What is the right college for me?

[anishannayya]

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Here is my problem: What type of school would better prepare you for medical school?

I thought Davis for the past 2 years, but I'm beginning think that a small school would be a better choice. So now, armed with a Rutgers and USN book, I search desperately for a school for me. Here is what I'm thinking:

I want to go the med school. My parents tell me either go to a UC, or go to a med school in India and they'll pay a donation. I want to stay in the U.S. With that in mind I'm looking at the four major points that med schools care about:

1. GPA
2. MCAT
3. Recommendations
4. Volunteer Work

It stands to reason that in a smaller school, one would have less competition, therefore get a higher GPA. Also, I would get great recommendation from my professor, as they will know me well, rather than some big UC where I never meet the prof and the class is thought by a TA. Looking at this I want to go to a small private school (under a scholarship) or an out of state school known for their undergrad bio program. So pretty much I'm looking at the recommended undergraduate programs for bio in the Rutger's list and comparing the school's stats on USN to find my reach, match and safety. I am currently considering molecular biology, cell biology, and microbiology.

I want to know who is right on this point. Will I be better off at a UC, a smaller state school, or a small private school? Also, what schools should I be applying to?

Cost is definitely an issue. Either I go to a state school, or I get a scholarship to a private school that will make the expense of room and board roughly the same as a UC. My parents will be helping me pay for my undergraduate degree, however, I am not eligible for any need-based aid because my parents both make six figures. Furthermore, though I am a first generation American, my father has a PhD and my mom a Masters, so I cannot get aid that way.

In regards to my stats:

3.403 unweighted GPA (as of junior year; I'm dominating this [senior] year)
SAT: 1980 (will take a second time in November)

I have always taken a full course load, and after this year will have taken about 10 AP classes. I also have leadership experience (yearbook editor), have consistently played in the band, and played sports.

I understand that my stats aren't on par for a school like Berkeley, but when I said UC, I was referring to the mid and lower tier UCs (Davis, Irinve, Riverside). Again, my main point of this post is where exactly should I be applying to? Talking to my counselor wasn't much of a help, she simply handed me the Rutgers book; so I come to you for help.

Thanks for taking the time to read this blurb, and I hope that I didn't bore you.

 

[Near]

If I were you, I would go with the smaller school. It's more personal.

 

[anishannayya]

If I were you, I would go with the smaller school. It's more personal.

What schools would you recommend that I look at?

EDIT: Just wanted to add that I am primarily looking for colleges on the west coast. I'd be open-minded enough to go all the way to Texas, but anywhere there is heavy snow is not an option (I know this from living in my home-state, Iowa).

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Are you looking to stay in state? or go out of state?

1) How are your AP scores?

2) Do you have close relationships with teachers or administrators that can give you great letters of recommendation?

3) Do you have decent - great extracurricular activities? more than what you listed.

Generally you can get a good education anywhere...Most of the schools i know that are good for you are actually on the east coast. Nothing too elite but no where that you wont get a good education.

Look into Pepperdine and Occidental, those are 2 good schools that will prepare you well, however they are private so you may need to take out loans or something to pay. If anything you can go to Davis or Irvine for a year or 2 and then transfer to UCLA or UCB

 

[anishannayya]

Are you looking to stay in state? or go out of state?

1) How are your AP scores?

2) Do you have close relationships with teachers or administrators that can give you great letters of recommendation?

3) Do you have decent - great extracurricular activities? more than what you listed.

Generally you can get a good education anywhere...Most of the schools i know that are good for you are actually on the east coast. Nothing too elite but no where that you wont get a good education.

Look into Pepperdine and Occidental, those are 2 good schools that will prepare you well, however they are private so you may need to take out loans or something to pay. If anything you can go to Davis or Irvine for a year or 2 and then transfer to UCLA or UCB

Thanks, a bunch, I actually really liked Pepperdine. Until I saw the tuition and learned about the super-religious aspect of it.

To answer your questions:

1. I passed all my AP tests, with a majority of 4s.

2. Yes, my english and science teachers love me. (though I hate english, I'm good at it.)

3. Yes, I have more extras, but what I listed isn't enough? I have been in pep, jazz, and concert band for 4 yrs; have been in yearbook for 3, and am currently the editor, did mock trial for 2 yrs, have always loved mountain biking (participated and placed farily well in NorCal), did V BBall and JV Golf.

