Which University Should I Pick?

[Baltrack]

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I am currently a highschool senior and I have a few final days to make a college decision. I know it is fairly early to be thinking about medical school but I want to give myself the best opportunity to get accepted when the time comes. I am deciding between SUNY Binghamton University and Temple University (Honors program). I know they are completely different from one another but I can't decide which one will give me the best chance to get into medical school. For example, if I had a equal GPA, equal MCATs, equal research and volunteering, which school would a medical school prefer? Also another note is that Binghamton is more selective than Temple, but since I got into the honor's program at Temple, I'm not sure which school is better academically. Another point is Temple is in a city while Binghamton is somewhat in the middle of no where (I like the campuses equally). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[WillburCobb]

Which ever school you see yourself happiest, and doing the best academically.

 

[Optimus-Prime]

I'd assume temple would have more clinical volunteering and research oppertunities (Don't know how close the med school is to the UG campus). There is also something to say about your chances of going to temple for medical school, having gone there for UG.

 

[Reckoner]

I am currently a highschool senior and I have a few final days to make a college decision. I know it is fairly early to be thinking about medical school but I want to give myself the best opportunity to get accepted when the time comes. I am deciding between SUNY Binghamton University and Temple University (Honors program). I know they are completely different from one another but I can't decide which one will give me the best chance to get into medical school. For example, if I had a equal GPA, equal MCATs, equal research and volunteering, which school would a medical school prefer? Also another note is that Binghamton is more selective than Temple, but since I got into the honor's program at Temple, I'm not sure which school is better academically. Another point is Temple is in a city while Binghamton is somewhat in the middle of no where (I like the campuses equally). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Go to the school where you feel you'll be happier. Enjoy your time there, find some things you are passionate about, and do well academically. That's the way to give yourself the best opportunity to get accepted. Whether that happens at Temple or Binghamton is pretty irrelevant, honestly.

 

[Baltrack]

Go to the school where you feel you'll be happier. Enjoy your time there, find some things you are passionate about, and do well academically. That's the way to give yourself the best opportunity to get accepted. Whether that happens at Temple or Binghamton is pretty irrelevant, honestly.

So you think the schools are equal academically? Going to one school won't give me an advantage over another?

 

[Reckoner]

So you think the schools are equal academically? Going to one school won't give me an advantage over another?

I didn't go to either school, so I'm not really qualified to say. My point is that med schools want accomplished applicants, not Temple-educated applicants. If the Temple-educated applicant is also accomplished, then great! But they're not getting in just because of the school that grants their diploma. Things like GPA, MCAT score, and ECs are all so much more important than school "name recognition" in the admissions process that for the vast majority of applicants it's not a factor. Which is why I said go to the school that makes you happier. Being happy and engaged will be vastly more helpful in maximizing the things adcoms actually care about than school name.

Personally I would go to Temple, mostly because I prefer living in a large city.

 

[WillburCobb]

So you think the schools are equal academically? Going to one school won't give me an advantage over another?

No. This is a misconsception that is generally quite overhyped on SDN. Where you went to undergrad will likely only make a difference, and a slight one at that when all other factors are equal, for Ivies/"top" (I hate using that word when describing med schools) schools. As both @Reckoner and I stated, being happy while expanding your interests, enjoying your time in undergrad, and doing well academically trump school name by far.

 

[Baltrack]

Thank you for the advice. While I understand doing well academically is very important for either school, would the fact that I'd be in the honors college at Temple make any difference? Also, generically, do both schools have a decent reputation?

 

[touchpause13]

Pick the school you will be happiest at/is the cheapest.

 

[Vans42]

I was in the honors program at my school for about a year, realized it wasn't doing anything for me, and then stopped doing the program. Med schools didn't notice/didn't care. I suggest you go where you will be happiest. Undergrad institution doesn't make much of a different, your grades, MCAT score, ECs, etc, will.

** I forgot to add - also consider the price tag.

 

[lalax]

You'll only be premed till sophomore year, so go to where you would be happiest

 

[ciestar]

There's so much to do in the city so it opens A LOT of doors for volunteer work and everything. Keep in mind though, Temple isn't in the best area of Philadelphia.

 

[WillburCobb]

Thank you for the advice. While I understand doing well academically is very important for either school, would the fact that I'd be in the honors college at Temple make any difference? Also, generically, do both schools have a decent reputation?

These two factors will have very little bearing on your getting into med school.

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you for the advice. While I understand doing well academically is very important for either school, would the fact that I'd be in the honors college at Temple make any difference?

We won't make any distinction.

 

[WillburCobb]

We won't make any distinction.

An adcom has spoken, thus it is so.