BA/MD - Temple / Rutgers-Newark+NJMS / PennState+Jefferson

I believe, I am very clear with my career path as a doctor. With the following selections, I have difficulties in making a decision which one to select.

  1. Rutgers Newark & NJMS (BS/MD 7 years) - As per some website, Rutgers Newark undergrad ranks 395 and NJMS ranks 90. I got full tuition and room and board for undergrad, so I think it’s the cheapest option.
  2. Temple University (BS/MD 7 years) - Temple undergrad ranks 255 and the medical school 70. I get full tuition for undergrad, but I’m still paying for everything else.
  3. Penn State & Jefferson (BS/MD 7 years) - Penn State ranks 125 and Jefferson MD is 58. I don’t get any money from Penn State or Jefferson.
  4. University of Pittsburgh (Selected in BS - but rejected from the GAP BS/MD program) - For undergrad, which I expect to complete in 3 years, I get full tuition and I’ll be staying at home. But I need to go through the conventional admission route for the medical admission via the MCAT and other activities.
  5. Cornell (BS). Primarily, I do not care about attending an Ivy. I don’t think undergrad will really matter in the long-run.

I am not sure how much college rank matters. When I visit to doctor’s office as a patient, I do not care a name of the college the doctor has passed from. I think the medical education is same as they belong to AAMC. The difference is the residency. I consider all the first three colleges are mid-tier medical programs. I visited these college campuses. All look alike and are safe inside the campus but equally unsafe two-blocks away from the campus.

The Rutgers/NJMS offer sounds the most attractive to me due to financial part but not sure if I am missing anything. I appreciate if you have any comments based on the college rank, student life, activities, resources, etc. that can help me and my parents to decide.

Thank you!!!

@shahzq Hope you are following 2017 BS/MD thread. So much discussion specially on these 3 programs. So review all the posts there. Hope you are aware Temple is technically not a guaranteed program and need to go thru interview in 3/4th year. Agree with your assessment and go with R/NJMS.

@shahzq I am not so sure what source you are using for rankings? They are very different from USNews ranking most people are using.