Which path to med school?

[Dr. Pepper]

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Hey all,

I need some insight deciding which path makes the most sense in terms of getting into med school.

Path 1: Regular undergrad route (relatively good university)

Path 2: BS/MD with the possibility of applying to other med schools (ok university)

Path 3: BS/MD with a solid guarantee and no possibility of applying to other med schools (not as good university as path 1 or 2.)

Please post your thoughts or PM me; it would really mean a lot.
Thanks in advance.
-Dr. P.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Do you ask because you're in high school? If so, what combined programs are you considering?

My vote's for a solid undergrad. If you know you want to go the med school route it is just as safe and secure as any combined program. Just take your clases seriously from the start and stay consistent. The problem is that 90% of pre-meds don't end as pre-meds because they change their minds or decide it's not worth it. If you know what you want to do, this won't be a problem. If not, you won't regret going the undergrad route anyway 😉

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Do you ask because you're in high school? If so, what combined programs are you considering?

My vote's for a solid undergrad. If you know you want to go the med school route it is just as safe and secure as any combined program. Just take your clases seriously from the start and stay consistent. The problem is that 90% of pre-meds don't end as pre-meds because they change their minds or decide it's not worth it. If you know what you want to do, this won't be a problem. If not, you won't regret going the undergrad route anyway 😉

Yes, I am a senior in high school right now.

For the option 1 (undergrad), I'm waiting on some privates, but so far the top school I was accepted into is UCLA, which is a great school which I'd be glad to go to.

Option 2 is Saint Louis University's 7 yr Medical Scholars Program (need 3.5 and 27 MCAT to stay in program.)

Option 3 is University of Missouri, Kansas City's 6 year BA/MD program (I think you only need a 3.0 or 3.3 to stay in the program.)

I didn't mention the schools because I didn't want to waste space (inverse relationship between length of post and # of people who read it), but there's the information in case you're interested.

Thanks for the reply, and keep them coming!

-Dr. P.

 

[sneaker7]

don't force the decision to go to med school early. you really give up a lot of flexibility during college and close yourself off to a lot of career options that you may actually enjoy more. you can always go back to med school if it's something you really want to do (i.e. there are post-bac programs for career changers). i'm not sure if it applies in your case, but don't let cultural or family expectations make the decision for you either. where you go to college can affect a lot of your experiences going forward. if you work hard in college, you will get into med school. chances are if you're accepted to combined program, you would get into med school the regular way. a lot of people that i know that have done the guaranteed programs regret it to some extent (and would have done things differently).

 

[odrade1]

Since you asked for advice:

Go to regular undergrad (3-5 years),
do well in everything that you do,
only do extracurriculars that you truly enjoy,
do a major besides chem, bio, etc.,
travel and ***** around as much as possible,
have fun but keep focused.

Don't let college pass you by without entertaining thoughts of other jobs as well. And don't let it pass you by without seriously enjoying it. If you aren't one of those people that just hates school, College is 100x more fun than post-college adult life. (And my post-college life is pretty damn sweet, so just imagine how much I loved undergrad).

Also, lots of HS gunner types are in a hurry to finish school. Don't be. Take your time with it, and savor your life as it happens. Your real life doesn't begin after residency; it is happening now (or it will start happening once you finish HS, anyway.)

 

[gujuDoc]

I agree with the above post.

 

[odrade1]

btw, it is funny I have a friend who is called Dr Pepper. His last name is pepper, of course...

And it's not actually funny....merely an amusing coincidence. 😀

I forgot to say it earlier, but Good luck!

 

[star22]

Since you asked for advice:

Go to regular undergrad (3-5 years),
do well in everything that you do,
only do extracurriculars that you truly enjoy,
do a major besides chem, bio, etc.,
travel and ***** around as much as possible,
have fun but keep focused.

