<p>Hey parents, I have been accepted to ND and Georgetown EA already and I am considering applying to Vandy this December. As I plan on deciding my next 4 years, I am considering what would be the best option for doing pre-med. What are your thoughts on these 3 college in terms of prestige, academic rigor, and overall quality of life? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>All excellent schools. Where do you feel at home? </p>
<p>I'd choose ND ... but I know kids at the others as well.
I like the first year tutoring that all ND students get, I like the campus, I like the community feel. I don't know the other schools, but I don't think you can go wrong with any of the three choices.</p>
<p>What are your thoughts parents?</p>
<p>most prestige definietly goes with georgetown.</p>
<p>Might I guess (by your user name) that your heart is in South Bend? Mine used to be there (literally) and it is a fabulous place. I think you would be able to get a wonderful education at any of the schools you mention, however!</p>
<p>I probably travel in the wrong circles, but in 30 years, I have never heard anyone praise Georgetown for the quality of its science disciplines.</p>
<p>cnp is correct:</p>
<p>where do you feel best. Each is completely different, Georgetown (the location, not the school), vs. South Bend (the town) vs. Nashville. Where could you maximize your gpa (#1 criteria for med schools)? Where could you maximize volunteer or research opportunities, or other EC's (#3 criteria for med school).</p>
<p>I would quibble with the earlier poster which said GT has more 'prestige'....in international relations, maybe, but other programs? NAH!</p>
<p>I'm guessing Vanderbilt would be best for pre-med but I'm not sure - don't worry about it until you get in though. </p>
<p>As for the other 2 - would you rather live in South Bend or DC?</p>
<p>Here is a long bio of a dear friend who graduated from UND and has gone on to great success in the field of cancer research. He loved UND.</p>
<p>If it helps, South Bend is ridiculous during football season, and also is absolutely dead afterwards. That is 1 thing to consider. Notre Dame could be significantly less fun after the first 2 months than the other 2 schools. Also Georgetown is by far the most expensive (it will end up costing 50,000 a year. I know this for a fact)</p>
<p>Personally, I'd go to Vandy, but hey - I had 13 years of catholic schooling (4 jesuit) before i even went to college. I loved the priests, but I sure as hell had enough of them. Theres nothing quite like the southern charm, and it's sure good to be surround by incredibly good looking girls all the time. lol a little superficial, but the 3 schools are academically equal.</p>
<p>thanks any other thoughts? What about prestige and academic rigor?</p>
<p>Vanderbilt from one who knows- I went to grad school there and my husband works there</p>
<p>Pretty girls, beautiful campus, fun city, very cosmopolitan and campus is in the city but spacious. </p>
<p>Great courses, great reputation, my first tshirt said "Harvard-Vanderbilt of the North"</p>
<p>Fabulous medical school-really first rate. Hospitals are all adjacent to the University.</p>
<p>The climate is mild most of the year. We rarely get snow but it is hot and humid in the summer.</p>
<p>Big social scene and greek life.</p>
<p>I have my prejudices and Vanderbilt overcomes my biases against schools in the South, it's that good. Mep'sMom gives a good thumbnail. </p>
<p>On the flip side, I have in-laws who have gone, and whose children have gone, to ND and color me unimpressed. Not so much with the academics, which are tolerably strong, but with a certain lack of a pliant outlook rooted in being in a very homogenous environment. E.g., it's a hard place to be non-Christian, diversity is low in other regards (4 percent black, 5 percent Asian, 8 percent Hispanic), and with respect to the student life the university is more paternalistic and claustrophobic than I would care for...others would call it "safe" or "nurturing"...you pays your money and you takes your chances. From my point of view, it's also in the boonies to the extent that I'd be looking for an exit visa after 10 days.</p>
<p>Georgetown is one of those colleges where the environment is as big a part of your education as the classroom...D.C. is a breathtaking place to be in, like NYC. However, as Mini notes, I've not heard it touted for its sciences.</p>
<p>You have three very different asymmetrical choices, imo. Good luck.</p>
<p>Georgetown is the easy choice. The area around the university is great, there are tons of internships with health policy organizations and opportunities to do research, and the social life tends to be great.</p>
<p>i had to chose between Vanderbilt and Georgetown when I was a senior. I chose Vandy because I liked the campus better and had a great time during orientation. I'm very happy with my choice.</p>
<p>Visit the schools. That's the only way you will know.</p>
<p>Your decision at this point should come down purely to quality of like, money, and other "fit" issues. All three of those schools are excellent and have very high student satisfaction. Visit all three and pick the one you like the most.</p>
<p>You have 3 great picks, so I agree to spend time at them all. For me it would be Georgetown in a heartbeat due to location. South Bend is a beautiful campus but truly freezing and in the middle of nowhere, but if you love football....don't know Vanderbilt. Pre-med courses are very basic science courses that any of these schools would have. Are you planning to major in a specific area of science - then check that out at the schools. Or, maybe you want to take a lot of liberal arts courses you won't be able to take in med school. That could make a difference, too.</p>
<p>Notre Dame isn't completely in the middle of nowhere. South Bend is a small city itself, and it is only about an hour and a half from Chicago.</p>
<p>My daughter is a happy first-year student at Vanderbilt - not pre-med. Her friends who are have found the bio and/or chem courses tough slogging - the weeding-out process is very real. She's not a science major, but my daughter had to exercise her considerable work ethic in order to do well this semester. She had several papers in her philosophy and econ classes, as well as her honors seminar. And every time I talked to her, she seemed to be studying for a test or quiz.</p>
<p>She'd tell you that the quality of life is excellent. The campus is lovely, professors so far have been interesting and responsive, lots of volunteer opportunities, etc. The neighborhood around the school is upscale on one end and quirkier on another, with neat shops and restaurants, etc. She's not much of a partier and is quite comfortable just hanging out with friends, watching DVDs and talking, most weekend nights. There is a vigorous party scene for those who want that, however.</p>
<p>ND has the strongest alumni network of the 3 by far. Also would place its grad placement into med school above the other 2. Vandy is nice but nothing outstanding. Georgetown good political science and School of foreign service but weak alumni network and giving rate. If interested in sports ND.</p>