Hi all,
I’m debating between applying to Pratt as a Biomedical Engineering major or to Trinity as a Biology major. I’m interested in pursuing an MD-PhD after college and have equal interests in doing biomedical research and becoming a practicing physician/doctor. I have good stats (1560 SAT, high GPA with a rigorous course load), but I haven’t taken any AP exams in the sciences because my school doesn’t offer AP courses. My essays are okay, not bad, but not exceptional, and I do have some community impact through my ECs (tutoring org, STEM advocacy, etc.). I don’t want to confine myself by majoring in BME since I’m also interested in the political/social intersections with biology and medicine, but it seems like Pratt is easier to get into with good numbers.
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
Why these two ? You can get into many schools with your #a - and for dirt cheap of cost is a consideration - especially as med school is very pricey. You can major in anything for med school. Duke is $90k x 4 with med school after.
Say you decide against it - where would you rather be school wise?
So the reality of Duke is few get in - even perfect kids.
My guidance - study what interests you. You could study Art History and go to med school.
So that’s most important. Then find a school that’s right for you - and that you can afford including med school. The ‘where’ won’t matter for premed so do you want to spend $90k when you can $30k or $40k.
Make sure you have a balanced list. What other are like Duke that are more assured - Furman for example.
You might also look at the MCCullough Medical Scholars at Bama where you’d be $20k ish a year.
Aim for Duke but be prepared otherwise.
School wise - . You shouldn’t be penalized for what school doesn’t offer ? How did you take Ap on non sciences ? Hopefully not self study.
Don’t worry about confining yourself or ease of entry.
It’s a huge investment - so be yourself including what you study and let the chips fall where they may.
With a 6% ED and 5% RD rate, it’s tough for all.
But it can be you but be prepared just in case it’s not.
Not disagreeing that it’s a big investment, but just clarifying that MD-PhD programs are generally fully funded with stipend for the entire duration, so students get paid instead of paying.
As far as the actual major, whatever is your primary interest for research is probably your best bet, especially if you are trying to do the amount of research you need to be competitive for an MD-PhD. If your interests lie in policy, then pursue that in Trinity, you’ll probably do higher quality research with a legitimate interest, plus it might be a consideration of where you can maintain a higher gpa, so consider your stronger academic areas.
I had the same primary care physician for more than 30 years. He had originally intended to get an MD-PhD. He had the brains and the undergraduate grades and experience to do this. He eventually dropped the PhD part and just got an MD. A major motivation was how long it takes to get both an MD and a PhD. Just getting a bachelor’s degree followed by an MD takes a great deal of determination and a great deal of time and effort.
You can do research with an MD, although most MD’s of course focus on patient care.
If you might decide to do a bachelor’s degree followed by an MD, then you should budget for a full 8 years of university, where the last 4 are going to be expensive (you might want to figure on at least $100,000 per year for an MD). You will want to avoid debt as much as you reasonably can.
There are a LOT of colleges and universities that are very good for premed students. There are also a LOT of colleges and universities that can prepare you very well for going on to study for a PhD.
Also, it is sometimes relatively easy to pick out reach schools for the simple reason that they are famous. However, you also need to apply to safeties. Depending upon how well you like your safeties, you might also want to apply to matches. Have you picked out at least two safety schools to apply to?
Which leads to some more questions. Can you and your parents afford something north of $700,000 for four years for a bachelor’s degree plus four years for an MD without taking on any debt? How much medical experience do you have?
Also, are you a senior in high school? If so, then where have you already sent in applications?
By the way, universities will not penalize you for not taking classes that your high school does not offer. If your high school does not offer AP classes, then you don’t take any AP classes. One daughter attended a small high school that did not offer any AP classes. She was 5 for 5 in university acceptances. Freshman year in university an acquaintance was bragging that since the acquaintance had already taken AP biology, obviously she was way ahead for studying biology in university. This bragging stopped abruptly when they got their results back from the first mid term exam. You can do just fine without taking AP classes (particularly when your school does not offer them).
Totally get what you’re saying about budgeting for tuition. Luckily, I am very, very fortunate not to have to worry about that. I am a senior, and have multiple safeties, too (and guaranteed UC admission via ELC). Duke is just one of my favorite reaches. I’m doing some fairly high-caliber molecular biology research right now, but unfortunately, I have not gotten any clinical/hospital volunteering experience because all the hospitals in my area aren’t open to high school interns, and I’ve also spent most of my time on wet lab research. Thus, I’m just concerned about getting into Duke (I also have a lot of institutional/familial connections with Duke, so I’m more hopeful about it than other reaches), which is why I’m asking specifically about majors since my parents can afford Duke. And if I were to drop any of the MD/PhD, it would actually probably be the MD, and luckily PhD programs are funded too (yay!)
