Hey everyone!
I'm trying to decide right now between WashU (have to pay full price), Vanderbilt (national merit 6k/yr scholarship), and my state school (University of Iowa, 13k/year Total Cost) for pre-med. I'm currently a senior in high school that has to decide before May 7th.
I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were? What complicates this for me is that I'm an international applicant. I've lived in the U.S. for almost my entire life, but I am still on a visa and not a permanent resident w/ green card. We may or may not get it before medical school admissions, but I'm planning for the scenario that I don't get it.
With that said, what would be the best place to go to maximize my chances for medical school admissions? I haven't really heard any success stories for international pre-meds from my state school; although it does have good medical opportunities, especially with Carver Medical School. And that veers me towards WashU/Vanderbilt, as I've heard that having a prestigious undergrad will provide better chances to get into the top tier private medical schools (usually the only ones I can even apply to—e.g. Carver does not accept internationals).
Correct me if I'm wrong over anything, and I'd love your thoughts/advice over any piece of information/factor: whether it's about pre-med advising, hospital, research, grading, environment/culture, peers, prestige, etc...
Thank you so much for your help everyone! It's much appreciated.
I'm trying to decide right now between WashU (have to pay full price), Vanderbilt (national merit 6k/yr scholarship), and my state school (University of Iowa, 13k/year Total Cost) for pre-med. I'm currently a senior in high school that has to decide before May 7th.
I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were? What complicates this for me is that I'm an international applicant. I've lived in the U.S. for almost my entire life, but I am still on a visa and not a permanent resident w/ green card. We may or may not get it before medical school admissions, but I'm planning for the scenario that I don't get it.
With that said, what would be the best place to go to maximize my chances for medical school admissions? I haven't really heard any success stories for international pre-meds from my state school; although it does have good medical opportunities, especially with Carver Medical School. And that veers me towards WashU/Vanderbilt, as I've heard that having a prestigious undergrad will provide better chances to get into the top tier private medical schools (usually the only ones I can even apply to—e.g. Carver does not accept internationals).
Correct me if I'm wrong over anything, and I'd love your thoughts/advice over any piece of information/factor: whether it's about pre-med advising, hospital, research, grading, environment/culture, peers, prestige, etc...
Thank you so much for your help everyone! It's much appreciated.
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