<p>Everywhere I look this seems to be contradicted and I have been unable to determine this for myself. There seems to be so many variables it is hard to compare premed schools, especially when there are no numbers available to look at for most things. Some say that anywhere with a decent science program is 'good enough' while other people insist that you have to go to some prestigious college for any chance at getting into med school. And then there is the variable of schools which have ties to specific med schools which is hard to judge the value of these as well, as it varies greatly from college to college. </p>
<p>My bottom line question is this: How does one judge which premed schools will give them their best shot at getting into med school? Its all beginning to seem so arbitrary because of the lack of available data on what schools actually get their students to med school and what schools don't. Obviously the bigger schools have a higher number of admitted students but there seems to be no kind of way to judge based on percentages of students who applied and such.</p>
<p>Go to a school that you love, strive to get the highest GPA and MCAT score possible, and participate in health related internships and EC’s.</p>
<p>But my dilemma is not finding a school that I love, it’s finding a school that will get me into med school. Some say cheep schools don’t matter as long as theres a decent science program and you work your ass off, i was wondering if that’s true or not. And if it’s not, I am stuck as to how to compare premed programs. Not to mention the undergrad schools that are connected to med schools, judging those against programs that aren’t.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but schools don’t get you into med. school. Get that out of your head. You get yourself in. The area that some schools may differ is the advising. However, if you look at the top schools. They get lots of people that “get in” (as opposed to getting them in) merely because those students are already better at taking tests and handling a reasonably rigorous curriculum. There are exceptions however. Some schools could be so rigorous students perhaps get lower GPAs (some people like to call these places grade deflated, but I just call them hard). Choose a school you can handle, but is rigorous enough to actually prepare you for medical school. No school is going to “get you into” medical school. Some will merely make doing the ECs easier (like those w/a healthcare system or nearby one), but they won’t give you the grades and intentional MCAT prep (many profs. where I am, for example, happen to prepare well for MCAT caliber questions, but they don’t do this intentionally. They merely teach at the highest level possible. You can probably find this at any decent school. You pick a place, and choose the best science profs. you can. These tend to be the more rigorous ones that grade fairly).</p>
<p>Thanks, that helps a lot. But i do disagree to a point, there are plenty of schools that help more students to get in than lesser schools. I guess it boils down to the quality of the school academics and the advising staff in addition to the student working 12 hours a day and doing everything they can. Yes hard work is the biggest part, but the college plays it’s role as well.</p>
<p>Let me answer your question with a question:</p>
<p>Do you think adcoms consider a 3.7 from the University of New Haven the equivalent as a 3.7 from Yale? (paraphrased from LizzyM).</p>
<p>So as Homer Simpson would say, ‘Doh!’</p>
<p>Every single UG is very different for each person. The best is to go to one that matches your personality and wide range of interests (both current and prospective/planned) in the best way. There is no general rule as every single student is very unique.
Cood pre-med school might not meet this criteria. Then you will never know how it feels to be at the best place for yourself for 4 most important years of your life…you will lack great experiences that will influence your life forever, including your future at the Med. School.</p>