k&s

OP -

If you are sure you want to be a doctor - then HPME is the way to go (I know a good. no. of people who went into the program, who turned down schools like Princeton, Stanford, Harvard, etc., and they don't regret it one bit).

As for the cost - one option is doing an MD/PHD.

And while internists, family physicians, etc. are having a more difficult time financially these days - surgeons (tho, it varies from speciality to specialty) tend to do considerably better (around mid 6 figures to as high as 7 figures).

And oh, don't worry about the social life at NU (it's as busy as you want it to be).

hitmeandmyfriend

Do you guys have any ideas about what Princeton is like socially? Is it really uptight?

I have also heard that pre-med there is very very hard, as there are a lot of pre-meds that are supperrrr competitive, and coupled with grade inflation makes it a cutthroat environment

nervedoctor

From the tone of your post, you will encourage primarily negative comments. If you really want to know both sides, ask an open ended question, for example, what are the pros and cons of Princeton social and academic life? What is life like as a pre-med at P.? (Open ended questions are critical in taking a medical history).

hitmeandmyfriend

you make an excellent point--thanks nervedoctor...btw are you a neurosurgeon by any chance?

i have also decided something--social life really depends on what you make of it, so i really shouldn't worry about that

but anyways, what are the pros and cons of Princeton social and academic life? What is life like as a pre-med at Princeton??

hawkette

It's not that students can't have a good social life at each of these colleges, but part of the answer lies in how the students enjoy themselves and what are the students themselves like and how this matches up with what you enjoy.

I think it is fair to say that you will have a strong group of peers no matter which school you attend (and none have a particularly cutthroat academic rep for areas like pre-med), but which group of students would you prefer to hang out with, go to parties with, go to sporting events with, etc? What types of activities go on on each campus and how prominent are they in the overall life of these colleges? What activities have you enjoyed in high school and, if you plan to do something similar or not in college, what's interesting on those campuses that you could get involved with? What are the respective cities like and how dependent on students on those cities to find a good time?

Furthermore, each of these colleges has changed a lot in the last decade and the historical stereotypes may not be good guides to what each campus is like today. Hopefully, you have friends who have preceded you at each campus and who can give you more insight.

08seniors08

Eating clubs at princeton are exclusive, no matter what a lot of people say. Not exclusive to upperclassmen, but as a freshman (not sure about sophmores) it is incredibly hard to get party passes to the clubs, which is where most of the fun parties happen.
The kids there ARE quite preppy too (say otherwise, but I know 2 students there now and they concur on this). It's not necessarily a horribly bad thing, but it is a bit obnoxious.
I'd choose Northwestern HPME.
But visit them. That should help.

hitmeandmyfriend

I think I'm gonna take the HPME offer unless I fall in love with Princeton or Vanderbilt

I'm going to vandy for their open house on the 18th, and I'm doing a Princeton overnight stay with somebody...unfortunately i don't know anyone at either school

midmo

I think the visits are a very good idea. I hope there is a crystal clear answer for you after the visits.

hitmeandmyfriend

So Princeton is offering $30,000 FA and northwestern is offering $10,000, with 3000 in a stafford loan...i still haven't visited Princeton yet, but how does this sway your opinions???

Vandy is now outta the picture btw

midatlmom

Okay, so Princeton will cost approximately $20,000 a year for a total of $80,000 and Northwestern will cost approximately $120,000 for 3 years, is that right?

I can't answer the financial issue ($40,000 different is not tragic, but you will also potentially have medical school costs on top of that). I can however speak to the questions about the Princeton atmosphere. Princeton is a very different school from the time that I went there (or your father/grandfather). I think that generally it is a close-knit campus, with extremely happy students. The school is quite diverse these days and the kids are very kind and not at all competitive (my daughter studies in groups and says that no one discusses grades). While there are doubtless preppy kids at Princeton, there are no more there than at many other schools, including, no doubt, Northwestern. Princeton's president is committed to making the school even more open and the school is currently in the process of building an "arts neighborhood" to bring even more cultural events to campus. Socially, while eating clubs clearly provide many of the parties, there are numerous other things going on at all times--musical groups and tons of dance and theater. And of course NYC is about 1 hour away.

