Question about med school

[pballer66]

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Do you think that it matters where you attend school for an undergraduate degree. I currently attend East Carolina University, and ECU is not really know for its academics, but more for its partying. I really want to attend an highly accredited medical school , such as Harvard, Yale something along that lines. Thanks for the help and information.

 

[51487]

I'm of the opinon that it doesnt matter. Overload yourself with science classes so that your overall courseload is a challenge. Do summer research or something at a "higher" ranked school. Become involved. I dont think it matters. Also, no need to insist on a "highly accredited" med school...

 

[DrKT2009]

Do you think that it matters where you attend school for an undergraduate degree. I currently attend East Carolina University, and ECU is not really know for its academics, but more for its partying. I really want to attend an highly accredited medical school , such as Harvard, Yale something along that lines. Thanks for the help and information.

I think it does matter at least a little bit. I am from IN, and our medical school knows which schools have a harder curriculum. I have looked at the different stats from what students they have accepted and their average gpa's. The easier school, the students pretty much had a 4.0 average; whereas, the average gpa of a student at the harder institution was a 3.7. I think that is where the difference is, so I think you will be fine if you do very well in your classes. You may just have to work a little harder (since your school is less known for academics) to show them that you are a great student and will be a great addition to their medical school. I don't know anything about the university you are currently attending, but just keep your grades high and volunteer as much as you are able. As the previous post wrote, doing research at a higher ranked school is a good idea, but you may also be able to find a prof at your university which is very well known in the scientific world (look to see if anyone has publications in Cell, Nature, or Science). Just try to do as much as you can possibly do along with keeping your grades up, and I don't think you should have too much of a problem. As long as you have a well-rounded education, good gpa and MCAT, I would think you could get into a top medical school.

 

[getunconcsious]

I definitely think it makes a difference, I've gotten critical remarks about my undergrad (the University of Hell, uh I mean Houston) at a few of my interviews.

 

[dr.z]

Just do well in school and do well in MCAT for sure if you think your school is not highly regarded. If you do well on both, it shouldn't really make that huge of a difference.

 

[PhotoMD]

If undergrad school doesn't matter, why do you care where do you go to medical school?

 

[tae1703]

forgive me if im redundant, but i havent really read the above replies. but anyways, i think they (adcoms) do take into account where u do ur undergrad but i also believe that if you are fully dedicated, get the high gpr, mcat, and stand out at ur school, then it shouldnt be a prob.

i go to a school that may not be known for its academics also, but a select few have gone on to medical universities. in my opinion, its not where u go but what u get out of it. there may have been excellent docs from a lower ranked school and terrible docs outa harvard. thats what i like to say.

 

[dr_pepper]

Since most schools grade on a curve, the difficulty of achieving the grade you have is based on the quality of your competition. That said, it's generally going to be much easier to get an A in a class at ECU than at a top school (unless your school has unusually strict grading policies). You really have to set yourself apart and finish near the top of your class to be considered for a Harvard/Yale type school. You'll also need a very strong MCAT to show that your high grades are valid.

Also, there's the issue of why you chose ECU in the first place. It's not like you're in some state with no quality schools. Why didn't you go to Chapel Hill?

 

[doogyhowser]

well isn't the MCAT the great equalizer anyway.

it's supposed to show the 4.0 you got at "party u." isn't worth piss in a can compared to the 3.6 a "hard-as-hell university"

 

[VFrank]

I talked to the dean of admissions at Northwestern and specifically asked her if undergrad school matters -- she said yes. She said Northwestern Med (and most other med schools) know which undergrad programs are more challenging/rigorous and they are more inclined to take students from those difficult schools. She said they definitely accept students from lower-tiered schools, but they expect more out of them (i.e. good research, academic awards, students with multiple leadership positions). That said, it is definitly possible to get into an elite medical school from a non-elite undergrad, but you really have to stand out among your peers.

 

[Sarikate]

It really doesn't make a huge difference where you end up going to medical school, either. They're all good!

 

[pballer66]

The reason that i chose ECU is because when i went and took the tour of ECU I absoulutely fell in love with the school. It had everything that i wanted. Its a big school but confined to a smaller area as opposed to say Duke that has parts of campus 2 miles away. General Chem 1 had almost 511 people in it, and out of that 60 % failed. This either shows the partied really hard or that it is just hard. Plus another reason i choose ECU is that I loved the town the school is in.

 

[medstylee]

Do you think that it matters where you attend school for an undergraduate degree. I currently attend East Carolina University, and ECU is not really know for its academics, but more for its partying. I really want to attend an highly accredited medical school , such as Harvard, Yale something along that lines. Thanks for the help and information.

you can try and be like this person... 👍

http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?id=796

 

[Blake]

you can try and be like this person... 👍

http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?id=796

Damn, that's one mad sistah ! 👍

 

[pballer66]

Damn, that's one mad sistah ! 👍

wow think i just found me a new hero. wonder which school she choose to go too.

 

[getunconcsious]

Also, there's the issue of why you chose ECU in the first place. It's not like you're in some state with no quality schools. Why didn't you go to Chapel Hill?

You know what sweetheart? We aren't all made of money. When I applied for admission to undergrad, I got into Stanford, as well as UCLA and UC-Berkeley (from out of state). I went to the University of Houston because I was a National Merit Scholar, and they pay for your tuition, room, board, and books. So in the future please think of other reasons why people might choose lesser schools. Thanks!

 

[Dr Who]

I'm of the opinon that it doesnt matter. Overload yourself with science classes so that your overall courseload is a challenge. Do summer research or something at a "higher" ranked school. Become involved. I dont think it matters. Also, no need to insist on a "highly accredited" med school...

"highly accredited"??? I didnt know such a thing existed. All schools are accredited by the same agency, so it all has more to do with where you feel more comfortable. If you are some guy who has a small penis and is insecure then "name brand" is for you. If, on the other hand, your goal is to become the best doctor you can, then go to where you feel good. In the end where you do your residency is waaay more important then the med school you graduated from.
Now having said that, go where you feel best. It doesnt make any sense to study at Harvard or Hopkins and be miserable for 4 years when you can study at "X" medical school and enjoy your experience. That to me is what is important. BTW when was the last time you asked your doctor where he studied medicine?

 

[Shaz]

The only thing you have to worry about is not getting annoyed by fellow interviewees who expect you to kiss thier ass just because they attended XXXX university.

You know who you are.

 

[The Good Guy]

The only thing you have to worry about is not getting annoyed by fellow interviewees who expect you to kiss thier ass just because they attended XXXX university.

You know who you are.

Agreed 100%.

Don't let some preppy jerks push you around and belittle you.

 

[CanuckRazorback]

The only thing you have to worry about is not getting annoyed by fellow interviewees who expect you to kiss thier ass just because they attended XXXX university.

You know who you are.

Amen to that! The rudest people I've encountered on interview days were from Ivy league schools. I don't want to generalize though because other interviewees were also from Ivy league schools and were super nice. The couple rude guys I witnessed were probably very insecure 🙄

Someone mentioned money earlier... What about people who choose their schools based on athletic scholarships? I know a lot of athletes who went to lower tier schools and ended up matriculating at top medical schools.