Yale or Penn Vagelos Science Program?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
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<p>hey everyone, this is actually my first post here (after being referred here by a friend) i was just wondering if you could give me any thoughts about these two schools. i was surprisingly accepted to yale (with a “likely” letter) and i just got my acceptance package from penn with a vagelos scholars program invitation. i know many might be unfamilar with this penn program (i never heard about it until i got it), but here is a web site: <a href=“http://www.sas.upenn.edu/biochem/vspmls.html[/url]”>http://www.sas.upenn.edu/biochem/vspmls.html</a> and just for a quick overview, the program is a 4-year dual-degree/masters program in molecular life sciences with paid research after the sophomore and junior years. it looks like a pretty intense program. anyway, i was just wondering if you could give any advice or comments that you might have. i guess here is a quick run-down of the thoughts that run through my head right now.</p>

<p>distance:
i live in NJ, so Penn and Yale are more or less equidistant, so it really is not much a factor.</p>

<p>program:
obviously it seems to me that penn has invited me to an extremely strong one, and i am wondering how good yale is at the sciences (i get the sense that it seems like more of humanities school). but i am also inerested in the perspectives on science program at yale, how good is this?</p>

<p>academic interests:
well, i’m leaning right now towards the sciences. possibly an M.D.? i am also still interested a lot in the humanities/social sciences, so i think i might possibly get a more well-rounded education at yale. but is penn known more for its science that yale?</p>

<p>social scene:
from what i hear about kids i know who went to penn, i’ve heard that penn is very “cliqueish” in that you really need to try to associate with a particular group or else you get left out. i also heard there is heavy greek life there (which i would personally rather not have) at yale, i’m not exactly sure about. i still think about a stereotype of elitism, but it seems like the residential colleges are really cool.</p>

<p>residential life:
i definitely have to give the edge here to yale. again, the residential colleges seems really exciting (harry potter of course comes to mind!) but i guess it might also limit my sphere of acquaintances. i am not exactly too keen on the themed housing the penn has to offer.</p>

<p>campus:
ah yes, Philadelphia or New Haven? I’d probably take Philadelphia if it was just about the city. however, the campus at yale was simply amazing. it was probably my favorite campus (architecture and stuff) out of all the campuses i visited.</p>

<p>future potential:
if you refer to the web site for the penn program, it seems like the students get into top-flight programs, but i am sure that yale can potentially place students into similar situations as well.</p>

<p>prestige:
i know, i know, it seems shallow, but yale i think has a better “name” persay, but i’m probably not going to choose a college based solely on how nice it looks on paper, or how much it wows people.</p>

<p>i’m sorry if this is long, and i’m also sorry for the largely ignored capitalization. i appreciate any comments that you have, and i’m posting this on both boards, so i of course i am going to expect a little bias =). anyway, these are just my personal perceptions, feel free to support, qualify, or reject as you wish. thanks again.</p>

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<p>Did the invitation come as a separate letter, or inside the acceptance packet?</p>

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<p>The invitation for the Vagelos program came within the acceptance packet, but on the web site that it specifically states that enrolled students can ask to be reviewed until September.</p>

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<p>Just wondering, but what do you think got you the invitation (SAT II scores, other accomplishments, etc...), and did you apply to chemistry or biochem? Because I applied early decision to Chemistry and was wondering if I had a chance of getting it, I guess not if I haven't received it yet.</p>

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<p>You got it absolutely right about Vagelos - it's intense. If it's what you want and you can handle it, it's an awesome experience that will open just about any door for you.
BTW, residential programs at Penn are totally optional, you can just live in a normal dorm if you want to, and most people do!
FWIW, Penn isn't all <em>that</em> cliquey or <em>that</em> Greek, so I'm sure you'd be fine here, but it sounds like you might be leaning towards Yale, and I can't say I wouldn't do the same in your position.</p>

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<p>thanks lauraanne for your comments and golfer, i really don't have much by way of accomplishments, just sports, school clubs, and volunteer work. my SATII scores were 800 for math iic and 790 for chem. hope that helps at all.</p>

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<p>can someone explain the program to me?
I was invited too, but applied as an econ major. I'm not totally set on going into economics though-I enjoy the hard sciences too and my preferences may change.</p>

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<p>I got the vagelos scholar letter too, but if i do decide to matriculate to penn (i'm deciding between penn and brown) i would definitely not do the program. The reasons are 1) you basically live on campus from your sophomore year to commencement, since you do research on campus all summer ($5000 a summer) and 2) if you google it and look at the sample schedule, there is only one or MAYBE 2 non-bio or -chemistry class you can take per semester, which is, in my opinion, ridiculous. But obviously a masters in 4 years or 2 degrees or whatever is quite remarkable, i just don't think it justifies the things you have to give up to do it.</p>

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<p>Yea, i got 800 on both IIc and chem, so maybe it was something else.</p>