Texas Universities

[HDr]

Out of these universities, which will provide a better opportunity for me to become a stronger medical school applicant?

Texas Christian University, Trinity University, Southern Methodist University, University of Texas at Austin.

I have heard that Trinity University is well respected in regards to their science department, but when I search forums about the campus, many are saying to stay away.

Texas Christian University and UT will both have medical schools in 2018, which I am considering strongly.

If anyone has recommendations for which university I should transfer to, please let me know.

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[ofthesaints]

UT-Austin will have their first medical school class in the Fall of 2016. Two other schools that would provide a great pre-med education and fantastic research opportunities for you are Texas A&M and UT-Dallas, assuming you are open to other options. Also, it depends on what you want. Do you want to be a small fish in a large pond or a big fish in a small pond?

 

[Cookie04]

Your undergrad university really doesn't matter, as long as you do well. UT Austin will have more research opportunities. Trinity will also have many research opportunities and is a great school. Go where you think you will fit the best and be happy, don't go because you think it will give you a better chance at an acceptance. Seriously, you can go to any four year university in Texas and make it into medical school with an equal chance, provided you have a good GPA, decent MCAT, and EC's. Also think about diversity... there are so many UT students that apply to medical school, so attending there doesn't make you special or unique. Also Dell Medical School's class will only be 50 students for the next few years (probably around the time you are applying), so it's going to be a bit tougher getting admitted there versus any other Texas med school. Also think about the city you want to live in! Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio all have a different feel. My personal favorite is Trinity.

 

[HDr]

Your undergrad university really doesn't matter, as long as you do well. UT Austin will have more research opportunities. Trinity will also have many research opportunities and is a great school. Go where you think you will fit the best and be happy, don't go because you think it will give you a better chance at an acceptance. Seriously, you can go to any four year university in Texas and make it into medical school with an equal chance, provided you have a good GPA, decent MCAT, and EC's. Also think about diversity... there are so many UT students that apply to medical school, so attending there doesn't make you special or unique. Also Dell Medical School's class will only be 50 students for the next few years (probably around the time you are applying), so it's going to be a bit tougher getting admitted there versus any other Texas med school. Also think about the city you want to live in! Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio all have a different feel. My personal favorite is Trinity.

Great advice. I am assuming you graduated from Trinity? I am considering knocking UT off my list because I am leaning towards going to a smaller university (Easier to make connections with professors). I currently live close to Houston and I can say that the weather here is not preferable (too humid and too much rain). San Antonio and the Dallas area both have good weather, although I think that San Antonio's weather is slightly better.

MSU puts a fairly large amount of students into UTSW (Indicating a strong science department and good opportunities). TCU will have a brand new medical school when I graduate and I have heard a lot of good things about TCU's opportunities in terms of shadowing and volunteering. And TU has a phenomenal science department with excellent research opportunities. I guess my final decision will come down to which university I personally like.

If anyone has more advice or recommendations specifically related to these universities, please tell.

 

[deleted393595]

Out of these universities, which will provide a better opportunity for me to become a stronger medical school applicant?

Texas Christian University, Trinity University, Southern Methodist University, University of Texas at Austin.

I have heard that Trinity University is well respected in regards to their science department, but when I search forums about the campus, many are saying to stay away.

Texas Christian University and UT will both have medical schools in 2018, which I am considering strongly.

If anyone has recommendations for which university I should transfer to, please let me know.

UTD and UTSA > All those above. Competition at UT is quite stiff, and tuition is much better at UTD + UTSA. Plus, UTD has UTSW attached, and UTSA has their own med school.

TCU + SMU is overpriced imho.

@Lucca

 

[flatbear]

don't forget md anderson is in houstin too for research opportunities.

 

[ZPakEffect]

Go to the easiest undergrad possible. Get a 4.0 GPA. Get a 510+ on the MCAT. Welcome to medical school.

 

[~bleepbloop~]

UTD and UTSA > All those above. Competition at UT is quite stiff, and tuition is much better at UTD + UTSA. Plus, UTD has UTSW attached, and UTSA has their own med school.

TCU + SMU is overpriced imho.

@Lucca

Plus one. The cost of attendance at those schools is absurd. However, if money is no object for you then go for it.

I go to a UT (side?/affiliated?/not-UT-Austin?) school and my boyfriend went to UT-Austin and comparing the difficulty of the classes is an absurd difference. I try a lot less hard than he had to and he is much better at critical thinking than I am (I have a 4.0 and he graduated with ~3.6). And because of that I have a lot more time to do research, join clubs, have time to volunteer, play with my dogs, etc. Also as far as research goes, it is kind of is a seek-and-you-shall-find basis. IMHO you shouldn't base where you want to go for undergrad as research as the largest factor, unless you plan on doing research as your future career.

Texas schools also really don't have a bias for their undergrad, for instance if you went to Baylor for undergrad, it would be no different to going to any other Texas school in Baylor medical school's admissions eyes. Sooo, also don't base your opinion on that.

