Looking for advice!

[Radon XP]

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I'm applying to college this fall and I'd like some advice regarding a few questions. I am 99% certain that I want to do something health-related; I've looked at dentistry and medicine and I want to pursue pre-health while making up my mind in college.

I live in Texas, so I would be in a good position since there are relatively many medical schools and dental schools (three compared to 0 or 1 in many states).

Prestige of under-graduate institution and professional school is hardly important to me. That is to say, it'd be nice, but since I plan on practicing rather than academics, I don't care that much.

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Okay, here's the deal. I'm applying to UT Austin, Texas A&M, and Emory under Early Decision (possibly more, but that is my core: one high rank, one match, one safety). If I get accepted into Emory, then great. Otherwise, I would be happy at UT Austin or A&M, but here's the thing: do they have adequate prep for professional school? Are they respected?

I plan on living in Texas after school anyway, if that matters.

With UT, I will almost certainly get in. But the financial aid won't be great, and I will probably graduate with some debt. However, I would prefer it over A&M, all other things being equal.

With A&M, I will likely have a full ride for NMF and other merit scholarships. However, I don't know if A&M is good enough for getting into medical/dental school.

Help is much appreciated

 

[gettheleadout]

College admission matters will get more attention in hSDN. Moving.

 

[AntiHouseMD]

DO NOT DO EARLY DECISION. Do early action, so you're not bound to any school in case their financial aid sucks. That's the biggest lesson you should get from my post.

Any school will be able to help with getting into professional school. Look at their post-secondary admission rates, although you have to take these numbers with a grain of salt as they may be calculated differently. Consider the research opportunities (no idea how to do this, but find out how many opportunities). Visit both schools, and see which one feels better. Apply to both, and see how financial aid works out. Both are respected in my opinion. But, to be fair, I live in New England. GammaKnife and Doxorubicin, who both live closer to you, should have better advice on that regard. Don't worry completely about finances right now. Just find out which schools you like, and pick out a few cheaper safety schools. Once you find out financial aid, take finances into account.

Also, don't worry about choosing between dentistry or medicine right now. You'll have to decide around the middle of college, as you'll have to decide whether to take the MCAT or DAT. The pre-reqs are usually similar, so that isn't an issue.

Good luck, and welcome!

 

[Cephal0pod]

To add on to what AHMD was saying about research opportunities, usually one can find out what is available on a college's website, though often it takes a bit of digging. But yes, definitely take research opportunities into consideration! Also, some really good advice I've heard from multiple people now is that college is really what you make of it. Meaning, regardless of where you go (to a point), what you get out of it ultimately falls into your own hands and is directly proportional to what you put into it. 👍

I don't live very close to Texas, but for whatever its worth all of the schools you mentioned are pretty well respected from what I've heard about them. Best of luck! 👍

 

[Radon XP]

Thanks everybody!

As for the ED at Emory, I definitely know that it would be a bad idea due to financial aid reasons, but Emory pledges to meet 100% of need and my family's income level puts us in a position where we could possibly have very few if any loans. Since Emory has a reputation for good financial aid, I'm thinking applying ED couldn't hurt.

So A&M is a solid, respected school?

 

[kcin]

Thanks everybody!

As for the ED at Emory, I definitely know that it would be a bad idea due to financial aid reasons, but Emory pledges to meet 100% of need and my family's income level puts us in a position where we could possibly have very few if any loans. Since Emory has a reputation for good financial aid, I'm thinking applying ED couldn't hurt.

So A&M is a solid, respected school?

Yes, A&M is solid/respected.

 

[AntiHouseMD]

Thanks everybody!

As for the ED at Emory, I definitely know that it would be a bad idea due to financial aid reasons, but Emory pledges to meet 100% of need and my family's income level puts us in a position where we could possibly have very few if any loans. Since Emory has a reputation for good financial aid, I'm thinking applying ED couldn't hurt.

So A&M is a solid, respected school?

I still wouldn't go ED. Think of this: If Texas A&M or Texas both accepted you with excellent financial aid, you would be forced to go to Emory. If Emory is your ABSOLUTE first choice, then maybe. But personally, I would rather keep my options open as much as possible.

 

[hownowmauvecow]

A&M is great for getting into medical/dental school (I assume UT is too but I am biased since I went to A&M). We have a professional school office that works with us every step of the way and is very informative (on par with SDN at least for TX schools). Plus do not underestimate the value of having zero loans from undergrad. I went to a crazy competitive high school and many of my friends with off to ivies where they paid a lot of money for their undergrad (they were not disadvantaged so did not get much financial aid) while I on the other hand went to A&M on a full ride and I got interviews and acceptances to the same state schools. Long story short take the free money and run.

If you have more questions about A&M I would be happy to answer them. And in all fairness UT is a really good school as well.

 

[deleted357625]

I'm applying to college this fall and I'd like some advice regarding a few questions. I am 99% certain that I want to do something health-related; I've looked at dentistry and medicine and I want to pursue pre-health while making up my mind in college.

I live in Texas, so I would be in a good position since there are relatively many medical schools and dental schools (three compared to 0 or 1 in many states).

Prestige of under-graduate institution and professional school is hardly important to me. That is to say, it'd be nice, but since I plan on practicing rather than academics, I don't care that much.

------------

Okay, here's the deal. I'm applying to UT Austin, Texas A&M, and Emory under Early Decision (possibly more, but that is my core: one high rank, one match, one safety). If I get accepted into Emory, then great. Otherwise, I would be happy at UT Austin or A&M, but here's the thing: do they have adequate prep for professional school? Are they respected?

I plan on living in Texas after school anyway, if that matters.

With UT, I will almost certainly get in. But the financial aid won't be great, and I will probably graduate with some debt. However, I would prefer it over A&M, all other things being equal.

With A&M, I will likely have a full ride for NMF and other merit scholarships. However, I don't know if A&M is good enough for getting into medical/dental school.

Help is much appreciated

Do you want to help people? Then don't do dentistry, they're hungry for money and that's it.

While docs may be as well, but they're making drastic changes.

 

[Relko]

Both UT and A&M are well respected for Pre-Med, but I do have to admit that A&M has a better reputation for sciences while UT is more business focused. As for Emory, I honestly have no clue simply because I haven't even looked into it. Deciding between UT and A&M is really up to you, and simply put, go with the one you like more because it has been said multiple times on SDN that med schools pay more attention to your GPA and MCAT than they do to your undergrad university. In tough situations between two similar applicants, the school may have preferences, like I know that Baylor Med usually accepts more applicants from UT and UT med from A&M, but other than that just go where you'll be happy, get scholarships, and think you'll get a good GPA.

EDIT: Oh and like everyone else said, don't do ED, if you're accepted then you basically signed a contract saying you'd go to that school. It is legally binding.