Yep, I agree with this post too. But, because I think undergrad years are some of the best of your life and you ought to goof off as much as possible, I think a BS/MD program that may allow you to transfer (or take a year to travel, etc.) would be a good option. If you really only have to maintain a 3.5/27 MCAT it will take a lot of pressure off.... and in this case you can pursue whatever ECs you want without even giving a thought to how an admissions committee might perceive your choices. If you enter a regular university program you will probably be shooting for higher numbers and always have the uncertainty of whether or not you will get accepted. But that said, make sure you really want to do medicine... it is a really big committment.

 

[dbhvt]

Since you asked for advice:

Go to regular undergrad (3-5 years),
do well in everything that you do,
only do extracurriculars that you truly enjoy,
do a major besides chem, bio, etc.,
travel and ***** around as much as possible,
have fun but keep focused.

Don't let college pass you by without entertaining thoughts of other jobs as well. And don't let it pass you by without seriously enjoying it. If you aren't one of those people that just hates school, College is 100x more fun than post-college adult life. (And my post-college life is pretty damn sweet, so just imagine how much I loved undergrad).

Also, lots of HS gunner types are in a hurry to finish school. Don't be. Take your time with it, and savor your life as it happens. Your real life doesn't begin after residency; it is happening now (or it will start happening once you finish HS, anyway.)

This is a good post.
By the way, the people I've known who went through tracked programs were unhappy about it by the end. Small n though. Tracked programs close more doors than they open, and you don't want that when you're 18.

The MCAT is tough, but there's no real reason to be afraid of it if you are considering tracked programs. If you can get into a tracked program, you can score well enough on the MCAT to get accepted the normal route. And not blowing off the MCAT does good things beyond the score, it helps consolidate your learning.

 

[Shredder]

do it as fast as possible. time is money. thats the important consideration, assuming the combo will allow you to shave time off. doing only ECs that you truly enjoy will not land you in your choice school. college can be fun but its not the time when youre rolling in money, power and fame. accelerate toward the time when you will be, and thats real living the high life. it can be reached while still in the 20s

 

[Flopotomist]

I'm inclined to disagree with the above posters. If you know that you really want to do this and have no doubts - then do it. The stress of applying after a regular undergrad program is intense - plus there is no guarantee that you will get in (whereas now you have a guarantee). Also as a traditional applicant, you will be competing in four years with more and more of us non-trads that have had years to accumulate ECs that you just won't be able to compete with.

Having said that... if there is ANY doubt in your mind about your future goals (eg your parents made you apply, but you really want to study music) then do NOT under any circumstance go.

 

[Depakote]

I'm inclined to disagree with the above posters. If you know that you really want to do this and have no doubts - then do it. The stress of applying after a regular undergrad program is intense - plus there is no guarantee that you will get in (whereas now you have a guarantee). Also as a traditional applicant, you will be competing in four years with more and more of us non-trads that have had years to accumulate ECs that you just won't be able to compete with.

Having said that... if there is ANY doubt in your mind about your future goals (eg your parents made you apply, but you really want to study music) then do NOT under any circumstance go.

But your argument assumes that all medical programs are equal. He will have a much better chance of getting a better medical education going through a 4 and 4 route.

 

[Flopotomist]

But your argument assumes that all medical programs are equal. He will have a much better chance of getting a better medical education going through a 4 and 4 route.

I could not more strongly disagree with this. The schools that he mentions are all perfectly fine schools. On what do you base this claim?

