Do most med schoolgive preference if you attended their University in undergrad?

[Fakhter]

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I was lurking through a 2012-2013 app thread and I was shocked. Three applicants that attended the same program for undergrad were rejected. Even though they had very competative stats. Where as three OOS applicants were accepted with much weaker stats. I was thinking it was because the universityl offers a GA program so they already have a certain number of applicants from the their undergrad matriculating. Therefore they don't want to seem too bias in the admissions process. Am I wrong?

 

[Nymphicus]

It varies by school.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

I was lurking through a 2012-2013 app thread and I was shocked. Three applicants that attended the same program for undergrad were rejected. Even though they had very competative stats. Where as three OOS applicants were accepted with much weaker stats. I was thinking it was because the universityl offers a GA program so they already have a certain number of applicants from the their undergrad matriculating. Therefore they don't want to seem too bias in the admissions process. Am I wrong?

They want diversity, not all the same people already going there, they want a mix of new people and alumni

 

[Loveless]

It varies by school.

So does anyone know the scoop with UCSD then?

 

[Ismet]

It varies by school.

+1.

My school has a large proportion of students from Pitt undergrad (18 in my 147-person class), but about 1/3 of those are from the guaranteed admittance program.

I talked to someone from Stanford at one of my interviews, and he said that Stanford Med doesn't usually accept Stanford undergrads because they want their undergrads to go out and experience something new.

Every school is different.

 

[anegron519]

.

 

[Aerus]

So does anyone know the scoop with UCSD then?

Statistically, it does seem that UCSD does give a higher preference to their own undergrads. However, one must consider factors such as LORs from distinguished (and recognizable) faculty, the UCSD Med Scholars Program, in-state status, and the passion of the students for attending the school and environment (since they've lived here for 4 years already).

 

[Plue00]

I know for UVA, out of the ~70 or so instate students they take, anywhere from 40-50 are UVA students.

So 40-50/140 students come from UVA.

 

[Narmerguy]

Even when looking at how many undergrads are at a school, keep in mind that those students are also more likely to apply to the same school, and are probably more likely to matriculate if accepted because they already have ties to the area, friends, etc. Don't just play the percentages.

 

[Fakhter]

I know for UVA, out of the ~70 or so instate students they take, anywhere from 40-50 are UVA students.

So 40-50/140 students come from UVA.

I wanted to transfer to UVA but didn't want to take a foreign language. I already speak a foreign language fluently. Really wish they didn't have a foreign language requirement.

 

[Mountaineer12]

I think preference to undergrad students is specifically prevalent in schools that look for strong state/school ties.

 

[Plue00]

I wanted to transfer to UVA but didn't want to take a foreign language. I already speak a foreign language fluently. Really wish they didn't have a foreign language requirement.

All you have to do is go to the language department and prove to them you are fluent in another language and it exempts you. No one here really takes all 4 semesters as most people place out or place high enough to take just 1 semester.

 

[Anicetus]

So does anyone know the scoop with UCSD then?

The UC's operate the same way. Usually preference is given when the 3.9/35 MCAT student from the designated UC sucks up to the deans of medicine or to professors that have connections into the medical schools during their undergrad years there.

Other than that, it doesn't seem like they give you a boost for lacking numbers. I went to a UC and the only people I know that got into the medical school had astronomical stats.

On the other hand, USC gives blatant priority to their students. I know people in their premed clubs who got into USC medical school with just 3.5 GPAs.

 

[mvenus929]

I know for UVA, out of the ~70 or so instate students they take, anywhere from 40-50 are UVA students.

So 40-50/140 students come from UVA.

But UVA is both one of the best undergrads in the state as well as one of the best med schools in the state (if not the best--depends how you define it). Therefore, a student from UVA is more likely to fit with VMED's academic standards (there's also a lot of people who want to be double and triple hoos). Self-selection there.

 

[katymalady]

On the other hand, USC gives blatant priority to their students. I know people in their premed clubs who got into USC medical school with just 3.5 GPAs.

I have a few friends there that were in the Bacc/MD program (now defunct). To stay in the program and be accepted to Keck, you still had to maintain something like a 3.5/30.

I don't know about USC giving priority to its undergrads though. Certainly USC students are more inclined to apply and matriculate at Keck, but they aren't necessarily given special preference over other applicants. Hard to know for sure though, but you can bet that the admissions office won't ever tell.

 

[Lollygag]

I heard that Brown U has very heavy preference for their own alumni, but I heard that a while ago so it may have changed.

 

[scarlett14]

anyone know anything about penn, nyu or columbia in terms of their undergrads?

 

[Sophocles]

Some schools might not give preference per se, but it's a great way to make connections and network. They probably also have a better understanding of your curriculum (i.e. which are the hard classes taught by the tough professors).. This could be a good or bad thing though.

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

My school actually places people from its own school at somewhat of a disadvantage by only taking a small percentage. Sucks but, that's life. Not all give preference

 

[Ismet]

I heard that Brown U has very heavy preference for their own alumni, but I heard that a while ago so it may have changed.

