College Choice?

[idamaster]

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I'm not sure if this is the correct section to post this question in,but I have a question regarding my choice for college. I live in Louisiana with the majority of my choices being in state. I have managed to narrow it down to 2 choices: LSU and Louisiana Tech.

My first decision was to go to LSU, but, I am more of a family oriented kind of person... Knowing this I would hate to drive four hours both ways just to visit home. Tech on the other hand is just an hour away. Earlier I was speaking to one of my friends who is currently at LSU; he told me that it wouldnt be a good idea to go to Tech if I am trying to get into medical school.

I will most likely be going to LSUSHC in Shreveport, LA. I had a friend graduate from Centenary with a 3.5GPA and a 27 MCAT, he was afraid he was not going to get accepted into medical school, but managed to get in.(Maybe because of all of the volunteer work he did, and because the doctor who interviewed him really liked him.)

My question is: Would going to Louisiana Tech hinder my chances of being accepted into medical school?

 

[aSagacious]

Moving to hSDN.

 

[kduck]

I don't know much about LSU vs Tech, but my experience has been that people who go to college too close to home miss out on a lot. People who are from within a couple hours away tend to go home on weekends, stay overnight at home, often eat dinner at home, etc. Not that there's anything wrong with that... but I feel that the independence I've gained from living on my own is invaluable. And I would have missed out on some great experiences and friendships if I had been focused on when I could next visit the family.

Family is definitely important. But don't forget that during college, you are learning a lot of important things outside of class, and you don't want to take that lightly.

 

[sirenomelia]

Your odds to get into med school are better if you go to a bigger, more reputable school. One option is go to the smaller closer school for a year or so and bang out the basic sciences in a smaller class environment and then transfer.

 

[idamaster]

I, personally, would like to go to LSU. It just seems too much of a party school, and on other terms is a little too far for me. All of my friends that are currently enrolled at LSU seem to be partying 24/7. I dont want to get into that.. Im not saying I will be going home all of the time. That is why I picked Tech over ULM.. ULM seemed to boring and everyone that is close enough seems to be going home every weekend complaining about how boring it is there. Tech's student body consists of about 12,000 compared to LSU's 30,000. (I think)

Tech still has an active/non boring student body... But at the same time is not too close to home but not too far; on my terms at least.

 

[kduck]

I, personally, would like to go to LSU. It just seems too much of a party school, and on other terms is a little too far for me. All of my friends that are currently enrolled at LSU seem to be partying 24/7. I dont want to get into that.. Im not saying I will be going home all of the time. That is why I picked Tech over ULM.. ULM seemed to boring and everyone that is close enough seems to be going home every weekend complaining about how boring it is there. Tech's student body consists of about 12,000 compared to LSU's 30,000. (I think)

Tech still has an active/non boring student body... But at the same time is not too close to home but not too far; on my terms at least.

Ultimately, this choice is up to you. But just so you have a full perspective, I'd like to say I go to a school with its fair share of partying, but do I party all the time? No. As you say, LSU has around 30,000 students. Surely, out of so many people, you can find people with similar values and interests to you. And you can't underestimate the benefits of being at a school with a ton of research resources, better name recognition, and things of that nature. Rigor of your undergrad institution is taken into account during med school admissions, so keep that in mind.
Again, only you can decide which school will be a better fit for you. However, based on my personal experience I would say LSU.

 

[NYCMS2]

Tech would not likely hurt your chances at LSU Med Shreveport, but LSU BR would open up opportunities for other med schools out of state.

It is a big world out there. Don't limit your opportunities before you even get started.

Otherwise, why not just go to LSU-S for undergrad? It is a very fine school, and plenty of their grads go on to the med school.