 

[Shredder]

But your argument assumes that all medical programs are equal. He will have a much better chance of getting a better medical education going through a 4 and 4 route.

med school isnt like law and biz school though. school rep matters only slightly, much like college rep in applying to med schools

difference between ucla and the others isnt great enough to warrant deliberation. ivy league maybe it would be another story, but these are all still public schools

 

[physicsnerd42]

Go to the undergrad-only program for 2 reasons: 1) As the other posters have mentioned, you need to take time and enjoy your life. You can't just study all the time and I feel like a combined program will be too much stress (then again, I'm writing this as a physics major ). 2) This is the most important point. I don't actually think that you can be completely sure you want to do medicine coming out of high school. I decided to do medicine two years ago, after my sophomore year of college. Until then, I thought I wanted to be an engineer or physicist. At my school, ~80-90% of the people who come in freshman year saying they want to go to med school will change their minds and not apply when they get to senior year. For many of them, it's not like they have bad grades, it's just that they figure out that other things interest them more or that medicine isn't what they thought it to be. It could be just because I go to a Jesuit university, and that forces you to have a well-rounded education that lets you see lots of alternatives to being a doctor/engineer/teacher/lawyer/business person and encourages you to get to know yourself to see where your skills and passions meet the world's needs. But, I don't see undergrad as being a stepping stone to medical school. Undergrad is valuable in and of itself because it is a place where (as corny as it sounds) you can get to know yourself. So, just do undergrad. If in 4 years you still want to be a doctor, go for it. Otherwise, you'll be glad you didn't lock yourself into a combined program.

 

[Depakote]

I could not more strongly disagree with this. The schools that he mentions are all perfectly fine schools. On what do you base this claim?

Having attended the first 3 years of one of the BA/MD programs he mentioned. It was bad enough I left to go 4 and 4.

EDIT: added details.

 

[inflamesdjk02]

Definetly go to undergrad. Other than the relatively small amount of people that actually have bad experiences, I think everyone would agree that it was/has been the most enjoyable 4 years they have ever experienced. Shaving off 4 years on your path to becoming a physician is not going to make that much of a difference.

 

[DrBowtie]

I chose option 2. By going this route you are basically taking out insurance.

If you are a stud in college, you can apply out to a "better" school.

If you don't do so hot, you have a guarenteed spot in medical school and you save lots of money applying with marginal stats.

The 7 year part would be an added bonus but wouldn't be the determining factor.

 

[Flopotomist]

I chose option 2. By going this route you are basically taking out insurance.

If you are a stud in college, you can apply out to a "better" school.

If you don't do so hot, you have a guarenteed spot in medical school and you save lots of money applying with marginal stats.

The 7 year part would be an added bonus but wouldn't be the determining factor.

I voted the same way for the same reasons - plus all these people suggesting that you will somehow be "missing out" on the undergrad experience are forgetting that you will be sitting in the same classes as all the other premeds for the first three years, you will just have the luxery of knowing that you have a golden ticket while they are nervously trying to get one.

 

[Shredder]

previous 2 posts are good analyses

 

[dbhvt]

do it as fast as possible. time is money. thats the important consideration, assuming the combo will allow you to shave time off. doing only ECs that you truly enjoy will not land you in your choice school. college can be fun but its not the time when youre rolling in money, power and fame. accelerate toward the time when you will be, and thats real living the high life. it can be reached while still in the 20s

If you're looking for money and fame, there are other better, quicker ways to do that.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

If you're looking for money and fame, there are other better, quicker ways to do that.

Yeah I didn't know med school was a route to power, money and fame, but I'll take it! Sweet!

 

[dbhvt]

Yeah I didn't know med school was a route to power, money and fame, but I'll take it! Sweet!

Zoom,

Notice I didn't list power when I said what medicine doesn't get you.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Wow, I'm really shocked that this post mustered so many responses. I expected 2, maybe 3 at best considering that I'm just a lowly senior in a den of lions (pre-med students) =).

I'm pretty sure that I won't go through path 3 (6 year guarantee no way out) not necesarily because of the lack of undergrad experience, but also (I probably should have mentioned these factors) it is very expensive, and more importantly, from talking ot Depakote (who was in this program and eventually dropped out) and looking at the residency list, it seems that even if I work my hardest in that program, I might not be able to match into a good residency.

