Does going to a low-tier college hurt my chances at good medical schools?

[streampaw]

I go to Portland State university and i am an oregon resident. psu is not even on the list of national rankings, and on forbes it's ranked at like #500 something?
I also got into U of O but my parents could only pay for PSU because that way I live with them in Portland, because they can't afford to pay for my living expenses (for me to live on my own). I really wanted to go to UO, but since I couldn't afford it, ended up starting PSU (and got into honors program). however, PSU is a no name school, it's not even a top 200 on us news! UO on the other hand is a top 105 or something.

Is going to psu going to hurt my chances at good med schools? I am also starting to work (volunteer) at a research lab at PSU. Btw, I transferred from a community college, but I will be completing 3 more years of college, and my gpa is meh, it's a 3.6. I can raise it to a 3.83 if I get all straight A's in the rest of my 3 years of college

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[NuttyEngDude]

No. Score well on the MCAT and take care of your EC's and I will be jealous of you too 😛

 

[pyrrion89]

At the few top-20 schools I've interviewed at, I'd say 20-50% of the interviewees were from the top undergrad schools, particularly Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, and Stanford. At the top-10 med schools, this percentage was typically closer to 50%. Of the remainder, I'd say most were from prestigious public schools (UMich, Cal, UCLA, UNC-Chapel Hill, UVirginia) and strong private schools like NYU, Georgetown, Emory, Vanderbilt, Duke, etc.). Only one or two were from the "X State University" schools, like Michigan State, Cal-State Fresno, etc.

So, from this observation, can we say that low tier school = no interview? No. The fact is the sort of student who gets into these top schools is going to be the sort of student who is high-achieving and academically talented. An equally motivated and talented applicant from a less prestigious school would have a strong applicant file and would get an II. But, low tier schools simply have fewer of these kinds of students, because most of these type-A students attended better schools. That being said, admissions and interview committees ARE prejudiced, in that they do favor top undergrad schools to a modest extent. By that I mean you will literally get a bump in your "applicant score" just because your transcript comes from a good school. This may not be true of all med schools, but certainly some.

In conclusion, coming from a low-tier school only hurts you very modestly, and can easily be overcome by having a strong application. One thing I'll add is that some adcomms might view high GPA's from low-tier schools as less impressive, so more weight will be placed on your MCAT since it is a more standardized measure of aptitude. So, make sure to do well on your MCAT and that will "validate" your high GPA from your low-tier undergrad institution.

Good luck!

 

[solitarius]

OP, I have to say that you are fully afflicted with SDN disease. The type of threads you've been starting suggest the worst of the premed experience has already started to impact you.

For the record, what is a "good" medical school? I think they're all good. And if you got into any of them, you should count yourself as fortunate. If you get into OHSU, you should feel lucky. But instead, you're falling into the trap that you have to get into the elite schools that the top-tier applicants from the top-tier undergrads typically get into.

 

[yehhhboiii]

no one is going to be impressed but adcoms know that people choose schools for reasons other than prestige. do well in class, score high on the mcat, write a great personal statement and display your interest in working with people through your ecs

 

[wiloghby]

So, from this observation, can we say that low tier school = no interview? No. The fact is the sort of student who gets into these top schools is going to be the sort of student who is high-achieving and academically talented. An equally motivated and talented applicant from a less prestigious school would have a strong applicant file and would get an II. But, low tier schools simply have fewer of these kinds of students, because most of these type-A students attended better schools.

Precisely this! But also, I believe the fraction of students matriculating at a school from top 10 or top 20 undergrad institutions affects a school's ranking. So all things being equal, it is sometimes more advantageous to have earned your degree from Harvard or MIT so that you can enhance a med school's stats. But if you are an enterprising, self-starter who is genuine in their reasons for going into medicine, you should be able to get interviews at "good" schools regardless of where you went to school.

 

[Kinch]

I went to a no name undergraduate school and wouldn't change it. I think the fact that I had the same professors for multiple classes, translating into excellent LOR's, better grades (people can claim objectivity all they want, but this was definitely an advantage come grading time), opportunities for research, and leadership positions within the discipline more than made up for the lack of a big name at the top of my resume.

 

[DokterMom]

I went to a no name undergraduate school and wouldn't change it. I think the fact that I had the same professors for multiple classes, translating into excellent LOR's, better grades (people can claim objectivity all they want, but this was definitely an advantage come grading time), opportunities for research, and leadership positions within the discipline more than made up for the lack of a big name at the top of my resume.

Perhaps more accurately, advantages of SMALL SCHOOLS rather than 'no name' schools. Small colleges generally have these advantages.

 

[Kinch]

Perhaps more accurately, advantages of SMALL SCHOOLS rather than 'no name' schools. Small colleges generally have these advantages.

