<p>Hi, so I'm new to this website. I got admission to Princeton and the PLME program at Brown, but Princeton gave more money. Also, I got waitlisted at Harvard, so it's kind of in the back of my mind and I'll think about it when the time arises. I was just wondering what the advantages of each. One thing I'm hesitant about Princeton is it's lack of a med school and its grade deflation, because I heard it's bad but that it really only affects the humanities. But, I wanted to check because that could be a factor when I do apply to medical school. Also, Brown's program is good but I'm not sure how I feel about being "locked in" and feel like I might apply out which means I'd be taking the MCAT's anyways. Harvard also has an AMAZING major that I love and would be excited to learn about, but of course got waitlisted lol. Any ideas?</p>
<p>Congrats on both admissions.</p>
<p>One thing I’m hesitant about Princeton is it’s lack of a med school and its grade deflation.</p>
<p>Why are you concerned over the lack of a medical school? Princeton students conduct medical related research on campus. Princeton student’s acceptance into medical school has been 90% to 95%.</p>
<p>Grade deflation exists but is not a major factor. </p>
<p>Grade deflation was implemented for the purpose of normalizing grades across departments, so that the average history major’s departmental GPA wouldn’t be two tenths higher than the average physics major’s departmental GPA. </p>
<p>Grades in science courses have not been affected as much as some humanities courses. Martin Semmelhack, the associate chair of the chemistry department, noted that the process of grading chemistry students has always been an independent type of analysis. He added that his organic chemistry courses grading distribution had roughly followed the Universitys current policy long before it was instituted. We havent felt much pressure to change, said Semmelhack. Also See: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12532082-post15.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12532082-post15.html</a> </p>
<p>There is good evidence that medical schools take into account the inflated grades of other universities. PtonGrad2000 has done this research for you. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/9601150-post9.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/9601150-post9.html</a> </p>
<p>If you are in the PLME program and you decide you would rather attend Harvard, John Hopkins, or Stanford then you will be withdrawn from the position being held for them in the Alpert Medical School (AMS). See: [Brown</a> University: Program in Liberal Medical Education](<a href=“http://med.brown.edu/plme/prospective/applyout.html]Brown”>The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University) </p>
<p>What is your planned major?</p>
<p>My son was in the same situation a year ago. He chose Princeton and couldn’t be happier.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your acceptance to Princeton and the other schools! </p>
<p>I don’t know PLME data, but 80% of Princeton/Brown cross admits choose Princeton. </p>
<p>[Compare</a> Colleges: Side-by-side college comparisons | Parchment - College admissions predictions.](<a href=“Compare Colleges: Side-by-side college comparisons | Parchment - College admissions predictions.”>Compare Colleges: Side-by-side college comparisons | Parchment - College admissions predictions.)</p>
<p>According to Wall Street Journal Feeder rankings, Princeton was the third best in America for getting into selective medical and other graduate schools schools (far ahead of Brown and barely behind Yale). The link is no longer active but if you search around on CC I bet you can find it. It went:</p>
<p>Top 10:</p>
<ol>
<li>Harvard University</li>
<li>Yale University</li>
<li>Princeton University</li>
<li>Stanford University</li>
<li>Williams College</li>
<li>Duke University</li>
<li>Dartmouth College</li>
<li>MIT</li>
<li>Amherst College
10.Swarthmore College</li>
</ol>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/85416-wall-street-journal-feeder-ranking.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/85416-wall-street-journal-feeder-ranking.html</a></p>
<p>Notice no Brown. Also, for Brown PLME you would have to opt out of the Med School if you wanted to apply other places, which you might not want to do.</p>
<p>Also, Princeton has by far the lowest tuition in the Ivy League and one of the most generous financial aid programs. If you received more money from them, I would go so you can graduate debt free.</p>
<p>I would also remove yourself from the Harvard waitlist. HYP is the same academic quality and you already have been admitted to such extraordinary schools that I think ending the process now would make sense. (Harvard is marginally more prestigious than YP but only marginally).</p>
<p>Princeton, unlike Harvard, is known for its undergraduate teaching and makes it a special part of their mission. See Princeton’s mission statement, average class size, and student satisfaction surveys with professors. if undergraduate teaching matters to you a lot, Princeton would be better. (See the posts on “Academic Life” on the Princeton accepted students website).</p>
<p>If you’re 100% sure that you want to be a doctor, I would highly recommend Brown PLME as you will essentially bypass the strenuous med school application process.</p>