I understand that I don't know everything about the medical profession. But I actually have looked into the career for quite some time now (probably 2-3 years.) This includes reading books on not only getting into med school, but also books on getting through med school and the life of a physician/surgeon along with the semi-equivocable nature of medicine (my favorite book on this topic is Complications). I have visited doctors and asked them about the profession; I have asked people who decided not to take on the profession and their reasons why. But I admit, that despite my good intentions and (somewhat stubborn) convictions, medicine might not be for me and an undergraduate education might be just the thing to help.

So, if possible, I would appreciate it if someone could kind of compare UCLA/UCB (I just got into Berk today) vs. SLU Medical Scholars (3.5/27 req.) specifically.

Both of them offer an undergrad experience, but I am still a little uneasy going to SLU when such great schools (UCLA/UCB) are calling.

Keep the posts coming, and thanks so much.

P.S.: Though it might appear differently, I am not a gunner 🙂 (If it's any consolation, I like to study in the library) but I hate talking about grades and I love to help people, especially in their studies. (Oh and Shredder, I loved your post haha $$$).

Thanks again.
-Dr. P.

 

[Shredder]

If you're looking for money and fame, there are other better, quicker ways to do that.

meds a good safety net/trampoline to start off strong and hedge against crashing and burning. besides i cant be a eugenicist any other way. there arent really surefire quick ways to fame other than celebrity (i know theyre technically synonymous but i mean paris hilton and lohan like)

I understand that I don't know everything about the medical profession

neither do any premeds or anyone for that matter who hasnt practiced med for years and years. books, volunteering and shadowing are only a little beyond television for gaining exposure to all of med. i mean this in a good way--bottom line is no matter how much schools want premeds to know every aspect of med before getting into it, theres always a chance theyll grow jaded (as many if not most do) over time and further real exposure

medicine is for anyone who considers it a rational career choice. everyone has to find work doing something, and if one is qualified and moderately interested in med, might as well pursue it. hey on 2nd thought IMO go to UCLA or UCB. probably UCLA bc UCB is too liberal for my taste. so there you have it; if youre actually considering advice in this thread im in the good school camp. what a stupid post ive just made, sorry its late and my thinking gets clouded 😴 so yeah good school is good, and premeds are sheep mostly

 

[Law2Doc]

bottom line is no matter how much schools want premeds to know every aspect of med before getting into it, theres always a chance theyll grow jaded (as many if not most do) over time and further real exposure

I agree with this, but wonder if you enhance the chance of becoming jaded if you already put yourself on the track as early as high school, and don't spend college exploring other options, courses, interests. The issue for the OP is less that he read and talked to folks about the career of medicine, it is what and how many other fields have you also explored? Because there are a whole lot of them, and just because medicine sounds interesting now doesn't mean that if you exposed yourself to something else you wouldn't like it more. Don't focus in on one career and rush toward it with blinders on so early. This is why I think the general, non-premed college makes the most sense. Take the prereqs, and use the rest of your time to explore other things. Do not assume that at 16-17 you know anything about the world or what you are going to want in 4, 10, 20 years. If you are a strong student and good candidate for med schools you will still be able to get into at least the ones you listed in 4 years when you apply via the normal route. Good luck.

 

[94474]

.

 

[Law2Doc]

Hi, I'm also a high school senior. I've gotten into the Lehigh/Drexel 7-year program, the RPI/AMC program, and a few UG (CMU, UCSD, waitlisted at Northwestern, Cornell, JHU). Right now I'm thinking the Lehigh program is best, but I was wondering if I should wait for somewhere like Cornell or if I should go to a different school/program. Thanks in advance.

What is the end goal? If you go to Cornell or Hopkins undergrad and get A's, then do well on the MCAT, you might give yourself a shot at some pretty prestigious places. If you are shooting for an ultra-competitive specialty or want to go into academic medicine, this might be a better move. Drexel turns out some fine docs in all fields, but it ain't Harvard. But see my post above -- I think college is a good time to look at other things and decide IF you even want to be a doctor, not to launch down that path just yet.