True.

 

[streampaw]

Unfortunately, PSU is not a small school at all. 🙁 Am I doomed in terms of medical school admissions? I was just looking for a research school so that I can do research. And I am in the honors college at PSU, not sure if this matters or anything.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Unfortunately, PSU is not a small school at all. 🙁 Am I doomed in terms of medical school admissions? I was just looking for a research school so that I can do research. And I am in the honors college at PSU, not sure if this matters or anything.

As stated above, relax. For real. Do well on grades/MCAT and UG program won't hold you back.

 

[Goro]

Nope

I go to Portland State university and i am an oregon resident. psu is not even on the list of national rankings, and on forbes it's ranked at like #500 something?
I also got into U of O but my parents could only pay for PSU because that way I live with them in Portland, because they can't afford to pay for my living expenses (for me to live on my own). I really wanted to go to UO, but since I couldn't afford it, ended up starting PSU (and got into honors program). however, PSU is a no name school, it's not even a top 200 on us news! UO on the other hand is a top 105 or something.

Is going to psu going to hurt my chances at good med schools? I am also starting to work (volunteer) at a research lab at PSU. Btw, I transferred from a community college, but I will be completing 3 more years of college, and my gpa is meh, it's a 3.6. I can raise it to a 3.83 if I get all straight A's in the rest of my 3 years of college

 

[DrOneDay7]

Unfortunately, PSU is not a small school at all. 🙁 Am I doomed in terms of medical school admissions? I was just looking for a research school so that I can do research. And I am in the honors college at PSU, not sure if this matters or anything.

"Are you doomed in terms of medical school admissions?" No, very far from it.
I was always told that the school you attend for undergrad is not what matters; it's what you do during undergrad that does. You don't need to go to an ivy for undergrad to get into a top medical school, nor does going to an ivy for undergrad guarantee you a seat at any medical school.

If anything, use going to a less-recognized university to your advantage, because as crazy as it sounds, it'll actually be a heck of a lot easier for you to set yourself apart from the rest of your classmates than it would be at an ivy school. Just always be willing to go the extra mile; get involved in research or something you're passionate about, and get to know your professors. Good grades, academic awards, and great LORs will speak volumes, no matter where you completed undergrad.

By the way, I think it's great that you're in the honors college at your school! I also graduated from the honors college at a large school, and I've been told that it's a huge plus on applications, so yes, I think it does matter!

 

[gettheleadout]

This is a common question here. I've posted my thoughts before:

My school isn't even Top 100 in the US News University Rankings, and we send people to Top 10 med schools every year.

Yeah, on my application my school name will look pitiful compared to other apps with HYPSM and the others on them, but who cares? I have strong EC's, a LizzyM score over 80, etc... I'll only be applying to schools in the USNWR Top 25 and I'm not worried.

You've got three years at PSU, just build a strong app and it won't matter.

 

[Frazier]

UG won't hurt you.

 

[Seth Joo]

I go to Portland State university and i am an oregon resident. psu is not even on the list of national rankings, and on forbes it's ranked at like #500 something?
I also got into U of O but my parents could only pay for PSU because that way I live with them in Portland, because they can't afford to pay for my living expenses (for me to live on my own). I really wanted to go to UO, but since I couldn't afford it, ended up starting PSU (and got into honors program). however, PSU is a no name school, it's not even a top 200 on us news! UO on the other hand is a top 105 or something.

Is going to psu going to hurt my chances at good med schools? I am also starting to work (volunteer) at a research lab at PSU. Btw, I transferred from a community college, but I will be completing 3 more years of college, and my gpa is meh, it's a 3.6. I can raise it to a 3.83 if I get all straight A's in the rest of my 3 years of college

I do not think it is the school you go to that makes your application, but your own academic performance, personality, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, that will define your application. There are people who went to "Big" schools who did not perform well and did not get into medical school. An A in a course from an unknown four year college will not keep you out of medical school, but I would bet a D from Harvard will.

 

[MDforMee]

As an aside, this thread raises an interesting point about state schools vs community colleges.

IMO, community colleges are on par with schools like Portland state, yet community colleges are frowned on around here, for the most part.

I attended multiple community colleges, an unranked state school, and UCLA, and IMO the unranked state school was the worst academic experience I had among the three.

 

[IlDestriero]

Just do well and kill the MCAT and you'll be fine. What you might miss out on is some research opportunities, etc more common in the big name Universities. It's nice to have a home hospital and medical school as well. More opportunities for many things.

 

[Aerus]

No, school name doesn't hurt you. Your low tier school certainly won't help you, but it definitely won't hurt you. The reason you see so many people from top schools at med school interviews is because they, themselves (not the school they went to), were fantastic applicants. If you are a fantastic applicant yourself, then you'll be just fine.