Northwestern HPME vs. Princeton vs. Vanderbilt - Page 2

holas999 · 04-02-2008, 08:09 PM

I'd rank:
Northwestern (seriously, that program is amazing. If that is what you want to do, I see no reason to turn it down)
Vanderbuilt (that's a lot of money to turn down...)
Princeton (much harder to get into med school unless you plan on being at the top of the class here... which is probably going to eliminate any social life you plan on having)

Pizzagirl · 04-02-2008, 08:10 PM

Don't worry about social life at NU. Plenty to do. Also, if you haven't visited, note that the undergrad is in Evanston and the med school is in a prime downtown Chicago location with plenty to do. Check the NU threads for more.

You really can't go wrong with your choices. I think it really is NU vs Princeton-and-Vandy ... how much is the guaranteed med school and the associated stress relief worth to you? ... and then, if you decide it's not as important, then decide between P & V. I'd make that decision first, personally. Congrats whatever you decide!

As for the campuses, I don't know that they feel all that different to me (aside from the settings / surrounding cities), though I haven't been to Vandy in a while so my recollection may be hazy. I think that one falls under personal feel and preference.

carlili4190 · 04-02-2008, 08:18 PM

I'm from Chicago, and this year's winter was pretty bad and long, but it's usually not like this. During the summer, the weather is really nice especially the fact that Lake Michigan is right there....it's like having a beach! I'm not completely sure about the social life at the campus or anything like that, but Chicago always has stuff to do, and the medical school campus is in a prime location. Also, I know some people who have gone to colleges other than Northwestern in and around the city, and they always say they and their friends go to Northwestern to party. I don't think it would be dull at all. But that's just me

hitmeandmyfriend: northwestern would be nice because i wouldn't have to work to get the 4.0 or take my MCATs, so i could take more advantage of life there---i've been working my ass off, so i wanna relax>>>

You really should ask yourself whether or not you want to work just as hard, if not harder, in college as you have in high school (especially if you go to Princeton). For me, it was a no brainer to go to HPME....I'm exhausted! I can't take all the stress anymore, and I want to enjoy college and have a great social life as well. I couldn't imagine having to do high school all over again. I mean it's not like Northwestern is going to be super easy or anything like that, but it can't be as hard as going the normal route. At the same time, it IS expensive and I'm stressed about paying for it too. But I figure that it will be worth it in the end since Northwestern has such a good med school. Good luck!

hitmeandmyfriend · 04-02-2008, 08:37 PM

Each year at NU will be about 40,000 at the most...i haven't gotten my financial aid package yet....

also, do you think it would be a good idea to call and ask for more FA since i'm HPME and all? I don't wanna sound pompous like "o i'm HPME give me more money hahaha," but I feel that if i'm HPME they want me there, so maybe they'll help me out a little more financially?

holas999 · 04-02-2008, 08:39 PM

The program is so amazing itself, if they don't give you anything more, don't hold a grudge =)
It never hurts to ask though.

KittyLow · 04-02-2008, 08:50 PM

I know someone who turned down HPME @ NU to go to Dartmouth. She didn't change her mind so much for aid, but because she wasn't 100% sure she wanted to be a doctor. If you are 100% sure that's the path you want, that you couldn't possibly want to do anything else, then wait for that aid package. If, however, there is even a shadow of a doubt in your mind that things might get tough, Vandy or Princeton would be far better choices.

Here's some food for thought: My friends also told me she didn't like the whole no MCAT and minimum GPA of 3.0. When I asked her why she said the idea benefitted her and only her. As a patient, she would feel more comfortable knowing her doctor worked there butt off in undergrad, learned as much as possible in order to get into Med school/get a high score on the MCAT. She felt like she might slack off more at NU and not be inclined to learn as much or work as hard which could hurt her later on in med school and inadvertently hurt her patients later on in her career. So like I said before, be 100% sure this is what you want and that you can finance your dream.

Pizzagirl · 04-02-2008, 09:11 PM

But the HPME student is still going to learn the exact same things in med school as the student who goes on the regular 4 year plan to Northwestern's med school, no? And what they learn in med school is what they're going to use to ... and don't forget, they have residency. The 4 years of med school plus the 3-4 years of residency are where they're going to learn those skills. I think that's overthinking it, it's not "slacking" in the least, it just takes some of the pressure off so that a student can explore other areas during their undergrad career. No one can say that a student at NU undergrad is "slacking off" in the least.

Sam Lee · 04-02-2008, 09:58 PM

hitmeandmyfriend,

So in terms of money,
1. NU=Princeton, if you decide not to go to NU med school or
2. NU=120K+4yr NU med school vs Princeton=160K+4yr of med school.

