I am a chemistry major who has been accepted to both schools and I’m having trouble deciding which one to go to. Although I know UPenn is a really, really good school (and georgia tech is really good to), it will be costing me 3x more per year than Georgia Tech. With that being said, is UPenn worth it? After college, I plan on either getting my MD or PHD in chemistry. If I go to UPenn, what if I don’t have the money left over to afford the extra years of school? BTW at tech I would do the honors program and at UPenn I will do the Vagelors Scholars Program of the Molecular Life Sciences. I really really love both schools. I just feel like if I do not go the Penn, I am missing out on a whole different level of education and prestige that can get me into better medical schools. I also feel like difficulty wise, both schools are about the same, although UPenn has a better social life. I’ve never made a decision this crucial to my life so I’m kind of scared to leave Georgia, but at the same time I don’t want to pass up the opportunity of a life time at UPenn. Oh year and I read online that the average acceptance to medical school from GT is 55% while at UPenn it is 83%… Summary: although I like both schools a lot, I feel like UPenn is better for what I want to do but it is wayyy more expensive. Has anybody else experienced this problem? What did you do? any advice would help! Thanks!
I really want to stress that I do love both schools and either one I go to I’ll be happy at, but I need to think about my future. I don’t want to skip out on UPenn b/c GT is closer to home and seems safer and is way cheaper. At the same time, I don’t want to go to UPenn if everything I could get there I could’ve got at GT for 1/3 the price.
Honestly, they are both great schools.
Have you visited both schools? Have you talked to Penn about whether there is anything they can do to reduce the cost difference and help you attend Penn?
If you had unlimited money, then I would choose Penn. However, if cost is an issue, then you should really consider GA Tech.
The average student is only modestly better at Penn, and you can get a similar education in chemistry at either school. Where Penn would really differentiate itself is if you were interested in exploring non-science /engineering subjects as a significant part of your undergraduate experience. If you wanted to double major in English or classic Latin, take some business classes, or had an interest in considering nursing, then Penn would provide a unique opportunity to take courses in a wide range of subjects at a world class level in addition to chemistry. However, that is a significant cost difference and GA Tech is an excellent opportunity.
Congratulations on having two outstanding choices.
I sent you a private message. I hope you got it!
@midoge If money isn’t a major issue i would definitely choose Penn for many reasons. Yes there is the superficial reason of prestige but past that the overall quality of undergrads it much better. Also in the fields you are interested in Penn is phenomenal and the vagelos program is super-well known in life sciences circles and very well regarded. Penn has one if the best medical schools and hospitals in the world and undergrads have easy access doing research there why helps enormously their med school applications. Also penn is known for taking one of the largest percentage of its applicant undergrads to its med school( i.e shows strong preference to penn students). Also grades are very important for med school and while Penn doesn’t have the grade inflation of other ivies such as Harvard and Yale, it has nowhere near the grade deflation Georgia tech had. Georgia tech has a reputation for being brutal with grades. Also you will have a much better social life at Penn than in georgia tech both because of penn’s social atmosphere and also because Philly is much better than atlanta. Again Penn ( and any other school really) is not worth going into debt for if you have other good alternatives, but if money isn’t a major issue i d say choose penn, you will get a better ugrad experience and more opportunities in your field of interest.
If you choose to pursue a PhD in chemistry post graduation keep in mind that most science PhD students are funded in some way for their graduate education – through grants, fellowships, “tutorial” responsibilities etc.
@midoge may I ask which school did you eventually choose and what has been your experience at the chosen one? I am at the same point this year and can’t decide. Help if anyone can? My major is chemical engineering and I want to pursue law at graduate level.
I think Georgia Tech is better for chemistry, but in the end, I’d go to the place I like best. Have you gone to both schools’ admitted student days?