I’m planning on majoring in neuroscience and going pre-med, and am currently choosing between University of Michigan with no financial aid, Case Western with a $36,000/yr scholarship, and Villanova with a $43,0000/yr scholarship (tuition exchange and covers room/board). Though Villanova clearly gave me the most money, I visited it recently and got the impression that going pre-med is fairly uncommon and they have little medical research, as when I visited their chemistry lab they said multiple times they do not focus heavily on such research. Additionally, when inquiring about opportunities for interning or shadowing at hospitals, they stated “there are a few down the street”, also making me feel as if pre-med is not well provided for and it is perhaps more difficult to build a competitive medical school application than at UMich or CWRU. Am I misguided with this perception, and which school would be the best to prepare me for med school?
Son had a 32 ACT, 4.5 weighted GPA. Similar VU experience, not a lot of positive comments. Despite this, applied EA, given Regular Decision, and then waitlisted. Not interested in the waitlist, he has much better choices, at much better $. Perhaps VU has final four fever?
Not interested in the med school track, but visited CWU as well, I would believe it would be a much better choice…it seemed like a kind of nerdy school, if you are OK with that…
Hi! Not sure if this is too late but I am actually premed at Villanova right now. I don’t know where you heard that premed isn’t a common track here, but that is very misleading. A majority of the science majors here are prehealth and out of those, many are premed. We also have several clubs and volunteer programs that can get you more involved in the medical field. If you look at statistics, VU students have a high success rate of entering medical school so I would definitely highly consider going here as it really is a great community that will feel like home the moment you step foot on campus!
@jasejacc Freshman on the premed track usually take
Gen Bio 1&2 with lab
Gen Chem 1&2 with lab
Biocalculus/Biostatistics (one each semester)
Theology/Philosophy
Ancients/Moderns (Augustinian seminar classes)
Other options in place of some of these (usually a math) would be Psychology or Sociology
Also agree that premed/pre-health is a super common track here. Probably one of the most competitive liberal arts majors. Was the person you were talking to a pre-med advisor?
I don’t understand how anything @EdelweissOne said was helpful. Lots of sour grapes and a gratuitous swipe at the school? If your son was waitlisted, you didn’t receive a FA package. So how do you know there was better money to be had? Villanova is a better deal for OP.
OP asked about pre-med; you said there was no interest. Sounds like you treated it as a safety. Lots of folks learning about that strategy the hard way.
bump^^ I just committed but am still nervous Villanova will not provide me with as much as UM or Case would have and I would really appreciate some more evidence to the contrary. It seems as though VU is known only for business and basketball
As a computer science major I get what you mean by nova being a “business and basketball” school, but I can assure you that you will get a lot out of the programs here if you make an effort to. College is different then high school because you have to seek out opportunities. Its intimidating at first but get to know your professors, go to office hours, google things you are curious about. It will go a long way I promise. The staff is amazing and everyone wants you to succeed.