I just found out yesterday that I was taken off the waitlist for the Rochester Early Medical Scholars at URoch and I have to decide whether or not to take it by Friday. When I went up to interview I absolutely loved it and I thought it had an amazing atmosphere. However, I have already committed to the Rutgers Honors College and I have figured everything out there. Now I don’t know what to do, if you have any advice I would love to hear it.
REMS pros and cons:
-No MCAT!
-GPA requirement is 3.4 freshman year, 3.5 sophomore year, and 3.6 junior and senior year
-Guaranteed spot in their med school
-Only 10 accepted each year
-$3,500 research grant if I attend
-30k more a year for undergrad and med school is more expensive
-Accepts less AP credits
-Colder and 6 hours away
-toured and loved campus
-teaching hospital on campus for research/clinical opportunities
Rutgers pros and cons:
-Full ride for tuition
-GPA requirement is only 3.2 to remain in the honors college
-first choice for class selections
-research opportunities
-guaranteed dorming
-could qualify to enter a seven year BS/MD program in my sophomore year but it is not guaranteed (especially because I am out of state)
-pretty close to home
-med school favors in-state and I am not
-more active social life (not really important)
-already committed
-did not get the chance to officially tour
-2 hospitals near campus for research and clinical opportunities
Rochester is $30k per year more? The Rutgers full tuition and the Honors College sounds like advantages. Good luck, hope more opinions follow.
… go to rochester.
there’s not even a comparable difference. REMS is one of the most competitive BS/MD programs out there. also, already having committed to rutgers should not be a deciding factor at ALL. i know it might feel more “comfortable” right now bc you have everything figured out, but that will literallyyy evaporate like so quickly and by august you’ll have “figured out” rochester.
also, what do you mean by med school is more expensive at rochester? more expensive than what? i don’t understand what you’re comparing it to, as in rutgers you’re not in the med school yet.
the other thing, is rochester’s med school is around top 30 for research and in top 20 for primary care - this is significantly better than NJMS on both fronts (provided that you get in through soph year), and will set up better residency opportunities.
i DO understand the money thing, but it’s worth the investment! If you’re fortunate enough to be able to consider it, then I think you should do it. as a doctor, you’ll pay it off quickly
go to rochester … this is coming from a current BS/MD student who was accepted to multiple ivies
If you are 1000% sure you want medical school, take REMS.
It eliminates the stress on getting the best possible GPA during undergrad, getting the ECS and LORS. REMS also eliminates the cost and stress of applying to medical school. (Estimated cost of one med school application cycle ranges from $5,000-$10,000. And only 40% of med school applicants get accepted.)
The national average GPA for matriculating med students last year was 3.8.
If you can’t get 3.4/3.5/3.6 at UR to stay in the REMS program, then you’re simply not going to get accepted to med school anywhere.
REMS also allows you to matriculate directly into med school from undergrad–which is becoming increasingly difficult to do. (Most applicants take 1-2 gaps years post college graduation before matriculating.)
The opportunity cost of 2 years of a physician’s’salary outweighs the added cost of REMS. ($180,000 x2= $360,000)
D2 went to UR and knew all of the REMS Scholars–they got the first pick of research lab opportunities, got the first pick of clinical volunteer slots and if you want to do a paid research summer internship at UR–REMS student get first crack at those too.
P.S. the above poster is incorrect about UR setting you up better for residency than NJMS–preparation for residency lies with the student. It depends on your grades, USMLE scores, how you perform during clinical rotations in future specialty , how you perform during away/audition rotations.
Top USMLE scores will get your residency applications looked at everywhere you apply even if you come from a lower ranked med school.
Actually, Step 1 scores - the primary determination of matching into residency programs - are now pass fail.
Thus, med school rank DOES make a difference now, especially at schools with a lot more opp’s & resources
If you change your mind about med school, which of these places will give you more options?
Where, exactly, is the extra $30k each year for the undergrad years at Rochester going to come from? If you’d need to cover that cost with loans, who is going to co-sign those loans for you? You can’t borrow that much on your own.
You have done incredibly well to get into REMS. For many of the reasons thoroughly discussed by other posters, I think you should take this opportunity.
Absolutely go to Rochester. No comparison even worth talking about here. You’ve even got a path into a really solid med school. You are obviously very smart. You will enjoy the academic vibe at Rochester. Don’t throw this away.
WayOutWestMom has it covered. head north.