 

[94474]

.

 

[USArmyDoc]

I voted for option number three, but I suppose I am a little different than others on these boards. Many of them are extremely bright. For me, any medical school would be suffice so if I was given a guarrantee such as option 3 I would go for it. In three years, you may be sorry when a flurry of rejections come in. Remember, this process can be crazy. Good luck with your decision.

 

[USArmyDoc]

Well I'm 100% sure I want to be a doctor, I'm just not sure what kind. I was just wondering how much worse Drexel is than, say, the top 10 med schools, so in case I do end up wanting to specialize in something I won't be getting disadvantaged by my matriculating at Drexel. It's not even ranked (at least where I looked) so I'm not sure where it stands.

You will be fine coming from Drexel just work hard.

Law2Doc, I respect your opinion because you are extremely knowledgable about med. school, etc. However, Drexel is a great program that will provide him with a chance to go to a US MD school. Hell, give it to me I'll take it. 😉

 

[94474]

.

 

[chintu]

Go with the combined program. Here's the reasons you should consider taking guaranteed admission.

1) You know you will be going to medschool. It doesn't matter where because the reputation of medschool hardly matters for residency and you will get a quality education no matter what. You will get the opportunity to be the kind of doctor you want to be given that you work hard.

2) If you go to a good university chances are the premed courses are going to be hard and they'll try to weed out many students. Even though its not likely going to be a problem for you you will still have to work pretty hard to maintain a good gpa.

3) A big hurdle might be the MCAT...So many students are able to do well in their classes and did well on their SAT,ACT,etc. yet didn't cut a 30 on mcat. Some find verbal reasoning challenging and so on.

4) Maintaining a 3.5, 27 mcat in a not so great undergrad is much much easier than say getting a 3.6-3.7+ in a well-known u'grad and getting a 30+ on mcat. You just won't have that pressure and you will get a whole lot of free time to pursue things you want and have fun that you didn't in highschool. Then go on and work hard in medschool. Many premeds, including myself were pretty burned out from the undergrad and medschool just seems a drag as you work harder than ever.

5) You will save yourself the misery of going through the crapshoot of medschool admissions all over again and save yourself a whole bunch of trouble and money.

Basically, all I am trying to say is that its not as black and white as you think. Just because you can get into a guaranteed admission program now does not necessarily mean you will have an easy time getting into medschool later if you do regular u'grad. So many applicants well qualified applicants get rejected from medschool each year.

The only cons I see of going through regular u'grad are you limit yourself as to where you will go and you might not get to go to your dream u'grad. Bottomline is , if you are sure of becoming a physician you should take the BS/MD acceptance wherever it is.

 

[Law2Doc]

Law2Doc, I respect your opinion because you are extremely knowledgable about med. school, etc. However, Drexel is a great program that will provide him with a chance to go to a US MD school. Hell, give it to me I'll take it. 😉

I'm not a big fan of combined programs in the first place. Doesn't let you experience college and grow appropriately. Didn't mean to bash Drexel or discourage folks who would want that option. But if the poster could get into Cornell or JHU undergrad, that, in my opinion, would be a nice launchpad to ultimately going to med school should he LATER choose, and perhaps have choices that would put him on an even faster track to his career goal. Not every med school is for every person, and there are factors to consider for each, and so it's a mistake to try and decide that at 16-17, before even starting college.
I mean, what if the dude gets into Cornell or Hopkins, ends up with a straight A average and a 40 MCAT and has ECs out the wazoo such that Drexel might not have even made his app list?

 

[gujuDoc]

Wow, I'm really shocked that this post mustered so many responses. I expected 2, maybe 3 at best considering that I'm just a lowly senior in a den of lions (pre-med students) =).

