Tulane or some big name schools like Duke? Creative premedical scholars program?

<p>guhengshuo</p>

<p>I think there are a number of questions embedded in your post.</p>

<p>First – What do the rankings mean as far as quality of education. Tulane is an elite school, no matter how you cut it. When you get to this level even if another school is ‘more elite’, there will be relatively little difference for an individual student. Look at the specific department you’re considering and if it’s strong, the education you get will be based on your abilities and what you put into it. </p>

<p>Second – Why go to an elite school. Lots of reasons, but they basically boil down to the following 1) will the school’s reputation help me get into grad school; 2) will the school’s reputation help me get a job and 3) will my affiliation with the school help me later in my career. We could debate these forever. </p>

<p>Third – How does Tulane (or any other school) fit into my personal career life goals. This is really the most important. In your case, you say that you want to be a doctor, but have generally applied to engineering schools for immigration reasons. You’ve also indicated that in your opinion, Tulane gives you a materially greater chance of being a doctor than any other school. </p>

<p>So, it really comes down to do the perceived advantages of going to a higher ranked engineering school outweigh Tulane’s advantage of giving you the best shot of doing what you want to do in life.</p>

<p>Thanks for all you guys’ help! This thread helped me in so many ways making college decision! Now I’m over 90% sure that I’ll be going to Tulane!</p>

<p>So, I just got wait listed at harvard, cornell… Got rejected by Rice, Dartmouth, got into Miami, Tulane, UIUC, GA Tech, VA Tech, Purdue, Duke…
Time for a decision now… Anybody want to persuade me more? Haha</p>

<p>Hey, getting wait listed at Harvard and Cornell is saying something! But I don’t think I have to tell you your odds are kind of low at this point. I think you have already made up your mind. Best of luck at Tulane! You really will have a blast.</p>

<p>Bad news, well… I just got an email from Kathleen, the pre-professional advisor. And she said the creative scholar committe will meet on April 18th regarding the international student and the program. She doesn’t know the reason why they are doing so, but I’m getting nervous about the result!</p>

<p>And she emailed me back and said it’s most likely that they’ll be talking about the ensuring of finance for international students(like asking me to pay all 4 yrs of med school up front), and they shouldn’t decline the opportunity for international students during their meeting. So that’s good to know, but I’m still really nervous about their decision. I’m going to pray for them to determine me eligible for the program. Cuz I really want to go to Tulane, but if the program doesn’t work, I’m going to have to choose somewhere else.</p>

<p>Understood. It sounds like Kathleen is all over this, so I am sure you will here very quickly after the meeting. At least it is before May 1!!</p>

<p>Yeap! That’s good at least! And she’s quite confident that I would still be able to apply to the program, which makes me feel better.
I’ll be going to destination Tulane April 19th, the day after the committee make that decision. So I would know the decision by then. So nervous! haha!
And it seems like tulane really wants me to go there, cuz they just sent me an email and updated my status, gave me the highest FA allowed for international students.</p>

<p>Excellent! We will hope that it turns out exactly as you want. I also hope you get to meet Kathleen and tell her how much you appreciate all her wonderful help. It sounds like she has been incredible.</p>

<p>To correct dungaree-</p>

<p>You may NOT double major in a science and a nonscience and get in the Creative Premedical Scholars program. This has been a falsehood that has been passed on and on for whatever reason. Whoever said this was unfortunately misinformed.</p>

<p>You may double major only if they’re both nonscience. From the med school as well as Kathleen herself, unless she openly contradicts herself.</p>

<p>That ^ seems inconsistent with what I had heard. Is it possible there was confusion as to a major and a minor? You cant major in a science and minor in a non-science. You have to major in one non science. Why would they care if you also major in a science as long as you meet the requirement of majoring in a non-science?</p>

<p>I was told the same thing as LamTran. My original plan was to double major in a science and a non-science (although I didn’t want to) but, after hearing that, I decided to forget about Creative Scholars and pursue the majors that I want.</p>

<p>Good choice, gabby. That is perplexing, but if thats the rule, thats the rule. Perhaps thats why my DH also abandoned creatibve scholars, despite his gettign all teh premed courses don those first 2 years. He is now majoring (as I said earlier) in Chem E and minoring in psychology. The History major went the way of all things, as they say.</p>

<p>Kathleen told me the exact thing: no double major in any science when I asked her about doubling major in Finance and Public Health. So in order to qualify for the program, I’ll just try to meet all the requirements by taking Finance only. I’ll switch to double major in some type of science if I don’t get in the program.</p>

<p>OOps! I meant my DS, not my DH.</p>

<p>I’m heading to new Orleans today! Destination tulane tomorrow. I really hope all works out with the creative program!</p>

<p>good luck guhengshuo</p>

<p>I have a question related to Creative Scholars and decided to post here instead of creating a new thread. If I’m not mistaken, the program is non-binding in the sense that you’re not committed to attending Tulane Med School if you’re accepted. But if you decide to apply to other schools, do you forfeit your acceptance to Creative Scholars? Or can you apply to other schools and keep Tulane Med School open as an option until the end of the application cycle?</p>

<p>I just got back from Tulane, absolutely Loved it! I committed during Destination Tulane! All the students are just so happy and the accessible professors and administration really are nice! I went to talk to Kathleen Maier in person! She was sooooo helpful! She explained to me the whole process of Creative Scholars program.</p>

<p>Oliveandblue, to answer your question, many students do apply to other school, it’s non-binding so they can. But with a minimal science schedule and non-science major, it’s kinda tough to get in other med schools. Tulane makes applicants submit 2 different schedules for junior and senior year, one for if get in the program, one for if not. If u get in and wish to stay in, then u need to follow the minimal science schedule that u chose which got u in the program. So, yes, u can apply to others, but u have to stay with the schedule if u want to stay with the Tulane program. She told me last years entering med school class had 14 apply to the program, and 7 actually went (probably a few more got accepted but just went elsewhere) The stat for the class of 2013 with the program was 13/16 accepted. So it’s pretty good odds if qualified. I’m really excited for the program. It’s what drew my first attention to Tulane, and now I’m definitely going!</p>

<p>guheng: Most excellent super congratulations! I know it has been quite a process for you, so you must feel a tremendous sense of both satisfaction and relief. Enjoy an excellent career at Tulane. I can’t wait to read the announcement in about 15 years or so that you are the CEO of Sloan-Kettering, or even better the new medical complex they are just breaking ground on in New Orleans.</p>