How much will the college I attend affect my chances?

[dragoneyes]

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Hey, I am a current college student approaching my final year and I am getting ready to take the MCAT next August and finish up about 3-4 more semesters for my BA in biology. I have been wondering about medical school's viewpoint on the college you attend but haven't been able to find many answers so I hope that someone here can help.

I am currently attending what used to be a community college but it is now a 4-year college but it's not a university, it is a small school but has a full biology bachelor program and is a good school. Due to financial reasons and personal reasons, I would rather finish my bachelor's at this school than transfer to a University; however, my GPA is not strong due to low grades my first two years of college. I plan to do well on the MCAT and I'm working very hard to pull up my GPA. I've had 3.5 -3.7 the last several semesters but its moving slowly. but my question is, how much emphasis do medical schools put on the college you obtain your bachelors degree from? Will getting a degree from a non- university or state college put me at a disadvantage? Since my grades aren't too strong I don't know if it will make a vast difference in my chances of getting in. I'm not trying to get into some top school.. I really just want to get in somewhere.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

AAMC data suggests state schools do not consider UG prestige important, but private schools consider it very important. So depending on if your state has many state schools it could be a non-issue or a bit of a problem. Overall though many people matriculate from lesser known colleges every year.

My personal opinion is that prestige is usually qualified by the MCAT, since it provides an absolute yardstick for all applicants. Many med schools will have an idea of the rigor in a biology major at a large state flagship or well known private. Your lesser known school may not be afforded the same luxury, so they will need to look to the MCAT for context. Doing well on the MCAT will show that you developed a strong understanding of the pre-reqs and alleviate any potential fears.

 

[lcm2020]

It does have some importance, but it's not as important as people going to top schools like to believe.

Get a good GPA, a good MCAT, and some meaningful experiences.

 

[GrapesofRath]

This topics been beaten to death but this will vary tremendously from school to school and ADCOM to ADCOM. For all the talk of UG prestige keep in mind Plenty of pre meds from generic State Us that will let pet rocks in do plenty fine in med school admission and plenty of pre meds at top schools are dissapointed in how much less of an impact their school name has in admission than they thought it would. Bottom line go to the best school you can do well in with emphasis on the doing well part more than the best school part

 

[moisne]

In general, very little. If you have high GPA and MCAT... it wouldn't matter where. If you had high MCAT, low GPA... maybe you went to UC berkeley or Caltech or MIT for engineering...?

 

[terra330]

If you're from an Ivy or a similar caliber school it could make some difference. Otherwise I really don't think it'll matter, unless perhaps a particular medical school has had good luck with students from a particular institution.

 

[cafeverona]

I think @WedgeDawg has a formula that accounts for undegrad prestige

 

[WedgeDawg]

It's not going to matter that much unless you go to a super brand name school (Ivy, Stanford, Duke, etc).

 

[Dr. Death]

It's not going to matter that much unless you go to a super brand name school (Ivy, Stanford, Duke, etc).

Agreed. My UG has open admissions, so everyone that applies gets in. And I have 2 acceptances and 9 II. If you aren't going to the best school, go to the easiest school (with research opportunity)

 

[dragoneyes]

Thanks for the replies. That's good to hear; honestly it's so much easier just to stay at this smaller college. I figured if I kill the MCAT i'd be alright no matter where I get my degree.

 

[rocklobstr]

I got interviews at a couple good private schools, and I go to a small, not well known, state school. Your GPA, MCAT, EC's, LORs, and essays are what matter the most. Stay at the college you like and are happy at.

 

[Cotterpin]

One of the first things that got brought up in my interview was the rigor of my school. I think it made a difference for me, but I have a weird story. It's probably going to be different for everybody.

 

[rocklobstr]

I was asked if I thought my school put me at a disadvantage compared to those from Yale and etc. I listed quite a few reasons why I thought my experience was valuable and why I like my school. As long as you can articulate these things, I don't think it matters much. But yes, its different for everyone and varies from adcom to adcom

 

[Cinclus]

My personal anecdote: I went to a state school for undergrad that is pretty much unheard of outside of the state. I had a great GPA and MCAT score and was offered plenty of interviews in many different states. If you rock it, the school seems to matter little, at least this was the case 4 years ago.