University of Maryland College Park or Small Unknown Private?

[Not.a.Doc]

Which one would you choose to transfer to and why?

Thanks.

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[JustAPhD]

Whichever one you will be happiest at. How can we possibly make an informed decision on this?

 

[Not.a.Doc]

Whichever one you will be happiest at. How can we possibly make an informed decision on this?

So you think a 4.0 from unknown school will look better than say a 3.6-3.7 from state flagship?

 

[JustAPhD]

So you think a 4.0 from unknown school will look better than say a 3.6-3.7 from state flagship?

I do. UMD is a fine school, but not one that will make up for a 0.3-0.4 GPA difference.

 

[Lucca]

So you think a 4.0 from unknown school will look better than say a 3.6-3.7 from state flagship?

Most likely yes, but this shouldn't be how you make this decision.

Cost? Location? Class sizes? Grading system? Student resources? Research opportunities? Type of school (is private a LAC?)?

So much more to this question, the last thing on your mind should be the difference between hypothetical grades you don't have

 

[Dr.Sticks]

So you think a 4.0 from unknown school will look better than say a 3.6-3.7 from state flagship?

UMD can't be that hard?

Anyways OP; I would go to UMD because they have more opportunities for pre-med.

 

[Not.a.Doc]

UMD can't be that hard?

Anyways OP; I would go to UMD because they have more opportunities for pre-med.

Don't you think it will be hard to get research and good letters of recommendation with 100+ students in a class?

 

[Not.a.Doc]

UMD can't be that hard?

Anyways OP; I would go to UMD because they have more opportunities for pre-med.

Don't you think it will be hard to get research and good letters of recommendation with 100+ students in a class

 

[JustAPhD]

Don't you think it will be hard to get research and good letters of recommendation with 100+ students in a class

And yet premeds seem to find a way.

What's the LAC?

 

[Dr.Sticks]

Don't you think it will be hard to get research and good letters of recommendation with 100+ students in a class

Nah;
You have to meet with the professor in office hours and be an active participant in class. Most often the professor will notice you

As for research.. Don't know
Someone who goes to a big undergrad who tried for it might know better.

 

[Not.a.Doc]

Stevenson University

 

[JustAPhD]

Stevenson University

Ok. I actually know of the school. I would go UMD honestly. Cheaper, better school, and really not as hard as you make it out to be. Seems like their applicants do just fine in applying: http://www.prehealth.umd.edu/facts-and-figures/

 

[efle]

UMD is a very decent state school but shouldn't be striking fear into the hearts of future premeds as if it were Hopkins. Going to a tiny LAC (outside of a handful) has way too many downsides as I've seen firsthand with my sibling - lack of good research, volunteering, and clinical exposure, weak sciences that will make the MCAT even nastier to prepare for, terrible or nonexistent advising and few other premeds.

If UMD is cheaper as well, it's a no brainer. Go UMD.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

UMD is a very decent state school but shouldn't be striking fear into the hearts of future premeds as if it were Hopkins. Going to a tiny LAC (outside of a handful) has way too many downsides as I've seen firsthand with my sibling - lack of good research, volunteering, and clinical exposure, weak sciences that will make the MCAT even nastier to prepare for, terrible or nonexistent advising and few other premeds.

If UMD is cheaper as well, it's a no brainer. Go UMD.

Do colleges actually set students up to volunteer and get clinical exposure?
I thought you do it yourself and directly apply.

 

[efle]

Do colleges actually set students up to volunteer and get clinical exposure?
I thought you do it yourself and directly apply.

Its often a location issue - LACs tend to be out in small towns that do not have big hospitals, lots of doctors, lots of volunteering opportunities, opportunities for part time jobs related to research or medicine, public transit to get anywhere, etc. If your small private lib college is at least in a city, you might be able to find some good ECs all on your own.

At most big premed-heavy universities there are just much more established ways to check the boxes - the nearby hospital will be constantly cycling through student volunteers, for example, and you will probably have luck spamming shadowing requests at physicians in your attached medical school system. Sometimes there are even classes that get you shadowing setups.

The biggest one by far is the research though. For getting a legit, productive research for credit thing going, giant research oriented university >> LAC devoid of grad students and basic science funds.

 

[cuddlyhamster6]

Don't you think it will be hard to get research and good letters of recommendation with 100+ students in a class

I go to Ohio State (~45k students) and had no problem getting my research position. Be proactive about it--PIs are usually more than happy to mentor undergrads. Same goes with LORs, you would be surprised how few people show up for office hours, even in a large class. Really get to know your instructors, and you'll be fine. It's also important to point out that upper division classes tend to be a lot smaller (20-100 vs 300-1000, depending on the department), so it definitely gets easier to interact with profs.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

Its often a location issue - LACs tend to be out in small towns that do not have big hospitals, lots of doctors, lots of volunteering opportunities, opportunities for part time jobs related to research or medicine, public transit to get anywhere, etc. If your small private lib college is at least in a city, you might be able to find some good ECs all on your own.

At most big premed-heavy universities there are just much more established ways to check the boxes - the nearby hospital will be constantly cycling through student volunteers, for example, and you will probably have luck spamming shadowing requests at physicians in your attached medical school system. Sometimes there are even classes that get you shadowing setups.

The biggest one by far is the research though. For getting a legit, productive research for credit thing going, giant research oriented university >> LAC devoid of grad students and basic science funds.

Ah; Yup, good point.
I think OP being a MD resident would be an exception then, he could volunteer at Hopkins, UMD, Childrens, or any other smaller hospitsl.
The first three are good places to put in apps to volunteer though because you can have a chance to interact in child life.

I think in general those who live in the Mid-Atlantic and the New Engalnd 95 strip have an easier time getting ECs done than someone who is in the midwest or the "west".

 

[Not.a.Doc]

Ok. I actually know of the school. I would go UMD honestly. Cheaper, better school, and really not as hard as you make it out to be. Seems like their applicants do just fine in applying: http://www.prehealth.umd.edu/facts-and-figures/

Both schools cost the same for me after a huge scholarship from the private school.

 

[Pusheen]

You really need to spend a bit of time at both schools and talk to current science students if you can. Smaller schools are really a mixed bag. I went to a smaller no-name school in a big city and I think it was a great decision for me personally. Tiny classes meant a ton of attention from teachers and I got to develop great relationships with my letter writers. We had relatively few science students in relation to funding for the department, so there was lots of funding for private research and such, as well as scholarships for strong students. Someone above commented that there may not be a lot of other pre-med students, which I personally found to be a huge plus. Less competing with and interacting with other premeds, more time with profs, 100% less neuroticism and paranoia.

I think I got lucky, though, and I know many other small schools where this is not the case: no funding, lousy prereq courses, no support from faculty/staff, ect. You really need to research the school before committing to it.