I was accepted to both UCLA as a Pre-Human Biology and Society major, Colgate University as a Molecular Biology major and UCB as a Molecular Biology major. I know that they are both well respected schools but I want to know which one had the best premed program and what the pros and cons of going to either might be (research opportunities, overall educational experience, aspects of having a social life etc.)
Thank you!
Turtle007,
You were accepted as a student at Colgate, a fully residential, top liberal arts college, and you will be expected to engage in a full range of experiences at this amazing place. That involves the Core Curriculum, a distribution of courses common to all students, a major, possibly another major or minor concentration and interdisciplinary study, and a semester away from campus (as to more than 2/3 of students currently). So the educational offering and your participation at Colgate is more than any specific major (and that major will be subject to change as well).
The setting is rural central NY state and it is often judged the most beautiful campus in the US. It’s a warm, cohesive and discrete community- and that includes the charming Village of Hamilton, home to the Inn, Bookstore, and in 2016 a magnificent fine arts center, 2 theaters and other amenities. Campus life? What appeals at colgate.edu? From my own years and as an engaged alumnus, I would emphasize our varsity, club and intramural sports and recreation programs are hugely popular and inclusive, rather special for a school of 2950 with a 9:1 faculty ratio. One thing it is not is LA.
What is your expectation of Colgate and how do you compare it to UCLA? Again, the places are radically different in so many ways. As you are planning to go for a Molecular Science major there in relation to the Pre-Med track, what is your exposure to the Health Services Advisory Group in terms of your visit to Colgate and/or exchanges with them?
No one is you- just as Whoopi Goldberg who was on campus asserted on Friday. It’s ALL up to you. This is a personal journey and I hope you make those discussions work for you with direct communications and with the source. College Confidential is anecdotal third party stuff and is hardly substantive or suitable now that you have moved to this decision time dynamic!
So… good luck with these evaluations and let us know what you decide!
Berkeley is the most respected school in your list, so if prestige is what you after, Berkeley is the top choice.
I’d scrap Colgate out, if you’re In-State at both Cal and UCLA.
Between Cal and UCLA, Cal is generally better, but I suggest you visit both campuses and decide which one you like the most.
CONGRATULATION, those are outstanding acceptances. All three are excellent schools, with stellar reputations, and with long-proven pre-med success records. However, one is a first-rate LAC in an East Coast “village,” while the others are “mega UCs” in huge California metropolitan areas. While these facts are obvious, they are also critical AND they convey a GREAT deal more than I have articulated. The vital question (finances excepted) seems to me to be which “cultural fit” best suits YOU. No one can make this decision for you and spending a couple days on each campus – living as a quasi-undergraduate – is probably the best way to ascertain your optimal “fit.”
I wouldn’t be at all concerned with the comparative academics or the med school preparation offered by Colgate, UCB, or UCLA; they will differ in “atmosphere” – more than in “content” – but ALL will be superb. Nor would I be obsessed with the comparative stature; ALL three institutions clearly have stellar reputations. However, YOUR individual “cultural fit” might make you very happy in one venue and perhaps near-miserable in another.
Thank you so much for all of your advise! I think that because of finances alone I am probably choose either Cal or UCLA, but I’m leaning towards UCLA because of the unique major that they have (Human Biology and Society) which is a small interdisciplinary major which I think will give me a well rounded education (that usually comes with a liberal arts education) at a large state school. I’m definitely going to try and visit both Cal and UCLA again to see which one is my best fit.
Thank you all again!
markham–Reading that about Colgate was extremely helpful and actually makes me so excited for college now…