Pre-med: New Paltz or Stony Brook

<p>I know what you're all thinking. It should be a no brainer, SB is excellent in the sciences and has great clinical and research opportunities. Plus it's dirt cheap. I'm just so torn.</p>

<p>New Paltz has an amazing atmosphere, a residential and beautiful campus, a perfect size, a great social life, and a great town/location. BUT, the science program is not as good. They don't even offer Anatomy as a course, which has me worried.</p>

<p>Stony Brook is very respected for its sciences and is a top research school in the U.S., especially for its cost. Academically, Stony Brook is the best choice. (and most of my tuition was covered. I would only have to pay for room and board).</p>

<p>BUT, apparently it's a commuter school and a ghost town on weekends. It's also huge and pre-med is vastly popular and my classes will have 500 students in them. I've also heard that SB sciences are very difficult and there's cutthroat competition. I'm nervous that the large class size plus the rigor will ultimately lead to me doing poorly. And there's no use in going to a school with a great science program if you don't have the grades to get into med school.</p>

<p>I only have a week to decide and I'm freakin' out. SO here are my ultimate questions.
Does anyone have anything to say for New Paltz's pre-med program to make me feel better?
Does anyone know how difficult Stony Brook science classes are?
Is Stony Brook THAT much better than New Paltz where it's worth sacrificing the social life?
Are the opportunities at Stony Brook too good to pass up?</p>

<p>I’m going to np and couldn’t be more excited. I choose np over geneseo because geneseo is such a ghost town</p>

<p>Yeah. That’s exactly what I’m afraid of with Stony Brook. I don’t want to completely sacrifice four years of experiences and friendships solely for more research opportunities and a stronger science program. While it’s stronger, it’s not an ivy, nor is NP a community college. I just need to know what kind of a risk I’m taking. I’m not sure what the right move is.</p>

<p>Maybe I could go to New Paltz and take some classes at Stony Brook in the summer? (I live 30 min away)</p>