U of R vs. Tufts vs. Williams

<p>I'm a senior in high school, and I want to major in biology and then head to med school. I haven't been admitted to any of my top choices yet, but i'm in all fo they're "ranges." If I get into all three, which one would you suggest is the best? (All three being U. of Rochester, Tufts University, and Williams College)</p>

<p>Have you visited? They're very different places, geographically. Is merit scholarship money something you need/desire?</p>

<p>Williams would be pretty hard to pass up because of its selectivity and reputation. Finances aside, I would pick Williams with its outstanding overall quality and attention to undergraduates. After Williams, I would select U of Rochester for biology/pre-med despite lesser reputation than Tufts. U of Rochester has an outstanding pre-medical advising system, an affiliated medical school and outstanding hospital that is adjacent to campus, and new modern medical research building. U of R has many undergrad opportunities for pre-med volunteerism, research, and guidance through the med school application process. I confess, however, that I know less about Tufts.</p>

<p>Without a doubt Williams. I have been shocked at how many Williams grads I have encountered at top grad schools. Between these there is no comparison, Williams will give you contact with profs, its not cutthroat, it has the best reputation, and it will be the most fun.</p>

<p>Williams is the clear choice unless you don't like a small campus.</p>

<p>Visit all three. Williams is easily the best for what you want to do, but if it's not the right school for you then that shouldn't matter.</p>

<p>I agree Williams is the best, but it may not be a right fit. I know I would easily pick Tufts over Williams, and in fact, I would never go to Williams. It's really not a good fit for me. Academically, Williams, Tufts, UofR, but if other factors are important to you, definetely take them into consideration</p>

<p>Ive visited all three and I like all of them, they each have their strenghts, and they each have their disadvantages...i guess it comes down to where i'm accepted.</p>

<p>Boston's food and the dorm food at Tufts are good. However, it does get rather rainy here towards the spring. I guess sunshine is at a premium, but when it does shine, it really is beautiful :)</p>

<p>i'd choose U of R, better school than tufts, reputation wise it's also good. I dont think Williams has much of a premed, i dont know much about it just that it's a great LAC, but UR has a sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet premed.</p>

<p>I disagree. I think the Tufts premed is stronger than U of R. The academics at Tufts, especially in the sciences, are very rigorous, comparable to other elite institutions.</p>

<p>I prefer Tufts to UofR, but I think pre-med they're pretty equal</p>

<p>umm okay, snuffles, where are you getting that info from tho? U of R has a great concentration in medical sciences, and biology. They have a great Biomedical engineering building that is being built, connections to the Strong Memorial Hospital, and a really superb good med school. Its small, you get a lot of one-on-one attention from your adviser, and by senior year, many students are published from research oppurtunities.</p>

<p>U of R is known for a 1337 premed program heheh :P i heard of tufts too , but in my opinion U of R just has some great resources.</p>

<p>Pick for fit. Any of the three will be fine for pre-med so the most important thing is that you will be happy and feel comfortable where ever you end up. That happiness factor will go a long way on those long nights when you're studying for organic chemistry. :)</p>

<p>Yeah U of R is great, but Williams is much much better. Its a misconception that "good programs" really matter at the undergrad level. Overall institutional quality is the most important thing, and LACs like Williams do so well! Many of my friends at the top ten med schools weren't even bio majors, many were social sciences or majors like anthropology! Maybe between other schools ranked around U of R, its programs would stand out, but Williams is a cut above without a doubt.</p>

<p>UR by far
Williams you really don't have the research options that are available at UR. I personally think UR is way underrated compared to Tufts. The reason why Tufts is ranked better is because URs yield and admissions rate is pretty bad.
Also UR has a better med school than Tufts and with that better opportunities.</p>

<p>Actually the reason why Tufts is ranked better is because the composite undergraduate program is stronger than UR. Medical school rankings mean virtually nothing within the top 50. An MD is an MD. It's very arbitrary except for the top 10, especially since all medical schools have the same stringent requirements for admission. However, I think that Williams has the edge of all three of the choices here. Research opportunities do not make the med student - the grades and the undergraduate focus do. It's easy to forget that.</p>

<p>Research opportunites do not make the med student???</p>

<p>Then why in the world have I been told by many many many many doctors to do as much research in college as possible?</p>

<p>Lots of undergraduate research opportunities in the sciences at Williams.</p>

<p>Any current alumni from these places that are in med. school? If you are, tell me what med school, and what you thought of the pre-med programs.</p>