State Colleges vs. State & Private Universities

[USNavy HM]

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I'm getting out of the military(hopefully) in 2008. Cal State University Northridge is 6 miles from where I'd be living and costs roughly $2500/semester. Considering finances and convienience, I would prefer to get my undergrad here. However I am concerned that I won't be as competitive as coming from one of the University of California schools or a private school such as USC, Pepperdine, etc. Getting admitted to one of the more recognized programs wouldn't be a problem but it would be a more of a commute and it would put more hurt on the wallet.

So I guess my question is; take the hit on the med school apps by going to a less recognized school or take the hit on the wallet and go to a more recognized school?

 

[Beau Geste]

I'm getting out of the military(hopefully) in 2008. Cal State University Northridge is 6 miles from where I'd be living and costs roughly $2500/semester. Considering finances and convienience, I would prefer to get my undergrad here. However I am concerned that I won't be as competitive as coming from one of the University of California schools or a private school such as USC, Pepperdine, etc. Getting admitted to one of the more recognized programs wouldn't be a problem but it would be a more of a commute and it would put more hurt on the wallet.

So I guess my question is; take the hit on the med school apps by going to a less recognized school or take the hit on the wallet and go to a more recognized school?

Um, just do well in your classes, and you should be fine. Unless you plan on going to Stanford, Harvard, Yale, JH, then Cal State is a fine university. I think there are some threads around if you search for them about this topic.

 

[dasta]

Unless you plan on going to Stanford, Harvard, Yale, JH, then Cal State is a fine university.

So this means that if you want to go to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Johns Hopkins for medical school, then you should not go to a state college?
It seems to imply that these elite schools only take applicants from elite undergrad programs.

 

[kimmcauliffe]

As a fellow vet (US Air Force, 1999-2005), though you get the GI Bill, you'll soon find that it's pretty much enough to cover either classes or books, not both.

Go where you can afford to go, attend school where you will be happy, and work your arse off. It's not a brand name competition, though other people on here might argue that it is.

Good luck!

 

[efex101]

School has nothing to do with it as long as you excel. I received a lot of interviews to top medical schools and scholarships coming from podunk school.

 

[Beau Geste]

So this means that if you want to go to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Johns Hopkins for medical school, then you should not go to a state college?
It seems to imply that these elite schools only take applicants from elite undergrad programs.

I should have worded it to the effect of - If you are concerned that you are taking a hit by going there and may not get into a more prestigious school, then do what you feel is best.

I think I wrote that after looking at some info Wash U. sent me with a list of undergrad schools their students came from. Most were private/public research schools or very well known for academics. There weren't too many I didn't know of.

I've since thrown it away.

 

[efex101]

Big name schools might have "more" folks from big name U's because many folks from smaller no-name schools are very hesitant to even apply to top tens for medicine. I, on the other hand threw all caution to the wind and applied very broadly from top tens to mid to low tier...and this did pay off. Now, this being said you DO have to be extremely competitive coming from a smaller U to run with the big dogs....but as long as you do very well in undergrand *and* do well on the McAT *and* get glowing LOR's there should be NO reason why you cannot apply and get accepted to top schools...

 

[27823]

Doc,
After your EOS you might consider the reserves for a little bonus money on top of your GI Bill. It's only a weekend a month for an extra few hundred dollars...but the down side is possible activation (depends on the unit...but your 8404 so your going anyway ) I just got back (7 months in Africa OEF). Also, you have it a lot better than the average guy....you already have the some of the skills(sutures, cricos,tracheos,emergency/field medicine) and time which makes you stand out. Make sure you keep your skills up. I know you'll keep your grades up.

USMC"DOC" FMF
4th Tank Bn

 

[27823]

Out

 

[27823]

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