<p>Does anyone know which college is better for a pre-med student? I'm not sure about the research opportunities at both colleges. Thanks!</p>
<p>Are there any current Pomona students doing research? Do you guys have the opportunity to volunteer at hospitals?</p>
<p>hey, just from my own experience, i'm a freshman psych major, but i didn't decide to major in psych until like halfway through this semester, and i'm already a research assistant to a grad student at claremont graduate university. i sort of got the job through pitzer, but whatever, bottom line = yay on research opportunities. off the top of my head, 3 pre-meds on my floor are interning at a hospital this semester as freshmen, one of my sophomore friends spent the summer after freshmen year doing research in canada through pomona. there;s also grants that you can apply for to stay here over the summer and work w/ faculty. i don't know about research opportunities at duke, but i think they;re pretty good at pomona at least. i think in the end it all boils down to a mixture of luck and determination wherever you go.</p>
<p>There are paid internships during the school yr at hospitals and half way homes and paid research positions for summers and during the school year. The benefit is that there are no grad students to tie up the research and internship opportunities.</p>
<p>thanks a lot!!</p>
<p>I'm not pre-med, but I chose Pomona over Duke (and that was with a merit scholarship). Judging from the people I know, I think the opportunities for research are really magnificent here since the student population is a lot smaller and a bit less competitive and cutthroat than Duke. It doesn't seem too difficult to land a lab job with a professor if you're a good student, and, in addition, Pomona sponsors a pretty generous SURP (Summer Undergraduate Research Program) that offers paid research positions or assistantships.</p>
<p>In your freshmen year at Duke, you probably would log more miles of walking to and from the frosh campus to classes than you would log in four years at Pomona. If walking to clear out the head is your thing, maybe Dukle is the answer. But, remember you have to wake up one hour earlier freshmen year to make it to class on time.</p>
<p>My S liked the academics at Duke and it is a pretty campus. There is a difference in feel re: study body. Duke's students seem more arrogant and competitive in general. Pomona's students are more unassuming,and laid back, although equally as talented and very friendly. Both would get you into med school , really is a fit issue. Let us know what you decide. Have you visited both for overnights?</p>
<p>Hey arizonamom,
I actually just came back from visiting both Pomona and Duke. I'm so unsure right now because I feel like Duke can offer so much in terms of hospital volunteering (they have programs for freshmen) and academics (FOCUS program). I talked to pre-med students at Pomona, but I felt like it was hard to get to a hospital to volunteer, like you have to have a car to really get off campus and everything. But Pomona feels good in terms of the student environment, and plus I'm from California, so it's nice because of the weather and proximity to home, although I wouldn't mind too much traveling to the other side of the country. I don't know...it's a tough decision. Where did your son end up going?</p>
<p>His personality was such a fit for Pomona that after spending a night he had no doubts. It is such a personalized decision, go where you want to be for 4 years. Both will have amazing opportunities. My best friend graduated from Duke many moons ago and is in family practice . She loved it,and students at Pomona have great med school acceptance rates. You can't really make a wrong decision so follow your gut.</p>
<p>Hey!
I decided to go to Duke. Sorry...it's been a long time since the last reply.</p>
<p>Best of luck collegeforme!!</p>
<p>Thanks arizonamom! Good luck to your son too.</p>