Aside from prestige and connections, why Brown?

Colleges & Universities Brown University
1

<p>Hi! I’m experiencing substantial pre-application stress after endlessly perusing as many sources of information (e.g., counselors, students, statistical databases, etc.) as I can to narrow down my choices.</p>

<p>I intend to follow a pre-med track with the hopes of eventually becoming an Md-PhD with a focus in metabolic biology and diseases of the endocrine system. I’d like to attend a research university in a city (regardless of size as long as it’s urban). Because I’m so focused and passionate about this particular area of study, the idea of a flexible undergraduate curriculum is very appealing.</p>

<p>At this point I’m mainly torn between Brown and University of Rochester. Both have the flexible curriculum and structure I’m interested in, and both have excellent pre-med programs with the potential to get into accelerated combined-admission programs (PLME at Brown, REMS at Rochester).</p>

<p>I already have a fair number of connections at University of Rochester (spoken with lots of professors and staff members), and I’m also very good friends with a regional admissions counselor/Brown alum. </p>

<p>I spent a week at Brown for a technology camp in 2008 and enjoyed the experience, though I don’t recall it “singing” to me (granted, I was 13.5 years old and not really looking at college seriously). Contrast that with URochester, which I have made multiple trips to in the past few months and have loved the campus and the faculty members, who were all very receptive to my questions and interested in helping me in my college search.</p>

<p>I also received the University of Rochester Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology, though I’m still not entirely sure what that entails both in terms of admission and merit aid. The website has a fact sheet detailing the merit aid distribution on the basis of student ‘profiles’, and my limited understanding leads me to believe I’d be receiving anywhere between $9000-20000 a year. Based on my family’s income bracket, the likelihood of need-based aid is nil. If anyone has any information regarding the likelihood of admission based on my receiving the Xerox Award, I’d really appreciate it. No one has been able to tell me if anyone who has received a UR high school award and applied was later rejected, presuming their grades weren’t clearly below the university’s standards.</p>

<p>If I chose to attend UR over Brown, would I be seriously missing out on academic opportunities or otherwise hurting my chances of getting into a top-tier medical school? I am 100% committed to getting a high GPA and excellent MCATs when the time comes, so it’s really a matter of the foundation set by the undergrad institution itself.</p>

<p>Also, chances?</p>

<p>Male
Central New York
Unweighted GPA: 3.75
Weighted: GPA: 4.06
SAT: 2170 (CR - 760, M - 670, W - 740)
ACT: 32 (English - 36, Reading - 34, Essay - 8, Math - 28, Science - 28)
SAT IIs: Bio-E - 780, Math II - 650, US History - 650 (taking Lit, Chem, Math I this fall)
APs: Psych (4), World (3), US (4), Chem (2 - I was violently ill that day…ugh), Bio (5), English Language (5)</p>

<p>Extra-Currics: NHS, founder of the culinary club/worked closely with school cafeteria (American Food & vending) to improve school nutritional standards and offer other choices (there was a news story on it), founder of school media network/radio station, Johns Hopkins University Center For Talented Youth (2 summer sessions, 1 upcoming online session), worked at SUNY Upstate Medical University as a neuroscience intern this summer, maybe working at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn for a few weeks soon). </p>

<p>Senior Course Load:</p>

<p>AP English Literature
AP Statistics
AP European History
Advanced Environmental Science
Pre-Calculus
French IV
Physics
Chorus
Neuroscience (independent study through my junior AP Bio teacher - probably taking classes at Syracuse University)</p>

<p>Any advice would be extremely helpful!!! Thank you in advance!</p>

2

<p>No offense, but you probably won’t get into Brown, so don’t worry about this.</p>

3

<p>None taken, but what’s the clearly limiting factor? GPA? Chem score?</p>

4

<p>cba: this is way to early to be eliminating what appear to be schools you definitely desire. I understand the desire to pare down a long list but is Brown your only “reach” application? If so, then I would apply and deal with whatever befalls you come next April. Then decide.</p>

<p>Now if you’re applying to 15 schools, then that’s a different issue and you should seriously shorten your list.</p>