So unless the med school you choose after Princeton is somehow a cheaper one (which is unlikely if you want any med school that's at least as good as NU med school), you are going to incur more debt than going to NU, assuming you are going to go to med school.

So basically, NU vs Princeton isn't a financial one.
While NU/Princeton vs Vandy is.

Bala · 04-02-2008, 10:23 PM

hitmeandmyfriend:

I'm an HPME grad who had to make a very similar decision to your own once upon a time.

1. You're right about the freedom of mind the program offers. Knowing you've been accepted to a top 20 medical school out of high school makes for much better mental health than any pre-med curriculum. And yes, it potentially makes for a lot more fun undergrad as well.

2. I think the program is actually at its best if you take an extra year option. Go do a Médecins Sans Frontières program in Africa, do research in Boston, take a second major in philosophy at NU, or just travel the world. Having the flexibility to do these things - "Priceless."

3. Undergrad social life at Northwestern is incredible with options as varied as you'll find, anywhere. Northwestern Medical School has a fantastic international reputation with a location in downtown Chicago that is hard to beat, anywhere.

4. With all this said, do NOT go to HPME if Northwestern is not where you want to be. You may find yourself forever second guessing/regretting the decision. While Princeton is not the guarantee into medical school (especially a top 20 school) it once was thanks to the reining in of grade inflation, their placement numbers remain (rightfully) among the highest in the country. Vanderbilt's numbers may be lower, but are not low. If either is the place you see yourself happiest (and wealthiest?), I'd tell you to go for it.

Sam Lee · 04-02-2008, 10:25 PM

KittyLow,

I am afriad your friend wasn't thinking straight. The philosophy of the program like this is to allow people to pursue academic fields/classes they are truly passionate about, instead of doing everything for grades. I am not saying there's no slacker in the HPME program but then one can also argue people who don't have such guarantee are inclined to take easy majors (a lot of premeds avoid engineering and opt for something easier just to get higher GPA for med school). Most of the HPMEs that I personally knew had high GPAs and many of them were BMEs (one of the tougher majors at NU).

Schools don't change the nature of a person. If you are truly dedicated, you will be serious about what you do and you don't need external pressure to make you find things meaningful to do. HPME allows people who take their academics seriously to pursue their academic interests without worrying the risk of low GPAs.

Bala · 04-02-2008, 10:34 PM

Sam and I cross posted. He is quite right. Most of us in HPME placed directly into higher level courses (including hum/SS) without concern about grading. Pre-reqs were generally waived if requested. We had a latitude academically we never would have had if we carried the pre-med monkey on our backs.

Interrestingly, as another follow-up to KittyLow's comment, due to a funky administrative requirement upon entering the med school, we had to take the MCATs even though we were in even if we scored a 0. Our median MCATs were higher, without prepping for the test, than our regular admit colleagues. The graduates I've known from HPME are scattered around the country and are, not surprisingly, disproportionately accomplished academics.

hitmeandmyfriend · 04-02-2008, 10:42 PM

Wow, i can't believe how many responses I'm getting...keep it up lol!!!

anyways, NW is a school i was considering strongly before the HPME, but i put it on the side because of cost.

now, i'm thinking, is the med-school guarantee and peace of mind worth the debt?

ANDDD

I guess it all comes down to this: is the med-school guarantee and peace of mind at NW worth more than a cheap vanderbilt or the "world-famous" undergrad experience at princeton (there's really not a place like it)?

icy9ff8 · 04-02-2008, 10:59 PM

Northwestern's HPME program is more prestigious than any Ivy League School, and certainly moreso than Vanderbilt. Three years from now, HPME will look even better if you are at Princeton or Vanderbilt. My best guess is that several hundred pre-meds at Princeton & Vanderbilt would love to have your HPME slot.

nervedoctor · 04-02-2008, 11:36 PM

Im a medical doctor and I would go to Princeton because you will get into med school if you maintain a 3.3+ average and you will have unmatched social and educational opportunities. You can make up the $$$ later if you are a surgeon.

Vandy08 · 04-02-2008, 11:45 PM

I love Vandy (and I'm from PA, which makes me want to tell you to come here even more). I would highly suggest you visit this month if you are seriously thinking about coming here--and since you were offered such a generous scholarship.

Also: check out (and perhaps ask Admissions about) our ENGAGE scholars program. You apply during your sophomore year for early acceptance to Vanderbilt Medical School and, thus, wouldn't have to take the MCAT. Vanderbilt University: ENGAGE - Early Notification of Guaranteed Admission for Graduate Education