Does it even matter where you go to pre-med???

[Alexoliveira95]

I know this is a High School topic, but that forum is deserted.

Im starting to notice how some people say that it really doesn't matter where you go as long as you get a good GPA. Now, im not saying you should go to some unknown or complete crap uni, but im just saying, do I REALLY need to bust my ass to get into a competitive university like Brown or UCB, or can i settle for something less than that??

Thanks

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[willen101383]

No

 

[Gloves]

I'm sure not all ad coms are the same. Some will probably factor in the school to some degree, and some will completely overlook it. I don't think you can generalize "yes" or "no" with so much grey area

 

[Prof Chaos]

No, but be weary of taking all your pre-reqs a community college or some school with major grade inflation because you probably won't learn the material very well and that could bite you when it's time for the MCAT. But no, it doesn't matter as long as it's accredited.

 

[cfx]

I'm sure not all ad coms are the same. Some will probably factor in the school to some degree, and some will completely overlook it. I don't think you can generalize "yes" or "no" with so much grey area

👍

It also depends on where you want to go to medical school. It's naive for anyone to say the top schools do not favor students from top universities.

 

[Gloves]

For example, if you look at swarthmore - a notoriously hard school

http://www.swarthmore.edu/x8886.xml

they say that a 3.4 is strong. It's a prestigious and hard grading school, so when SDN people say "3.4 and under is dead" I don't think that's very accurate. Then theres also course rigor and difficulty which has to matter to some degree

 

[tweek125]

mostly, no. but to some small extent, yes...a little. but you can compensate. say if you go to Easyashelltogetinto State University, and if you have a 3.4 THERE, then that's no bueno. but if you end up with a particularly high GPA, then they'll probably just overlook the name of the school you went to.

 

[Alexoliveira95]

So I can, in theory, pick places factoring in things like distance from home, weather, price etc. and not just focus on rankings? Having lived in a concrete jungle my entire life (Sao Paulo), Id really like to live by the beach. And maybe still have a social life during college.

 

[Gloves]

if you want a social life you shouldn't be a pre-med 🙂

either way, you should be fine. The thing with private compared to public schools though (particularly the big names) is that they'll give you opportunities by the handful while publics won't lift a finger to help (from my experience anyway).

but money-wise I'd go with publics over privates unless theres a scholarship involved

 

[Alexoliveira95]

hahahahaha ive heard that one before

I see what you mean. Well, its just good to know that I wont have to bust my ass too at least for another year 🙂 But really, it almost sounds unbelievable. Whilst my adm/business friends will be busting their asses trying to get into an Ivy, Ill only have to try half as hard???

For the sake of comparison, would either UCSB or U of Miami be good enough?

 

[Electronegative]

You can never go wrong with your state school.

 

[Alexoliveira95]

Electronegative: I live in brazil! If I weren't so terrible in portuguese, id stay here!

 

[Gloves]

hahahahaha ive heard that one before

I see what you mean. Well, its just good to know that I wont have to bust my ass too at least for another year 🙂 But really, it almost sounds unbelievable. Whilst my adm/business friends will be busting their asses trying to get into an Ivy, Ill only have to try half as hard???

For the sake of comparison, would either UCSB or U of Miami be good enough?

yeah those are fine.

I feel bad for the business kids that want to do I-banking because they have to start all the way from freshman year of high school till death to stay in the competition lol

 

[Electronegative]

Electronegative: I live in brazil! If I weren't so terrible in portuguese, id stay here!

Then it probably shouldn't matter since you will be paying almost same amount of tuition. Pick the schools you most like and think have a shot at admission.

 

[Alexoliveira95]

Yeah, till suck to be them!!

Thanks for everyones help!! You sure as hell lifted a burden of my back !!

 

[AllDay24]

hahahahaha ive heard that one before

I see what you mean. Well, its just good to know that I wont have to bust my ass too at least for another year 🙂 But really, it almost sounds unbelievable. Whilst my adm/business friends will be busting their asses trying to get into an Ivy, Ill only have to try half as hard???