5

<p>I’m with T26E4. If you’re interested in both schools, apply to both!</p>

<p>When it comes to your med school questions, you definitely would not be hurting your chances by attending Rochester over Brown. Med schools don’t really care about the prestige of your undergraduate education - instead, they care about your GPA and MCAT scores. I’ve seen many students on CC opting to attend “lesser” schools in order to have a higher GPA.</p>

<p>I will say that I’ve loved being a PLME at Brown, and that the pre-med culture here is very chill and non cut-throat, which is great. I didn’t look at Rochester, so I can’t speak for that.</p>

6

<p>Keep in mind brown MD/PhD is not MSTP so unless you dont want the guaranteed tuition waiver and stipend during your MD/PhD years you would have to apply out and risk losing your PLME spot.</p>

7

<p>That’s an incredibly important bit of information, iwwB. Thanks!</p>

<p>Also, based on the stats I’ve provided, is there any point in applying to safer schools than UR?</p>

8

<p>Absolutely: unless your parents can write each year’s tuition, room/board from their savings right now – you should see what FinAid from various schools can offer you.</p>

9

<p>My socio-economic status will prevent me from receiving anything besides merit aid.</p>

10

<p>Just the fact that your GPA and test scores are both low for Brown. I’m not saying it’s impossible for you to get in, just that it’s pretty unlikely, so you shouldn’t stress about choosing between the two schools until you’ve gotten into both.</p>

11

<p>Well there’s admittedly a bit more to the situation - I had my heart set on applying Early Decision to UR but my parents are doing anything they can to convince me otherwise, both because they think I’d receive a lesser education than I would at a prestigious Ivy, and because they think I’ll receive more aid if I demonstrate interest elsewhere.</p>

<p>I’ve spent a lot of time reviewing UR’s financial aid policy, and it seems like I wouldn’t receive any need-based aid, which leaves the Xerox Award. Depending on the profile I fit, I could receive anywhere between 9-20k a year. </p>

<p>I don’t want to play around with admissions - I can’t figure out the likelihood of admission into UR, given my circumstances. Compound that with my ineligibility for need-based aid and the transparency and straightforward nature of Rochester’s merit-aid, and I just can’t see why it would be a bad idea to pursue ED.</p>

12

<p>I think their idea about aid is really off. If you have really disparate figures IN HAND, sometimes there is room for one to move, but Brown won’t give you merit aid anyway. Since you are hoping for merit aid, it might make sense to apply ED and compare offers, you just won’t know until you get the offers. Then put one reach app into Brown, where I think you may have a chance, just that the admit rate is terrible. As I write this it seems you feel strong about UR, and don’t have a 2nd choice to UR except for Brown, so you likely should just go ED. Brown is a special place but for your goals you have a fine plan. I guess I’m just as mixed up as you are.</p>

13

<p>Focus getting into a college you can love - the combined BA/MD admissions rat-race is brutal. What is the benefit? MCAT exemption?</p>

<p>I totally ‘get’ why you want the flexible curriculum. With your interests, there is no reason to take SATII Lit. You need to retake SATII Chem and Math II and make over 750 - only take two in one sitting, your harder one first. Use Dr. John Chung’s SATII Math Level 2c book and you will get an 800. Do not send your AP scores to anyone. Self-report your Bio and Eng Lang 5s. College Apps do not ask for AP scores - those get sent only to the school you are attending for placement. You might want to retake Chem in May.</p>

14

<p>You obviously have more going for you for admission to UR right now. Admissions to PLME is super selective, and honestly while it’s not impossible, you would be a long shot into an admissions program that is a long shot in itself. (about 3-5% still I think). Your math is low in both scores and course level, and that is really going to hurt. I don’t know if UR’s early admission is binding. If not then that seems like a no-brainer decision. Also definitely start looking for more “second choices”. It’s important to really look around at all sorts of schools that you might consider. There will certainly be many more that you will really love once you really look and give them a chance. If finances are a big issue, and not really qualifying likely for aid, I would think you should be looking at least a few of NYs great schools, as well as some of the other “lesser known/popular schools” which might be a perfect fit for you and also may give merit aid. (Just a for instance: if you are female, Bryn Mawr has given some great aid in the past and has a great premed track record. Not in the city, but close to Philly. ) There are some general threads on CC re schools that have been giving good merit aid.</p>