Should premed be done at first choice med school?

[scscribbler]

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Hey ya'll. Hope everyone is well. Quick question; because of the family and business roots I have here, my first of choice medical school is the University of South Carolina SOM. Would there be any competitive advantage to taking some or all of my premed science classes there? The local community college is half the cost, but is it really a bargain? It seems to me that letters of recommendation (assuming you did a good job, made high marks and built the strong relationships required to get them) from professors working at the first choice school would hold more weight there than letters from unknowns at a different school. Or, is it the other way around? Any comments are appreciated and thanks for taking the time. -Jake

 

[kevster2001]

You'd be gaining a slight advantage there at the expense of your chances at other schools. Why not just go to the best school you can and keep your options open.

 

[drizzt3117]

You'd be gaining a slight advantage there at the expense of your chances at other schools. Why not just go to the best school you can and keep your options open.

I think he's talking about taking classes there as opposed to at a community college, I think he'd be better off doing that for any school, not just USC SOM.

 

[kevster2001]

I think he's talking about taking classes there as opposed to at a community college, I think he'd be better off doing that for any school, not just USC SOM.

Oh i see. My mistake. Yes, avoid CC's for any and all premed related classes.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Yeah, definitely try to take all of the pre-reqs at a 4-year university. The reason the CC classes cost less is because they honestly aren't worth the same as the class from a "real" school, and you may find yourself being asked why you took the classes there in an interview- I was actually asked twice about classes I took at a CC when I was still in HIGH SCHOOL, and they weren't even pre-reqs. You may also find you have a harder time studying the material for the MCAT because you weren't taught it in as rigorous of a setting as a true 4-year university. Beyond that, I don't think it matters where you go to school; having letters from faculty at the USC undergrad might give you a LITTLE boost, but not enough of one that you should choose to go there if, say, you got a better scholarship somewhere else.

Also, try not to box yourself into thinking what your first-choice school is at this point. I also thought I knew what my first-choice school was going into college because of "family ties," but here I am 4 years later and I'm happy to be moving out of town to a new city 🙂

 

[Aladdin]

I was actually asked twice about classes I took at a CC when I was still in HIGH SCHOOL, and they weren't even pre-reqs.

I had the same experience.

It probably doesn't matter where you take your pre-reqs. I know of some schools that will flat-out tell you that you have a smaller chance of getting in because you went to their school. In the end, it makes little to no difference as long as the two schools are on the same (or similar) "educational levels."

 

[Brown8472]

It depends on what your situation is. If it means taking classes at a CC and not being able to afford college at all, take the cc classes and ace them. You will need to prove yourself a bit more in the upper courses. I got 6 interviews so far and the issue never came up. I made sure that they understood where I am coming from in my personal statement.

 

[AdmiralChz]

Definitely be ready to give (good) reasons for why you didn't take the pre-reqs at your 4-year university. Otherwise, it will appear that you may have done it to make it easier on yourself - a friend of mine did this and it hurt him pretty severely this cycle, he's now looking into master's programs.

 

[majahops]

Depends on the school. At UC Davis (my undergrad), their Adcoms specifically look for students who went somewhere OTHER than UCD. Weird, I know.

Hey ya'll. Hope everyone is well. Quick question; because of the family and business roots I have here, my first of choice medical school is the University of South Carolina SOM. Would there be any competitive advantage to taking some or all of my premed science classes there? The local community college is half the cost, but is it really a bargain? It seems to me that letters of recommendation (assuming you did a good job, made high marks and built the strong relationships required to get them) from professors working at the first choice school would hold more weight there than letters from unknowns at a different school. Or, is it the other way around? Any comments are appreciated and thanks for taking the time. -Jake

 

[amakhosidlo]

Depends on the school. At UC Davis (my undergrad), their Adcoms specifically look for students who went somewhere OTHER than UCD. Weird, I know.

+1, especially if its a public institution. Adcoms seem to hold their own undergrads to a higher standard. Guess they've seen so many that it takes a bit more to impress them..

OP, find another IS public institution (that isn't the state's flagship school) and go there. Easier classes, no 'academic incest' bias...

 

[MILK07]

+1, especially if its a public institution. Adcoms seem to hold their own undergrads to a higher standard. Guess they've seen so many that it takes a bit more to impress them..

OP, find another IS public institution (that isn't the state's flagship school) and go there. Easier classes, no 'academic incest' bias...

Agree... there's always Clemson!