Undergrad University Reputation - Does it matter?

[joebell]

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How much does the reputation of your undergrad university matter to medical schools? I go to a barely top 100 (USAtoday) state school, and I'm wondering if admissions will think less of my GPA since I don't go to a more prestigious/"harder" university. I had the option to go to a more prestigious school, but I decided that I'd rather pay very little now and take out loans for medical school than have undergrad debt to deal with as well. What are y'alls thoughts/experiences with this?

Thanks,
joebell.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Repetition count: 120,458,865 times this has been asked.

But short answer: harder to get your foot in the door but that's about it.

 

[Lollygag]

Have you used the search tool? There's like a gazillion threads answering this same question.

 

[487806]

Have you used the search tool? There's like a gazillion threads answering this same question.

👍 I don't know what's with the large influx of people posting threads, when they could easily use the search function. I guess finals are over, and they are bursting with excitement.

 

[Fivo]

Reputation matters. To what extent, depends on the school and adcom reviewing your file.

 

[Josh7]

Yes, it matters. But your achievements can easily make it irrelevant

 

[nabilesmail]

Usually, i don't get upset over the repetition of threads as that is the purpose of a forum, but this has been asked like 5 times in the last week lol...

 

[Narmerguy]

*sigh* Signature.

 

[cuculici1]

*sigh* Signature.

I think it's time for a sticky thread that addresses this question, followed by the subsequent deletion of any thread that addresses the same question.

 

[Josh7]

I think it's time for a sticky thread that addresses this question, followed by the subsequent deletion of any thread that addresses the same question.

If that was policy there would be a whole lot of stickies...

 

[Sophocles]

reputation matters. To what extent, depends on the school and adcom reviewing your file.

yes, it matters. But your achievements can easily make it irrelevant

*sigh* signature.

+1

 

[dichloromethane]

Yeah it does. A lot of people don't like to hear that because most people don't get into the selective schools...if they did selective schools wouldn't be selective. It's a dirty topic.

Honestly, if you don't get into the best school it's not the end of the world. Being a big fish in a big pond>being a big fish in a small pond. Top high school students go to top undergrads to go to the top med/dental schools to land the top specialty to top top top.


For us normal people, it's really not a big deal.
Don't sweat it

 

[Geebeejay]

It matters sorta like how Tropicana tastes better than the Shaws brand of the same product.

 

[AHossain]

I've hear stories where it did and where it didn't. It's just better to come from a reputable school I guess, doesn't mean you wont get into med school just because you don't.

 

[487806]

If that was policy there would be a whole lot of stickies...

Nope. Just make one sticky that addresses all these common issues. A good model to use is neuronix's sticky in physician scientist forum.

 

[Yorick]

You don't even need the search function; related threads usually pop up when you type in the thread name. Does all the work for you except clicking on it.

 

[Sophocles]

You don't even need the search function; related threads usually pop up when you type in the thread name. Does all the work for you except clicking on it.

True story

 

[Hemorrage]

People here will tell you it doesn't but that's a load of crap in my opinion. Typically selective med schools take most of their students from selective undergraduate institutions because they know the student must have been somewhat intelligent to get in there. Does this make up for a subpar GPA and mcat? No. So in summary, if two students had exactly the same stats and around the same ecs then the adcom will most likely choose the student from the better school since it gives them a bit of insurance on the integrity of their undergraduate coursework