgo class, otherwise great program
UChicago - known to be more academic than NW, very desirable
Emory - southern frats?, not ranked as high as ^^^</p>
<p>I have visited all schools. There are pros and cons to all of them
and my issue lies on what to compromise. </p>
<p>I personally prefer warmer weather and the cold
and wind in Chicago and distance from home (Im from Atlanta) is a
turn off. However these two schools are at the top
academically from my options.</p>
<p>Emory is great for premed with lots of opportunites with the CDC and Yerkes at my footsteps but it is too close to home and for the same price as either chicago schools at least at the other two I would be paying for a new experience and backyard.</p>
<p>UNC is safe. good all around weather/distance/academics but nothing spectacular that
stands out and I tend to prefer smaller schools.</p>
<p>Miami is warm and the beach and other aforementioned perks are a turn on. It is far however and the concern is the atmosphere. Too much of a
party school and distraction? Will I find others who are driven and have intellectual aspirations or will I just be surrounded with people who only care about south beach?</p>
<p>My parents are willing to pay for whatever school I choose but with med school in my future I’m sure they would be pleased if I picked unc or um.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about NU or UofC ‘suitcase’ status. Anyone know?</p>
<p>^I would say that neither of those is remotely close to a suitcase school. Both have excellent national reputations and, accordingly, have relatively large percentages of students from outside the area; you would not have to worry about that.</p>
<p>I am unclear on the cost differential. Can you please clarify the cost of attendance at UNC and Miami?</p>
<p>Miami is roughly 50,000 with the scholarship I’m looking at around 26,000. UNC out of state is 36,000.</p>
<p>UChicago is no doubt one of the nation’s leading intellectual powerhouse. Very intense and rigorous, too. NU also enjoys a decent reputation in the academia while being more pre-professional. Can’t go wrong with either of them, but if you are sure that you want 4 years of serious academics, go to U of C.</p>
<p>My son turned down Yale and several other elite schools to accept a full ride to UNC six years ago. I realize his situation was different than yours but he is now a second year med student at a top 20 med school and unlike most of his peers, the ONLY debt he is incurring is his med school expense. Med school is VERY expensive and aid is mainly loans.</p>
<p>If you can attend UNC and come away with $60-80 K saved that’s money that could be used toward med school. UNC is not that large a school and unlike many of the others you mentioned offers what might be the perfect mix of academics, great college town and a very good social environment as well. Just in his circle of friends my son and five other classmates are currently in med school; one each at Harvard, JHU, Baylor, Cornell Weill, UT Southwestern, and UNC and his roommate is at Duke Law. </p>
<p>Save your (parents’) money for med school.</p>
<p>just my $0.02</p>
<p>eadad seems to be assuming that if you choose a less expensive college, your parents will contribute financially toward your medical school costs.</p>
<p>This is not necessarily the case. Some parents feel strongly that once students get their bachelor’s degrees, they are adults and on their own. In those families, regardless of whether the student chooses an expensive or inexpensive college, no further money will be coming after graduation. Other families may be facing financial challenges down the road (siblings’ college costs, retirement) that may make money less available four years from now than it is today.</p>
<p>So before you choose a less expensive school in the hope that your parents will then contribute to your medical school costs, talk to them. Don’t just assume that money that you don’t spend now will be available to you four years from now.</p>
<p>“Will I find others who are driven and have intellectual aspirations or will I just be surrounded with people who only care about south beach?”</p>
<p>While there are students at UM who “only care about South Beach”, there are as many, if not more, who have taken advantage of the amazing opportunities UM has in the sciences/pre-med. etc…Undergrad ed for pre-meds is all about the GPA and the research opps…sounds like you were admitted into a special program as well…and this is your least expensive choice…</p>
<p>we know a number of students who chose UM for pre-med over similar schools on your list…they are extremely happy with the work/play balance, as well as the education they are receiving…</p>
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<p>This is why I assumed his parents were looking at the BIG picture cost and are willing to contribute to both.</p>
<p>I also assumed that you had had this discussion with them; if you have not, you need to do it now.</p>
<p>You do not say if you have honors at UNC.
Honors and PRISM at Miami, for the least cost, and with your stated weather preference, would trump all the others, in my book.</p>
<p>“NU also enjoys a decent reputation in the academia” </p>
<p>Decent reputation? A little bit of an understatement?</p>
<p>And, Northwestern is certainly not a suitcase school!</p>
<p>Northwestern and U of Chicago are really different experiences as far as “college experience” goes. As you mentioned, both are top academically (I know it was another poster who said NU has a “decent reputation.”) Perhaps you can eliminate one based on city/suburban location and campus feel – and narrow down your choices.</p>
<p>Tough decision. Good luck. Let us know which you end up selecting.</p>
<p>Neither Northwestern nor U of C is a “suitcase” school, i.e., one where students clear out for the weekends for home or more interesting destinations. Chicago has bad weather, but it’s a world-class city. </p>
<p>We know a student who transferred out of U of Miami despite a hefty merit scholarship. Too many students interested primarily in partying.</p>
<p>Northwestern is assuredly NOT a suitcase school. While it’s biggest draw is from the midwest (probably because the “fly over” folks tend to forget what gems the heartland provides) the midwest covers a lot of territory. They have students from all states and about 600-700 international students as well.</p>
<p>I think it’s too late to apply now, but NU also has honors science, with it’s Integrated Science Program that is over 30 years old and highly regarded. My S will be in this program in the fall. Despite it’s rigor, there are pre-meds in the program. Almost all ISPers double major in ISP and one other science, typically. They accept roughly 30 students per year. ISP has it’s own little house on campus, where ISPers can chill out, use their very own computer lab, etc.</p>
<p>Yeah, the kids from warmer climates like CA tend to talk about home when the winter weather blows in. NU runs a frostbite express bus when temperatures are really low and/or blizzard conditions. But it’s not Minnesota weather.</p>
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<p>Agreed. If you’re saving on college now you need that discussion as to whether your parents will contribute the difference later - whether it is for grad school, a starter home or funding a retirement plan. </p>
<p>Just to give you an idea as to the importance of the discussion. Assuming University of Miami would cost 30,000 (after scholarship) and UNC is the same out-of-pocket and you mentioned that the other three schools are 50K each. That means that UNC or Miami save $20,000 per year or 80,000 total. </p>
<p>$80,000 would certainly help for medical school expenses or (if gifted the money) would be a great deposit on your first home. </p>
<p>I know what I would do.</p>
<p>Physician here. Any of these colleges will be fine for being competitive for medical school if you get the grades. They have different climates and school atmospheres. You will do your best at the school that is the best fit. You need to decide, of the financially feasible options, which one you would most like to attend regardless of whether or not you remain premed. Think of college as the opportunity for an education, not just as the best stepping stone for medical school. Some students from “podunk U” will get into medical school while not every student from “elite U” will get in.</p>
<p>You need to choose your college using the same criteria every student should use . Do the academic opportunities give you what you want for your proposed major(s)? Is the campus culture one you like? Think liberal/conservative, Greek/not Greek, southern/northern, you get the idea. Will you do best in a pressure cooker school or thrive in a public U’s Honors program? Focus on the whole picture, not just being premed at this time. You want the education/college experience you imagined even if you change your medical school aspirations or don’t get in.</p>