<p>Hello everyone!
So I’m a senior in high school, and I’ve narrowed down my college list to Rhodes College in Memphis, TN and University of Alabama at Birmingham (Honors Program). </p>
<p>I plan to study Neuroscience/Pre-med with a minor in Psychology. I eventually want to be a Psychiatrist or a Neurologist.</p>
<p>Money-wise, both schools work out to be about the same. </p>
<p>What do you guys think is the best choice for me academically? I think I would be happy both places. </p>
<p>My s2 attends Uab so I am biased but he also applied ro Rhodes which is an excellent school also but very different Uab has an excellent neuroscience program. And it’s honors programs offer you incredible opportunities. Feel free to pm me for more info</p>
<p>Completely different but I know that among academics and grad schools Rhodes is taken pretty seriously. Also St. Judes is there in Memphis and there is interface with the college. Why don’t you contact someone in the science dept. and talk to them about opportunities? Good luck.</p>
<p>rhodes is a beautiful school. curmudgeon on cc is someone you might want to pm… his daughter went there and has really done well!</p>
<p>some interesting facts on uab school of medicine as you are looking at possible med school later</p>
<p>Distinctions
In 1960, Dr. Basil Hirschowitz was the first to explore the stomach with his new invention, the fiber optic endoscope, which is now in the Smithsonian Institution.
UAB heart surgeon, the late John W. Kirklin, developed a computerized intensive care unit that became a model for modern ICUs around the world. They help improve care and reduce complications. Kirklin initially gained fame by improving the safety and usefulness of the heart-lung bypass pump.
The Diabetes Research and Education Hospital was dedicated in March 1973, as the first public, university-affiliated diabetes hospital in the nation.
In 1977, Dr. Richard Whitley administered systemic antiviral for the treatment of the deadly HSV (herpes simplex virus) encephalitis, leading to the world’s first effective treatment for a viral disease.
The first use in the United States of color doppler echocardiography for visualizing internal cardiac structures was introduced by Dr. Navin C. Nanda and occurred at UAB Hospital in 1984.
In 1986, Dr. Thomas N. James, then chairman of UAB’s Department of Medicine, presided over the tenth World Congress of Cardiology held in Washington, DC.
World’s first genetically engineered mouse-human monoclonal antibody was used at University Hospital in the treatment of cancer in 1987.
The first simultaneous heart-kidney transplant in the Southeast was performed at UAB by Drs. David C. McGiffin and David Laskow in 1995.
The journal Science named three UAB faculty, Drs. Michael Saag, George Shaw, and Beatrice Hahn, among the top 10 AIDS researchers in the country, and highlighted the AIDS research program at UAB in 1996.
The AIDS Vaccine Evaluation Unit (AVEU) became the first evaluation unit to enter a Phase III trail of an AIDS vaccine in 1999.
UAB’s Kidney Transplantation Program is the world’s leading transplant program, with more than 5,000 transplants being performed since 1968. In each of the last seven years, more kidney transplants have been performed at UAB than at any other institution in the world. UAB is also a national leader in other organ transplants.
The UAB AIDS Center was the first to perform clinical trails of the protease inhibitor Indinavir (Crixivan), one of the first protease inhibitors used in the [triple drug cocktail] to fight HIV.