As for eating clubs, I would ignore 08seniors08 (who has posted a number of semi-negative reviews of Princeton and who is I believe also a poster named holas999 who also has posted a number of negative Princeton reviews). On most nights, there are at least one or two eating club parties open to all Princeton students, including freshman. Half the clubs are sign-in, half are "bicker" and I believe that everyone who wants to join a club has been able to do so. In addition, the school is in the process of opening 4-year residential colleges to provide another social option.

Your Northwestern PLME option is very tempting (and Northwestern is a great school) and all I can suggest is to visit both schools and your answer might become clearer.

mrchipmunk90

Princeton is better and is offering more money...

hitmeandmyfriend

The problem is, our college savings of 40000 don't mature till 2009--a reason for the extra FA money this year, so next year, princeton could offer me a much worse package...do you think that is a strong possibilty?

BSMD

O.K. I joined solely so I could respond to this thread. Four of the greatest years of your life will be spent in college. The question as I see it is not whether you will regret going to Northwestern but whether you will regret not going to Princeton.
No question that a virtually sure thing to Feinberg through the HPME program gives you peace of mind, less stress with overall grades, less hassle with MCAT's and some nice flexibility through the curriculum. A fourth year abroad would be great but many seniors want to hang on campus being the BMOC's.
Northwestern is a top notch university near one of the best city's in the world with great opportunities all around.
Princeton,however, is arguably the best undergraduate school on the planet. It's allocated resources to it's students are unmatched. The experience that you would have there, despite freshman woes, grade deflation, etc.,is one that will remain part of your character and fabric the rest of your life.
You appear to be one blessed and talented individual. Yes, if you go to Princeton, you will be cursing those days of grade stress, M-school applications and MCAT prep but, your days there will be filled with excitement, wonder and awe.
You will get into a med school and be a doctor if that is what you trully commit to do. Don't forget the journey on your way there. The package that Princeton gave shows it's commitment to you because obviouslly your EFC was higher. The aid will not decrease because of the CD.
One last comment. You mentioned your father and grandfather going to Princeton. Did you ever observe their interaction regarding Princeton?
I am sure it not only brought immense pleasure to them but that it always connected them in a special way.
You won't go wrong in your decision but I needed to give my two cents. It is not elitism that separates Princeton....it is character.

DunninLA

good grief

I feel in irresistible urge to slap some sense into the last poster. As though such experiences were simply not possible at NU. ARRRGGHHH>

BSMD -- I do like that you joined to attempt to help this poster with their decision, but cannot let that dripping elitism slide!

Duck whenever someone writes "it is not elitism, it is ...... (pick a rationalized word).

Sam Lee

^To be honest, this whole thread seems to be based on such ridiculous assumption as if there's such thing called "Princeton experience" and then everything else. I agree that the experience in Princeton is unique in the sense that you can't replicate that in other schools but that's no difference in saying other schools provide unique experience too. Maybe the experience is a little "better" than other peers on average, but I can't imagine the difference is huge. I also can't imagaine a HPME would enjoy NU less than an average premed at Princeton. If that's the case, then the NU experience for regular premeds must be hellish compared to Princeton. That sounds like a BS to me.

If Princeton "experience" is so great, then why when it comes to Princeton vs Yale/Harvard/Stanford, that "experience" all of a sudden disappears or pales in the discussion? Is there Yale experience, Harvard experience, or Stanford experience too? I think this whole talk is more about prestige than the actual experience (substance) and maybe the thing that "remain part of your character and fabric the rest of your life" (post #73) is more about the "ego/vanity" than the actual experience.