I got into both MIT and Williams as a high school senior and the coaches of both schools want me to play tennis for them. I want to major in chemistry or biology on a pre-med track (and later apply to med school). Both schools gave generous financial aid packages. Which should I choose? Please help!
Congrats!
I’m under the impression that med schools care a lot about your GPA.
I’m also under the impression that it is extremely difficult to maintain a high GPA at MIT. Especially if you have a significant commitment outside of class, like a DIII sport.
Considering the two of those (if they’re correct; hopefully others can verify) … if you’re really interested in going to med school, Williams would seem to be the better choice.
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Both of these colleges have a very good med school placement record, but it is still very challenging and a lot of people end up changing to something else in college.
Personally, I would decide based on three things, two related.
The related two are where you think you would be happiest, and where you think you would do best. They are related because happy people tend to do better.
The third is where you think you would have the best alternatives if you decide early on the med school track is actually not for you.
On all of these subjects only you can really decide what makes sense. I will say, though, my general feeling is MIT is the best fit for the people who truly love math, and no matter what major and professional field they go into, they can’t imagine not choosing a path in that field that does not involve a lot of math.
Williams CAN be that, but I think despite its smaller size is really more broad in the sense it can better support more approaches in the natural or social sciences, arts, and humanities, including in ways that are less quant-focused. But the big exception is engineering, which obviously is huge at MIT and not possible at Williams.
So that is a lot to consider but hopefully with reflection it becomes clear to you what sort of personal relationship you have with math and what then makes sense as the place where you will be happiest, do the best, and have the most attractive alternatives to pre-med should you decide on a different path.
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I know a physician who was an athlete at Williams. He raves about his experience. My father is a MIT engineer who then went to medical school. Med school was easy for him. You’ll be prepared either way. Visit both and go where you think you’d be happiest.
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Two amazing and very different options. This is absolutely a case where two reasonable people could make two different choices. Pick the college that feels right to you and never look back. Congrats!!
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Williams.
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Not that Williams is easy, but engineering is tough. I’d go with Williams, in this case. And please, if you can major in anything else that you love, do so. The med schools see SO many bio and chem and biochem majors, that they tend to favor equal credentials with varied other majors, especially non-science majors.
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You’ll get an excellent education at either. To me, the most important consideration would be which environment you favor, both physical and academic.
My son is a Williams graduate who now lives about 2 miles from MIT. Williamstown is a bucolic mountain village, and Williams’ culture reflects its nature-focused insular environment. MIT, of course, offers access to all of the urban attractions of Boston/Cambridge. For my son who had only ever lived in mega-sized cities, Williams location was a big plus and he took full advantage of its access to outdoorsy activities. This is really a personal issue.
Although Williams is highly regarded in academic circles (including medical school admissions) it doesn’t have the worldwide name recognition that MIT enjoys. Whether this matters or not is again a personal issue. I would add that Williams has excellent graduate school and career advising.
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