So, I’m waiting to hear back from:
Princeton
Stanford
Yale
Dartmouth
Upenn
And I’ve already been accepted by:
Johns Hopkins
Duke
WashU
See, I applied to these schools thinking that I’d absolutely definitely get rejected by every single one of them and maybe get lucky and get admitted to only one. Some are obviously more difficult than others, but I chose schools that I loved, each for different reasons. I never imagined I might have to choose between anything.
Obviously, I don’t know if I’ll be accepted by other schools. But I’m already feeling an unprecedented amount of stress thinking about needing to make a decision between JHU and Duke. The financial aid is the same, almost full cost covered, the rank is almost the same, etc.
Also, I know apparently I’ll visit campus and fall in love and know exactly where I want to go, but my fellow IB students know that April is when we’ll be studying more than we ever have for our exams, beginning May 1st, the deadline for choosing a school.
I feel extremely stressed. About exams, about choosing schools. I don’t feel happy at all anymore thinking of being admitted into any more of these schools because in the end I can only go to one.
I’m planning to study Neuroscience and premed. (for example, JHU is #2 in the nation for that, but I just love the community and the energy at Duke. How to choose between happiness/success/rank/people/beautiful environment/beautiful city/beautiful campus…)
If the bottom line $$ is the same and you can’t find a compelling reason to choose one over the others, pick what you perceive as “happiness.” Somehow, once you have your final list of acceptances and financial aid packages the decision may practically make itself. Don’t waste time on worry when you have such great options. There are many qualified students who don’t get admitted or can’t afford these types of schools if they do.
Pre-med at all of these places will be competitive, because they all draw hardworking students.
Wait until you have all the admissions and all of the aid offers. Talk the numbers through with whoever it is who is halping you pay for your education. If the numbers work out, it is OK to opt for Duke it you just like it best. You don’t have to choose the place with the highest ranking for any particular category.
There is stress associated with any big decision. Fortunately you have schools where there is no bad choice.
As you decide consider finances and fit (to include social, academic, anything else you want in a college such as big time sports, Greek life, any activity, research opportunities etc.). Don’t ignore gut feel in the process.
Here are some things you can do.
Get all your options.
Eliminate any unaffordable options.
3)If one stands out to you then you are decided …go right to step 6
4)If possible re-visit your top 2-3 choices for accepted students day.
5)Make a decision.
6)Buy a t-shirt and hoodie.
7)And most importantly – Never look back.
JHU, Duke, and Wash U all have tons of pre-meds (20-25% of each class). One look at any list that includes those three and Penn and you can immediately identify the poster as a pre-med.
This year’s stats:
[ul][]Duke: 346 med school applicants, ~1500 seniors
[]JHU: 401 med school applicants, ~1450 seniors
[li]WUStL: 376 med school applicants, ~1740 seniors[/ul][/li]A lot of the competition depends on your major…there are far more pre-meds in biology departments than in philosophy or history. Wash U states that 75% of its biology majors are pre-med, for example.
At least, then, what schools from my list would be the “worst” or least of the best to go to for Pre med? I don’t hear Yale or Princeton ever mentioned when it comes to pre med, but they’re still elite schools and ridiculous opportunities. Should I just cross them off? In case I did get accepted to one of them, how does one choose between a clear difference in rank?
Um, you want to go to a place where there are not an intense crush of pre-meds (or less of them). Unless you think that intense competition is a good thing, but judging by you being extremely stressed by an abundance of choices (and the IB exams), I would say it isn’t.
@warblersrule, at JHU, there is intense competition just to get a committee letter. That is, justtoreceivethechancetoapply to med school. I believe Duke also uses the committee letter system and WashU also issues a committee letter, but I don’t know if it is as competitive just to receive one at those schools.
Speaking of which, also look to see what schools issue a committee letter.
A committee letter is sort of a seal of approval, so it’s good to get one at a school that typically has 80%/90% of med school applicants getting in to med school, but it also means that if you don’t receive a committee letter from a school that issues them, you’re dead in the water and really should consider a different career because med schools won’t admit you. Contrast with a school like UMich which doesn’t issue committee letters so anyone can apply anywhere and the med school admit rate is around 50%.
The percentage of aspiring pre-meds is almost certainly understated a good amount at JHU because of that committee letter system. You should research other schools too.
I’m pretty new to CC here so it’s your choice whether or not you want to hear me out.
I was accepted to WashU last year and am currently majoring in biochem. The first science class that most freshmen pre-med students take is chemistry. Unfortunately, to weed out those that are not motivated enough, first semester chem is a total drag, and most of us that cannot handle the workload end up transferring to the business school. Even though you study our tail off, you most likely won’t get a grade you hoped for. Organic chem is even worse, so most people end up taking it during the summer at another college. Bio is full of memorization; if you can’t sit down and study frequently without distracting yourself, your grades will speak for itself. The only easy class is physics, which is mostly homework based, but still you ned to do a lot of work there as well.
Rank doesn’t really matter as much as your college gpa if you’re in the top 20. If it’s a close race among several colleges, I would choose the one where I feel would best prepare me for grad school. Of course, quality of life is also important, and WashU does a really good job of that.
Never give up hope! Your journey is just beginning
@PurpleTitan I think the stress is coming more from the fact that I didn’t expect this, and that the exams are right after the only month I have to visit these schools (ie, flying around the country for weeks when I’m supposed to be studying).
In fact I like the competition and rigor of JHU, that’s its good point in my opinion, because my major is top notch there and it will push me to be the best. I worry more about weighing that with everything else the school has to offer, especially considering that I’m not too aware of the reputatuon or rigor of pre med in the other school.
I didn’t know that about committee letters though. Thank you.
Worse for pre-med would be a school with any of these characteristics:
Significantly higher net price than your other choices.
Significantly less grade inflation compared to other schools of similar admission selectivity.
Significantly less accessible (commuting-wise) pre-med extracurricular opportunities.
Significantly more difficult to travel on short notice to medical schools you are likely to apply to (including your in-state public medical schools) for interviews.
@PurpleTitan I guess it’s highly possible that I might either hate pre med or stick with it and survive.
In that case, do you think I should choose a school that is just the best one that I’m accepted to in general so that whether or not I switch to another track, I’ll end up ok? (assuming I still work hard ofc)
Actually, yes. I’ll just choose the school I like best and forget about the rank of its pre med. Thanks again.
“In that case, do you think I should choose a school that is just the best one that I’m accepted to in general so that whether or not I switch to another track, I’ll end up ok? (assuming I still work hard ofc)”
Yes.
IMO, if you evaluate that way, of your 3 current options, Duke wins.
