Pre-Med Program @ UTD vs UTA

[VicodinMan]

I'm trying to narrow my decision between UT Dallas or UT Arlington for pre-med with a biology or chemistry major. Which school has an excellent pre-med advising department and does anyone here have any favorable/unfavorable experiences?

Your help is much appreciated. Thanks a bunch

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[texahn]

UT Austin

 

[ElChamaco]

I can't believe you are considering attending a UT satellite campus with the accomplishments you posted in your hSDN thread. I hope you have a very good reason for doing this, otherwise you are making a big mistake.

Good luck.

 

[NickNaylor]

Being from the Dallas area and having a few friends at UTA (but not UTD), I think UTA is a great school. I've heard nothing but good things. The only thing I know about UTD is that it's pretty science/research-heavy, which may or may not be a good thing for you.

I agree with the above, though. Go to Austin if you can. UTA and UTD are commuter schools for sure, and the student life there wouldn't even come close to comparing to UT Austin.

 

[VicodinMan]

UT Austin

I can't believe you are considering attending a UT satellite campus with the accomplishments you posted in your hSDN thread. I hope you have a very good reason for doing this, otherwise you are making a big mistake.

Good luck.

Thanks 🙂. I decided not to go to UT Austin because they are no longer offering scholarships for National Merit Finalists.

Being from the Dallas area and having a few friends at UTA (but not UTD), I think UTA is a great school. I've heard nothing but good things. The only thing I know about UTD is that it's pretty science/research-heavy, which may or may not be a good thing for you.

Thanks for the advice Cole. Specifically, what have you heard about UTA?

 

[ElChamaco]

Thanks 🙂. I decided not to go to UT Austin because they are no longer offering scholarships for National Merit Finalists.



Thanks for the advice Cole. Specifically, what have you heard about UTA?

Why don't you consider attending schools out of state? Many of the top private universities offer extremely generous financial aid packages. It was far cheaper for me to attend an Ivy league university than UT Austin. In fact attending UT Austin would have been one of the most expensive options for me.

 

[Sxp9353]

I know this a bit late, but I am a fourth year biochemistry major at UT Arlington.

Both UT austin UTA and UTD are wonderful schools.

First, I would advise you to join chemistry! At UTA there are over 2000 biology majors and when I took bio 1-2 micro and genetics, my classes were huge.

In chemistry, I have classes with about 20 other students which is great. I've been in a research lab with my own project since summer before my junior year and will eventually have about 2-3 publications, (it's a long project). Out of all the chemistry undergrads, about 35% are in a research lab.

I've been in 4 interviews, and the interviewers told me that is refreshing to have a different major besides chemistry and that my biochemistry background will help me a lot in med school. Also I have interviewed with one Ph.D and one MD at every school and the Ph.Ds were chemistry everytime.

Also about UTA being a commuter school, there are about 30,000 students and I'm sure we can find many activities for you to get involved.

 

[longwhorn]

I've attended all three of the schools. Got my bachelors in Finance from UT Austin and did my pre reqs at both UTA and UTD. If scholarship money is the driver than I would go to UTD, it's well known that they have the most scholarship money available per student. If research opportunities are important than either would be fine. Tons of research is conducted at both schools.

I took classes at UTA because I lived very close to the campus but if you have a choice, go to UTD. UTA is a perfectly good school but Arlington is a horrid place to live. Richardson is a very nice area and you can ride the Dart into DT Dallas. If you do end up at UTA, make sure to take Dr. Rogers for any chemistry you can though, he's amazing.

Whatever you do though, stay close to either school because traffic and parking are a pain at both. Also, the premed advisors were great at both, no complaints there.

Good luck.

 

[LRAccord624]

You know... Oklahoma gives full rides (tuition, books, stipend, EVERYTHING) to national merit scholars. Just sayin'

 

[longwhorn]

Dirt burglars..

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

Why don't you consider attending schools out of state? Many of the top private universities offer extremely generous financial aid packages. It was far cheaper for me to attend an Ivy league university than UT Austin. In fact attending UT Austin would have been one of the most expensive options for me.

+1. It was a couple thousand cheaper for me to go to Vanderbilt instead of University of Central Florida. Full need-based aid here. Yea, that was a quick decision.

 

[RecklessKel]

I've attended all three of the schools. Got my bachelors in Finance from UT Austin and did my pre reqs at both UTA and UTD. If scholarship money is the driver than I would go to UTD, it's well known that they have the most scholarship money available per student. If research opportunities are important than either would be fine. Tons of research is conducted at both schools.

I took classes at UTA because I lived very close to the campus but if you have a choice, go to UTD. UTA is a perfectly good school but Arlington is a horrid place to live. Richardson is a very nice area and you can ride the Dart into DT Dallas. If you do end up at UTA, make sure to take Dr. Rogers for any chemistry you can though, he's amazing.

