Advice for Incoming Undergrad On Post-Baccalaureate Optionality

[Justabeginner]

Hi all! I'm trying to decide between Smith, Wellesley, and Wesleyan. I'm interested in their neuroscience programs, and have heard great things about all of them. However, quite a few factors are at play here: FA, Post-doc optionality if I want to do med school (not sure about career path yet), research opportunities/affiliations, accepted credits, potential early graduation, surroundings (suburb, city, etc), social life, and this sounds trivial, but climate.

I'm leaning towards Wellesley simply because of the cross-registration with MIT courses, and the various research opportunities offered to undergrads, but I've heard FA isn't too common. Credit wise, it's quite restrictive. I've also heard it's possible to complete graduation in three years, but the course load is quite rigorous. It's close to Cambridge, where I have family, so I wouldn't worry about being alone necessarily.

Wesleyan is great in terms of post-doc optionality from what I've heard, and the 3-year program is what drew me to applying, in particular. I feel as if it would be *easier* necessarily to graduate early from here, simply because of the structure, but I'm not so sure about the surrounding area (it seems secluded). They only take two credits, but I feel as though the structured early grad program compensates for that. Don't have any family here, but I'm really not considering that as a huge factor. Not sure about FA here either.

Smith is more obscure apparently, and I am not sure about post-doc optionality here. I haven't heard too much about the research programs here. But credit-wise, they are very flexible, so it would be possible for me to graduate early without a specified, structured 3-year program. Also haven't heard much about the surroundings, but it seems secluded. Family is a few hours drive away, but still not too far. Haven't heard much about FA and grants (besides the STRIDE program, but that is by nomination so highly unlikely).

Climate-wise, they're essentially all the same, but for someone who is not from the Northeast, it makes a huge difference. Personally, I upvote Wellesley in this regard (when I visited Boston, winters were miserable, but summers were beautiful). Social life -- I'm not too big on Greek life, but I would appreciate a breather every now and then - and I've heard Wellesley is pretty academic.

Also, if I decide to transfer out, which of these schools are transfer-out friendly for say other LACs in the Northeast, credit-wise? (I'm not going into any college with the mindset of transferring out, I just want to make sure I don't lose time having to take classes again at another LAC if I do)

So top goals are: early graduation, transfer credits, research opportunities and postdoc optionality, cultural milieu, social life, and climate.

Can you guys lend your opinion on this matter? Thanks!

 

[Vanadium 50]

What do you mean by "post doc" - it is short for "post doctoral", or "after the PhD or MD"? I don't think it means what you think it does. Can you tell us what you do mean?

Why do you want to graduate early? It usually leaves you less prepared for what you want to do after you graduate. Colleeg is nmot a race. Besides, it seems a little odd to be worried about the perfect college, with "perfect" determined by how fast you can leave.

Finally, given that it's October, you probably haven't been admitted to any of these yet. Does it not make sense to wait for that?

 

[Justabeginner]

I apologize - I meant post-baccalaureate when I said post-doc.

I am hoping to graduate early because of loans/lack of FA. I have already studied the major requirements for these colleges, and with placement exams, it already significantly reduces the time I need to graduate.

I'm trying to decide where I want to do ED I/II.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I would then recommend you find somewhere that costs 3/4 as much and to spend 4 years there.