Wilkes Honors College Decision

Colleges and Universities A-Z Florida Atlantic University
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Background: I’m a strong high school student, looking to stay in-state, and I’m looking for 2 main things in a college: Strong Neuroscience Program + Opportunities for Research in the field, as well a strong chance of acceptance into med school, hopefully a good one (fingers crossed). I have a 1530 SAT, 4.14 GPA unweighted, and a 5.61 GPA weighted. I’ve also done a ton of extracurriculars like math competition, HOSA, history bowl, scientific research, etc.

Problem: I’m between the Wilkes Honors College @ FAU and the USF Honors Program w/ BSMD @ USF St. Petersburg.

From what my first impressions are, I’m fairly certain that the overall neuroscience program at Wilkes is better? Just from the presence of Max Planck, Scripps, and that new building they are constructing, but also just because of how so many people go there for psych/neuro. At the same time, however, USF BSMD seems to be an fairly-difficult, yet not nearly-impossible, entry into a T50 med school.

My main conundrum is how easy it is for people from Wilkes to get into strong med schools, ones that I hope I can continue doing research in while studying, and if those med schools can be potentially equal to or better than USF’s Monsani Med School of Medicine. Does anyone have any examples of people who’ve gone to better, great, or insanely good med schools, and what they’ve done and if I could be compared to them? Or if the gap in neuroscience capabilities between the two schools could justify a gap in their overall med school acceptances?

I appreciate all and any help, and if you’re willing to share any alumni from either program, if you know any, I’d appreciate it.

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Hey…Did you finally go to Wilkes? I’ve got an admit and am in a confused state about whether to join or not. I am intending to pursue BS in Neuroscience as part of the Max Planck Honors Program (MPHP) and graduate into Med School or pure Neurology. I’m sold on the MaxPlanck/Scripps/Jupiter environment but am skeptical given the University’s overall low score. My other option is PennState which is higher-ranked university but the Wilkes-MPHP is something that seems attractive. Am I being blinded by my love for Neuroscience?
A side question since you are from the state, what’s a better option between Wilkes Honors and the Schmidt College of Science?
Thanks in advance

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I’ve got accepted by the University of California San Diego (UCSD) as well. Torn between the expensive higher ranked and reputed UCSD and the Wilkes Honors Program. As a Neuroscience Major with a potential track to Med School, I’m confused between the options. Any idea what is the MedSchool acceptance rate at WHC?

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Did you end up choosing UCSD or WHC? We are getting such a divergence of information on this school that its hard to figure out. It’s either a love or hate it kind of thing. Nothing in the middle. Would love to know as my son is looking at the Neuroscience program as well but wondering how it will translate for trying to get into a good MedSchool if this place has a bad rep because of FAU’s rep as basically a party school.