<p>I won the Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship at UC Berkeley. I need a lot of financial aid, so Berkeley will cover all my undergraduate expenses under this scholarship. However, in order to maintain this scholarship, I must have a certain GPA, and I can't transfer to another school (if I found Berkeley too difficult, I can't go to UCLA, etc. to lessen the load slightly). </p>
<p>Vanderbilt is also willing to cover all of my expenses under a financial- aid scholarship rather than a merit- based one. Going to Vanderbilt is less risky. then. </p>
<p>I want to take advantage of the UC Berkeley scholarship. I like Berkeley's environment, and I like how the school is based more on independent research than constant examinations. Vanderbilt is closer to my home (I'm in Georgia). If I go to Berkeley, my mom will actually move to an apartment nearby. I have friends who go to Vanderbilt already. unlike Berkeley.</p>
<p>I want to study on the pre- med track, but specifically, I want to major in Biology with a second major (or a double minor) in topics such as History, Philosophy, or Anthropology. </p>
<p>I want to go through a pre- med program that will simply get me through the MCATs with as much ease as possible. I know it's impossible to avoid cut- throat competition, but I want to keep the competition to an absolute minimal. </p>
<p>Also, I'm more of the humanitarian- type. I want to go to a university where I can start humanitarian projects on my own. </p>
<p>So what do you guys think? Vandy or Berkeley?</p>
<p>? Who is telling you that Berkeley is more about independent research than examinations, especially as compared to a private school like Vanderbilt?</p>
<p>No program “will simply get me through the MCATs”, you will have to study very hard for it, no matter where you go, including all top UG schools in a country.</p>
<p>As you can see, I’m really clueless about what college I should choose. I’ve done research, and I still can’t figure out which one is best for me, and a lot of my assumptions are based on what I’ve hard. I know both schools are very difficult for pre- med; I just want to avoid unnecessary competition.</p>
<p>Yeah, Berkeley is quite possibly the most competitive school in the nation. If that’s your goal then you certainly can’t go <em>there</em>.</p>
<p>Are you certain that your scholarships at Berkeley are covering everything?</p>
<p>What exactly is in your aid/scholarship package? you’re OOS so I’m concerned that you will have uncovered expenses there. Is your mom moving to get you instate rates for soph year?</p>
<p>VAndy is more likely to cover everything without loans. What is in that package?</p>
<p>Did you visit? Did you talk to current pre-med? You will learn very little thru Research/read about in regard to what is meanningful to you as a person. Your personal comfort with the place is the most important criteria. You will compete with other everywhere, including places that you would not imagine being competitive. As I have mentioned before, some of my D’s work (and few others in her class) was stolen. She needed to start all over. You need certain attitude, think positive no matter what. Yes, D. had more chances to do the work faster and better, she has learned more and never was too craby about experience.</p>
<p>*want to go through a pre- med program that will simply get me through the MCATs with as much ease as possible. I know it’s impossible to avoid cut- throat competition, but I want to keep the competition to an absolute minimal. *</p>
<p>Then, that eliminates Berkeley.</p>