Rochester vs. Boston College vs. Tulane -- Please Help!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Rochester
1

<p>Hey guys!</p>

<p>I've been accepted into three great schools and would love any insight as to why U of R would be a good choice for me.</p>

<p>Obviously these schools are very different, but I'd mainly like to focus on academics...</p>

<p>About me:
I am an aspiring pre-med interested in doing something with cultural studies and global health during my undergraduate years (my first choice major was anthropology which I would either coupled with Health, Behavior, and Society from Rochester or Global and Community health from Tulane. BC doesn't offer anthropology or public health really...which is kind of a bummer...but they do offer international studies and other stuff which is kinda similar) </p>

<p>So, here's what I want to know:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I know Rochester has a program which allows you to apply early to Rochester's med school (which is definitely something I'm planning on doing...but I would probably also apply to other med schools..). Assuming that I do well in the classroom, research, and remain very involved in the Rochester community, would I have a good chance at getting accepted early or is it just SUPER competitive?</p></li>
<li><p>Are there many opportunities in my areas of interest to do research (I really want to do a lot of research, but I know that Rochester's anthropology is (good but) small--not just the "help professor run routine tests in lab because there's no funding for anthropology/cool projects going on"...but more of either being able to run with an idea or jump on to a really cool project (preferably hands-on..) either way, I want this research to "knock the socks off" my med school application)?</p></li>
<li><p>I know that all three colleges would provide me with a rock-solid preparation for the MCATs, opportunities for leadership/clubs/volunteer experience, but how can Rochester get me into med school (whether it be Rochester's med school or somewhere else..) "better" than my other two options?</p></li>
<li><p>Anything else? Other insights would be great!</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Oh, and in your responses, please focus on academics more than finances, but do note that out of all three options, it will be about the same cost for me to attend all of these schools...</p>

2

<p>UR is a great research school, and I believe it has strong academic.</p>

3

<p>I’ll probably be attending U of R next year (unless I can get off the Duke/Davidson waitlists) and even though I don’t have any personal knowledge, I think I can answer your question. I live 20 minutes from U of R so I know a decent bit about it.</p>

<p>U of R is a pre-med haven. I don’t think I want to go pre-med, but I know that anything medical related at U of R is top notch. I personally know someone that turned down Hopkins to go to U of R because they thought they’d get the same medical opportunities without the cut-throat competition at Hopkins. Strong Hospital/URMC is walking distance from campus and its one of the top hospitals in the NE. U of R’s med school is better than the other two and this will afford you alot of opportunities to get internships/ participate in research. What really distinguishes U of R from the other two, however, is intimacy. Med school aside, at neither Tulane or BC would you have the same access to your professors as you would at U of R. Of all the campuses I’ve visited, U of R put the greatest emphasis on undergraduate research, in every academic discipline. At BC or Tulane, only the creme of the crop will be able to participate in research with professors.I’m not sure if you’ve visited campus, but U of R publishes its “Journal of Undergraduate Research” several times per year (maybe monthly) where students submit independent research projects. I’ve read a few, and they are definitely the real deal. Alot of undergrads do independent research projects that they get to defend in the real world. When I visited, someone talked about how they were in San Diego presenting their Research project to the EPA; they were an environmental science major. Undergraduate Research at U of R is not the dirty work you’d see at a larger institution. </p>

<p>I don’t know anything specific about the Anthropology department, but I do know that U of R has alot of interdisciplinary programs that are really down your ally. There’s actually a Medical Anthropology minor, something I’ve never even heard of at the undergraduate level anywhere else. The “Public-Health” majors are really popular and the interdisciplinary way through which they tackle health related problems is really interesting. I’d definitely email a Public Health and/or Anthro professor on the types of research they’re working on and how you can get involved.</p>

<p>As for your first question about early acceptance into U of R Med School, to the best of my knowledge, that was only something you applied for in High School. It is very competitive and the people from my school that got accepted to it were also accepted to Harvard, Yale, Williams, Princeton, Stanford, and Dartmouth.</p>

<p>Rochester is not a boring city, but its not Boston or New Orleans. I’m sure you’ll have a fun time if you go there, but it will definitely be a different experience socially. I don’t think this should be a huge selling point though, especially since Rochester is similarly ranked academically to the others and its not like there’s nothing to do in the city. Honestly, I couldn’t see Boston or New Orleans offering you too much more from a career stand point than Rochester, especially since you are interested in medicine, as apposed to something like business.</p>

4

<p>hey, thanks for the great insight! Good luck with Duke and Davidson!</p>

5

<p>I live near BC. Totally personal opinion: it has a somewhat inflated view of itself because it plays big-time sports and because it is the main Catholic school in the most heavily Catholic city and state. That said, it’s a perfectly good school though not I believe from exposure on a par with Rochester. </p>

<p>If you actually know your interest, you should go where they have that interest.</p>