UAB researchers were the first to discover the protein that led to the development of the now well-known drug Viagra, causing what some have called the second sexual revolution. [3] [4]
UAB hosts one of only 45 Medical Scientist Training Programs in the country. A highly selective program funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the UAB MSTP offers students the ability to earn both an MD and a PhD during a 6-8 year time period. During this time, all tuition is waived and a stipend of $25,000 per year is awarded. Generally, 6-10 students per year are admitted to the program.</p>
<p>My daughter is currently in the Neuroscience program at UAB. She is also pre-med and wants to go to Med School and become an anesthesiologist. She chose UAB over Duke. I can honestly say that it has been the best decision of her life. I don’t know if you are aware, but the Neuroscience program at UAB is the only major that is directly connected with UAB Medical School. UAB also has 5 hospitals on the campus, so the opportunities for research, volunteering, and shadowing are abundant. She absolutely loves the Neuroscience program and Dr. McFarland, who heads the program, has been amazing. She has had opportunities at UAB that she would never had gotten elsewhere. She will be starting in a research lab this fall with a Doctor who graduated from Yale. I do not know a lot about Rhodes, but I can tell you that UAB has been above and beyond what we could have ever expected. Academically, she has been challenged but has not struggled and maintains a 4.00 gpa. (Which is huge for Med School admissions). In terms of Med Schools taking Rhodes seriously, they want to see GPA and MCAT scores. If you don’t have those, it doesn’t matter what undergrad school you are coming from (keep that in mind). If you have any questions, please PM me. I can also give you my daughter’s email if you would like to “talk” to a current UAB Neuroscience major. Good luck with your decision! :)</p>
<p>When my son was considering smaller schools, Rhodes was one of the schools he had a very good look at, along with Hendrix. Rhodes has a really beautiful campus and strong academics. Our biggest concern was safety. Memphis has a lot of problems. It was not lost on us that Rhodes has a very closed campus, with only one entrance and exit. Was not thrilled about our 18 yr old hanging out on Beale Street, at the great music and bbq joints. I know every town has it issues, but Memphis seems to have more than their fair share.</p>
<p>certainly attending uab will give you an edge on your letters of recommendations. Your letter writers are also your premed committee. so they will hopefully know you very well and can write very strong letter. for example my son is using professors he has done research with for 3 years, another professor that has been the advisor for an association and has taught him a few classes. The professors at uab will know the med school selection committee, so it cant hurt if you are a strong candidate. However, that said, uab acceptances are generally about 80+ percent instate students. (so your edge/advantage is knowing and having access to the people in the system). In state residency can be established through gap year/years… and as an undergrad at uab will you will always have access to the uab med committee and process. so if you did research , or worked to get residency for the required period of time, when actually applying you would get in state preference and tuition. i would give the som office a call to determine how to establish residency. Another “however”… most med school applicants will apply to about 15- 20 schools to get 1-2 acceptances…and you obviously wont be instate for any but your states schools. alabama has 2 schools, texas has about 8 for example.</p>
<p>It’s hard to imagine two schools that are more different. UAB is still primarily a nonresidential school, with relatively uncompetitive admissions and a student body mostly from Alabama. The neuroscience program is a star, and undoubtedly the medical school and medical complex are regional leaders. </p>
<p>Rhodes offers small classes, personal attention, a strong student body, and a beautiful campus. </p>
<p>hawley i think you will find that uab has changed…2500 students live on campus and they are at 100 percent capacity with plans to start a new dorm soon. uab has made a real effort to change the perception it had years ago…with the new green area, rec center ranked one of the top rec centers in the country, alys stephens center, activities etc on weekends. Agree that it is only 12% oos students currently, but that is growing also. many students live just off campus in the southside area in houses and apartments after freshman or sophomore year. average teacher/student ratio is 1:17 Average size class that my son has experienced is about 20 students, except for things like intro to psych etc.
agree that the beauty of the campus is not in the same league as rhodes…rhodes is beautiful! but it is time for people to let go of the “commuter” school image of uab. even if half of the students go home on the weekend still leaves about the same number of students on campus as rhodes has.</p>
<p>m2ck… there is a rental group called blue canoe? that has a lot of listing for apartments…easier to search that way [Blue</a> Canoe Properties](<a href=“bluecanoeproperties.com”>http://www.bluecanoeproperties.com/) zillow also has some house rentals
pretty safe and walkable {except for hills } from 12th st south over to 19th st and university to 16th. nice area, real mixture of students, grad students, professionals, and people that have been there for years. you might also want to consider a foreclosure…we grabbed a good one for our son… all older properties but they have charm. feel free to pm me if you want more info on the area, can have my son tell me about any areas you find something in</p>
<p>Since son is leaning towards UAB for med school (has until May 15th to decide), he’s asked me to look for an apt for him. If he goes to UAB, then his roommate will likely be a premed he’s known since high school who will be graduating from UAB next year. So, a 2 bedroom/2bath is preferable. </p>
<p>I, of course, prefer UAB SOM for several reasons…very good, only an hour away from home!!!, and good instate rates!</p>
<p>he could drive over and walk around that area…just follow the dreamland aroma! right around that area is a grocery store…so dont have to go outside that area unless you want to stock up at walmart…and walking distance to 5 points</p>