I need advice!

[ClaireBear]

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I am trying to make a decision as to what undergraduate school to attend and could use whatever input anybody has! It would make my decision so much easier if I had outside information on the pros and cons of these schools. Thank you so much!

Drew University
Knox College
Truman State University
University of Colorado at Boulder
Randolph-Macon Womans College
Hollins University:

😍

 

[goofygirl80]

Knox college in Galesburg IL? I had a friend that went there who loved it and I worked summers with a guy who dropped out because he absolutely hated it. Most of my info about it comes from the girl, She loved it basically because of the friends that she made, but she admitted that most people didn't like the school and even she complained about it a lot. I visited her there once and must say I didn't have a very good impression of the place. Galesburg is a crappy crappy town (highest teen pregancy rate in the state and the only thing people do for fun is drink because it is so small and isn't anywhere near a decent sized town). The school is supposed to be having financial problems, but I can't remember the particulars. Because it is so small everyone knows everyone else and everything about them...she could name just about every person on campus who was a virgin and who anyone who wasn't had slept with or fooled around with!! The things she liked about the school were that it totally recruits international students so she had quite a few friends from other countries and that she felt challenged by the school...But she was a humanities major and was really into the whole libral arts thing (not that I'm dissing humanities, I'm just saying my impression was that this school was stronger in the humanities than the sciences). She made it sound like the bio dept wasn't very good...people besides science majors and pre-health profession students actually took bio classes because they knew they could do okay in them. She never mentioned any of her friends were interested in medical school, so I don't know what kind of reputation they have for getting kids in.

I'm sure some of the information is biased, so you should probably talk to a lot of students there and see if they are actually happy and what they think about the school before you chose it. My guess is not many people on here have even heard of it because it is so small, (I'm from IL and I've only heard of it because my friend chose to go there) so this probably isn't the place to go for info on that school.

I don't know anything about any of the other schools though, sorry. Good luck in chosing a college--no one but yourself can tell you which one is the best fit for you, so take anyones advice with a grain of salt, especially when the info is second hand (like mine).

GoofyGirl

 

[washkeep]

Those schools all have very different atmospheres. Do you think you want a small college- more attention? Where will YOU be most happy? I hope you've visited all these schools. If it were me, I'd go to Boulder. I've heard great things about it. It's a big school with lots of opportunities and lots of things to do.

It really doesn't make a huge difference where you go for undergrad. It may help to go to a school that has a little name recognition, but that's not always the case either. Just don't go somewhere you think you should be. It's 4 years... enjoy it.hi!

 

[dreaminOfMD>.<]

My sister went to Boulder. I went to visit her a couple of times and got to know the atmosphere there...well, partially. It's a BEAUTIFUL campus. I really thought the scenery was breathtaking, especially in the spring/winter. It's a good school...you really should consider it.

My sister didn't do as well though b/c that school is a party school. There were alot of "granola" type people there and ALOT of drugs...everywhere I went, there was either talk of drugs or doin drugs.

Keep in mind that this was like 8 yrs ago though. Many things could've (probably) changed since then.

Oh and another thing...don't know about anymore but, when my sister was attending, Boulder was HUGE on their football team.

...and alot of cute guys...😉

 

[abw]

Is that Drew University in Madison, New Jersey? If so, it's a nice school. It's pretty small for individual attention, has a good name for itself in at least the mid-atlantic region of the U.S., and is really good about merit based-financial aid. The campus atmosphere is very liberal though.

 

[abw]

I forgot to add that I think Drew has some sort of feeder program with the UMDNJs.

 

[Adcadet]

go to where you'll be happy and learn as much as you can. Spend as much time on campus at all of those schools if you can, and try to figure out where you would prefer to be for the next 4 years.

 

[ClaireBear]

Thanks everyone! Your replies are great help! More than anything they are reinforcing where I am leaning towards- Drew University and University of Colorado, Boulder. I geuss now it's just small vs. big university! Thanks again!

 

[dreaminOfMD>.<]

...and alot of cute guys...

Got to you didn't it?...😉

 

[adrexel]

I graduated from Knox and can tell you first hand that you will receive a first rate education in the sciences. The professors go out of their way to help and the opportunities for research are tremendous (You can do an honors project where you write a thesis, work on it for a couple years, and defend it in front of a whole slew of home and guest faculty, sort of like a PhD dissertation). They have a straight medical program with Rush University in Chicago which is not that hard to get into as long as you work your butt off the first year (They look at your first year grades to make the decision) and get around a 3.8. Once in, all you have to do is to maintain a 3.0 to stay in the program and although they like you to take the MCAT, they will not kick you out of the program if you score low (I know I guy who had a 24). Just to give you an idea, some of the recent graduates I personally know have gotten into Harvard (MD), Northwestern (MD), University of Chicago (MD/PhD), John Hopkins University (MD), just to name a few. If you would like any more info, keep the posts coming and I?ll reply.

 

[ClaireBear]

DreaminOfMD- You hit my weakness! Class is always so much better when there is a large supply of eyecandy to daydream about!😛

adrexel- Thanks for all of the insight! I had no clue that the sciences at Knox were quite that strong! I was wondering if galesberg somewhat limits the opportunities for internships and community service and also what your experience was in things other than academics! Thank you so much!

 

[jennie 21]

Go where you think you will do well and be happy. That said, I think University of Colorado has a better reputation than the others, and that might help you when you apply to med school (assuming you do well). Also, consider how much debt you will graduate with from each school...you'll be taking on lots of loans to go to med school and it's better to start out with little or no debt from undergrad. But mostly consider where you think you'll be happy.

 

[ClaireBear]

Just bumpin it up!🙂

 

[ClaireBear]

keep the advice coming! Thanks in advance!

CB

 

[phar]

Sorry to say this but i have never heard of any those schools except UC-boulder.

 

[Enkindu]

CU- great school. Great location. Go climb the 3rd flatiron!🙂

 

[Skaterbabe74]

Originally posted by dreaminOfMD>.<
My sister went to Boulder. I went to visit her a couple of times and got to know the atmosphere there...well, partially. It's a BEAUTIFUL campus. I really thought the scenery was breathtaking, especially in the spring/winter. It's a good school...you really should consider it.

My sister didn't do as well though b/c that school is a party school. There were alot of "granola" type people there and ALOT of drugs...everywhere I went, there was either talk of drugs or doin drugs.

Keep in mind that this was like 8 yrs ago though. Many things could've (probably) changed since then.

Oh and another thing...don't know about anymore but, when my sister was attending, Boulder was HUGE on their football team.

...and alot of cute guys...😉

I actually go to UCCS (CU system but in Colorado Springs), and no nothing has changed about the atmosphere at Boulder. They do have really good science tho (as does the Springs), lots of research opportunities if you're interested. And football is definitely the thing to do during the fall on Saturday. Another kind of cool thing is that if you like to ice skate there's actually a rink on campus. If you're worried about the party atmosphere you might want to consider UCCS...it's a smaller school (~7800), has awesome science/research, and a beautiful view of Pikes Peak. We don't really have sports but being the Springs we tend to root for the Colorado College Tigers Hockey team. The Springs is a LOT more conservative tho...less to do at nite, on the weekend, but Denver's only an hour away, and Boulder an hour and a half, and we do have a few decent clubs/bars....Boulder's campus is definitely beautiful tho....and relatively compact....i've seen lots of bigger campuses out there lol. Honestly tho - go whereever you end up feeling the most at home....visit and spend some time with the students....one will most likely leap out as feeling the most like "home" to you...

Good luck!
--Jessica, UCCS