That's because almost half of their class is from the BS/MD program. That really doesn't count as having preference for their alumni.

 

[Sophocles]

Harvard has a separate committee for each house or whatever they call it. I don't know if this is an advantage or disadvantage, but it's definitely a distinct process for those in the college.

 

[nysegop]

Creighton prefers students from their undergrad. UVMCOM guarantees an interview for ugrads (though acceptance is a different story). UMDNJ favors Rutgers students (or so I'm told).

 

[mokhoras]

.

 

[somethingdeep]

The UC's operate the same way. Usually preference is given when the 3.9/35 MCAT student from the designated UC sucks up to the deans of medicine or to professors that have connections into the medical schools during their undergrad years there.

Other than that, it doesn't seem like they give you a boost for lacking numbers. I went to a UC and the only people I know that got into the medical school had astronomical stats.

On the other hand, USC gives blatant priority to their students. I know people in their premed clubs who got into USC medical school with just 3.5 GPAs.

It's hard to judge this objectively. The UCs each have 20,000+ students as undergrads, but only ~100 in their med classes. Of course not all of the undergrads are applying to med school, but it's still going to be a huge number of college students vying for a small number of med school spots. Among any group of undergrads applying to any med school, the vast majority won't get in.

 

[Fakhter]

All you have to do is go to the language department and prove to them you are fluent in another language and it exempts you. No one here really takes all 4 semesters as most people place out or place high enough to take just 1 semester.

Wait are you serious? My language isn't even offered at my school and i'm talking about my native language btw.

 

[ChemEngMD]

I was lurking through a 2012-2013 app thread and I was shocked. Three applicants that attended the same program for undergrad were rejected. Even though they had very competative stats. Where as three OOS applicants were accepted with much weaker stats. I was thinking it was because the universityl offers a GA program so they already have a certain number of applicants from the their undergrad matriculating. Therefore they don't want to seem too bias in the admissions process. Am I wrong?

I heard from an M1 at Harvard that 1/4 of his class went to Harvard for undergraduate...

 

[darkjedi]

I heard that Brown U has very heavy preference for their own alumni, but I heard that a while ago so it may have changed.

Brown has a combined BA/MD program so the majority of the students in the medical school are directly from that program. This is probably why it looks like a ton of their students are from their undergrad.

anyone know anything about penn, nyu or columbia in terms of their undergrads?

I want to say ~10% of the students at Penn are from Penn undergrad. That said, almost half students at the school are from one of the Ivys, so that number is not surprising.

 

[Aerus]

I heard from an M1 at Harvard that 1/4 of his class went to Harvard for undergraduate...

This doesn't say much, as Harvard undergrads are already such high achieving students, so it shouldn't be a huge surprise many of them also get into Harvard's Med School. Also, I've heard the opposite from someone that their year had a lot of state students.

 

[ChemEngMD]

This doesn't say much, as Harvard undergrads are already such high achieving students, so it shouldn't be a huge surprise many of them also get into Harvard's Med School. Also, I've heard the opposite from someone that their year had a lot of state students.

I guess it's relevant haha...did the person you hear it from go to a HYPS? If they did, the idea of <10% being from state schools may be a shocker lol...the guy I met went to a state school and he def felt that the majority of students were from Harvard or other Ivy league/top-tier private undergraduate institutions

But hey, the more state students they take the better! I'm sure they intentionally try to diversify their class to some degree

 

[deleted307836]

I get the impression that at some schools, including one I'm familiar with, it can even be a liability - all other things being equal.

 

[Aerus]

I guess it's relevant haha...did the person you hear it from go to a HYPS? If they did, the idea of <10% being from state schools may be a shocker lol...the guy I met went to a state school and he def felt that the majority of students were from Harvard or other Ivy league/top-tier private undergraduate institutions

But hey, the more state students they take the better! I'm sure they intentionally try to diversify their class to some degree

Coincidentally, he did graduate from a state school! A UC, in fact. 😳

 

[Ansar]

Heard for Weill Cornell it's not good being from Cornell 👎

 

[ChemEngMD]

Coincidentally, he did graduate from a state school! A UC, in fact. 😳

We talking Berkley or Riverside? lol Berkley is arguably as difficult to get into as many selective top-tier private schools (~22% acceptance rate) US News has it ranked as the 43rd most selective school in the country...not all state schools are built the same

 

[nysegop]

We talking Berkley or Riverside? lol Berkley is arguably as difficult to get into as many selective top-tier private schools (~22% acceptance rate) US News has it ranked as the 43rd most selective school in the country...not all state schools are built the same

In terms of admissions.

Hard to get into doesn't equal good school, and easy to get into doesn't equal bad school (though US news would disagree with me).

 

[Aerus]

We talking Berkley or Riverside? lol Berkley is arguably as difficult to get into as many selective top-tier private schools (~22% acceptance rate) US News has it ranked as the 43rd most selective school in the country...not all state schools are built the same

Mid/Mid-Upper tier. Think Irvine/Davis/Santa Barbara. I don't want to disclose more than that. 😀