Does the university that I go to matter when i apply to medical schools?

[silver_eyess]

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Hello,
I am still a senior in high school and have applied to all UC's and 2 private colleges (UoP and USF). My GPA is 3.5 (I know it sucks) and I have a 20 on the ACT (which also sucks). Right know I am stressing over my acceptance letters from UC Davis, which is where I want to go to as an undergrad. I wanted to go to UCLA and fell in love with the college after I visited it with my dad about 2 months ago. I know this is a long ways off, but say I am accepted to UCLA (which is impossible, with my scores and grades). If I have a 3.5+ GPA in college and hopefully an ok MCAT score, will I have a better chance of being accepted to Medical School, say to UCLA school of Medicine or Stanford school of Medicine or anywhere else as long it is in California or New York or Chicago? Does the reputation of your undergrad school have an affect of being accepted to Medical School? Thanks!

 

[Ryu]

I think it definitely has an effect, but probably not to the extent some people might think. UCLA and CAL pre-med is one of the hardest in the nation, and all med schools acknowledge that. Don't know about Davis. BUT, the whole point is whereever you go, you need to be good in both MCAT and GPA. Don't worry about California medical school at this point, ok?

 

[mpp]

Before you even think of applying anywhere, you have to get rid of that negative attitude. It does no one any good to hear you say how much you suck and how terrible your GPA and ACT scores are. If you do end up going into medicine, I pray that you are never that negative with any patient. "My GPA sucks and I couldn't get into UCLA but how may I help you?"

 

[silver_eyess]

whatever. thanks to the rest.

 

[silver_eyess]

whatever. thanks to the rest. i was just stating my STATS.

 

[loukary]

silver, please just edit your message rather than posting it twice.

 

[fishtolive]

To be honest, you're in high school. Have fun and take it easy! Just work hard in college right away (you seem to have some foresight)and don't have any really bad semesters and it'll come together. Who knows, you may not want to go into medicine once you get there. Especially since you're a senior you should be doing nothing but having fun. Stop trying to predict grades, etc. You are ahead of most people your age just by knowing what an MCAT is so relax. Talk to a doctor (one with a personality) and ask him/her what they remember most about being 18-22 yrs. old. I doubt it will be the MCAT. Don't get me wrong, we premeds can stress (you seem to have some of that going on) but there are varying degrees. With the risk of sounding snotty, I know people that are basically told they must be doctors by there families. They study all day, have no significant other, and worry about minutae nonstop. I have a good circle of friends (few of which are premeds), a girlfriend I've been dating for 5 years, and parents that are happy as long as I'm happy and ya know what? My grades are better than theirs and I am the sane one! Life becomes what you focus on and if ALL you worry about is numbers and prestige and competitive this and that, then you forget about what should have supposedly brought you to this career path...being a human being!

 

[silver_eyess]

Really, i am ahead of people? So how hard is the MCAT? I hear it is like torture...and like a 5 hour+ test. When do you take it? So, for med school you HAVE to have a good GPA AND a good MCAT score? Can you have a good GPA (3.5+) but a low MCAT score? What is a good med. school, but rather easy to get into? So, the college that you go for undergrad does matter for med school? Thanks for your help!

 

[mr_sparkle]

I remember when I was 18 yrs old. I would rush home from lab class to catch Batman: the animated series. Man, that show rocked. I wasn't thinking of MCATs or med school. My biggest concern was working up the nerve to ask this girl out. God, I miss college.

Second year med school sucks. Please, if you're in college or high school, try and enjoy it. Studying 5 hours a day gets old after a while.

mr_sparkle

 

[caffeinegirl]

I LOVED BATMAN!!!
I still watch the reruns over break

I wish I get back to senior year high school. That was the funnest time of my life..no worries at all. Stop thinking about the future for this semester. Just relax and enjoy your last semester of real freedom

 

[silver_eyess]

well you guys, if you haven't noticed that colleges look at your senior class schedule as well as your grades to see what kind of classes are you taking as well the grades. I don't know why i worry too much...this worrying thing, just started in my senior year....i wasn't close to this in my junior year which supposed to be the hardest. I don't know why though. Asking somebody out...not allowed to date...against religion and customs...but i know what you mean. So how is the 1st-2nd year of colelge (undergrad and med)? OHHHHH YEAAAAAHHHHHHH how far in advance do you have to be in college before it starts....like say a school starts fall semester on sept. 23, 2001. Are you supposed to be there on the 1st of sept? What is orientation all about? Thanks and i WISH i could enjoy senior year, but this weekend i am going to make every effort to go to the movies and take pics of us...awww i am about to cry....it is so sad....hehehe. bye.


[This message has been edited by silver_eyess (edited 01-24-2001).]

 

[caffeinegirl]

silver
look at this site http://www.studentdoctor.net/guide/high_school/

 

[Stephen Ewen]

Just remember that the graduate who has a 3.9 - 4.0 plus high MCATs and other qualifications are hard to argue with--third or even fourth tier undergrad school or not.

 

[Malftap]

Good grades, good MCAT scores and extracurricular experience will do the trick all the time no matter what school you go to. I went to a large public college and it's not well know out of the state for producing medical students, but in my classes I knew a guy that got into Baylor, another that interviewed at Harvard and another girl that got accepted to John Hopkins. So as long as you do well you'll get to where you want to go.