Wow - I disagree with - My parents already have to pay for my sister at MIT so I don’t think it would be financially smart to go in the med route unless I get significant scholarships or go to an in state program.
Ok - I agree with the scholarship part, MIT or not if affordability is an issue.
But if you want to go to med school, I wouldn’t pivot. If that’s your goal, chase your goal.
And if biomedical interests you, then that’s great.
Always chase the dream.
I was just noting - people take this US News stuff as gold and strangle themselves with debt. I don’t know your stats but I’m assuming you can get into BME programs at $20k or less - even this late.
I’m not telling you to do that. I’m saying talk to your folks and find out the reality.
Maybe they can afford both MIT and UM. Maybe they can’t afford either.
It’s hard to pick a school when you don’t know the overall impact to the family. Some families will do what they need. Sometimes it crushes their retirement. Sometimes they can’t pay for future years. So you need to ensure they have a plan.
Oh, and pick a school that’s right for you - you will be three four years, day after day. So a rank is great but you need your daily life to be happy. A rank doesn’t do that.
You can major in just about anything as an undergrad and decide about applying to medical school later. So…Major in bioengineering, or mechanical engineering…or anything else that interests you. Just make sure you also take the required courses for medical school applicants as electives.
A large percentage of medical school first year students are 24…or older. Many take a year or two after undergrad to beef up their volunteering, shadowing, studying for the MCAT and taking it, etc.
It’s not like you have to make up your mind today.
Your goal now is to find an undergrad school where you will be happy to be for the next four years. Any decisions about medical schools can be put off for now.
Yeah more than the financial part I want an answer on which school will actually be better based on programs, academics, opportunities, and social life. It’s more about the actual experience of college and I’m really confused on where to go at this point with so many options! Any response with advice is greatly appreciated.
So none of them really stands out over the others as the best one? Or all they all at the same level in overall prestige? Would I be giving up a great opportunity not going to one?
Any and all - depending on your comfort with them.
Some are bigger. Some have an engineering campus not on the main campus. One shares the program with a school 30 minutes away - but has enough classes to finish on campus. Some are easier to change majors or complete multiple majors. Some are more suburban while others are urban. Some are warmer.
Only you can answer those questions.
Personally, I would not go to UIUC unless I visited. That one (to me) is polarizing. Others have said similarly on here while others think it’s like any other large flagship.
In the end, you need to visit each, talk to kids and decide. If you can’t, ask each to speak to a student ambassador - and ask all your questions about what’s right for you.
UIUC, Michigan, Case, UNC, Purdue - 5 people - each could choose a different one - and that’s great as there’s no wrong answer. But there may be a wrong answer for you.
For engineering, UM, UIUC and Purdue are peers and the strongest of the group…specifically for engineering. My daughter had a strong preference for Purdue’s campus and the structure of their program but that is a personal choice.
It’s the pre med intention that changes things up for me.
I again go back to Michigan or Case for being stronger for pre meds, and ease of changing major.
Since Michigan is in the overlap, they would get my vote.
But no, you would not be giving up a great opportunity by choosing any of the schools on your list over another. You have a great set of acceptances! You can’t make a bad choice.
Based on programs, academics, and opportunities, I think this has been answered that all are excellent. A negative for Purdue is that it’s not direct admit for your engineering major. It’s been noted that Michigan is very demanding, but Ann Arbor is also considered to be one of the best college towns, so this is a plus socially.
Prestige isn’t going to matter, so I’d ignore that. You have some things to sort out, so personally I’d lean toward Case Western because they have a well designed Advising Support Office to support you through that process. Another factor in their favor is that they have a 9:1 student faculty ratio, which is the lowest of any of the schools you’re looking at. This will give you a greater opportunity for interaction with faculty and the ability to use their guidance as you fire your own path.
All great choices academically. Personally, the first one I would eliminate would be Case Western based on the environment. The other 4 are big schools with big time sports, which in my opinion, adds to the college experience.
There is data science in both CoE and LSA right? Additionally, Is it easy to commute from central to north campus on a day to day basis, I’m just worried that I will feel secluded from central campus if I do go to Umich.
I did love Purdue’s campus when I visited last month, plus I have several friends there. The only drawback is the fact that data science is outside of the engineering department. but Purdue is definitely one of my top top choices.
At Case, see if you can major in both - they are flexible. I believe you can.
You started with bio. In this thread you changed. Already. You should find a school that’s flexible. You may change to something else later which at 18 is fair as you really don’t know. Not all will be flexible.
From CWRU- A student may double major in two (or more) Arts and Sciences majors for the BA degree, or two (or more) Engineering majors for the BS in Engineering degree, or two (or more) Management majors for the BS in Management degree.
I did elaborate. The other 4 schools have big time college athletics, which I feel is a big part of a college experience. My opinion. Case Western does not. That’s all.
You won’t. My son and thousands before him have done the commute. It’s Medicine, nursing, art, acting, dancers, singers etc on North. It’s not just engineering lol. But it is some of the best facilities and faculty.
Funny thing is as a freshman my son was on central. But his job was on north. Also many live on central and still go north for engineering. He saw deer on his way to classes. Don’t see that on Central
Hmm… I don’t see anything in the OP’s post history that would tell me if big time athletics would be a positive or negative factor. Did I miss something? For some students it’s a positive, for others it’s a negative.
But I agree that the OP may want to think about extracurricular factors that are most important to them.