For the sake of comparison, would either UCSB or U of Miami be good enough?

Everyone knows you made this thread just to reassure yourself (falsely) that going to an Ivy/good school doesn't matter.

And for your question, I'll just say this: There's a reason why all of the upperclassmen at my school (an Ivy) end up at other Ivies for medical school. But I don't think that's what anyone wants to hear on this thread.

 

[Alexoliveira95]

-Deleted-

 

[HawaiiHereICome]

For example, if you look at swarthmore - a notoriously hard school

http://www.swarthmore.edu/x8886.xml

they say that a 3.4 is strong. It's a prestigious and hard grading school, so when SDN people say "3.4 and under is dead" I don't think that's very accurate. Then theres also course rigor and difficulty which has to matter to some degree

I must disagree that the prestige of your school will negate low GPA. UC berkeley is also a notoriously difficult and competitive school. You will find many on mdapps from UC Berkeley with 3.4 and 3.5 GPA's and relatively poor admissions success compared to the guy or gal from a no-name school and a 4.0 GPA.

Here's my take on it. If you go to a no-name school, easily get a high GPA, score high on the mcat, and have great activities the name of your school does not come into question. You are a great student, end of story.

If you go to a big name school, struggle for a comparatively low GPA, score high on the mcat, and have medium to great activities (but less than you would be able to get at a no-name school because you were busy working on your GPA) you may or may not be a great student.

Also, stats are only part of the picture.

Finally to those that will immediately complain "but if you go to a crappy school you will get a crappy MCAT score."

NO. YOU ARE WRONG. Whether you do well on the MCAT or not has to do with whether you are a good critical thinker. If you have the ability to gain acceptance to a Ivy as I did but opted to attend a lower tier school for this or that reason you likely have the innate abilities that determine the difference between a ~31 and 35+.

 

[mspeedwagon]

While I agree with this to some extent, you also can't go wrong going to a school like Brown. I graduated from Brown in 2005. I've had so many oppurtunities that would not be open to me graduating from most state schools (like working as an investment banker).

As far as medical schools are concerned, all but one of my friends got into medical school out of Brown. Most got into top 20 schools. The one friend that didn't get in had a sub-20 MCAT score.

Now, stats from a school like Brown can be deceiving (there is selection getting in and further selection in the weed out courses). But, they have well over a 90% med school acceptance rate (national average is under 50%), the average MCAT is a 33 (versus 24 national average) and all medical schools are familiar with Brown and a few love to have Brown students (by total fluke I sat next to the ex-director of admissions at NYU on a flight to Syracuse and he said they loved Brown students as most were non-trads that did amazing things and they were willing to accept such students with lower stats and encouraged me to apply with a hypothetical 3.5/30 [much lower than their accepted average]).

For me, Brown was the right place. Though this is not true for every one. Go to the best fit for you, a place where you can excel. In that end, that is what is most important.

You can never go wrong with your state school.

 

[AllDay24]

I must disagree that the prestige of your school will negate low GPA. UC berkeley is also a notoriously difficult and competitive school. You will find many on mdapps from UC Berkeley with 3.4 and 3.5 GPA's and relatively poor admissions success compared to the guy or gal from a no-name school and a 4.0 GPA.

Here's my take on it. If you go to a no-name school, easily get a high GPA, score high on the mcat, and have great activities the name of your school does not come into question. You are a great student, end of story.

If you go to a big name school, struggle for a comparatively low GPA, score high on the mcat, and have medium to great activities (but less than you would be able to get at a no-name school because you were busy working on your GPA) you may or may not be a great student.

Also, stats are only part of the picture.

Finally to those that will immediately complain "but if you go to a crappy school you will get a crappy MCAT score."