I'm pretty sure that I won't go through path 3 (6 year guarantee no way out) not necesarily because of the lack of undergrad experience, but also (I probably should have mentioned these factors) it is very expensive, and more importantly, from talking ot Depakote (who was in this program and eventually dropped out) and looking at the residency list, it seems that even if I work my hardest in that program, I might not be able to match into a good residency.

I understand that I don't know everything about the medical profession. But I actually have looked into the career for quite some time now (probably 2-3 years.) This includes reading books on not only getting into med school, but also books on getting through med school and the life of a physician/surgeon along with the semi-equivocable nature of medicine (my favorite book on this topic is Complications). I have visited doctors and asked them about the profession; I have asked people who decided not to take on the profession and their reasons why. But I admit, that despite my good intentions and (somewhat stubborn) convictions, medicine might not be for me and an undergraduate education might be just the thing to help.

So, if possible, I would appreciate it if someone could kind of compare UCLA/UCB (I just got into Berk today) vs. SLU Medical Scholars (3.5/27 req.) specifically.

Both of them offer an undergrad experience, but I am still a little uneasy going to SLU when such great schools (UCLA/UCB) are calling.

Keep the posts coming, and thanks so much.

P.S.: Though it might appear differently, I am not a gunner 🙂 (If it's any consolation, I like to study in the library) but I hate talking about grades and I love to help people, especially in their studies. (Oh and Shredder, I loved your post haha $$$).

Thanks again.
-Dr. P.

I just wanted to say Thank you for being very mature and taking our advice in a sound fashion. In the past there have been many highschoolers who have not been so receptive and have been quite immature, so thanks again for showing maturity on here.

That said, I think if you get in a school like JHU or Cornell that Law2doc uses as examples, or even any of the other IVY league schools or top ranked undergrads, I would go there over a 7 year program. The education at a school like those or like Duke is phenomenal because the good teaching instruction and research and medical opportunities as well as opportunities in a variety of other non medical disciplines such as the humanities and liberal arts.

If you can do well at a school like that and do the required things for med school, you are bound to do well in the application process while also gaining experience to many diverse opportunities that you may not get elsewhere. Plus it will give you freedom to choose your own major and know that you'll only need to take the required prereqs so if you want to do something like humanities you'll have freedom to do it. 7 year programs will not give you that room so much. USF's program, requires that they do the requirements that are required for the Biomedical science degree. However, if you had been a regular student and didn't want a science degree, but wanted to be premed, that would be useless. Think about where you'd be the happiest and what will give you the best educational and personally good college experience.

 

[eastsidaz]

Combined degree/early admit programs are AWESOME because nothing is a sure thing in the med school admissions world.

That said, the best one in the country is, from what I've heard, Northwestern's. That means there are at least 20 schools as good or better that you'll never get a shot at. You can say "Oh, I'll apply out to other schools anyway" but the truth is, with that guarantee, you'll probably be too lazy to jump through all the extra hoops. Why take the MCAT and get LORs and do ECs if you're already in? College has a way of killing the lofty ambitions of high school seniors. It might be best to just go to a top school having a strong impetus to work your way to a dream school.

 

[DrBowtie]

I will repeat what I said earlier for emphasis: IMO a guarenteed program with the option of applying out is the absolute best.

 

[trustwomen]

a lowly senior in a den of lions (pre-med students) =).

Awwwwww. That's so cute.

There will always be lions, kiddo, and most of them are not as scary as they seem. An honest curiosity and an open heart will take you far. Besides, being "pre-med" doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot; it just means you got into a university science program and want to be a doctor (and technically, you already have that too).

For what it's worth, I think you should only take option 2 if you have NO doubt that medicine is the only career you want. You are awfully young and I know you're sick of hearing it, but you will change a lot in the next few years. Besides, usually people who ask advice on a decision are either trying to talk themselves into something or out of something, and I get the impression you're trying to talk yourself into UCLA... 😉

Getting into med school is hard, but sometimes I think it's not as hard as SDN might lead you to believe. You're obviously bright enough to get into these programs, and you care about your future. If you want to go to medical school, I don't think you'd have problems doing so - whatever you choose. (Just don't take hard drugs, and use condoms every single time).

