nervedoctor

PS: Brown had a 7 year program when I was applying but it was very intense with summers included. Students studied all weekend starting first year which is not generally necessary for undergraduates taking 4-5 classes instead of the 6 at the combined program. In retrospect the reason I did not apply was that I needed more time for socialization and most likely
I was not mature enough to go straight through starting at age 17, but you may be ready for this.
If you do the NW combined program look into the extra year option mentioned above--operation smile may appeal to you, accomplishing cleft palate and other surgeries on underprivileged children.

hitmeandmyfriend

Lol, but nervedoctor, how hard is it to maintain that 3.3+ average? And wouldn't I need a much higher than 3.3 to get accepted into a top 20 med school like northwestern??? plus study a lot for my mcats? I must admit, i'm leaning toward NU

Also, I would DEFINITELY take that year off to do something interesting---another huggeee draw for that program

However, call me an idiot, but a big draw to Princeton is its overall aesthetic appeal--they send you a white folder, with things written in that "princeton" font with the orange and black, and the tiger silhouettes, and the invitation to the princeton day, and the personally signed admission letter...you just feel like its a special place lol

also, my grandfather and father went there, making it like a tradition sort of thing--i've been going to the school for reunions since i was three

however, my grandmother says i'd be an "effing fool" if i don't take the HPME

as you can see, i've been thinking a lottttttt lol

also, Vandy08, i checked out ENGAGE--definitely incredible, but they only take like three people into the program---hence the reason its incredible lol

patlees88

congrats on your acceptances. Frankly, I never have met anyone that I know of in person who was admitted into NU HPME program. Just to put things into perspective, yeah Pton is obviously a very prestigious school, but NU with HPME program is also a very 'special' position to be at. Last year, my h.s.'s val who scored perfect SAT and perfect SAT 2's, and who did research for 2 yrs at local university, was turned down by NU HPME while getting into MIT, Pton, and Harvard.

So, if you are dead-set on pursuing medical career, I would go to NU.

midmo

hitme, if you are as good a student as you must be to have been admitted to the NU program and Princeton, you probably will manage to be one of the "three" successful applicants to ENGAGE. The tuition reduction is significant, and given the level of debt you will accrue during medical school, I don't think you should be too quick to dismiss Vanderbilt's offer.

I know quite a few physicians in a variety of fields (college town, lots of hospitals, all their kids are in the AP classes and activities with my kids), and for the most part, they are telling their kids to take the scholarships and avoid undergraduate debt, even if it means State U. You are looking at a more attractive option than that.

I think it would be worth a visit to Nashville, at least. You need to make it a real fact-finding trip, though. Talk to people about med school admission rates for top students, get some real numbers for the ENGAGE program, look at particular majors.

EDIT: Frankly, I think you have a fighting chance to get the 75% tuition package improved to full tuition. Worth a call, in my opinion, explaining the other offers and stating that you are planning a fact-finding visit.

Good luck.

nervedoctor

If you do chose Princeton and still want to go to medical school in 4 years then you will know that you made the right career choice. I have a theory, not original however consistent, that if you put off something that you desire, and still want it later, you will be more satisfied in the long run.
Regarding the added value of going to your dream school, my friends and medical collegues still talk about their IVY league days 20+ years after graduation and keep in touch with undergrad friends. The family tradition will also be there for your children.

In terms of the GPA I would take a couple of courses each semester that you enjoy, fulfill some requirement, are less time consuming for you (for example calculus again if you took it in high school, philosophy and religion, languages were easy for me, as well as psychology and biology). I am willing to bet that even a 3.0 and decent MCAT scores would get you into a reasonable medical school and then you could do your residency at a prestigious hospital.

nervedoctor

Don't want to prejudice you because I turned down Vanderbilt, but I would consider full FA offer there with promise of ENGAGE
program.

nervedoctor

This is my final post on this thread, primarily to allay any confusion caused by my previous comments. In order to know oneself, it is important to ask:-
Are you a risk taker? If not do the Northwestern HPME program. If you are willing to take a risk, see what the best FA situation you can pursue at all 3 places. If you get Vandy for free take it. If not still consider Princeton because:

5-yr med school admission data for Princeton: 92% get into med school.
EVEN IF YOU WANT TO DO RESEARCH (OR BE SUPER SUCCESSFUL)
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO A TOP 20 MED SCHOOL.
If you can't accept a lesser med school even though you can still do your residency/fellowship at a top place then take HPME.

http://web.princeton.edu/sites/hpa/h...dmit_stats.pdf

mjl3

Nervedoctor,
For a more fair assessment of the risk, it would be better to know the percentage of Princeton students who start of as premeds as freshmen and get accepted to med schools after four years. I suspect this number is much lower than 92%. As many have described in this forum, it is difficult being a premed. There is a natural weeding-out process and a high percentage of students do drop out. For instance, if 50% of students drop out from being premed, the admission rate is 0.5*0.92 = 46%. If 2/3 drop out (not inconceivable), that percent goes down to 31%.

hitmeandmyfriend

Regarding Princeton, I'm not sure if it really is like my DREAM school. I like the place, but i just feel that the overall competitive nature of all college applications has made it somewhat intense and maybe not as fun for people who went there 20+ years ago.

The only thing that keeps me from NW is money--is $200,000 debt really hard to get paid off, especially if working as a surgeon? Like to me, I would guess this is a common problem for many doctors

Thanks everyone!!!!



Also, MIDMO, how do you think I should go about asking for more money? Just say, "hey, plus the 75% scholarship, do you think I could have some more, since I got into schools A, B, and C?" Lol, I'm not really sure how one does that....

TheOC89

Go Vandy. Its pretty much paid for and has the best social life of the three. The girls are gorgeous, the students are very down-to-earth, and everyone has fun. Enjoy football tailgating, go crazy during March Madness, and take your new Vandy girlfriend out to a nice restaurant.

You are clearly very intelligent and will do well wherever you go. Just remember, happiness in life is journey not a destination.

DunninLA

OP --

Most of the stress that you have experienced the past two years in the great competition for selective colleges has been unnecessary. We have created a system that robs kids fo their childhood.

You now have a means to reduce stress for the next four years, and the freedom to explore academically in ways that you would not be able to with the back of mind thought-- "what if this really tough course hurts my gpa and chances to med school?"

Grab the NU offer and do well in the classroom because you enjoy learning, not because you must perform to please med school adcoms.

Regarding Vandy, I think your social life will be better at NU because there, with med school admissions behind you, you have the freedom that comes from a relaxed mental state. People will be attracted to your composure and confidence. You'll have a blast.

Sam Lee

hitmeandmyfriend,

i am not sure we quite get the whole picture as far as the cost goes.

for vandy, what's the cost per year after that "75% scholarship"? it seems like it's been treated as "free" in the discussion but i am curious what that number is actually.

assuming you will get into med school and your med school after vandy/princeton cost the same as northwestern med school (i think that's a more fair way to compare the cost), what's the total cost for each undergrad (remember for NU, it's 3 years only)?

icy9ff8

It would be interesting to auction off your three options on e-bay. We know the value of the Vandy package, but it would be interesting to see what value pre-med students with qualifying statistics would be willing to pay for Northwestern' HPME admission & Princeton's offer of admission. If rarity is a factor, then Northwestern's HPME Program should generate significantly higher bids.

hitmeandmyfriend

Vandy would come down to 16,000 first year, plus about 20,000 for each year after (its 75% tuition, guess I forgot to clarify)

So Vandy would be $76,000 total
Princeton would be 35,000 times 4 = $140,000
Northwestern's FA hasn't come out yet, but since our EFC is 41,000 I'm thinkin at the worst it would be 41,000 times 3 = $123,000 (hopefully lower)

I just keep thinking tho, the Vandy social life/location and Princeton prestige prices come with added stress to compete for grades without the freedom to pursue what I want academically, and with the added stress of taking the MCATs---see, I do stress easily about things like that, and neither Princeton or Vandy has grade inflation, quite the opposite actually

mahavir10

I would personally suggest that you go to princeton, because if you're able to get into HPME (which is amazing by the way...congrats!) then you'll do fine at princeton!