Are you asking what you should do to have the best chances of getting in or what we would recommend for an enriching and enjoyable college experience?
My son applied and was accepted to Trinity (he chose to attend a different college). He was a high stat kid like you but wanted his application considered against his broader interests and Trinity’s course offerings represented a better fit. As a result I suspect his application had a consistent narrative and made sense.
My suggestion pending your response is to follow your interests not what you perceive as a way to play the system. The AOs at Duke are looking for fit so be true to yourself and feel confident that they will recognize your ability to thrive and take advantage of Trinity’s humanities offerings.
It sounds like you have your sure things decided upon, and funding for college is not an issue for your family. You are very fortunate that your family is giving you the gift of a college education at any cost. Some families are able and willing to do so, while others simply won’t.
It doesn’t seem that you are asking for any lower priced options. Could you clarify whether you are interested in hearing about any? If not, we can move on from that!
And congratulations on your accomplishments!
Pratt is not easier. Full stop. They both are ridiculously hard to get in RD.
Did you tour and do the add-on Engineering tour for Pratt when there? If not I presume you at least stopped by the Engineering welcome area and got some literature? It is likely somewhere on the website as well.
Pratt expects you have taken all 5 core courses every year and states many successful applicants have had a 6th core(ie doubled up in math or science) multiple years in high school. Calculus is expected if your HS offers it. It is expected you will have taken the 3 main sciences plus at least one at the AP level, many have more considering what they say about having a 6th core course multiple years. Grades in Stem are important as are AP scores in stem. Trinity also expects high rigor across all core areas but does not specifically mention they are looking for calculus and the stem intensity, though they definitely want the highest rigor available at one’s HS. No recent data is available but a few years ago Duke admissions released info that Pratt application scoring was weighted more heavily toward scores and the academic transcript , with Trinity having slightly more holistic weighting. Neither of those is “easier”, plus the pools of applicants are different. Duke admissions suggests you apply to the one that really suits what you want to study in undergraduate. Look at the Pratt curriculum sample schedules! The schedule does not allow for many electives at ALL, especially the first year. That either fits you or it doesn’t.
For premed, either is a great path. Duke has very high med school success from both, and premed advising helps current students as well as those who chose to take 1-2-3 yrs off. They have done that since I was there. Engineering has slightly lower gpas but they get in with the same success: med schools compare science gpa to science gpa and look at the core premed courses in the context of the rest of the student’s course of study. Currently, Pratt average gpa is around 3.6 and Trinity around a 3.7 so both schools have inflation compared to years ago—in line with peer schools that have had rising median gpas over the years. Avg was 3.3 when I was in Trinity in the 90s.
I would choose the major that interests you more, rather than apply to the major that you feel would be an easier acceptance.
This is what I was trying to say. Too many are hanging their hat on the near impossible.
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst….and the worst, btw, is a fantastic option…not a throw away!!!
OP are there safety schools on your list?
Also- have you had an opportunity to speak with PhD or MD-PhD students? If not…it’s fine as you are still in HS.
@twogirls the OP wrote the above quote.
Ok good so there are safety schools. Thanks.
OP- with a 6% acceptance rate I would caution you to against saying that one major is an easier acceptance than another. As I suggested, apply to the major that you like better.
This poster asked a very specific question about Duke, on a Duke specific thread no less . They are clearly at the very end of their application process and have not asked for financial advice, other schools or people’s views on going for reaches.
Several posters have directly sought to answer the OPs question. I would respectfully suggest we arent helping OP with other distractions away from Pratt vs Trinity at Duke.
But you don’t apply to majors! You apply to Trinity or Pratt…
I didn’t know …and what you are saying was not clear to me from the original post.
Regardless, he should apply to the one he thinks he likes better.
Please tell me if I am not remembering correctly but I thought they had different essay prompts?
Thank you!! Just looking for Duke-specific advice here on Pratt vs Trinity. The rest of my college list is solidified, given the deadlines are super close, and finances aren’t something I have to worry about. Also, for this application season, there is only one essay prompt universal to all Duke applicants - a “why Duke”