How did you chose medschools?

[washkeep]

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I'm starting to think about medschools, seeing as I'm almost done with the premed prereqs and MCAT. There are so many schools, it's hard to narrow it down to some good ones. (I guess MCAT scores will help with that.) But I was wondering..... how did ya'll decide which schools to apply to?

 

[dstn2bmd]

All the factors are important. However, I chose based on whether or not students were happy. I look at it this way no matter how great a school is...if you don't have passionate faculty and a good learning environment then you probably won't get as much out of your education as otherwise. For example, I go to a state school (I guess its considered third tier...whatever) and I have grown as an individual and have learned so much from faculty who really love what they teach. However, 20 miles away is a private university where students are so unhappy and depressed that many students are on some form of antidepressant or anxiety med. due to ridiculously competitive weedout classes and unavailable professors. My .02 cents...I want strong student-faculty relationships in my education.

 

[Retro]

You don't really choose the med school to attend; just send out a bunch of applications and see which one accepts you, and that is it. If you are among those lucky individuals with multiple acceptances, pick the school that awards you the most money. If both schools award similar amounts, look at prestige; and then look at locations.

 

[washkeep]

Well, yeah, i agree. I was just wondering how did you decide where to apply.

 

[Retro]

Oh, well, that depends on many factors: 1) race, 2) School attended, 3)MCAT/Grades, 4) Extra-curriculum. If you are average with your stats and are not a URM, then apply to a range of 30 or more schools and should maybe avoid the top-10 schools. If you are really good and are not a URM, then 15 to 20 schools are the norm with top-10 schools. Avoid state schools if you are not the resident of those states. There are books you can buy that give you stats of the accepted students according to the schools. Go look at Barnes and Noble reference section.

 

[omarsaleh66]

it doesnt really matter what medical school u go to. What matters is how well u do on ur grades, rotations and especially the boards and whats important is getting into the best residency

later

Omar