Whatever you do though, stay close to either school because traffic and parking are a pain at both. Also, the premed advisors were great at both, no complaints there.

Good luck.

Agree with this. UTD gives tons of scholarships. The pre-med advisors are really helpful and they have a good program called the health professions evaluation process that helps you get your application together before the applications are even open. The social life/ student life is what you make of it. It doesn't rival UT Austin, but it is what it is. I had a great time my four years and I got paid to be there, so it made it that much sweeter.

 

[PoloBoots]

Well I'm currently a Student at UTA and I think its a great school. Scholarship wise they give full rides to students from family households that make less than 65K and as far as premed program goes, I think it does a great job. We also have a premed adviser and he's always willing to meet with students. I've also heard that UTD is a great school so you can make which ever decision that you'd like. That being said, I have gotten interviews at all of the Texas schools and a couple of the Top (USNews-wise) schools out of state, so it really depends on how much work you put in.

 

[medicalmystery]

I would say you are golden at either one if you can get >3.8. Apparently you are good at tests so I wouldn't worry about the MCAT too much. Just make sure you can get a good 32/33 (i'm sure you will get higher).

If you can do a 3.8 and get >32 + some research at either school I think you will be golden at any school in texas you want. You won't have to waste money at UT Austin or Texas A&M.

 

[plzNOCarribbean]

I've attended all three of the schools. Got my bachelors in Finance from UT Austin and did my pre reqs at both UTA and UTD. If scholarship money is the driver than I would go to UTD, it's well known that they have the most scholarship money available per student. If research opportunities are important than either would be fine. Tons of research is conducted at both schools.

I took classes at UTA because I lived very close to the campus but if you have a choice, go to UTD. UTA is a perfectly good school but Arlington is a horrid place to live. Richardson is a very nice area and you can ride the Dart into DT Dallas. If you do end up at UTA, make sure to take Dr. Rogers for any chemistry you can though, he's amazing.

Whatever you do though, stay close to either school because traffic and parking are a pain at both. Also, the premed advisors were great at both, no complaints there.

Good luck.

This. I agree completely that Arlington is a terrible place to live. However, being from the area and knowing several people who have gone to both schools, I will say that both schools are excellent. UTD, however, is known for being a HEAVY math/engineering school. Bio majors are required to take up to cal 2 i think, or maybe its biochem. My mcat instructor attended UTA, and she said it was very difficult, which may be good or bad (good in that you get what you earn, and bad in that it could bring you GPA down.)

Based on their similarities, I would say UTD because of location, and the great research opportunities. Plus UTD is EXPANDING and it should make for better facilities in the near future.

 

[SOAPsucks222]

I know this a bit late, but I am a fourth year biochemistry major at UT Arlington.

Both UT austin UTA and UTD are wonderful schools.

First, I would advise you to join chemistry! At UTA there are over 2000 biology majors and when I took bio 1-2 micro and genetics, my classes were huge.

In chemistry, I have classes with about 20 other students which is great. I've been in a research lab with my own project since summer before my junior year and will eventually have about 2-3 publications, (it's a long project). Out of all the chemistry undergrads, about 35% are in a research lab.

I've been in 4 interviews, and the interviewers told me that is refreshing to have a different major besides chemistry and that my biochemistry background will help me a lot in med school. Also I have interviewed with one Ph.D and one MD at every school and the Ph.Ds were chemistry everytime.

Also about UTA being a commuter school, there are about 30,000 students and I'm sure we can find many activities for you to get involved.

Hey man, im transferring into UTA from UT Austin as a chemistry major. Could I PM you for some questions?

 

[sliceofbread136]

I think you are silly for not going to Austin (super cheap as is), but if you have to choose between those 2 then dallas is the far better choice

 

[VicodinMan]

OP coming in red hot. Found this thread while Googling my former alma-mater.

Going to UTA was the best decision I ever made (although I stayed at home in a much nicer area). In retrospect, I'd say UTA > UTD for sure.

Ended up going OOS to a well-known med school whose UG is ranked in the top 20. Have to say that UTA had a much stronger UG than my med school's. It's amazing how cheap UTA is for what it offers. You just have to be willing to take advantage of all the resources it offers.

I think you are silly for not going to Austin (super cheap as is), but if you have to choose between those 2 then dallas is the far better choice

With the benefit of hindsight, I don't think Austin would have been a good move. Saved a good chunk of money staying at home in DFW and didn't get involved in the insanity that surrounds UT Austin. The only advantage to Austin would have been 6th Street, but I'm glad I made it thru UG with an intact liver.