Washington University St. Louis vs Ohio State University (i.e. prestige vs high GPA)?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Where should the roulette wheel land?
Greetings all CC-ers, now that all my colleges have gotten back to me, I have the difficult choice of choosing.</p>

<p>I am interested in a MD/Ph.D (combined) at Harvard Medical School because HMS has a good track record for students accepted to the Epidemic Intelligence Services (EIS), basically a training program for future 'disease detectives'.</p>

<p>I would really appreciate if experienced people would help me evaluate these institutions based on opportunities, career center support, student/faculty interaction, MCAT preparation (although that's probably in the realm of self-studying), and of utmost importance, the likelihood of a high GPA (>3.86).</p>

<p>I'm considering these schools the most because they are relatively free for me.
1. Wash U St. Louis: Biomedical Engineering/Biochemistry double major (full tuition)
2. Ohio State University: Biomedical Engineering/Biochemistry double major (full ride + stipend)
3. University of Pittsburgh: Biochemistry/Math double major, Chem minor (full tuition, competing for full scholarship soon)</p>

<p>My parents would have to strain a little to afford these colleges, but it's possible
1. Case Western Reserve University: Biomedical Engineering with Biochemistry minor
2. University of Rochester: Biochemistry</p>

<p>Unfortunately, these colleges are too expensive unless a large pot of money suddenly appears at the end of the rainbow: Duke, Penn, University of North Carolina, and Vanderbilt.</p>

<p>Please help me make my decision!!! I really want to enter the EIS (in general, 300 applicants for 80 seats, about half reserved for internationals, which I am obviously not), and I appreciate every answer!!!</p>

2

<p>You sound a bit like me, I’m also from Ohio and am deciding between WashU, Case, and OSU</p>

<p>I think it’s important to keep in mind at OSU it is a VERY large school.
In addition, the BME Department has only been added this year although the
facilities have been there for several years. I’ve heard from my sister who was
in their BS/MD Program that the honors classes are actually easier than regular classes
because profs give you more freedom with your workload. I also have another sister who goes
to Case and it’s a very small schol but it’s one of the top programs for BME.
In terms of general premed courses for Case she didn’t have too much trouble
with them and she did not take challenging courses in high school. But BME
is apparently very difficult at Case.</p>

3

<p>I guess my question is, at what point does school prestige outweigh the difficulty of the program?</p>

4

<p>Gosh! Wash U, hands down! This is a no brainer. But I must say I am biased in favor of WashU because in reality, much more envelope-pushing, state-of-the-art research gets done at Wash U in some disease areas.</p>

<p>Heck! In Neurology, Wash U beats Harvard IMO! This may upset all the uptight Ivy leaguers on CC but it’s absolutely true if you are interested in pursuing top level research in areas like Neuroscience.</p>

<p>Research exp at WashU could easily give you an edge for MSTP at HMS.</p>

<p>I suspect research in any area at WashU must be very high level… but why not take a look at both departments, their research faculty, and their research? Compare and decide. But WashU has a terrific reputation.</p>

5

Washu. There is no question which is the best school here.

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"My parents would have to strain a little to afford these colleges, but it’s possible

  1. Case Western Reserve University: Biomedical Engineering with Biochemistry minor"
  • Are you sure that Case will be expensive for you? It is very well known for great Merit scholarships for top students. My own D. got it and it would have covered all but $5k in tuition. It was many years ago, but the Case reputation for Merits, I believe is still there. D’s best friend actually graduated from Case in PPSP program and also was on very high Merit scholarship, I believe family paid something like $10k / year.

    I would not choose any expensive (for you!) UG. The MD / Ph.D is a very long road.
7

No brainer. Conserve cash for med school.

8

Closing thread. It’s 7 years old and I assume things have been resolved.