<p>Hey!
Just want to first say thanks for at least looking at this thread, even if you don't comment. My problem is that I just waited to long to decide. I'll take info from this thread with a grain of salt , but I would just like your opinion if you have one on what you would do if you were put into my situation.</p>
<p>I'm an african female from the south (Texas). I come from modest means. My life goal is to become a doctor and no mattter how hard it is.. how much I cry... or how bad it gets... nothing is going to stop from being a doctor, even if that means I have to reapply after graduationg from college.</p>
<p>I want to major in either organismal biology or biochemistry). But I also think that I would like to major in international policy or eceonomics. </p>
<p>I believe that I would be considered an average student at all three of these schools, but I work hard. </p>
<p>Money is not an issue b/c of financial aid , thankfully.
I visiteed all three schools.
Rice was fun. I went to two classes. One on human sexuality which was slightly boring and another on voting theory which was really good. </p>
<p>Wash U: GREAT... but I didnt really mingle with the entire student body because I went to the multicultural weekend. </p>
<p>Harvard: Just came back and loved it. I love the weather and the cool people I met there and I have a sibling there.</p>
<p>I want to go to a place that offers research oppurtunites, discussion in classes , flexibility, and school pride. I want to go to a school that is politically active. </p>
<p>I know that TF's normally teach classes at Harvard but I'm willing to make an extra effort to gain a connection with any and all the teachers I have not simply for reccommendations for med school , but because I really have a lust for learning. </p>
<p>I also want a place with great pre-med and graduate school advising.</p>
<p>If money is not an issue and you loved Harvard when you visited, there is just no question that you should go there. I will admit my bias (I'm an alum and my son is a junior there now), but Harvard offers an array of opportunities and a student body that Rice and Wash U just can't match. I really don't mean this as a knock on Rice or Wash U, both of which are terrific schools, but Harvard is something special. The one caveat is that it's not a place where you'll get a lot of handholding, but if you're someone who is proactive about reaching out for opportunities, there are basically no limits. </p>
<p>Also, TF's don't teach classes at Harvard - they teach sections, which are designed to supplement the class. And while there are a number of large classes (particularly the intro classes), there are also a huge number of small classes, including freshman seminars which are typically taught by senior faculty from throughout the university, are open only to freshmen, and are limited in enrollment to 12 students. My son has had at least one class with enrollment below 20 every semester he's been there, and most semesters has had two under 20 (and has had a few under 10). He's developed good relationships with a number of professors, who are leaders in their field, and has had the opportunity to work closely with them on some pretty cool projects.</p>
<p>In terms of admission to graduate school/med school, the Wall Street Journal and other reports indicate that Harvard's placement record is better than any other school in the country, so I don't think you can go wrong there.</p>
<p>Since you have a sibling at Harvard, and you are willing to put in the effort to meet with professors, and understand the large sizes of some introductory courses, I vote you take Harvard. Great resources, diverse student body, great town. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience a new culture and geography. Transportation is pretty direct--you can fly into Logan, take the T straight to Cambridge.</p>
<p>Remember the weather isn't always spring-like. </p>
<p>Harvard does have a good record for med-school placement, and if you seek it, there is great advising.</p>
<p>Seems like a no brainer to me....Harvard. If for some reason you disliked Harvard then it could be another story, but you seem to like it and it's clearly the most prestigious/will provide the most opportunities in most cases. Wash U does have a good pre-med program, but, I'm sorry, it's not even close to Harvard's. Harvard students disproportionately get into the top med, business, and law schools every year.</p>
<p>She says that Harvard's great in resources but hard on students : " doesn't hold your hand". She thinks that I should not do pre-med at Harvard cause it would be too hard. She has blockmates that used to be pre-med that have since then dropped. This is ultimately where my conflict arises.</p>
<p>Pre-med is hard everywhere. I think it's actually pretty hard to predict how one will do in those courses until you try. It's true that the weather won't always be as nice as it can be in April, but I love fall in New England and I love snow. You'll get both.</p>
<p>Pre-meds drop out at every college! Organic chemistry is the weed-out course everywhere, and those who are weeded out tend to be pre-meds (as opposed to chemistry majors). Or they decide in college that they would prefer to major in something else (from classics to East Asian studies, to government...) One of my young friends who attended Brown as a pre-med told me that by the end of freshman year 2/3 of the premeds had dropped out.</p>
<p>It is true that Harvard does not hold your hand. But from what I understand, there is a premed advisor in every House. And you can cultivate close relationships with some profs. You just need to drop into their office hours and shoot the breeze for a few minutes (something that my S took some time to figure out). One of S's friends has just lined up a summer job with one of Harvard's super-stars.</p>
<p>You can major in whatever you like and still be pre-med! In fact, you might be a better doctor that way. There are many roads to Rome, and you can always take the extra courses in a post-bac if absolutely necessary. (Plenty of kids work in Boston, and take pre-med courses at Harvard extention.) Live you life while you can, enjoy your youth, major in something you love, and then get on the professional train. </p>
<p>I say Harvard.</p>
<p>Maybe you will meet and be friends with my d, who is attending this fall.....</p>
<p>Harvard.
But what do you expect? This is a Harvard forum. I hope you're doing this on the rice and washu forums too to get different perspectives</p>