U of R vs. Tufts vs. Williams

<p>Also, Williams overall acceptance rate to med schools is between 85-90% annually. In fact most top LACs and Ivies have acceptance rates to med school significantly over 70%.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.isi.org/college_guide/sample/2004/williams.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.isi.org/college_guide/sample/2004/williams.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>There were three U of Rochester applicants from the class of 2003 who went to Cornell Med School. The U of Rochester accepts quite a few of its own students into its own medical school. Raw numbers: there were about 100 applicants from U of R class of 2003 to med school and about 70 were accepted somewhere. The U of Rochester Med School accepted 24 of their own students. I don't know if that is a complete list or a partial list. It is on their web site.</p>

<p>I would probably pick Williams over the U of Rochester because of Williams' overall quality, but the U of R is a much better school than most people realize and is near the very top in some science fields. Williams is somewhat isolated and does not have an adjacent hospital. I could understand why someone might prefer U of R over Williams for pre-med. U of R probably has more opportunities for premed experiences.</p>

<p>Sure, but there is no denying Williams is better. U of R is a good school with a good program, but they aren't at the same level. My friend started Cornell in 2002.</p>

<p>Wow, rochester took 24 of its own students!?! That's one fact I did not know.</p>

<p>That is a very big plus. . . . .considering, according to Princeton Review, enrollment at the school of medicine is only 433, so about 108 a class.</p>

<p>That means U of R undergrads make up 22% of the med school. </p>

<p>Especially since UR Med. is extremely prestigious at least in upstate NY, that's really cool. </p>

<p>So, U of R acceptance into med school is not as high as Williams, but every Williams student had to be exceptionally bright to be admitted to the college, there is probably room at U of R for a few people with hi SAT scores and little work ethic (GPA) to get in. . . . .so that could lower the percentage. . . . .I think as long as you have a good program available, you can make it to med school if you put the effort in to get there.</p>

<p>I also do agree with everyone else, that Williams is a amazing school with amazing placement. . . .my chemisty teacher's daughter was a bio major there, and she had fantastic opportunites available to her upon graduation. She's currently working on her PhD at the University of Michigan. </p>

<p>Basically, I mean to say that for pre-med, I don't think you can go wrong either place. Neither place seems to be overly cut-throat, so if it means anything, I would go to either school over JHU. lol.</p>

<p>Wait a second!! Does the 24 students into Rochester Med include the 10 duel degree REM students???</p>

<p>In that case the stat is exagerated, but still good.</p>

<p>Thanks so much, guys...all these facts I did not know. Does anyone know anything about Tufts? I've met one person who went to JHU med school who's now an eye doctor who went to Tufts (the person who did my interview). My pediatrician wanted to go to Tufts, but that was the year that the bio building burned down, so she decided to go to Harvard instead (go figure).</p>

<p>Oh yeah, that brings me to something else. Williams just had a whole brand-new biology building with state-of-the-art labs built. ITS BEAUTIFUL!!!</p>

<p>I'm from Upstate NY, so I'm used to the weather, I'm not so sure about the whole thing of more than 50% being from around here, though, that could be a little too much. However, I do like the acceptance rate of their own students to their own med school.</p>

<p>I didn't apply REMS or anything else of the sort just because I wanted to keep my options open. Especially since I wasn't sure I wanted to go to med. school when I was applying to these schools.</p>

<p>Yeah, Williams does have a really beautiful campus, and the new labs are very nice. </p>

<p>Williams seems to have more of tight knit typical LAC feel to it that is unmatched anywhere else.</p>

<p>At this point, I'd say if you're accepted to all of them, just go with the setting you like the most. . . . . if you want the small LAC feel, then go with Williams. . . .if you want a small college feel with the resources of a research University (ex: graduate level courses, 3-2 MS programs ect. . . . .) then go with Rochester. . . . .and if you want the Tufts environment go there (although I don't know what the Tufts environment is, but I've only heard good things about the school)</p>

<p>It's really all about fit. . . you can do well no matter where you go. . . just take a good look at all of them. Take a stroll up the main quads, talk to some students, stay the night. . .. .then ask yourself:</p>

<p>"Can I see myself spending the next four years of my life here?"</p>

<p>The most definate yes should be your school.</p>

<p>Tufts has a sturdy reputation in medical academia and the various health professions. The undergraduate program is a solid preparation program for the trials and tribulations of the MCATs, without the same cut-throat atmosphere found at neighboring elite institutions (JHU). However, those that aren't capable drop out, while those that have what it takes continue to succeed. Be warned, the classes here are @#%@! for sciences, but they'll prepare you very well for the MCATs. Other graduate schools also recognize the strong premed program. Throughout the past few years, the acceptance to medical schools has hovered around 85-90%, but the great thing about Tufts is that there is no GPA cutoff in order to apply to medical school like some schools out there. Most elites don't practice this, but at tier 2 institutions it's more of a common practice on who they'll sign endorsement forms for? I'm not sure. Tufts also has an early medical school program for sophmores who complete a certain number of courses while managing to obtain a 3.7 GPA. Of these, 70% of applicants for the early program are interviewed, and from those 70% are accepted to the Tufts Medical school. This is an early assurance policy, and one only has to take the MCATs with no cutoff score either. You have a year to decide whether or not you wish to accept or decline their invitation, but it's definitely a relief if you ever wanted security on your future. Also, even if you don't make the early medical school program, the Tufts medical school recognizes the rigor of the undergraduate curriculum, and thus give preference to undergraduates applying to the med school. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Oh by the way, our food is delicious. Second only to Cornell's according to a survey a few years back (though for whatever reason PR doesn't recognize our food as great...)</p>

