I’m blessed enough to be admitted to Princeton and Brown (intended for Molecular Biology) and UPenn’s Life Sciences and Management Program @ Wharton. However, I’m facing a very difficult decision in deciding which program would be better for premed. I’m especially concerned about Princeton’s grade deflation - people say its not that significant as it was in the past, but many upperclassmen have told me while it’s possible to get a good GPA, it will take a toll on your mental health and social life. This really worries me. As for Penn, I’m really interested in the intersection of medicine and entrepreneurship, especially in bringing lab innovations into the real world (working in a stem cell research lab in high school has really made me excited about regenerative medicine and where it’s taking us), but I’m concerned a focus on business and the dual degree won’t allow me to fulfill my med school prerequisites. I know in both situations I will have access to top notch research opportunities (LSM guarantees both a STEM research and business/finance internship, while Princeton’s senior/junior thesis guarantees work with amazing researchers on campus). In terms of aid, I received similar aid packages from both schools, so money is not a factor in my decision. I’m not too well-informed on the specific research opportunities offered by Brown but please feel free to let me know, although, I’ve heard it’s a great choice for premed, especially with grade inflation that rivals Harvard’s. Where do you think I should commit to do the best in premed?
I have heard that pre-meds at Princeton are competing with kids that are interested in just the bio or just the chem, basically grad school bound kids, in whatever the subject at hand is. Hence grades are harder to come by if you are not fundamentally passionate yourself at these subjects, and are merely doing these courses to fulfill the pre-med requirements. Of course this might be an issue at UPenn as well. I don’t think there is grade deflation at Princeton. By the same token, there isn’t grade inflation either as there might exist at other colleges. You can query and lookup average GPA by college: The Average GPAs at Every Ivy League University - RippleMatch
My $.02 is that LSM at Penn is not comparable to the other two options. It’s special. LSM is a more structured dual degree between Wharton and the College. If you change your mind about med school, you’ll have a Wharton degree. If you proceed with med school, this may set you apart. Wharton only has ~525 students per class, BTW, and they are the special students on campus with access to resources the other Penn students don’t.
If you’re in the pre-med space at any of these places, you’ll be competing with people (like myself) who went into a PhD program.
As to grade inflation, Harvard and Brown are legendary. Not so for Penn and Princeton although there are some soft Wharton courses.
Would you rather see the Beatles, Stones or The Who? This is what you worked so hard for and all three win…big.
Seems you are most passionate about Penn. you can work with an advisor, even b4 May 1, to determine how to make your path work.
But the ‘names’ of the other are pulling you.
Go with your heart. If you are interested in med school later….and most who intend won’t get there…but if u want it you’ll bust tail like in hs and get a great mcat. And be fine.
Yeah I would agree, I LOVE the other schools, but the main thing drawing me towards Princeton is its prestige among the Ivy’s and internationally, and what draws me to Brown is its grade inflation. My family and students say I was selected to attend these schools because AO’s believe I could thrive there/handle the rigour, but I’m just worried about grade deflation. Any suggestions?
Your family isn’t living there four years day after day. You are.
You have a clear winner in what you wrote.
My suggestion is you do what you want to do - and Penn’s name is equally great worldwide - and I wouldn’t worry about grades. You think Penn isn’t placing kids into med school?
C’mon.