<p>I’d love to hear any opinions anyone may have on my current situation. I was waitlisted for Yale, and therefore verified my acceptance to Texas A&M. </p>
<p>A&M offered me a little over $10,000 a year in scholarships to study there, and because they accept my dual credit from my high school and my AP scores for college hours, I would finish my undergraduate in three years. As well, it is in fairly close proximity to home (San Antonio, TX), friends attend there, etc.</p>
<p>I found out today that Yale took me off the waitlist and is extending me admission. What are yall’s opinions on the matter? Any insight into the pro’s and con’s of each school?</p>
<p>Other things to consider:
~The distance from my hometown/family and the location of either school (i.e. climate) does not bother me.
~I plan on going to medical school, studying to become a plastic surgeon (would a lower GPA at Yale be looked upon as worse than a 4.0 from A&M?).
~Is the courseload and subject matter difficult beyond comprehension?</p>
<p>I guess my biggest concerns are as to how each will affect my application to med school and whether, in all honestly, I deserve and can handle the intellectually intense undergraduate studies that are associated with Yale.</p>
<p>"whether, in all honestly, I deserve and can handle the intellectually intense undergraduate studies that are associated with Yale. "</p>
<p>Are you someone who would enjoy intellectual discussion at your class discussion groups? Do you enjoy interacting with astounding people, even those at 18 or19 yrs of age? Do you want access to jaw-dropping professors? Do you want ECs and a cultural scene that won’t be rivaled once you leave college, ever?</p>
<p>I gather that Yale thinks these features will entice you – that’s why they’ve invited you to attend. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Please, lets get down to the nub of it. Yale is a “badge school”. So is Havard, most of the Ivies, some other top universities and Lacs. What is meant by a badge school? Simply put,a student may get a great education, grow intellectually, emotionally and gain social intelligence, but most of all one acquires a badge that can, and very often is used to gain entry into the elite circles of “whatever” interest them. So much for meritocracy. Very often this group is neither the best or the brightest. On balance they are a great group of students, obviously, but so are other highly intelligent, and horror, horror, “well rounded students” toiling away at excellent schools, you fill in the blank. I would rather have 95, 96th 97th percentile sat scorers, well rounded students “running the world”, in responsible leadership positions in whatever field, as opposed to badge school students in a heartbeat. We all bemone a lack of leadership, in government, business, ect. Look where so many of todays "leaders went to undergrad or graduate school. Yes you guessed it, BADGE SCHOOLS. It doesn’t add up. These schools have become caricatures of themselves. What a shame.</p>
<p>lexlee: I feel your bias against “badge” holders is misplaced. I think you’re spot on that tons of super candidates for co-workers or bosses can be had from non-“badge” schools – I proudly have worked beside and for people from diverse backgrounds and college pedigrees and am exceedingly happy to do so. </p>
<p>Certainly some “badge” school alum may feel a sense of superiority that’s not really bound in reality – sure: we get that. But to just blanketly toss them out in exchange for I guess what you’d call a more “grounded” person – doesn’t seem to be the best policy either.</p>
<p>Who bemoans a lack of leadership? Straw polls and the populist voice or talk show radio? C’mon. It’s akin to anti-intellectual bias that candidate Obama rec’d during the election.</p>