<p>Okay, im leaning towards WashU only because they've given me a good chunk of change. But which of these schools do you believe would be best? I'll be doing pre-med but I'm considering majoring in....shhh.....philosophy. Any ideas?</p>
<p>Wash U FTW no question in my mind, especially if they gave you money......Have you visited? No comparison!</p>
<p>Wow - I can't believe you hesitate with those choices. My D and I truly disliked Boston Univ. There's no campus, terrible dorms, no guaranteed housing, high cost and too many kids. It's a bit like a state school on an urban campus, but at twice the price. Forgive my opinion, it was based only on one visit, but it was at the bottom of my D's list (she didn't bother to apply.) Perhaps it was our tour guide, the other kids on the tour, the lack of parking, the high cost of the meters, the summer heat, the rooms that didn't have enough electrical current for the students to bring their own refrigerators to their dorm room, anyway... we didn't have a good opinion.</p>
<p>Penn State vs. Wash U? Two very different schools. One is Division 1, sports-driven, BIG, sprawling, diverse and has a less-academic student body. Then there's Wash U.</p>
<p>Academically WashU is way above the other two. The campus is infinitely nicer. It is very easy to major in unrelated disciplines. And they gave you more money? I don't see where is your dilemma...</p>
<p>...Boston gave me almost a full ride as well. Plus, Boston seems like such a wonderful city. And people say that there is a stigma about WashU being for "ivy rejects." Is this true?</p>
<p>As a BU alumnus of both undergrad and grad schools there....you're kidding, right. Ignoring any financial element, WashU....period.</p>
<p>I do love BU, and Boston is a wonderful student town, but as you are interested in Philosophy and pre-med, I think Wash U is the no brainer choice here. The PNP program (look down a few threads for more info) would be perfect for you. It stands for Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology (maybe not in that order). It is driven by Philosophy folks, but is obviously an excellent pre-med vehicle. The exceptions would be if there is a particular prof you admire at BU.</p>
<p>And you gotta let this "ivy reject" thing go. In terms of admissions chances, Wash U is on par with about half the Ivies. And being a second choice for HYP is NOT an insult. Sort of like saying you'd refuse to play golf with Mickelson becuase he is second to Tiger.</p>
<p>Iriokotree, you're kidding aren't you? WashU is ranked 12th best US University, Penn State is 48th and Boston University 57th. No one ever says that BU or Penn state is for "Ivy rejects" because those schools are so far below the Ivies in terms of admissions standards. Academically this is a no-brainer, particularly if you are a pre-med. WashU's medical school is ranked #3 in the US! If being in Boston is more important to you than the caliber of the school, then there is nothing more to discuss here.</p>
<p>I am a philosophy major at WashU. There is a "philosophy department ranking" out there called The Philosophical Gourmet Report, ranks the top 50 phil departments in the US by peer review among philosophers. WashU is #39, BU is #50. What that really means I couldn't tell you, but that might help you to decide.</p>
<p>well, I also was accepted to WashU -- but I'm turning it down for Rutgers Honors (to the chagrin of about everyone I know) simply because I believe GPA is a very important factor in med school admissions. The fact of the matter is, it's hard to do well (i.e. 3.7+) at WashU than Rutgers. Plus, the scholarship at Rutgers Honors vs. no financial aid at WashU really puts things in perspective. If you are SURE you are doing Medicine -- I'd suggest Penn State if cost is a consideration. If not, then Boston U. </p>
<p>Hope that helps!</p>
<p>The Individual</p>
<p>forget WashU for a minute.</p>
<p>whats better? Penn State or BU.<br>
I’m a Finance major.</p>
<p>Interesting…</p>
<p>I have a junior double majoring in P-N-P and a foreign language at WashU who is premed WITH a gpa above 3.7. Came from a very mediocre public high school so has had to work her tail off to keep attain that gpa, but it can be done. She was val of her hs, the only NMF, and was NOT offered a “good chunk of change” by WashU, but it was her first choice.</p>
<p>I have an older child who is just starting graduate school at Penn State. For her major it was ranked #3 in the country and they offered her a great package worth @ $65,000 a year - generous stipend and tuition, insurance, and travel expenses paid.</p>
<p>Different majors and different times in the academic “careers”. </p>
<p>As noted on previous posts, these are VERY different undergrad schools. HUGE, D-I, sprawling campus recently named the #1 party school VS stately, highly academic WashU. I think the only thing even remotely close to WashU’s academics would be Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College.</p>
<p>The rankings in Philosophical Gourmet Report are for graduate programs, and have nothing to do with undergrad majors.</p>