Undergraduate Importance

[gsrimport]

---

Members do not see this ad.

For osteopathic schools, do they look at which undergraduate school that you attended and factor that into their decision of acceptance? Some schools have more difficult science courses than other schools primarily due to the professor. Thank you in advance.

 

[Ratch]

no, i don't think so, unless you perhaps attended a school with an osteopathic program - otherwise your school is really nothing too special or unspecial - there's just too many other factors to consider

^one mans opinion, but someone who knows the admissions head pretty well

 

[OSUdoc08]

For osteopathic schools, do they look at which undergraduate school that you attended and factor that into their decision of acceptance? Some schools have more difficult science courses than other schools primarily due to the professor. Thank you in advance.

yes,

if you went to an known easy school and got a high GPA it would be equivalent to going to a known difficult school and having a little lower GPA

this is directly from an admissions committee member

 

[ockhamsRzr]

yes,

if you went to an known easy school and got a high GPA it would be equivalent to going to a known difficult school and having a little lower GPA

this is directly from an admissions committee member

Thes questions are tough, and assume "an all things being equal" perspective, which, of course s never the case. I tend to agree with the previous poster who mentions the sundry factors at work (and just with regard to academics): majors (one or two), honors level courses, previous success of candidates from same alma mater, and odd as it may seem, hardships that the student had to overcome...it's simply never an easy equation.

For example a friend of mine and Harvard 3rd year, went to a school that just about no one has ever heard of...she had multiple underdrad schools in her first 30 credits with a 2.7. Her personal story is inspiring, and finished with a great GPA...but the point is that IT'S ALWAYS THE COMPLETE PICTURE.

The numbers, as she put it, need to be in a "comfort zone"...beyond that it's the story that you as a candidate tell. While the numbers can speak to some of that story, the rest is brought into relief by you.

Ock

 

[fpr85]

What about community colleges?
Are they generally considered as being easy?-- I read an article that states that with the cost of state/private institutions nowadays more and more people are going to community colleges because of the great price.

I am a freshmen attending a community college at the moment with the intention as transferring as either a sophomore or junior. Haven't thought of where exactly but a few (undergraduate) schools I'm considering are UVA, Haverford University, and Johns Hopkins. Feasible?

 

[Wahoowa]

What about community colleges?
Are they generally considered as being easy?-- I read an article that states that with the cost of state/private institutions nowadays more and more people are going to community colleges because of the great price.

I am a freshmen attending a community college at the moment with the intention as transferring as either a sophomore or junior. Haven't thought of where exactly but a few (undergraduate) schools I'm considering are UVA, Haverford University, and Johns Hopkins. Feasible?

I did my undergraduate degree and premedicine core at the University of Virginia. I have no idea, but I had fellow students that took classes at community college and they said that the classes at UVa were much more difficult due to the academic competition there. Since UVa competes with UC Berkeley every year for the number one public university in the country every year, you can imagine that the academic competition is very intense. Just do the very best you can, you will be fine.

 

[ArmyDoc1999]

I attended a TINY liberal arts university in south-central Oklahoma, called The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. It has been in existence since ~ 1908, but I hadn't heard about it until two weeks before I started there.
When it came time to apply for Medical School admission, I applied to 5 or 6 Osteopathic schools and received two interview invitations in a matter of days after sending in my apps. Shortly thereafter, I received mobilization orders and withdrew my apps from the other 4 schools. I ended up being accepted to one of the schools I interviewed at and had to defer for the year I was deployed, but am now attending classes there. The fact that *I* had never heard of my undergrad institution before I matriculated there never seemed to be a problem for the admissions committee, whom I'm sure was as much in the dark about the place as I was. I think the total package is more important than any of its parts alone, especially in the case of Osteopathic schools.
That said, OSU Doc, I am interested to hear who you heard that from, since we both dealt with the same committee.

 

[DrDad]

2LT Evans, I know what you are saying, and I agree... This conversation I also had with the admissions, and frankly we as a student whole cannot talk for them, yet I would say that WE were admitted as you said, WHOLE PACKAGE... Truly a great post Evans,

My understanding for what it is worth is that if you attend a school with a know difficult class, OSU with Genetics, then you are expected to take IT if you take genetics at all... Genetics is not required.

As for me though, I returned to school for the sheer purpose of attending OSUCOM, so I was undoubtedly looked at as such, being as I have 7 undergrad schools that I attended!

If you have any questions, anyone, please feel free

Good Luck

Ian

 

[T.A.M]

If your grades put you on the lower edge of the acceptance pool, your undergraduate school might make a difference. However, if you're in the middle of the pack or above, it probably won't mean much. At certain levels, a good grade is a good grade, no matter where it came from.

 

[T.A.M]

And of course, once classes begin, where you attended as an undergrad means absolutely nothing. But you knew that already, didn't you?

 

[gsrimport]

Thanks for the responses.