Best of luck with the tigers and bears.

 

[lobster M.D.]

i'd take the path less traveled

 

[USArmyDoc]

I'm not a big fan of combined programs in the first place. Doesn't let you experience college and grow appropriately. Didn't mean to bash Drexel or discourage folks who would want that option. But if the poster could get into Cornell or JHU undergrad, that, in my opinion, would be a nice launchpad to ultimately going to med school should he LATER choose, and perhaps have choices that would put him on an even faster track to his career goal. Not every med school is for every person, and there are factors to consider for each, and so it's a mistake to try and decide that at 16-17, before even starting college.
I mean, what if the dude gets into Cornell or Hopkins, ends up with a straight A average and a 40 MCAT and has ECs out the wazoo such that Drexel might not have even made his app list?

I think you bring up some valid points. I guess it comes down to the kind of student you are. I had no problems maintaining a hard GPA through hard work. However, I do/did have problems with the MCAT. Therefore, I see it differently. I am going to stick to my opinion though and tell you to take option 3. You don't even need to study for the MCAT!!! Good luck 🙂

 

[rosesalve]

a bs/md sounds like a good stress free opportunity

 

[CTSballer11]

Since it is Saturday night and I am studying when I should be out getting some play I have to go with the guaranteed path. Brett has the best advice for you if you are serious about medical school. If you put in the time you will be successful at any med school. My uncle went to a state med school and has worked in a few different academic settings and is now in private practice. Him and his partners all tell me that having the MD is the most important thing. Sure coming from Harvard it will be easier to get into a coveted residency like Derm but if I were you I would not gamble on a med school acceptance. The med school process is a crapshoot. You can never be sure.

Oh yea, I should also say that Law2Doc is very knowledgeable, sort of like a wise owl. He has been there and done it so he has a lot more experience in life then most of us youngins posting here. I have to respectfully disagree with him because I am probably not capable of scoring a 40 on my MCAT and I believe that the MCAT will be a struggle for me so any guaranteed acceptance is money in the bag for me. Anyway, Good luck with your decision.

 

[omgwtfbbq?]

i don't know much about UCB, but search for the "why is it so hard to get into medical school if you go to Berkeley?" thread and see what they're saying

 

[DoctorPardi]

I will repeat what I said earlier for emphasis: IMO a guarenteed program with the option of applying out is the absolute best.

You're my boy Brett!

 

[Brainsucker]

To the OP: I can't speak directly about Berkeley, but I can say that you're not missing much skipping UCLA. Budget cuts, big classes, not particularly bright students, profs who are researchers. You might be able to get yourself in a lab with a bigshot, but beyond that, there really isn't any reason to think of it as particularly special--well, there is basketball.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Since this thread has garnered so many responses, I feel it is my duty to at least make you all aware of my decision.

For now at least (I still have to visit the campuses before I make my final decision), I have decided that SLU is the best option for me for three reasons:

1. A guaranteed spot into medical school is truly priceless these days, and I cannot imagine how hard it will be to secure a spot 4 years from now.

2. I intend to work as hard as possible during my undergraduate years in spite of this guarantee. If I am good enough to get a good GPA, MCAT and other credentials, then I will consider applying to other schools (unfortunately, by doing so, I would most likely waive my guarantee; thus, I will not do so unless I have stats competitive enough to ensure me a spot in a relatively good school.)

3. The more I think about it, the more SLU seems like a good place. I got a great scholarship from there, so I will get a private-school education at a public-school price. Though it is not as highly regarded as other big-name schools, I think the people there will be very nice and down to earth (and less competitive as well, so I probably won't feel completely overwhelmed.) Not to mention that Saint Louis is a pretty great city, and it is literally only a few minutes away from Washington University in St. Louis (crossing my fingers I can convince a professor to take me on as a research assistant).

