<p>Well, but the same, WashU’s students always support each other, and no one can deny its academia is great too. Most students I know who attend WashU love the school.</p>
<p>One other worry about this college-picking-process. I have seen several mentions about schools that limit the number of med school applicants. I sure think that would stink to not make “the cut”. My son is interested in pre-med and he’s pretty strong (1550/2280) but I think pre-screening makes a program give a “false read” and tells me it’s a pretty competitive environment. Does WashU pre-screen those you apply to med school, or is it ‘open’? Does Notre Dame?</p>
<p>No, I was just saying that because these are two very different schools and atmospheres, I don’t know if my choice would be the same as your son’s choice (although it sounds like he is leaning towards Wash U as well).</p>
<p>Every kid I know who goes to Wash U is incredibly happy there. The school is beautiful, nice location (which I prefer over ND), very flexible academics, which I’m a big fan of (if you come in in Arts and Sciences, you can switch to business without going through hoops), excellent academics and a wonderful and practical pre-med advising program. I also think (and I know that I’ll get slammed here) that there is more of an openness to different ideas than you will find at ND.</p>
<p>limabeans</p>
<p>I found this link on the Wash U website <a href=“http://prehealth.wustl.edu/Documents/Handbook2010.pdf[/url]”>http://prehealth.wustl.edu/Documents/Handbook2010.pdf</a> (take a look at Appendix J, which is found right at the end). Based on the averages of the students who apply to medical school, it doesn’t appear as if Wash U is doing much pre-screening.</p>
<p>Students who considered U. Notre Dame also looked at…
Boston College
Boston University
Brown University
Clemson University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Georgetown University
Harvard College
New York University
Northwestern University
Princeton University
Stanford University
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
University of Virginia
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Washington University in St. Louis
Yale University</p>
<p>Students who considered Washington U. also looked at…
Boston College
Boston University
Brown University
Clemson University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Georgetown University
Harvard College
New York University
Northwestern University
Princeton University
Stanford University
The George Washington University
Tufts University
University of Chicago
University of Pennsylvania
University of Virginia
Vanderbilt University
Yale University</p>
<p>Any source to back this up? If not,then you’re the one who is confused. =)</p>
<p>Wow midatlmom! This information is great! </p>
<p>Now I see why the application process is confusing: so many schools / all different requirements. But I’m getting ahead of myself. (My H tells me so. He hasn’t even started college yet!)</p>
<p>lima add my vote for WashU</p>
<p>The two schools are virtually identical (academically) when it comes to the student body: </p>
<p>Notre Dame</p>
<p>Undergrad Population: 8,363
50th%-tile SAT: 1420 (M+CR)
50th%-tile ACT: 32-33</p>
<p>Wash U</p>
<p>Undergrad Population: 6,985
50th%-tile SAT: 1460 (M+CR)
50th%-tile ACT: 33</p>
<p>Source: National Center of Education Statistics (which uses the data from the Common Data Set questionnaire submitted by the individual schools).</p>
<p>Academically there is no reason to believe that one school will do a dramatically better job of preparing you for medical school.</p>
<p>As far as name recognition, there is no discussion, in the US and Worldwide ND wins by a wide margin. Whether due to football or movies like “Rudy” and “Knute Rockne, All-American”, the “brand recognition” that is Notre Dame is right up there with the NY Yankees. If you don’t think so, go to your local mall and ask 50 people if they’ve ever heard of Notre Dame vs. 50 others if they ever heard of Wash U. Outside of St. Louis and CollegeConfidential, ND will crush Wash U as far as recognition. Try that experiment in London or Hong Kong and the average respondent will think you’re talking about the University of Washington, not some small LAC in the Midwestern US. That isn’t to say that Wash U is somehow inferior, it’s a simple acknowledgement of the brand name superiority that Notre Dame has over just about every college.</p>
<p>If you think that name recognition is irrelevant or misplaced because of football then you are woefully naive about how hiring and interviewing works in the real world. Positive or negative, name recognition matters; in my experience most people whether they have an informed opinion or not, have a positive reaction to ND, that certainly helps when you’re walking into an interview. Some people will know Wash U but more will have to have Human Resources explain to them that it’s a good school; it’s just one more small hurdle to overcome, (FWIW, I once witnessed a famous CEO confuse Penn vs Penn State and think Wharton was its own separate university. It happens more than you’d like to believe).</p>
<p>The only relevant difference between the two schools is the fact that Notre Dame has a religious affiliation and whether that is something you want as part of your undergraduate experience. ND is unapologetically Catholic and sets rules accordingly, e.g. There are no coed dorms at ND and there are parietals - rules governing the times when members of the opposite sex can be in your dorm room. Some people will love and thrive in that environment others will find it excessively intrusive; only you can decide which is right for you.</p>
<p>I love how Clemson University is on the list for both WashU and Notre Dame haha</p>