 

[Cookie04]

UTD and UTSA > All those above. Competition at UT is quite stiff, and tuition is much better at UTD + UTSA. Plus, UTD has UTSW attached, and UTSA has their own med school.

TCU + SMU is overpriced imho.

@Lucca

Actually UTSA does not have their own medical school. It is a common misconception that UTSA and the UT Health Science Center of San Antonio are connected, but they are completely separate institutions.

 

[deleted393595]

Actually UTSA does not have their own medical school. It is a common misconception that UTSA and the UT Health Science Center of San Antonio are connected, but they are completely separate institutions.

True, but there's a medical school that's not too far from the main campus. That means easy access to a huge swatch of research opportunities in highly productive labs, shadowing and volunteering at a Trauma Level I hospital. You can't make the same case for UTEP.

don't forget md anderson is in houstin too for research opportunities.

There's no UT branch in Houston (yet). Unless you're referring to Uni of Houston

 

[Lucca]

Don't go to Trinity, TCU, or SMU unless you are baller rich because they really aren't worth the money when Texas public schools are already quality to begin with and 20-50% the cost.

In terms of quality of life it is my opinion that Austin > Houston > Dallas > San Antonio > everywhere else in Texas > a pile of rat **** >>> College Station (can you guess where I go?~so mysterious~)

There are a lot of pre-meds at UT Austin. A LOT of them. However, the competition isn't really what makes this school academically challenging. Very few classes outside of the intro (and some random) classes are curved competitively so most classes really just depend on your own performance. Is UT Austin harder than other schools in Texas? I don't know. I've only gone to one place and I have found my classes challenging but manageable. If you think you know what you are doing in terms of studying, managing your own time then you will be fine here imho. I love it here, I've learned a lot, the city and the school are affordable and I've made good friends. If you are not about the lone-wolf life and carving out your own niche in a massive place then you might not do as well here and might fit in better at a school with a much more cohesive and united culture like TAMU or something.

That being said, UTD > UTSA imo because I've heard that UTD runs a tight ship in their science and health profession departments.

 

[HDr]

After checking TCU's core curriculum, I will not be going there. Now I am deciding on UTD, SMU, and TU. @Lucca I have my tuition already paid for, no matter which institution I choose. UTD seems to have the most diversity in terms of science courses offered, which is a plus. UTD also seems like an easier school to maintain a high gpa.

 

[Spector1]

ahhh texas premeds are so lucky

 

[Lucca]

After checking TCU's core curriculum, I will not be going there. Now I am deciding on UTD, SMU, and TU. @Lucca I have my tuition already paid for, no matter which institution I choose. UTD seems to have the most diversity in terms of science courses offered, which is a plus. UTD also seems like an easier school to maintain a high gpa.

I'd visit both D and Austin and see which school you like better. I don't know anything about the privates so I won't comment on those.

 

[ofthesaints]

After checking TCU's core curriculum, I will not be going there. Now I am deciding on UTD, SMU, and TU. @Lucca I have my tuition already paid for, no matter which institution I choose. UTD seems to have the most diversity in terms of science courses offered, which is a plus. UTD also seems like an easier school to maintain a high gpa.

HDr, if you have any questions regarding UTD, feel free to PM me. I was both a student ambassador and president of the most prominent pre-health club on campus, so I know quite a bit of what UTD can offer you in terms of opportunities to better yourself as an applicant for medical school and also personally. I'll try to be as objective as possible. 😉

 

[sliceofbread136]

You'd have to be crazy to pick any school in texas over UT Austin except maybe Rice (even then I would pick UT). Cheap tuition, great resources, by far the best location/atmosphere of any Texas college.

UTD is ok but doesn't compare in pretty much every regard.

UTSA is basically a giant parking lot and why anyone would ever even consider going there outside of the CAP program is simply beyond me. Horrible place to go to college.

SMU is just too expensive. Why pay that much for an inferior education.

 

[Cookie04]

You'd have to be crazy to pick any school in texas over UT Austin except maybe Rice (even then I would pick UT). Cheap tuition, great resources, by far the best location/atmosphere of any Texas college.

UTD is ok but doesn't compare in pretty much every regard.

UTSA is basically a giant parking lot and why anyone would ever even consider going there outside of the CAP program is simply beyond me. Horrible place to go to college.

SMU is just too expensive. Why pay that much for an inferior education.

I am going to assume your response is sarcastic. :troll:

 

[sliceofbread136]

I am going to assume your response is sarcastic. :troll:

I formally apologize for speaking the truth

 

[Cookie04]

I formally apologize for speaking the truth

It isn't truth if it is a response based entirely on opinion.

 

[Chlorini]

Go wherever you want to go. I went to a community college for 2 years then transferred to a little-known school where I majored in something completely unrelated to science.

I had no problems getting into medical school (I took half of my premed requirements at the community college).

Go where you will succeed!

 

[sliceofbread136]

It isn't truth if it is a response based entirely on opinion.

This entire thread is based on opinion. My opinion just happens to be the most true, sorry pal

 

[tortelliniboy]

It doesn't matter; go where it's the cheapest and where you'll be the happiest.