I think it might provide me with both a guarantee and a much more enjoyable undergraduate experience.

Anyway, if you have any contentions with my above statements or some more information, feel free to post or PM me and I really really thank you all for taking time to help me out.

-Dr. P.

 

[DrBowtie]

Since this thread has garnered so many responses, I feel it is my duty to at least make you all aware of my decision.

For now at least (I still have to visit the campuses before I make my final decision), I have decided that SLU is the best option for me for three reasons:

1. A guaranteed spot into medical school is truly priceless these days, and I cannot imagine how hard it will be to secure a spot 4 years from now.

2. I intend to work as hard as possible during my undergraduate years in spite of this guarantee. If I am good enough to get a good GPA, MCAT and other credentials, then I will consider applying to other schools (unfortunately, by doing so, I would most likely waive my guarantee; thus, I will not do so unless I have stats competitive enough to ensure me a spot in a relatively good school.)

3. The more I think about it, the more SLU seems like a good place. I got a great scholarship from there, so I will get a private-school education at a public-school price. Though it is not as highly regarded as other big-name schools, I think the people there will be very nice and down to earth (and less competitive as well, so I probably won't feel completely overwhelmed.) Not to mention that Saint Louis is a pretty great city, and it is literally only a few minutes away from Washington University in St. Louis (crossing my fingers I can convince a professor to take me on as a research assistant).

I think it might provide me with both a guarantee and a much more enjoyable undergraduate experience.

Anyway, if you have any contentions with my above statements or some more information, feel free to post or PM me and I really really thank you all for taking time to help me out.

-Dr. P.

Wise choice. Quite a few people from my HS (catholic) went to SLU.

 

[physicsnerd42]

Seems like you picked the best of both worlds. And you'll be going to a fine Jesuit institution. 😉 Good luck! 👍

Since this thread has garnered so many responses, I feel it is my duty to at least make you all aware of my decision.

For now at least (I still have to visit the campuses before I make my final decision), I have decided that SLU is the best option for me for three reasons:

1. A guaranteed spot into medical school is truly priceless these days, and I cannot imagine how hard it will be to secure a spot 4 years from now.

2. I intend to work as hard as possible during my undergraduate years in spite of this guarantee. If I am good enough to get a good GPA, MCAT and other credentials, then I will consider applying to other schools (unfortunately, by doing so, I would most likely waive my guarantee; thus, I will not do so unless I have stats competitive enough to ensure me a spot in a relatively good school.)

3. The more I think about it, the more SLU seems like a good place. I got a great scholarship from there, so I will get a private-school education at a public-school price. Though it is not as highly regarded as other big-name schools, I think the people there will be very nice and down to earth (and less competitive as well, so I probably won't feel completely overwhelmed.) Not to mention that Saint Louis is a pretty great city, and it is literally only a few minutes away from Washington University in St. Louis (crossing my fingers I can convince a professor to take me on as a research assistant).

I think it might provide me with both a guarantee and a much more enjoyable undergraduate experience.

Anyway, if you have any contentions with my above statements or some more information, feel free to post or PM me and I really really thank you all for taking time to help me out.

-Dr. P.

 

[gujuDoc]

Dr. Pepper,

I think you made a good choice. 👍 👍
GOOD LUCK

 

[silverpike]

Seems like you picked the best of both worlds. And you'll be going to a fine Jesuit institution. 😉 Good luck! 👍

physicsnerd42: great recommendations.

Could you help with my dilema:

Villanova/Drexel ( 7 year DS/MD) vs regular JHU BME (Biomedical Engineering)
I was accepted to both above programs.
I want to be a surgeon in a long term.

Which path would you advice for me to follow?
Do you have an email or how I could contact you?
Need your input.
😕