<p>I narrowed down my colleges to Olin College of Engineering, and Johns Hopkins.
For both of these colleges, I'm probably majoring in BioE.
Most of you at first glance will say JHU, but Olin's such an amazing school, whose reputation will rise with time (it's graduating its first class this year)... and will pay full tuition (130K- living expenses will probably cost 80K-100K), wheras JHU won't offer any and will cost about 200-240K. Mind, I still need to pay for med school and beyond (I'm planning to get an MD/PhD or some other sort of graduate degree like MBA or JD)</p>
<p>I was wondering:
- an engineering background is useful for med school.. or are they inclined to choose pre-med majors?
- both of these schools are competitive, but I imagine that JHU is much more cut-throat competitive, and that at Olin, people are more inclined to help you with any difficulties.. is JHU undergraduate worth it?
- research opportunities that med schools are looking for are life-sciences based, or any science-base at all? do they want wetlab experience?
- do med schools want entrepreneurial skills?
- what kind of faculty is preferred for recommendations?</p>
<p>Thank you in advance. I'm a bit new to this, and I'm not really sure what to expect.</p>
<p>1) At the vast majority of universities, pre-med is not offered as a major. Premed is simply a set of courses (about 6) that you must take before entering medical school. You can major in anything you like, although it has been said on these boards in the past that it can be more difficult to maintain a high GPA in an engineering major.</p>
<p>3) I think med schools prefer life-sciences based research, but any research would still be beneficial (shows a deep interest in an area)</p>
<p>Med schools don't care what your major is: everyone has to take 1 year of bio, 1yr of gen chem, 1 year of Organic, 1 year of physics. Most schools also require 1 semester of english (a writing course is preferable usually), 1 semester of calculus, and 2 semesters of biochem. Many also require genetics, but that isn't as uniform. Supposedly for the MCAT if you take the first 4 course sequences I listed you will be prepared to take the test. It's not true, but that's the basis of the test is material found mainly in those classes. </p>
<p>Research, the main thing is that you can talk about what you did and you understand what is going on. I'd say it's better to whatever you're interested in whether it's social science or history or whatever. Also, if at all possible, if you can do your own research rather than just help with a professor's that is encouraged. (My undergrad institution has a 2 year program for undergrad research, where the first year, you help the professor, and then the second year, you come up with you're own project, conduct the research and get help from the professor for guidance and such).</p>
<p>Reccomendations will need to come from someone who knows you well, AND who will write you a good letter. Most schools will require at least one science professor but not all. I had letters in my applications from a professor in my major, a bio professor I had freshman year (was a last minute thing when my preferred science professor fell off the face of the earth), my boss at the restaraunt I worked at, a professor I was a TA for, and the Undergrad recruitment director my college who I did a lot of work for as a student ambassador.</p>
<p>Finally, your undergraduate record is what is most important, not where you completed it. It sounds like you really like Olin, so go where youre heart is telling you (I know a little Napoleon Dynamite-ish but true). You'll be happier that way.</p>