NO. YOU ARE WRONG. Whether you do well on the MCAT or not has to do with whether you are a good critical thinker. If you have the ability to gain acceptance to a Ivy as I did but opted to attend a lower tier school for this or that reason you likely have the innate abilities that determine the difference between a ~31 and 35+.

Here's my take on it. If you go to a top-name school, easily get a high GPA, score high on the mcat, and have great activities the name of your school does not come into question. You are the ideal student, end of story.

 

[Alexoliveira95]

Sometimes, I feel that way as well, as if I a school like Brown would feel right-er due to its prestige.

I honestly do think I have the capability of getting into an Ivy, im just saying, if I dont, id like to be relieved by the fact that im not screwed as far as getting into med school goes.

 

[HawaiiHereICome]

Here's my take on it. If you go to a top-name school, easily get a high GPA, score high on the mcat, and have great activities the name of your school does not come into question. You are the ideal student, end of story.

Hey guys, sorry to bump this thread, but I'd appreciate it if you could help evaluate my plan for research experience. I do not like research, especially compared to clinical work. But I go to a top university, and though my chances are slim, I'm aiming for a top 10 medical school, so I feel as though I need to have at least a decent amount of research, as these schools are research institutions. Would this research be enough? (see below)

1. Biology Lab Research Assistant (summer 2010, 20 hrs/week) - finishing up now, can continue, but don't want to
2. Cancer Center Research Assistant (summer 2010-2012, 4 hrs/week) - I started this summer, will continue for next two summers
3. Some sort of clinical research (summer 2011, ~30-40 hrs/week) - I plan to do research again next summer, this time clinical.

I don't anticipate any publications or presentations, by the way.

Would this be enough research for it not to be a weakness on my application to top medical schools? I'd be 100% happy with any med school, but I want to put my best foot forward and not close doors to top schools. That being said, I don't think research needs to be my strong point at all.

Post again when you're closer to applying to medical school. Hey maybe you'll be a great success.

pfft.

 

[AllDay24]

Search function would have at least 10 results on this topic.

 

[carbear02]

👍

While I agree with this to some extent, you also can't go wrong going to a school like Brown. I graduated from Brown in 2005. I've had so many oppurtunities that would not be open to me graduating from most state schools (like working as an investment banker).

As far as medical schools are concerned, all but one of my friends got into medical school out of Brown. Most got into top 20 schools. The one friend that didn't get in had a sub-20 MCAT score.

Now, stats from a school like Brown can be deceiving (there is selection getting in and further selection in the weed out courses). But, they have well over a 90% med school acceptance rate (national average is under 50%), the average MCAT is a 33 (versus 24 national average) and all medical schools are familiar with Brown and a few love to have Brown students (by total fluke I sat next to the ex-director of admissions at NYU on a flight to Syracuse and he said they loved Brown students as most were non-trads that did amazing things and they were willing to accept such students with lower stats and encouraged me to apply with a hypothetical 3.5/30 [much lower than their accepted average]).

For me, Brown was the right place. Though this is not true for every one. Go to the best fit for you, a place where you can excel. In that end, that is what is most important.

 

[Shaptown]

to a certain extent yes it matters, only in the sense that some schools do like to see a pedigree from certain schools. I would tend to avoid schools like that altogether though, and i would hope most would do the same. Those are not the type of environments that harbor innovative, free thinking.

 

[BBender716]

For example, if you look at swarthmore - a notoriously hard school

http://www.swarthmore.edu/x8886.xml

they say that a 3.4 is strong. It's a prestigious and hard grading school, so when SDN people say "3.4 and under is dead" I don't think that's very accurate. Then theres also course rigor and difficulty which has to matter to some degree

This school and UC-Berkeley are the two schools that always specifically stand out to me. FWIW, Swarthmore's admission rate to med school is something ridiculously high (like 75-80%), so if 3.4 is stellar, with that admissions rate, it kind of makes the argument right there...

EDIT: just looked, overall rate of acceptance was 83%, for applicants immediately graduating it was >90%.