Undergraduate Education

[puresportred]

So I am currently a white, middle class senior from the state of Iowa. I have always been interested in medicine, and I am lucky enough to have a medical research internship in high-school, so it is looking like that is the path I am leaning towards to for college.

But would you guys suggest going to a state school or a private one? Is it really that important where you get your undergraduate degree, or is it more a matter of how you do? Are smaller classes worth a bit more money? Currently I am looking at U of Iowa, Indiana University, U of Illinois Champaign, and Creighton University (all fall somewhat close to my price range). Up for any other school suggestions as well.

It's always good to get input from other people interested in this field, thanks for the responses.

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[superpom_7]

How good your GPA is is more important than what school you got your undergraduate degree in short.

 

[mimelim]

In the extremes, it matters. Certainly CC or tiny no name school is going to be 'looked down on' compared to your Harvard or Stanford types. But, everything else (98%+ of schools) in the middle matters next to nothing. As @superpom_7 said, it is about your GPA and MCAT more than where you went to school. All of the schools you listed will give you fantastic undergraduate educations and all will be great launching points into a career in medicine. They will also have a good number of opportunities (being larger schools) for research, volunteering or other activities.

 

[jqueb29]

So I am currently a white, middle class senior from the state of Iowa. I have always been interested in medicine, and I am lucky enough to have a medical research internship in high-school, so it is looking like that is the path I am leaning towards to for college.

But would you guys suggest going to a state school or a private one? Is it really that important where you get your undergraduate degree, or is it more a matter of how you do? Are smaller classes worth a bit more money? Currently I am looking at U of Iowa, Indiana University, U of Illinois Champaign, and Creighton University (all fall somewhat close to my price range). Up for any other school suggestions as well.

It's always good to get input from other people interested in this field, thanks for the responses.

Depending on where you're trying to go for med school, it's largely just a matter of how you do. As a doctor told me back in high school, it doesn't matter where you go to high school, college, or med school. It just matters how you do while there (and on your Step tests). I went to a tiny high school and a mid-level (nationally speaking) state school in Oklahoma State and got into in-state M.D. school just fine. My basis for how you do in college (and not where you go to college) being more important is based off the fact that, at OU Med, I have classmates who went to schools like Northwest Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene that are tiny and obscure; I also had a high school classmate who is now at Harvard after going to an obscure college in like Idaho or somewhere preposterous. Do well academically in college, volunteer/shadow, and do well on your MCAT, and you will be fine no matter where you go to college (but obviously don't go to a community college).