<p>Interested in attending Professional schools...not sure if it would be dental, medical or grad school for research. Can you please help rank the following colleges for their strenghts helping you get into professional schools?</p>
<p>Bates College
Colby College
Franklin and Marshall (admitted as a John Marshall Scholar)
Colgate University</p>
<p>Daughter was recently admitted to these schools and trying to decide. Her first choice is Colgate but would reconsider if any of the other schools have a better academic reputation in getting students into professional schools. </p>
<p>She can't go wrong with Colgate. It has a wonderful reputation. If you're concerned about its placement rate into medical or dental school, just call them and ask.</p>
<p>One thing that has raised a huge red flag for me with Colgate is that the reputation it has that it is a heavily drinking and partying school. Every forum and/or blogs I read is that Colgate is known for its drinking...</p>
<p>My D transferred from Colgate in large part because the social fit was poor. (She's now a senior at a mid-sized research U.) A big part of the problem for her was the heavy drinking culture (and she is NOT a tee-totaler). When you combine a rural location with a strong Greek system and Div I athletics, you get an alcohol-fueled party scene. Colgate, however, is big enough to support subcultures of all stripes -- including non-drinkers. So if your D is comfortable being part of a smaller community outside the mainstream, she'll find her place at Colgate. Great academics and advising, by the way, and, I'm certain, excellent placement into professional schools.</p>
<p>My husband and I are both physicians and currently involved in medical education. Husband went to state school of forestry and I went LAC (very good but not top 20). S applying to colleges this year and every tour quoted their med school acceptance rates and they were all decent. Finally, at a recent visit to a top tier state school they actually told the truth...the school doesn't get you in to medical shool, you get yourself into medical school (by working hard). It was refreshing to hear such an honest answer.</p>
<p>All the schools you mentioned are fine. They will provide the foundation for success, then it will be up to the student.</p>
<p>Just as I suspect the reputation is still there. But I know daughter is a very focus child and have not given any indicatioins that it will something she is looking forward to engaging.</p>
<p>All of the schools are wonderful, and I bet your daughter would be happy at any of them. We looked at Colgate for our son (he was a recruit) and I was very impressed. It IS isolated and cold, though, but cold doesn't seem to be a problem for your daughter. :)
There is a large amount of drinking at ALL colleges. Colgate has a bigger frat and athletic culture, so it might be more noticable.</p>
<p>There IS drinking at all schools, but not at all schools it is the prevalent "culture"
At some schools a non-drinker may feel socially isolated, and if the school itself is rural and isolated as well, it can be difficult socially.</p>
<p>Saying there is drinking at all schools is a copout. You might just as well say that all schools -- from Yale to Muskogee Tech - have English departments, so it isn't necessary to look under the hood.</p>
<p>mini: No one on this thread has suggested that there is no need to "look under the hood." The uniform message here is that there is drinking at ALL schools, but that the intensity of the drinking culture varies, with a certain type of school providing the most fertile ground for the most drinking. </p>
<p>Another problem for kids who are non-drinkers or moderate drinkers at hard-drinkng, isolated schools: There's no escape, because there's nowhere else to go.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Colby premedical students who have been highly competitive by national standards, i.e., those with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better along with above-average MCAT scores, have been accepted at virtually a 100% rate, the first time they applied. Moreover, many Colby alumni/ae who were not successful as first time applicants (e.g., because of relatively low GPAs and/or low MCAT scores and/or a lack of medically related experience) have strengthened their credentials (e.g., by taking courses, earning graduate degrees, retaking the MCAT after graduation, and/or working in medical settings) and have been admitted to medical school at a high rate.</p>
<p>The dental school acceptance rate during the past decade has been approximately 95%.
