Penn vs. Princeton

AmyC92
Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:16:39 +0000

Hi all,
thank you for the spirited discussion and interesting commentary… I hope to offer some guidance when I know more about the college admissions process.

So I was wondering which school would be better as a pre-med and prospective chemistry major. In US News, the two schools are ranked about the same in chemistry. At Penn I could apply to the Vagelos program, which seems very cool.

Also, how much of an advantage is it (besides less paperwork) to apply early?

By way of background, two semesters of college math past Calc BC (through multivariable calc and linear algebra) and four semesters of chemistry past the AP (orgo I and II, inorganic and physical). Plan to take ODEs and PDEs this year. My college credit is at the flagship campus of a state university- 3.9 college GPA.

Completed the Physics C exams, biology and computer science AB. All exams with 5s.

Unranked at a private school in the NE, I would guess top 5%. Our school doesn’t participate in external math or science contests.

Also part of the all-state orchestra, 2350 on the SATI and four 800s (math IIC, US history, chemistry and physics) and a 780 in writing.

(Big) negatives- don’t play sports, no summer job (classes instead) and am Asian.

Thanks!