University of Texas at Austin
Located in Austin, Texas, a heavily cultured city, there are an endless amount of things to do. The campus itself is also large enough to where there are many areas to run to when in need of a peaceful and quiet atmosphere to study. The large student body allows you to roam around campus without having to see many familiar faces, while still being a great place for a social life, a great environment for partially reserved people, like me. Greek life at UT is not dominant, but however, a great opportunity to participate in events and make lots of new friends. With the on-campus housing package, students are able to receive a free gym membership, a set amount of bevo-bucks (which can pay for spirit-wear and food), and of course, the dorm itself. In addition to all of this, UT is a beautiful campus, and overlooks Texas’ capital building.
Academically, UT Austin is exceptional, with many persistent and hardworking students. UT Austin also has a great abundance of opportunities, and its versatility allows for easy access to switch majors. Regardless of major or program, each student has access to a career adviser, helping them ensure that they take necessary classes in order to follow their desired path, and provides them with helpful tips. As a prospective student wishing to pursue medical studies, UT’s pre-medical program is very appealing. As an undergraduate, you are able to enroll in both this program, while major in a completely unrelated field. Acceptance into UT is granted based on your top selected majors, and then you can later apply to receive help from the UT Pre-Health Profession Services, which guides students and ensures they are taking the right classes and steps in order to continue to medical school. This program covers most job fields relating to hands-on medicine, outside of nursing, which is its own major and program. Also, the newly added Dell Medical School shows great opportunity for a graduate education.
Personally, I think UT is my perfect fit, because there are so many different opportunities for me to pursue medicine, and many chances to do internships at various hospitals and shadow doctors in Austin. I also enjoy the culture in Austin, as well as the environment and the campus itself. As of right now, I am considering majoring in Human Biology, which is the studies of humans in all aspects, and nursing.
Texas A&M – College Station
Texas A&M, which I have yet to visit, has many different programs. The university is located in College Station, TX, which is a college town and very isolated. Greek life is very dominant, as well as the football culture there.
At Texas A&M, there is a wide selection of majors. One thing that distinguishes Texas A&M from most other universities is its College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Most universities in the nation do not offer veterinary studies, as it is rare. This benefits me because one of the career paths I am considering is indeed, veterinary studies. Within this college is a biomedical science program, and studies for small animal clinical sciences, veterinary pathobiology, large animal clinical sciences, veterinary integrative biosciences, and veterinary physiology & pharmacology. As an undergraduate, I can enroll in biomedical sciences. This major covers every single career that I have an interest in, and will help me discover specifically what I want to go into (within the medical field), while also providing fundamental knowledge I need to know for any of these careers, so I am very interested in this. I will most likely apply to be a biomedical studies major when applying for the university because of this. Another college, which is great for undergraduate studies is the College of Science. Within this college, you can major in biology, chemistry, applied mathematical sciences, mathematics, microbiology, molecular and cell biology, physics, statistics, and zoology. My second choice for a major as an undergraduate would be to go into biology, because I have an interest for biology. Because medical/graduate schools do not require their applicants to major in anything specific, I think I would also be interested in majoring in anthropology or psychology, which is apart of the College of Liberal Arts. For graduate school, A&M has a program for every single career path I am considering. The Baylor College of Dentistry is another college at A&M that pertains to my interests. Within this college, there is biomedical studies, diagnostic studies, general dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, restorative sciences, dental hygiene, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatric dentistry, and public health services. At their medical school, they have humanities in medicine, medical physiology, microbial pathogenesis and immunology, molecular and cellular medicine, neuroscience and experimental, therapeutics, residency – family medicine, residency – general preventative medicine, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, family and community medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pathology, pediatrics, psychiatry and behavioral science, radiology, and surgery, which includes every different type of specialty. They also have a nursing school, which I am potentially interested in pursuing.
I believe that Texas A&M would be a great choice for me, because of all of the different options I would have for graduate studies. It is also a great school overall, and I know for sure that A&M would cater my needs for the future.
University of California – Los Angeles
While I have not yet visited UCLA, I know that I really like the environment. It is a beautiful school, and located in Los Angeles, I am somewhat close to family in Mountain View, likewise to UT and Texas A&M from home. Los Angeles is also a great city, with lots of things to do, not limited to the campus. UCLA has sororities and fraternities, but it is unclear how dominant it is – it seems to be a relatively small part of social life. Football is very dominant, in which they often play Universities in Texas, such as UT Austin.
As an undergraduate, in the College of Letters and Science, you are able to major in biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, physiological science, psychology, psychobiology. While you can not major in this, you can minor in anthropology. Their top nursing program in the School of Nursing is very similar to that of UT Austin’s. While there is not as much variety as there are at other schools, the programs at UCLA are very strong and some of the top programs in the nation. As a graduate, opportunities widen significantly. You can do anesthesiology, biomedical physics, biomedical research, dentistry, family medicine, human genetics, integrative biology and physiology, general medicine, microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics, neurobiology, neuroscience, neurology, nursing, pediatrics, physiology, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, psychobiology and psychology. This variety of options for graduate degrees make UCLA a good choice for graduate schooling.
UCLA is a great school, but I, however, believe that it is a better option to think about for graduate school, rather than a place to get a basic, undergraduate education, especially because it is so expensive.
University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
The University of Arkansas has a very beautiful campus. While it is not as good of a school as all the other schools on this list, it still has some good programs. Fayetteville is not a large city, around equivalent to Grapevine, but is very beautiful nearly all-year round. Greek life on campus is very dominant as well.
Academically, Arkansas has some opportunities for undergraduates, as well as a decent honors program. Within the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, undergraduates can major in anthropology, biology and psychology, and at the College of Education and Health Professions, nursing is an option to major in. While there is not an abundance of majors, I am confident that I would excel in these classes at Arkansas, and if I were accepted to an honors college, I would be able to have some great benefits and opportunities given to me, as well cheaper tuition.
The University of Arkansas would be a good fit for me if I would like to be at the top of my class, and pay a small amount for tuition. It is not the best school in regards to academics, but it will set me up well for the future, and graduate school.
Boston College
During my visit to Boston College, I fell in love with the campus. Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, it’s in the outskirts of Boston, and considered to be in the suburbs. However, it is very easy to get into downtown Boston (which is very close), through the metro. Because the Boston area is home to at over 10 colleges and universities, BC students can easily make friends with students from other schools. There is also a variety of things to do in Boston. For a college in the Northeastern region of the United States, the football culture here is very large. There is no Greek life at BC, as it is a Jesuit university, which makes it a relatively strict school. Also, as a private school, tuition costs are VERY expensive.
In the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, undergraduates can study biochemistry, biology, and psychology, and nursing is offered as an undergraduate major in the Connell School of Nursing. While BC does not have a variety of majors to choose from that pertains to my interests, it is distinguished because the university offers pre-medical and
pre-veterinary advising programs, as UT Austin does. This program is meant to offer assistance to students in preparing for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), and the Graduate Record Examination. It also helps students gain health-related internships and work experience, strengthening their graduate school candidacies.
Personally, I think Boston College would be a great choice for me, because it would be a brand new environment, I would be able to have a fresh start. I believe that its
pre-professional advising programs are very beneficial and valuable. However, because it is so expensive and far away, in order to attend, I must receive a lot of financial aid and lots of scholarships.
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