Hi,
Got admitted to VCU honors and Upitt honors for fall 2018. I plan to pursue pre med track and eventually med school. Looking for input from the forum members/current students from both schools in the biology program. Few areas I would like to get information about are
Biology program in both schools
Campus safety
Grade deflation
Research opportunities for undergraduate students
Research opportunities are huge at Pitt - they are ranked #5 nationally yearly among private/public schools in $$ awarded by NIH. That is $485MM for 2017, and 1095 awarded projects. VCU had $77M and 227 projects awarded. What that translates into is easily obtain and often paid research positions for undergraduates. In addition, Pitt has hospitals (multiple) on and around campus for shadowing opportunities. Med school right on campus. Pre-med advising is strong and the results are also strong. Campus safety - Pitt sits in Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh which does mean there is some typical urban crime but not alot. There is a police substation right on campus and they patrol campus areas regularly. My 2 daughters and a son have gone to Pitt and I have never been fearful of their safety at all. As far as grade deflation - I think gpa is reflective of your work at Pitt - professor’s hold office hours and the campus provides free tutoring. If you want a high gpa, you will have to earn it. Intro classes are not “weed-out” but definately are more difficult than HS APs. You just have to use the resources you are given to ensure you are able to keep your gpa up for medical school admissions.
Pitt. UPMC is world class. Also 8 kids a year accepted into a PLME type program
@amandakayak Thank you for the detailed info. Where your children OOS or instate. Did any of them attended the biology undergraduate program @ pitt, if so can you share any more details about the program or honors program
My advice, don’t be a Bio major. Get your pre med requirements while majoring in something else.
@vcupitt all 3 were not in biology program but 2 were bioengineers with chem minors and 1 was chem engineer with bio engineer minor. Can’t speak to the biology major but they all did have to take a few yrs chemistry (gen chem 1&2 and ochem 1&2) as well the bioe’s took cell bio, transport systems and others. Both bioEs were on the cellular bioE track so lots of additional bio classes. Honors program is not like some schools where it’s super exclusive - basically being in honors college provides option for honors housing and also honors sections of some classes (though people not in honors can petition to take those honors sections as well). I believe for pre-med, there may be additional advising available through the UHC (univ. honors college). Do you have specific questions? If you post over on the Pitt subthread, you may get some more detailed responses on the bio major specifically.