<p>Merci beaucoup. I plan to go visit in the coming months (that's if I do get into more than one).</p>

<p>snuffles--what are you majoring in? when you say the classes are "@#%@!" for science, does that mean they're really hard? How hard is it to get a 3.7 there? In high school I have nearly a 4.0, but I know that this won't be the case when I get to college. Also, do you know anything about the research opportunities for undergrads?</p>

<p>For everyone, do you know how hard it is to travel abroad as a pre-med student at each of the colleges? Is it at all possible to study abroad for a semester and still graduate in four years?</p>

<p>yeah, all these schools have decent travel abroad programs and such, and as long as you plan correctly it shouldnt be a problem...but then again, if you are coming to your junior year and you havent planned your courseload all that well, chances are going abroad will hurt you (since you're premed). Also remember you have to take the MCATs end of junior/beginning of senior year, and they may change it so you can take it at various times over the year to make it more flexible...so take that into account. Again, all three colleges should have pretty stellar programs for traveling abroad.</p>

<p>Tufts is ranked one of the best schools to go to for studying abroad, and many premeds do get it done, but it requires very careful planning (with a few limitations. You can't take a core premed class in a nonenglish speaking country). And in reference to your previous question, yes, the premed classes are very hard. I believe Tufts Medical School recently stated that they will no longer accept Harvard summer organic chemistry credits citing it as "too easy." In fact, you will find scores of students from other elite colleges such as Johns Hopkins, Northwestern and such flying over to Harvard for the summer because of the notorious grade inflation (and if you have money).</p>

<p>I am majoring in biopsychology, and a 3.7 is very difficult to attain, but the efforts are very rewarding for those who apply for the early medical program. There are many research opportunities here, just email a professor and they'll usually have stuff for you to do during the year. Also, Tufts has a research opportunity with a professor over the summer for department specific projects that are filled with grant money from the national ____ (insert foundation here). One has to go through a lengthy application procedure, but keep in mind that hundreds of applicants from all over the united states apply to these summer research programs, and Tufts prefers to give its own students the opportunities before it doles them out to other college students. Also, I think you get paid 3,000 stipend while having room and board paid for. It's quite an appealing program, if only I had time to do it haha.</p>

<p>Tufts was "ranked" number 1 in country for Study Abroad Programs.</p>

<p>If you want to major in bio and go to med school, hands down Rochester is the best choice. Not only is their med school better (can get a lot of research in at undergrad.) but you can also get a 5th year for free, can register for classes at one of the best business schools in the nation, are not bound by any cirr. requirements, can get music lessons from the best music school in the nation for free, NO TA'S!, free napster
But don't consider strength of bio program itself as both are tied.</p>

<p>I think that Rochester gives no more of an edge than any other elite institution for a bio major. Williams probably is the best of the three, though each school has a demonstrated strength in the sciences. The wall street journal lists Williams as one of the highest feeders, but you have not refuted this point, though your assumptions proved to be superficially incorrect. Best music school? I'm skeptical about that. Source?</p>

<p>Eastman school of music is the best music school in the nation and probably in the top 3 in the world
Says so by US News, Music Professionals, Music Teachers, and all other musicians with Julliard falling a close 2nd behind them</p>

<p>Over Julliard? I doubt that.
Correction: all three are tied for first. The peer assessment scores were identically 4.80.</p>

<p>Read edit..........</p>

<p>"Eastman School of Music ranks 1st
• Eastman School of Music ranks 1st in the nation for its graduate music programs "America's Best Colleges" US News and Report, 2004 "</p>

<p><a href="http://www.greaterrochesterenterprise.com/Business/Regional/Facts.aspx%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.greaterrochesterenterprise.com/Business/Regional/Facts.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Depending on what report you read, they may either have Eastman, Juliard, or Curtis as number one. . . .but Eastman is almost always ranked within the top 3, and in many aspects is ranked higher than Juliard . . .although I do not claim to be overly knowlegable about music schools.</p>

<p>Eastman has an amazing program, and beautiful concert halls. . . .where many world class musicians play, all free for U of R students.</p>

<p>I believe the Eastman saxophone ensemble .. . . ."saxology" is doing extremely well, and I know that many jazz and classical musicians come out of Eastman. </p>

<p>It is disputed, but to many Eastman is the best music school in the country.</p>

<p>I don't understand how U of R isn't on the feeder list:</p>

<p>60% of students go directly to Grad School
10% go to med school
10% go to law school
2% go to business school</p>

<p>That means only 18% stop after receiving a bachelors degree. . . . .they must be doing something right.</p>

<p>The list is for professional schools, so U or R might be sending many to Masters and PhD programs. Also, 2% to business? VERY few programs accept students directly from undergrad, and none of them are top schools.</p>