Hi there, I am torn between Princeton, Vandy, and Rice for premed (Chemistry). I’m looking for a collaborative atmosphere with strong support for pre-med students and lots of research/service opportunities. If it costed the same amount to go to any of these three schools, what would be the best choice in the long run? Thank you 
Princeton is considered the number 1 university, and is very strong in sciences. Why go anywhere else, if cost is not an issue? You won’t be confined to campus for research opportunities – students travel all over the country for summer research internships. As a premed student, you will find competition at any university, but you will also find people who are eager to do service work to improve the world, and you can get involved with those groups. You can look for Doctors Without Borders clubs and other activities.
I too think Princeton is the best of the three overall, but we should remember that fit is important too.
Read (read, read, read…) everything you can get your hands/eyes on about the culture at these schools.
Check majors and course catalogs to see which school has more of the majors and courses you (might) like – you might change your mind, so flexibility is a good thing.
Look into social and housing mores – for instance, Princeton’s eating clubs, Rice’s residential colleges, and the Nashville music scene – to get a feel for which vibe fits you best.
After doing all that reading, if you still aren’t sure, visit the schools that are still in the running – the “gut feeling” is a great way to settle arguments about whether you can see yourself there.
Yes, Princeton is great – it is the most undergrad-focused among HYPSM – but I don’t think it is objectively so much better than Rice or Vandy that you should just choose it without researching fit. They’re all fine schools, but only one of them is the best place for you.
I visited all three last spring with my D. All three are excellent.
I will be the contrarian here and say that if you know you want to do med school, you should seriously Rice. The world’s largest medical center is right across the street, and there are numerous research opportunities for undergrad that will help verify that medicine is right for you and also make you a more compelling candidate.
Couple that with less grade deflation than Princeton, and the happiest students (along with Vandy), and that is where I would have recommended D to go, if she was more certain about medical school.
In the end, Princeton dropped off her list because it was too rural. If she had not gotten in ED, her applications toRice and Vandy were ready to go.
Princeton
Rice
Vandy
I know you have been through the med school process with at least one child. Could you provide more insight into your ranking?
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They’re all fine schools.
Vandy can be a grind for premeds.
The OP doesn’t say that the 3 cost the same, so I suspect that P gave the best aid…because it gives super-aid.
Main St, which runs along Rice’s campus, has a whole bunch of great hospitals. Rice U is also known for having happy students.
I tend to agree, especially since if the OP bails from pre-med, the opportunities at Princeton are better than the other two.
I commend you for not automatically choosing Princeton just because it is the highest ranked. My daughters grandfather went to graduate school in Princeton and thought well of it as the most undergraduate focused of the ivies but he being a college professer still recommended liberal arts colleges. Daughter thought the ivies were to pretentious so wouldn’t even apply to Princeton and applied to Rice just because she liked the vib of the presenter at the info session. She ended up at rice and it really feels like a liberal arts college. People are happy, friendly and cooperative. She loves it and it’s great that you can take class outside in February. Vanderbilt I hear is very frat oriented, Princeton has frats, rice no frats . Princeton is the best of the ivies IMO. Go to owl days though that’s what sold my daughter. i don’t remember Princeton having any hospital associated with it. My daughter got a paid research job as a freshman at rice. Rice is not pretentious at all. If it were me I would cross Vanderbilt of the list though, unless you want to be in a fraternity. Every time I have been at Rice I see professors and students sitting together (outside mind you; far south) talking. Go there . Look for it. All great schools go with what feels best. Try to do overnights at least.