Torn between these three schools. Princeton seems the clear first choice to my family and friends just because of reputation and prestige, but I don’t want to overlook the other two. I want to do Pre-med and eventually get an MD/MPH.
Obviously Princeton is amazing at everything and they tout their 95% med school acceptance rate, but I also hear iffy things for pre-med (lots of competition, no hospital, weeding out, etc.), and it appears to be the opposite situation at the other schools.
Princeton is Princeton, but from what I’ve heard it’s not a great place for pre-meds. Would I be better off going to Brown or Duke?
Thanks in advance, gonna post this in the other two forums as well.
I know someone who went to Duke, worked hard and got admission from 7 medical schools 4~5 years ago. If it helps.
All your choices are great schools. In terms of Princeton, I’m not sure who is telling you these negative things, but I don’t think they are correct. First of all, all colleges have a weeding out process, usually done by the students themselves - they hate organic chemistry, realize the curriculum is not for them etc., do badly in science courses etc. I am not aware that Princeton as an institution does anything more than counsel students, but that is the case at all universities.
The Princeton atmosphere in general is not overly competitive. I liked a poster here who described it more as a “we’re all in this together” atmosphere. Students are generally collaborative and supportive - I am extremely familiar with a number of recent students who went to medical school and anecdotally, they had no negative stories about other students working against them or anything like that. And, for what it’s worth, the grade deflation policy has been eliminated.
There are numerous opportunities to volunteer. There is a new hospital not too far away, the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro (there’s a bus that goes there directly from the campus area and parking is free for those who drive) which welcomes Princeton students as volunteers, there are Princeternships, which give shadowing opportunities, you can become an EMT and the University also provides numerous research opportunities.
The college experience at Princeton is really special, in my judgment (I’m an alumna and the mother of two Princeton students). It offers unparalleled resources for and a strong focus on undergraduates, professors are extremely accessible and really want to help students, the campus is gorgeous (in fact, Duke modeled part of its campus after that of Princeton), the students are happy, smart, fun-loving and active, and I think that the current administration is truly excellent and will make the school even better in the future.
Good luck with your decision!