<p>University of Chicago or UPenn SAS
Hi.
I am applying to both UPenn and UChicago and am wondering which one has better programs in anthropology and history of science. I want to go on to a top med school and am wondering which university would prepare me better. Thanks</p>
<p>Cake- I PMed you on this one.</p>
<p>they’re both extremely good schools in those areas (and both amazing schools overall!! i love them both very much), and either would prepare you well for a top med school.
i think it comes down mostly to choosing between “where fun comes to die” and “party ivy”. i’ve also heard rumors about low GPAs at UChicago…which is a huge factor in med school decisions.
also take into consideration the Core vs. distribution requirements
good luck!</p>
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<p>That is incorrect.</p>
<p>Hey Cake-</p>
<p>Having attended both schools relatively recently (Chicago for Undergrad, Penn for Grad School), I have some knowledge of the general atmosphere at both schools. </p>
<p>In terms of your interest in anthropology or history of science, both schools have superb (as in, world-class) programs. Both have great museums right on campus, and have pretty storied histories in the subject. I have some friends now in grad school for anthropology, and I think Chicago wins out slightly for strength and impact of faculty scholarship (many anthro grad school types list Chicago and Berkeley as two of the best places overall for anthro). Also, while Penn is a bigger school overall, I don’t think anthro is as popular a major in comparison to say, economics or biology, so you’d be able to get into great seminar classes early and have great contact with professors. At chicago, in pretty much any discipline, close contact with faculty members and small seminars are assured. </p>
<p>Now, in terms of med school, what I’m about to say at both schools may be a bit disparaging, but in my experience, it’s been accurate. Overall, keep in mind that the med school app, 3 factors are important: 1.) GPA, 2.) MCAT Score, 3.) Soft factors (outside research, essays, ability to interview well, etc.). When I was at Chicago, people often complained about the lack of grade inflation in comparison to other schools, and the general difficulty of both core classes and the science courses. This was counterbalanced with what people saw as a great undergrad health professions advising office. Students often mentioned getting a lot of help from the undergrad med school advisers, and felt like these med school advisers really did a great job of reviewing applications and making each applicant as strong as he or she could be to medical schools. It seemed like a pretty supportive process overall.</p>
<p>At Penn, the distributional requirements are easier, the sciences classes have a similarly difficult curve to Chicago, and many students feel that the advising process is much more impersonal and Penn pre-meds seem to think it’s a more cutthroat atmopshere. Keep in mind, Penn is MUCH more pre-professional than Chicago, and this may lead to a more anonymous, competitive atmosphere in the med school process. The biggest complaint I heard is that, unlike at Chicago, students have to be screened by the pre-med advising group, and Penn will only support students that do well enough to construct very viable applications to med school. People felt that the Penn administration was very aware of placement, and only truly supported the strongest candidates. </p>
<p>Overall, if what you really want is placement at a top medical schools (and many high school students want just this), I don’t know if I’d necessarily recommend Penn or Chicago. I think Penn’s placement overall might be a bit better, but this is mainly because the student body to start is much more pre-professional and a bit more gunnerish, so the students - from the start - try to maximize there numbers as much as possible. This, coupled with a very status-conscious advising group, make for good results in the competitive world of med school admissions. At the same time, students complain about the anonymity about the process, the harsh curve in science classes, and the fact that the advisers work to screen - rather than advise - students on many levels. </p>
<p>Chicago students are more likely to explore their academic passions at first, but low performance in hard (but gratifying) classes, can make them a bit jaded about the med school app process. Even though Chicago has good advisers, students do grumble about how “hard” an academic experience Chicago proves to be. </p>
<p>With all this in mind, sometimes, for students really committed to going to a top medical school, where status matters a lot, I sometimes think it’s best to go to a less high-powered university, really concentrate on getting high grades (which is easier and more manageable at say, a large less renown state school than a Chicago or Penn), maximizing soft factors, and then presenting a great application. At Chicago, people talk about how the overall academic experience grooms you for to become a better doctor, and the rigors of a Chicago education prepare you well for the work IN medical school. This may be true, but sometimes practical kids want great placement options, and Chicago does not necessarily provide this. At Penn, getting a better overall gpa may be a bit easier, but the overall med school process is somewhat disenchanting. </p>
<p>If you want a great school, very competitive med school placement rates, and good advising, I’ve heard great reviews about Dartmouth and Brown. Generally, the med school app process is just very arduous, but some schools do a better job of creating an atmosphere that maximizes both placement and ease of process. Chicago and Penn are not places that maximize these two factors. </p>
<p>On another note, I think Chicago and Penn are phenomenal schools, but also very different. While I was at Chicago, I always thought “ok, this is how colleges are,” and Penn is just so strikingly different. I can comment more on that in the future, but I think for now, this post responds to some of the questions of your original post.</p>
<p>Quick edit - this is all based on assuming you will be an “average” student at Penn or Chicago (meaning, your skills and abilities in writing, mathematical analysis, and the sciences are about on par with all the other students at these two schools).</p>
<p>If you are extremely good at math and science, really love these subjects, excel at them, then this isn’t as much of an issue. You’ll do very well in the med school app process because true abilities in math and sciences are so coveted and hard to come by. </p>
<p>At Chicago, to ensure a high gpa, you also need to have very sound skills in the humanities and social sciences. At Penn, you can find easier distributional requirements in these areas. There are more “grade-inflated” courses at Penn, and Chicago still frowns on more of the “powderpuff” type classes. Having said that, committed Chicago students tend to enjoy the core classes, and the level of teaching and instruction even in core classes generally outpaces the situation at Penn - top professors really are committed in engaging first and second year students at Chicago.</p>
<p>PS - I disagree with CrystalPineapple’s blanket generalizations of the schools. Penn is generally more stereotypically social than Chicago, but this leads to some disenchantment too - alums sometimes talk of the “anonymous” nature of the school, the over-emphasis on the frat scene, etc. Chicago has much less of a generic party atmosphere, and socializing takes place in other ways (I always thought the coffee shop scene was bigger at Chicago, people would utilize the city more, etc.).</p>