Hi! So I'm trying to figure out what to do....I am a high school senior who will be attending college next fall as a pre-med, and I have to make a decision ASAP on where to go. I've been accepted into Loyola University Chicago as a freshman next fall and was offered a $56,000 scholarship it I attend. I also applied early decision to New York University and am told I have decent chances of getting in, however if I am accepted I'm obligated to go so I will have to turn down Loyola. However, I just received an email from NYU saying that they do not have my high school transcripts yet (though they were sent months ago), which means I could probably withdraw my application if I decided to.
So I guess my question is, what do I do? NYU is obviously a better school, but I want to go pre-med, and I feel like as a pre-med you're better off going to a school where you'll stand out rather than one where you'll blend in. Loyola would be about half the price of NYU, not that that is a huge factor though, but it's also closer to home (I'm from Milwaukee, though distance isn't really important either). However, I attended a program this summer at NYU for 6 weeks which was basically like attending college there (I dormed and took classes), and absolutely loved it. I would go back in a heartbeat. But I feel like ultimately, Loyola might help me more down the road. Loyola offers a forensic science major, which I would probably do because ultimately I want to go into forensic pathology, and I feel like having a forensic science major as a pre-med would be good because it's a bit different than other hard science majors so it would stand out. Majoring in forensic science at Loyola also includes interning in the state crime lab, and I feel like a forensic science major would help me land a residency or fellowship in a Medical Examiner's office over someone who was just a plain bio or chem major. Also, I'm told Loyola is a bit more of a "we'll come to you" school whereas NYU is more of a "you're on your own" kinda school, and I'm not sure which is better. NYU is a much bigger school and in a larger city though, so I feel like it would have more opportunities for research and internships and the like. And in case I change my mind and decide not to go pre-med, a degree from NYU would probably look better than one from Loyola. But I feel like I would be more motivated at NYU, and I love the atmosphere and the city and I would definitely be happy there, but I feel like Loyola is almost the more logical choice, and that maybe I would be alright there.
So do I withdraw my application? Loyola is cheaper, easier, smaller, and offers a forensic science major, but I'm in love with NYU. Any advice?
(And if you actually read this far thank you!)
So I guess my question is, what do I do? NYU is obviously a better school, but I want to go pre-med, and I feel like as a pre-med you're better off going to a school where you'll stand out rather than one where you'll blend in. Loyola would be about half the price of NYU, not that that is a huge factor though, but it's also closer to home (I'm from Milwaukee, though distance isn't really important either). However, I attended a program this summer at NYU for 6 weeks which was basically like attending college there (I dormed and took classes), and absolutely loved it. I would go back in a heartbeat. But I feel like ultimately, Loyola might help me more down the road. Loyola offers a forensic science major, which I would probably do because ultimately I want to go into forensic pathology, and I feel like having a forensic science major as a pre-med would be good because it's a bit different than other hard science majors so it would stand out. Majoring in forensic science at Loyola also includes interning in the state crime lab, and I feel like a forensic science major would help me land a residency or fellowship in a Medical Examiner's office over someone who was just a plain bio or chem major. Also, I'm told Loyola is a bit more of a "we'll come to you" school whereas NYU is more of a "you're on your own" kinda school, and I'm not sure which is better. NYU is a much bigger school and in a larger city though, so I feel like it would have more opportunities for research and internships and the like. And in case I change my mind and decide not to go pre-med, a degree from NYU would probably look better than one from Loyola. But I feel like I would be more motivated at NYU, and I love the atmosphere and the city and I would definitely be happy there, but I feel like Loyola is almost the more logical choice, and that maybe I would be alright there.
So do I withdraw my application? Loyola is cheaper, easier, smaller, and offers a forensic science major, but I'm in love with NYU. Any advice?
(And if you actually read this far thank you!)
