<p>Hogwarts,</p>
<p>The college selection process is pretty straight forward, even if pre-med is the objective.</p>
<p>Rule # 1: Know that you make the college . . . the college does not make you.</p>
<p>Rule # 2: If your surroundings make you miserable, your academic performance will suffer. Know if you want urban, suburban or the sticks. Know if you want brutal winters or warm winters.</p>
<p>Rule # 3: There is not an ounce of difference between any of the top 50 undergraduate colleges in America. They all look at your high school credentials with the same question: “What did you do with the opportunities available to you?” Med schools will ask the same question of your college credentials. Doing poorly at Harvard or Stanford will not be better than doing fantastically at Northwestern or Duke. Doing fantastically at Harvard or Stanford is better.</p>
<p>Rule # 4: See rule # 2 and visit. The school might be in a great city with warm winters, but the “vibe” might not be to your liking. So . . . visit. Stay over a couple of nights, see if it fits. Remember, you need to be happy there for four or more years . . . and you’ll be spending a fortune . . . so be happy.</p>
<p>Rule # 5: See rule # 1. Good Luck!</p>