Northwestern or Notre Dame to finish premed?

[gentlebeast]

Hi, I am going to be a transfer student to Northwestern or Notre Dame this fall. I am still deciding and I ask for your help. I have been to both campus, and I like both. Getting into medical school is priority for me. Therefore, I am going to make a decision totally based on which school would help me most.
I am more familiar with Notre Dame, and I am actually doing research there. Therefore, I have more questions about Northwestern.
I am going to be a junior, and I finished all premed requirements. I heard classes such as orgo and biology are typical weed-out courses at NU, and I am curious if other science classes including higher level ones are similar. Also, are those distribution classes hard? I am not a native speaker, and thus that is one of my concerns.
Somehow I learned that Notre Dame has a slightly higher placement rate, and accepted students there have an average MCAT score of 31, which is lower than that of NU, 33-34. Does that mean NU students are smart, but due to the hard classes, they have a slight disadvantage in getting a good GPA and therefore medical schools?
I have more connections at Notre Dame. But Northwestern has a medical school. Do undergraduates at NU take much advantage of medical school resources? I heard from NU premed advisor that NU medical school gives preferences to NU undergraduates. Is that true?
P.S. I am an international studnet. I know it is generally incredibly hard for us to get into medical schools. But I know there were three international students getting into medical schools at Notre Dame this year, and the premed advisor at Northwestern said he didn't know any international students have made it to medical school yet since 2003. Could anyone clarify it? Should I take that into account?

I like both schools. I'm sorry if I offend anyone. I don't mean it.

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[TheMightySmiter]

I don't want to be harsh, but you're overthinking this. Both schools will give you a great chance at med school and, at this point, one name isn't going to give you a leg up in admissions over the other. Go to Northwestern if you want to be closer to Chicago, go to ND if you want to attend football and basketball games. Personally I'd choose ND but, really, it doesn't matter at all for med school apps. You are responsible for your GPA, MCAT, and ECs. Not your school.

 

[TribalSeeds]

community college!

 

[Amba]

I don't want to be harsh, but you're overthinking this. Both schools will give you a great chance at med school and, at this point, one name isn't going to give you a leg up in admissions over the other. Go to Northwestern if you want to be closer to Chicago, go to ND if you want to attend football and basketball games. Personally I'd choose ND but, really, it doesn't matter at all for med school apps. You are responsible for your GPA, MCAT, and ECs. Not your school.

You can always do that do that at NU too; however, most the time it's like watching a high school team play

(I kid, but as a Badger fan I had to get a jab in at NU while I could)

 

[aSagacious]

Go to Northwestern if you want to be closer to Chicago, go to ND if you want to attend football and basketball games.

Not to sidetrack the thread , but I think NW could beat Notre Dame in both football and basketball more times than not. 😉 (and this is coming from an MSU alum)

 

[NewYorker9]

Go to which ever you like more - if you're going to get accept into med school you will make it work at either college, both have strong reputations. Personally, I've always had a soft spot for South Bend.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Not to sidetrack the thread , but I think NW could beat Notre Dame in both football and basketball more times than not. 😉 (and this is coming from an MSU alum)

Football I'll grant you, basketball no way. 😀

 

[thelens]

Football I'll grant you, basketball no way. 😀

+1

Anyway, as an ND student, I can think of three reasons for the higher med-school acceptance rate. The first is the amazing pre-med advising staff. (Seriously, every other major seems to hate their advisors, but ours are awesome.) Second, the school is very service oriented, and I don't know a single pre-med who hasn't gotten seriously involved both in the community and service projects across the US/abroad. Third is the offering of really unique classes almost exclusively for pre-meds, like the clinical research in rare diseases course or the courses available abroad in London.

I love our pre-med program. With that said, I don't know that I would choose ND again were I back in senior year of high school, due to the (a) political/religious climate and (b) the fact that it's in the middle of nowhere.

In know you're fishing for more info about Northwestern, but that's my .02.

 

[pkwraith]

Not to sidetrack the thread , but I think NW could beat Notre Dame in both football and basketball more times than not. 😉 (and this is coming from an MSU alum)

Free tickets at Northwestern to all sports events. Can't really beat watching Big Ten football for free.

 

[JimmyChitwood]

I really don't think medical schools give preference to their undergraduate students. Sure, lots of top medical schools have a decent number of their undergraduate students matriculate, but most of those have top undergrad programs, too. Some kids are comfortable where they are and don't want to move. Some may have good connections, ongoing research, and want to take advantage of those assets, etc. So, long story short, as for the preference factor, I think it is negligible (although I'm sure there is anecdotal evidence out there of the contrary).

As for the schools, themselves- I am very familiar with Notre Dame (Born and raised in Indiana and I almost transferred there myself), but not so much with Northwestern. Both are top notch programs and will provide you with every edge you need. With that being said, as others have alluded to, you are in control of your application. If you already have connections and research at ND, that's a huge asset. As far as prestige, academics, reputation, etc., I'd say it's a wash between the schools.

For the undergrad experience (athletics, social life, etc.), go to Notre Dame. Not even a question. I'm sure Evanston is nice with Chicago so close, but honestly, it's really not far from South Bend either. Good luck!

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I really don't think medical schools give preference to their undergraduate students. Sure, lots of top medical schools have a decent number of their undergraduate students matriculate, but most of those have top undergrad programs, too. Some kids are comfortable where they are and don't want to move. Some may have good connections, ongoing research, and want to take advantage of those assets, etc. So, long story short, as for the preference factor, I think it is negligible (although I'm sure there is anecdotal evidence out there of the contrary).

As for the schools, themselves- I am very familiar with Notre Dame (Born and raised in Indiana and I almost transferred there myself), but not so much with Northwestern. Both are top notch programs and will provide you with every edge you need. With that being said, as others have alluded to, you are in control of your application. If you already have connections and research at ND, that's a huge asset. As far as prestige, academics, reputation, etc., I'd say it's a wash between the schools.

For the undergrad experience (athletics, social life, etc.), go to Notre Dame. Not even a question. I'm sure Evanston is nice with Chicago so close, but honestly, it's really not far from South Bend either. Good luck!

My undergrad has a med school and they specifically ask not only for alumni connections but whether or not you are/were a student there on the secondary. I think they definitely show some preference, at least as far as interviews go.