Northwestern HPME vs. Princeton vs. Vanderbilt

BSMD
Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:51:44 +0000

O.K. I joined solely so I could respond to this thread. Four of the greatest years of your life will be spent in college. The question as I see it is not whether you will regret going to Northwestern but whether you will regret not going to Princeton.
No question that a virtually sure thing to Feinberg through the HPME program gives you peace of mind, less stress with overall grades, less hassle with MCAT’s and some nice flexibility through the curriculum. A fourth year abroad would be great but many seniors want to hang on campus being the BMOC’s.
Northwestern is a top notch university near one of the best city’s in the world with great opportunities all around.
Princeton,however, is arguably the best undergraduate school on the planet. It’s allocated resources to it’s students are unmatched. The experience that you would have there, despite freshman woes, grade deflation, etc.,is one that will remain part of your character and fabric the rest of your life.
You appear to be one blessed and talented individual. Yes, if you go to Princeton, you will be cursing those days of grade stress, M-school applications and MCAT prep but, your days there will be filled with excitement, wonder and awe.
You will get into a med school and be a doctor if that is what you trully commit to do. Don’t forget the journey on your way there. The package that Princeton gave shows it’s commitment to you because obviouslly your EFC was higher. The aid will not decrease because of the CD.
One last comment. You mentioned your father and grandfather going to Princeton. Did you ever observe their interaction regarding Princeton?
I am sure it not only brought immense pleasure to them but that it always connected them in a special way.
You won’t go wrong in your decision but I needed to give my two cents. It is not elitism that separates Princeton…it is character.