University of Pittsburgh VS. Purdue University

<p>Hey guys. I really need you guys' awesome feedbacks and comments. I really need to decide which college I am going to go for my next four years or more. I got accepted to University of Pittsburgh (microbiology major) and I got accepted to Purdue University (pre-pharm major). I am not really sure if I want to be a doctor or pharmacist. But I think I am tending more on doctor. But if I go to University of Pittsburgh, I am not sure Pitt will prepare me to get into medical school. I know that I have to commit myself and try my butt off but I heard Pitt does not have great biology major. So if I go to University of Pittsburgh, I am thinking to join Honors College and if I think it is not preparing me to get into med school, I am thinking to transfer to better school like Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Washington University in St. Louis. If I go to Purdue, I am not sure if I will enjoy my life as much as being a doctor. I know it will be chilled job but I would probably not go through fast-paced jobs like doctors do. What should I do? Please help!!!!</p>

<p>I don’t know where you get the idea that Pitt does not have a good Biology major or that it won’t prepare you for med school. Pitt Biological Sciences is actually slightly higher ranked than Purdue at the grad level. Many students come to Pitt with the intention of going to med school. If you are not sure you want to be a doctor, that’s a different issue than what school you should go to.</p>

<p>Definitely Pitt. Pitt has UPMC which can give you sooo many opportunities that can help you get into medical school (like volunteering, etc.)</p>

<p>I’m with southeastmom…Pitt is one of the better schools for the sciences, ESPECIALLY Health Sciences. Like chronome said, with UPMC, there are a TON of opportunities for your pre-med requirements like volunteering or researching. To be honest, I always think of engineering when I think of Purdue…not the health sciences.</p>

<p>^ I totally agree with all of these. Pitt is a great option. Biology is strong there (especially if you join Honors College). Also, you have UPMC which gives amazing medical experiences. I live in Pittsburgh and you have a vast amount of medical facilities (many hospitals close to campus) at which you could volunteer to gain experience. I think Pitt would be a great choice!</p>

<p>A question I didn’t consider: iamthelegend, are you already in UHC? Because if so, Pitt UHC has SO much to offer incoming freshman (HOUSING HOUSING HOUSING) that make it a HUGE plus over many other schools. Also it makes it [slightly] easier to enroll in UHC classes right away (instead of having to get permission your first year for every class).</p>

<p>Aside from that, UHC also has awesome clubs and events…</p>

<p>Pitt is a stronger choice than Purdue for medical/biosciences. Pitt’s medical school is top 15 in the US so that’s a good indicator of the strength of the university in that area. Pitt’s pharmacy school is very slightly behind Purdue’s (both top 15) so Pitt gives you very good preparation no matter which track you choose.</p>

<p>Pitt, and really, you will not be better prepared to apply to med schools at any of the other private institutions that you listed either.</p>

<p>Here is a link to the NRC ratings (admittedly for the PhD program): </p>

<p>[NRC</a> Rankings Overview: Microbiology - Faculty - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“NRC Rankings Overview: Microbiology”>NRC Rankings Overview: Microbiology)</p>

<p>If you’re looking at microbiology, Pitt’s department is one of the top in the country (as high as number 2 in several categories in the NRC rankings).</p>