Career questions tagged ivy-league-universities
Would a BSc in Chemistry from an Ivy League be more attractive to employer & PhD programs than a BSc (BSPS) in Pharmaceutical Sciences from another good school?
As it stands, I have a few great schools in mind for a BSPS that I think I stand a good chance of getting into (ex. Northeastern University, University of Pittsburg, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor). However, I've hesitated to add any Ivy Leagues to my college list because none of them offer a BSPS in undergrad. Although, for my future of plans of pursuing a PhD in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry (with the ultimate goal of doing R&D for big pharma), a BSc in Chemistry with an organic focus would suit my purposes quite well---and all Ivy Leagues certainly offer that. But from what I know, general STEM degrees like Chemistry do not offer much in the way of high-paying jobs. While I don't plan to work immediately after my undergrad (I would like to enter a PhD program right away), unforeseen circumstances may arise, and I want to be sure my degree qualifies me for a job that could support me in the meantime. All of this to ask: would a BSc in Chem from an Ivy League secure me a well paying job ($60k+), or is it not worth it to apply since that isn't my major of choice? Would it be worth it for other reasons? For context, I don't have any school in mind to apply Early Decision for, but if the Chem degree is worth it, I would do it for an Ivy. Is that a safe decision with all I have in mind?
What are your top tips for students looking to get into prestigious colleges?
Getting into prestigious colleges is something a lot of high school students desire to do. People provide different types of advice, however things can often feel confusing due to the level of different opinions. So, what do you think allows a student to prove unique to those top schools?