<p>I posted this in the Georgetown forum as well, but I want input from both sides since I know it will be biased according to forum:</p>
<p>If I attend USC, I am going to major in biology and possibly minor in biotechnology. If I go to Georgetown, I would major in Biology of Global Health. The plan as of now is to go to medical school, but what I really want to do as a career is cancer research, rather than clinical practice. Because of this, I am not sure if I am going to get my MD for sure or if I am just going to go for a PhD. I am also interested in global health and disease, and possibly incorporating research on an international level. However, I am not sure enough of this interest to use it as a weight for my college choice (because if I did, I know the obvious choice would be Gtown).</p>
<p>USC: Love the location, weather, school spirit, the fabulous alumni network, the amazing international diversity (12% of incoming class is internationl!) and that undergraduates can get involved in the medical research at the Keck School of Medicine. I have relatives in LA, so I also like that I would be closer to my family. While USC did used to have somewhat of a party school reputation, it is growing in prestige every year and it is getting more and more difficult to get in. Currently it is ranked #26 in the nation by USNWR, and it is ranked as one of the top up-and-coming schools; many people have told me that in a few years, a degree from USC will be even more valuable. The things I don't like about USC are that I have heard the curve in the pre-med courses make it difficult to succeed, the classes can be large (though I am trying to get into an honors program that would make them smaller), and mainly I am worried that it still largely holds the stigma of its old reputation. I have been told by my counselor and teachers that USC is a great school (and they are proud that I got in!) and that among academia it is known for its academic excellence, but among those who are not in the know it is still regarded somewhat negatively. Also, I am not sure if I want to stay on the west coast, so I'm worried that my degree won't hold as much weight on the east coast. USC has a huge endowment, more than Georgetown, so this could help get me more opportunities funding) as far as research goes.</p>
<p>Georgetown: D.C. is obviously a great location, though the weather won't be as nice as it is in LA. Obviously Georgetown is a great school academically, and the biology of global health major is particularly interesting to me. Since I am from CT, the fact that Gtown is on the east coast is appealing since I may not want to stay on the west coast for the rest of my life. Georgetown is also currently trying to expand its biology program, and is building a new science building that should be completed by 2011. However, I have heard that Georgetown has rather cookie-cutter approach to education, and that it doesn't encourage exploring on a deeper level. Also, since I am not Catholic, I am worried that I will not like the Jesuit denomination of the school. My teacher who went to BC (also a Jesuit school) said that sometimes the administration of Jesuit schools can be frustrating to non-Catholics. Georgetown is #23 in USNWR.</p>
<p>Both are very good internationally--I have spoken to some friends overseas who have told me that USC and Georgetown are both well known and are considered a level below the Ivies, Stanford, Duke, and Northwestern. They say that USC is perhaps a little better known, but obviously Georgetown is famous for its international relations.</p>
<p>Any input? I am a very good student, and while I want to have a social life I am not going to be one of those 24/7 partiers. The most important thing for me is getting into a prestigious medical school (should I decide to go that route) and being in an environment conducive to both learning and growing as an individual. I come from a very homogeneous little town in CT and want to branch out in college--I want to experience greater diversity. And when I say diversity, I DON'T mean just skin color. I mean diversity of thought. It seems like in my town, everyone is of the same mindset and it can get so tiring. Though, since both schools are pretty diverse, I don't think I would have a problem at either in that respect.</p>