The veterinary school acceptance rate during the past decade has been about 84%.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I bet other schools have something similar, though I didn't find them in a quick search (and F&M's server was down).</p>
<p>I agree with posts 8, 9, 10 & 11. I think that post #7 is a bit misleading, in my experience. Colby & Colgate are heavy drinking cultures. Bates has a bad situation with its location & the town. Franklin & Marshall is an excellent option.</p>
<p>"mini: No one on this thread has suggested that there is no need to "look under the hood."</p>
<p>Then there is no need to EVER say "There is drinking at all schools" - you don't see folks saying "there are professors at all schools", do you?</p>
<p>The differences among schools which, on the surface, would seem to be very similar, are sometimes extraordinary. I've talked about the numbers before. There are 20% abstainers (give or take 5% or so) at all non-religious schools. The median binge drinking rate is roughly 40%. Go up 10-12%% (that's my alma mater), and putting aside the abstainers, moderate drinkers are a distinct minority. Go down 10% (try #3 LAC), and moderate drinkers are a healthy majority. Yet, on paper at least, they attract a very similar student clientele. Campus climate, location, geography, whiteness, wealth (and fraternity) status of the student bodies, coupled with direction from the school's administration, all play a role in determining whether a moderate drinker will feel like a part of a healthy campus culture, or a campus outcast.</p>
<p>Adding: It's also up to each student to search his or her soul to know, in advance, "Am I the kind of person who can walk by things I don't do, and it doesn't bother me much" or "Am I one who feels unable to keep my own rudder straight when others do differently than I would." What's the inner core; what's the need to join in, all in search of acceptance by an obvious majority social scene. You might not know the college inside-out, but you do know yourself. </p>
<p>In my experience, my 3 didn't change personalities once they got to college.
The one who always maps out his own fate could sail by the wildest parties unphazed, or walk through with a glass of water in hand to say "hi." (the water keeps others from putting another glass in one's hand; it's a useful strategy).</p>
<p>The one who is happiest belonging to a group had his head turned more by what he saw around him until he could find his bearings, but he soon did.</p>
<p>Think of it as "can I navigate a situation" if you find there's a situation of heavy party culture on the campus you'd otherwise not hestiate to attend. YMMV</p>
<p>I did not mean for this thread to turned into the topic of drinking issues at colleges. </p>
<p>So, if anyone else have any thoughts or comments regarding my initial questions on the schools in questions. I would appreciate your comments. I know that hard work is something my daughter has been doing throughtout high school and it will continue as she move on to college.</p>
<p>Perhaps a different thread can be started on the issue of drinking. I know that I had mentioned my concerns on reading in different blogs and forums about the impression Colgate has with its drinking reputation. Realizing that my comment have spun this thread into a different topic...I would like to stay the course of my questions regarding professional schools given the colleges mentioned.</p>
<p>Well, admission to professional schools is based to a large degree on GPA and scores on the graduate admissions test (LSAT or whatever). All of the schools you listed will provide an excellent education and have good reputations. You raised the concern about drinking, and this IS one thing that can differentiate schools, as Mini pointed out.<br>
There isn't a whole lot more to say other than what I'm sure you have already learned about the schools from your visits and research.</p>
<p>But this limited discussion factors into your decision. If you are confident your D will continue on course regardless of her surroundings, then all you really need to do is look up the statistics from each school on graduate placement, or email the career centers for those statistics. </p>
<p>Unless, perhaps, you seek anecdotes about people who've gone from each place on to grad school? Or perceptions re: prestige?</p>
<p>factors would come into play. I really wasn't looking for the perceptions re: prestige; of the schools. Everyone would have different views. I'm sure the prestigious factor would definitely play a role. I don't have any preconceive notion on any of these schools - that's why I've been reading numerous blogs and other forum. This is my child to go to college. And it has been very daunting however, this site has been so very helpful.</p>
<p>Yes, looking for experiences of those who have gone to these schools and on to grad school. GPAs, scores, preparation for the respective tests and overall experience at the colleges. </p>
<p>So besides the issues of drinking at these colleges, I haven't thougth about the "prestige" factor the name of the school carries. What are those perceptions to the schools mentioned? Would that perception come into play when applying to professional schools? </p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your thoughts and time to respond to my many questions.</p>