Should I go to Johns Hopkins or UC Berkeley for pre-med?

Question

Should I go to Johns Hopkins or UC Berkeley for pre-med?
I was accepted to Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, UCSD, Emory, and waitlisted for Harvard. I want to go into a medical career, so which school would be the best for me.
I have sort of narrowed my choices down to 2 colleges, but am open to heard about the other ones.

Johns Hopkins
Pros
- I have a $100,000 scholarship ($25,000 a year)
-One of the best medical schools in the nation
-Small classes sizes
-Right by Washington DC and NY
-Top college for undergraduate reasearch
-One of the top private schools
Cons
-Far from home
-Campus seems empty
-Know no one
-Small football team, no school spirit
-Baltimore is a ghetto
-Dorms are big, but have guards so they feel like prison

UC Berkeley
Pros
-Right by home
-In state tutition
-Parents Alma Mater
-CAL Bears, have school spirit
-Have friend there
-Top public school
-Telegraph St.
Cons
-Student body and campus to large
-Large class sizes
-Berkeley is a hippy town
-No student research
-No schrshp

Answer 1

Pick John Hopkins. First of all, there's less distractions and you'll be more likely to actually study instead of partying with your friends.



Secondly, I can vouch for the fact that small class sizes help you learn more. My undergraduate school had small class sizes and we got a lot more individual attention. Teachers will actually know who you are and, if you excell, will write letters of recommendation to help you get scholarships and admitted to graduate school.



The fact you can do the undergraduate research, in and of itself, is a big factor. Forget school spirit and sports, you're there to become a doctor not a cheerleader!!!

Answer 2

Congratulations.



I'm not sure that I could decide this one easily. I can make some suggestions.



1. I would not decide this based on academics -- because there really isn't any difference between the two.



2. if you go to JH -- the campus will not seem empty when you get there, and you will meet lots of people.



3. Baltimore is pretty close to DC -- but it isn't all that close to NYC. Saying that Johns Hopkins is close to NYC is like saying that Berkeley is close to Fresno.



4. There would be an opportunity to do research as an undergraduate at Berkeley.



5. The town of Berkeley is a "hippy town" -- and the homeless problem is worse than NYC during the Reagan years. However, the university is not like that. The typical Cal student is an Asian-American who is very serious about school.



6. Introductory classes are large -- but more advanced classes will be a more reasonable size. Half the students at Berkeley are graduate students -- so the undergraduate population is actually a manageable size.



7. Baltimore is not the most beautiful city in the world -- but given its homeless problem, neither is Berkeley. The Baltimore area is certainly more affordable than the Bay area. In my opinion, it is a toss-up



Because I am more of an East Coast person, I'd probably choose JH. But there are lots of people who love the West Coast who would say just the opposite. Or maybe I'd choose Emory.

Answer 3

I am graduating from a UC med school in June of this year. I also went to undergrad at a UC, but was not pre-med at the time. All of those schools you list have excellent overall reputations. And, btw, each will have a large share of their undergraduate body who are also pre-med, some more than others. It is sometimes good to explore other fields of study, while at the same time taking the required pre-med courses. Even if you don't, you can always do a post-bac later. The key is to be interested and curious in your coursework, and getting good grades will follow. You raise some good points about social life and wanting adventure. While your family may want you to be close, this is a great time for you to explore different ways of living and parts of the U.S. Davis is a good college town, while Berkeley, Emory, and UCLA are all in major cities. While Hopkins and UCSD are in metropolitan areas, they seem to be a little different in terms of social life. Another major consideration is debt. Being a Californian, you will get a great education at a UC for a fraction of the price. This depends of course on what your aid package looks like from the private universities. Don't get saddled in debt for the next 4-5 years in undergrad. You may decide to do some grad school and/or med school, and then that debt really begins to pile up. Then when you are looking at residency, you'll be pile high in debt and feel as if the walls are tightening in on you. I'm fortunate to have not as much debt, but even I feel the impending pinch on having to pay off loans every month on a measly resident's salary, on top of rent/mortgage and possibly starting a family in the next few years. You don't have to worry about this now. Have fun, make friends, open your mind to other fields of study and ways of life. Just be diligent and passionate about your interests, no matter what they are. It seems that you already have a good start; if medicine is right for you, you will find time for it eventually.

Answer 4

I doubt you can beat Hopkins for medical. Also, as someone born and raised in Maryland near Baltimore, let me clear up a few things....



"Right near NY" is quite and exaggeration. Try a four hour drive as best.



• "Baltimore is a ghetto" is a very ignorant exaggeration. It's got bad ares like every city but it's got many more great, very highly sought after ones.

Answer 5

It makes zero difference as long as you do well. Go to whichever one is cheaper and work hard.

Answer 6

Are you going to college to study or to find friends?

seems like you wanna be also your parents mini-me.



too bad you weren't accepted in HARVARD