Easier undergrad?

[seals44]

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I am nearly 100% set now (acceptance and matriculation fee paid) on attending a US News and World Report top 60 school. I think I will find myself very satisfied attending this school, but I am slightly worried about my ability to perform grade-wise. My SAT scores are in about the middle 50th percentile for matriculants. So my question is this: am I doing myself harm by going to a school where only 10-15% of students in BCPM prereqs get A's, and I am not above-average score wise? Is it better to go to a university where you are in the 90th percentile + of matriculants, so that your gpa is much more kind? Thanks.

 

[NickNaylor]

I am nearly 100% set now (acceptance and matriculation fee paid) on attending a US News and World Report top 60 school. I think I will find myself very satisfied attending this school, but I am slightly worried about my ability to perform grade-wise. My SAT scores are in about the middle 50th percentile for matriculants. So my question is this: am I doing myself harm by going to a school where only 10-15% of students in BCPM prereqs get A's, and I am not above-average score wise? Is it better to go to a university where you are in the 90th percentile + of matriculants, so that your gpa is much more kind? Thanks.

If you're worried about grades, work harder.

Slightly tongue in cheek but no less true. Trying to pick an "easy" school is a stupid way to go about picking a college.

 

[maybemed2013]

Go to an easy uni and get the higher GPA, that's what I did. At first I regretted It but now I am thankful I did. A 3.7 from an easy state uni looks better than a 3.1 from A top tier uni.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Honestly, I would recommend just going to a state school. 4.0 is too easy.

 

[deleted357625]

Honestly, I would recommend just going to a state school. 4.0 is too easy.

this and you save so much money. tuition now and days is like buying a house. be logical

 

[seals44]

Just FYI, the university in question is the University of Pittsburgh, and the advantages would be that I have very strong ties with the hospitals down there, so research, shadowing, and volunteering would all be ridiculously simple to acquire.

 

[Musclemass]

For those of modest means but also for people from solid middle class backgrounds, an expensive private school is often cheaper than a cheap public one, because of the availability and generosity of financial aid. This is especially true at publics which have had to raise tuition (with no increase in aid) because of funding cuts. You don't know if you don't apply, and when you apply, many are very surprised.

It would be logical to compare great private schools with mediocre to lousy public ones based on the gross price tag if you were comparing like with like, which such a comparison is decidedly not. Those who could afford otherwise but think it's the same experience will go to Eastern Cow Pasture State and be happy. And will never know what they're missing.

OP, Pitt is a great school with a great Med Center. If you can swing the bucks, go!

 

[sliceofbread136]

For those of modest means but also for people from solid middle class backgrounds, an expensive private school is often cheaper than a cheap public one, because of the availability and generosity of financial aid. This is especially true at publics which have had to raise tuition (with no increase in aid) because of funding cuts. You don't know if you don't apply, and when you apply, many are very surprised.

It would be logical to compare great private schools with mediocre to lousy public ones based on the gross price tag if you were comparing like with like, which such a comparison is decidedly not. Those who could afford otherwise but think it's the same experience will go to Eastern Cow Pasture State and be happy. And will never know what they're missing.

OP, Pitt is a great school with a great Med Center. If you can swing the bucks, go!

May I ask what "experience" we are missing? I am in need of enlightenment.

 

[sliceofbread136]

For my school, the "experience" is the quality of undergraduate teaching, the social community, and the availability of internship opportunities. It does wonders to surround yourself with those who are motivated to succeed, if you could keep up, that is.

I go to UT Austin and I get all those things except the "surrounding yourself with those who are motivated to succeed", which isn't important to me. Also, despite the earlier post, state schools are significantly cheaper (we get scholarships too :/ ). The fact is it is easier to maintain a high GPA at a state school, which is what medical schools want. School prestige isn't nearly as important a factor as your GPA.

 

[Barcu]

For my school, the "experience" is the quality of undergraduate teaching, the social community, and the availability of internship opportunities. It does wonders to surround yourself with those who are motivated to succeed, if you could keep up, that is.

Not this crap again.

State schools have just as many, probably more, opportunities than private schools. You just have to be active.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Actually, my current school had the overall lowest price tag because of the substantial FA package. (Incidentally, I applied for FA months after the deadline had passed)

Well that's cool. I pay nothing for college, so maybe I've just been blinded to the fact that private schools are such a better deal than public schools 🙄

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Reasons to attend an institute:
1) You feel happy in the atmosphere.
2) Location
3) Class/ college size.
4) Cost/ scholarships.
5) Has a program or major that you like
6) How much the curve is in your favor.

Overall if you have two very similar colleges and you feel like you can get a higher grade at the other, then it's a factor.

 

[sliceofbread136]

I'm sorry if my statements have touched a nerve, but I will not bite your bait. Private schools and public schools have their pros and cons, but because this thread seems to be largely public-positive (which, in retrospect, makes sense because more people probably do go to public schools), I merely sought to provide a differing opinion.

Just based on my own anecdotal experience, I have found my pre-req professors to be incredibly accommodating (1:1 office hours were common in my genetics class) and the pre-medical support is superb. I suppose it would be dependent on the financial aid package you receive and the type of learning that you excel at, so don't totally cross off private schools just yet, OP.

I'll admit I'm not a fan of private schools (mainly due to interactions with pretentious Rice students) and maybe my posting has been a tad aggressive. I agree that each school should be looked at individually, and you might find that a private school is the school for you. However, I do believe that, in general, public schooling is a much better option for premed students.

 

[Stumpyman]

Upitt is a great option for premed IMO. I think it'll have a lot of the same opportunities as a private school. But if you're worried about not doing as good as others, just study harder. This should only be a serious concern if the university is notorious for harsh grading (something like Princeton).

A lot of pre meds do pick state schools, namely because of the cost and sometimes easier competition. I have a friend applying with a 4.0 from AZ state, she chose it over some pretty good private schools (well, maybe AZ state is a bad example; I know they grade super easily).

 

[plumhill]

Just FYI, state schools aren't necessarily way easier. I have a friend who transferred from an ivy to my state school and he finds the curriculum a good deal harder.

 

[aSagacious]

Moving to hSDN.

 

[Obnoxious Dad]

I am nearly 100% set now (acceptance and matriculation fee paid) on attending a US News and World Report top 60 school. I think I will find myself very satisfied attending this school, but I am slightly worried about my ability to perform grade-wise. My SAT scores are in about the middle 50th percentile for matriculants. So my question is this: am I doing myself harm by going to a school where only 10-15% of students in BCPM prereqs get A's, and I am not above-average score wise? Is it better to go to a university where you are in the 90th percentile + of matriculants, so that your gpa is much more kind? Thanks.

If your SAT/ACT scores are at the 50th percentile, chances are your grades will be too. Medical school admissions committees do not normalize transcripts to account for the rigor of the college, major or course load. They don't have the time, staff or inclination to do it.

My kid went to an elite college where her ACT was in the middle of the pack and she majored in chemistry. She found out that the people with higher ACT scores were willing to work just as hard as she did. The science exams she took were just one big series of knuckle balls. She did get into med school but she was extremely fortunate.

Take the easier path.

 

[CeeEstee0]

Your ACT/SAT scores aren't what matters after acceptance. Can you outwork the people in the 99th percentile? I don't deny it is difficult to get top scores, but attempting to predict everyones college performace based on one test? Just because they beat you on one standardized exam doesn't mean they will outscore or out study you over the next four years.

Stay strong and work hard.