Helping son think through how to evaluate choices. All schools were chosen initially based on intended major of ecology/evolutionary bio, with the potential to minor in CS; wants a diverse, urban environment, ability to do research as an undergraduate. He also loves humanities and wants opportunity to study some philosophy. For his age he has substantial knowledge through SciOlympiad in H2O quality, aquifers, hydrogeo, etc. He is currently accepted at MIT, Columbia, UChicago with one school still to come. Comparing aid, MIT and Columbia would stretch us, while UChi would not. I can see him both going the hard science career (which suggests MIT), or perhaps science writing or college prof. Our current thought is to have him try to talk with a few PhD academics to see how they’d view him as a candidate for grad school coming out of these schools. Any other advice?
I suggestyou have him wait until his final admissions decision comes in, and then start asking questions.
As I’m sure you know Chicago and Columbia both have the “core” which means that there are a lot of required liberal arts classes that he is going to have to take. Those usually end up taking up the first two years of classes .MIT has a lot of required classes that are more heavily STEM oriented.
And the intensity of classes at MIT is also known to be more grueling tha at Chicago for Columbia
Chicago does have a reputation as being the place where educators are taught.
Has he visited all three colleges?
One comment about becoming a scientist or college professor – the school where he gets his PhD is MUCH more important than where he gets his undergraduate degree. So if money is an issue I’d say go for the schoolwhere you get the most bang for your buck.
DS was also accepted at Chicago 2 o Ivy League colleges and lots of other elite colleges. His intended major was always geophysics.
he ended up going to a college where he received a full merit scholarship and is now studying for his PhD at Caltech. He also wants to go into academia.
Your son has no bad choices at this point. I suggest you wait until all the results are in and then see which college is the least expensive
I have an uncle who studied for PhD at and also became professor of geology at Caltech. A brother earned BS and PhD in physics there. Caltech is a fabulous and extremely intensive place to study. The degree, the training are second to none. Other universities may be equal.
My son attended Chicago and majored (“concentrated”) in economics. Chicago is a bigger university than Caltech. It also has its core. The student body as a whole is more diverse in interests and background than Caltech. But the program is demanding whatever major your son might eventually settle on.
He would have more opportunities to find a fit outside hard sciences at Chicago if he discovers interests there. He could also spend a year abroad, as my son did. The same would be true at Columbia.
Your son has terrific options available. One last point I’d make is that if he does choose to become a college professor it won’t matter in terms of credentials whether he attended a particular one of the three colleges as an undergraduate.
All 3 schools are great for sciences in general (yes, U Chicago is very strong in science!!). I think he will be in great shape for grad school admissions no matter where he goes. He will need to do research as an undergrad and get good letters of recommendation. That will be key for grad school admission. It won’t matter which of those schools he attends nearly as much.