Oh yeah, I don't know if this is an EC, but I went to boarding school in India, so that will be the topic of most of my essays (life changing experience, values I uphold, culture I come from, an experience I value, what makes me an individual, etc.)

 

[schrizto]

If you're looking for a good smaller state school that is likely to give out scholarships, I would suggest University of Delaware. I can't think of any other schools that would fit your description at the moment.

I'd also suggest you consider University of Pittsburgh (my school!). You'd definitely be able to get in with your stats, although honors college and a scholarship might be on the fence. Pitt is very generous with scholarships if you have good stats (I received a full-tuition scholarship out-of-state) and it has an excellent biology program, not to mention it has the influence of UPMC. The classes are kind of big for me right now, but so are all intro classes at any school. My family makes six figures also, so I didn't get any aid at the top private schools I got into.

About considering Rutgers: It's a decent school (I'm an NJ resident), but I don't have a great opinion of it, based on my past experience with Rutgers.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

School preference is different for each person, so it is hard to recommend schools in general. My bias it towards Small Private, because the 1 on 1 work, small classes, and personal touches really made a difference in my education....but it can be pricey without a scholarship. Many places are well into the $40's now.

I don't know as much about schools on the west coast because I limited my search to the Ivys and smaller liberal arts schools in the northeast. The UC system is one of the best state systems in the US, so you'd be fine at most any of their campuses.

About considering Rutgers: It's a decent school (I'm an NJ resident), but I don't have a great opinion of it, based on my past experience with Rutgers.

Rutgers very much depends on the campus. The New Brunswick campus is well regarded, and I think they offer pre-med classes. I know they offer engineering, as some friends went there and have done very well.

 

[anishannayya]

Hey, thanks a lot for the input, I'll do some digging on Pittsburgh and Delaware.

 

[Seriousquestion]

If anything you can go to Davis or Irvine for a year or 2 and then transfer to UCLA or UCB

From what I've heard, this isn't very likely. UC to UC transfers are low priority compared to community college to UC transfers or CSU to UC transfers. Friends of mine who wanted to attend a particular UC they couldn't get into all are going the community college route and waiting it out. I wouldn't attend a lower-tier UC hoping to transfer to LA or Cal unless you'd be happy to be at that UC anyway. Transfers often don't work out. I have a friend who's attending Davis as a premed and she likes it. Heck, Davis is a pretty prestigious school.

I'm starting UCSD this fall. I don't yet know how true this is yet since I haven't taken a single class, but during welcome events the UCSD provosts and professors all made a bit point out of how big doesn't always mean impersonal. The average lecture is 300 people in size (always faculty, never TA's, if you sit in the front row you don't notice how big the class is) but professors will hold office hours. Only a small fraction of students ever show up for office hours so they are a great opportunity to develop personal relationships with faculty, network, or get a leg up in your classes. Point is, with a little bit of audacity and a lot of determination, it's possible to find ways to get ahead in even the largest and most impersonal universities. I'm not saying it's for everyone, as people will very often get lost in the crowd, but it's definitely possible if you have the drive and are willing to put in a little time after class a few times a week, use campus tutoring services, sit in the front, and make your name known to professors. As a reward, you'll get a big-name education at a great price and in the case of Davis, UCSD, etc. the opportunity to rub elbows with Nobel Prize winners and supreme authorities in their fields, people found much less often at smaller universities. I'm not trying to sell you on the UC system. If you know you'll do better in a smaller more nurturing environment, by all means go for it. I'm just saying that it definitely is possible to set yourself up for success in even the biggest of universities.

 

[Near]

What schools would you recommend that I look at?

EDIT: Just wanted to add that I am primarily looking for colleges on the west coast. I'd be open-minded enough to go all the way to Texas, but anywhere there is heavy snow is not an option (I know this from living in my home-state, Iowa).

West Coast...I mainly know about schools in the South, lol.

From a quick google search I pulled up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitman_College

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitzer_College

They both seem like very fine colleges to me.

 

[anishannayya]

Thanks Near, those colleges were actually on my list!

As to the UCs I'm going to apply, it is just that my mind isn't made up about whether or not I want to go to one. Especially with the new tuition hikes and faculty layoffs about to go into effect.

In regards to west coast schools, I do have a couple mid-east schools on my list; in fact I grew up in the mid-east. I may not like the cold, but I won't be miserable there. I just want to stay away from the big city. If I choose to go to a big school, I wouldn't want it to be in a big city. For example, I would go to Davis or Iowa State; but I would never go to UCLA or Penn.