<p>Hi, I know almost every combination of schools possible have been compared on here before, but I was wondering how Princeton's integrated science track compares with other schools. I am planning on focusing anywhere from pre-med to math to physics to polymer chemistry. Any opinions?</p>
<p>Integrated Science focuses ultimately on computational biology and genomics.</p>
<p>MIT and Caltech are known for their engineering programs.</p>
<p>While there is some overlap there, Integrated Science is simply different from engineering and thus incomparable.</p>
<p>The newb speaks truth. While the IS program touts its interdisciplinary approach, in the end it’s all about mol bio.</p>
<p>Edit to add: My S is in his 2nd year of the program and generally speaks favorably of it. Good profs, smart kids, a lot of work. More of a bio than a physics track.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. I guess a better question may be whether the way IS pulls physics, chem, and bio together with differential equations and math really as innovative, cutting-edge as they say it is, and how much better it is than doing things traditionally. Say after undergrad I sought an MD/PhD: how much would the way IS pulls the sciences together influence the focus of my research? Is this kind of integration of the sciences “the wave of the future”?</p>
<p>Yes the integration of the sciences is the wave of the future.</p>
<p>No Integrated Sciences is not the only way to be prepared for that future, but it is a very solid route.</p>
<p>ISC is sexy.</p>
<p>seriously, compared to the traditional track, you get much more interaction with the professors and the class is much more cooperative, plus by the end of the curriculum you will know how to model a) the behavior of a (not infinite, just very large) array of 1-ohm resistors, b) concentrations of intermediate products in a biochemical synthesis pathway, c) various wave functions and d) the fourier transform of Batman. the workload can become daunting (20hr/wk problem sets are to be expected, especially second semester freshman year), but your peers and your professors will be there to make sure you don’t fail.</p>
<p>totally worth it, imho.</p>
<p>Come now, MIT and Caltech aren’t that bad. Why would you insult them by calling them Harvard-level?</p>
<p>Also, you’re kind of an idiot.</p>
<p>Kind of an idiot? This guy/girl has mastered idiocy.</p>
<p>quiman, why in the world would you make such a blatantly false statement as this?</p>
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<p>haven’t we met before, quiman? Why don’t you get in your germancar and drive off a cliff?</p>
<p>People don’t like Quiman…</p>
<p>Ok, so why would MIT be better than Harvard newb? (assuming no cross registering allowed. The cross reg is SO sexy though…)
And why is P not as good as MIT/H quiman?</p>
<p>Lets say from the perspective of the hard sciences: Maths, Physics, Chem, Comp sci, mol bio etc </p>
<p>(Quite important for me as wondering whether to apply to either MIT or P for Physics/Comp sci… Late I know but.)</p>
<p>When was the last time you heard of anything good coming out of Harvard Engineering?</p>
<p>^ That doesn’t really answer my question…</p>
<p>I agree with idiosyncra3y. You guys could qualify your statements a little better. Although I will agree that you don’t hear much from Harvard engineering. Give some real differences in those schools. Until I hear any different, I’m going to Princeton, because I’m into the “pure” side rather than applied (might not go into engineering), and Integrated Science just seems right up my alley.</p>
<p>Exactly. I have no interest in engineering which is why I specified the pure sciences…</p>