Hi, I’m currently in my senior year and am studying the A-Level (British) curriculum in India. I am a US Citizen and am considered an instate student in Texas (Visited both UH and UT last year and was told that I would be considered an instate student). My current goal is to become a doctor however, I am completely clueless as to how to pick the best school for me. I do not have a college councilor either. I have heard that UT- Austin is a good school for Pre-Med and that UH is generally looked down upon by medical schools (however these answers are from threads posted about 8 years ago so i’m not entirely sure about them) I would probably like to major in something such as biochemistry. I am also content with attending a school out of Texas.
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I have heard that UT- Austin is a good school for Pre-Med and that UH is generally looked down upon by medical schools
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? who told you that? Med schools do not “look down” on qualified applicants from UH. With Houston having a ton of amazing hospitals and research, there’s nothing wrong with going there. Don’t listen to silly kids posting crap on the internet. Most people have very naive ideas about the premed/med school process. Much is counter-intuitive. Med schools don’t care where a qualified applicant comes from. They’re interested in getting the best med students…from anywhere they hail.
Nothing wrong with going to UT either, for that matter. It’s fine for premed, but not really “better”.
If you go to UH, immediately look into volunteering/scribe opps at any of the Houston hospitals. They’re all lined up on Main Street (google Houston hospitals Main Street)
If you truly are instate for Texas, then going to a Texas undergrad has convenience advantages for interviewing since you’d be applying to all the Tx SOMs since they give such a strong preference to instate students.
Where else have you been accepted?
Thanks for the reply, I was unsure about the UH matter but you have cleared that up for me. I’ve not yet applied yet as I am just starting senior year and am trying to decide where to apply but not sure where to look OOS. Any advice on deciding where to apply? There are just so many schools and I am kind of overwhelmed about the choices.
Well, what are your stats?
Are you a likely NMF? Did you take the MCAT?
How much will your parents pay each year? OOS publics may give merit, but they rarely give need based aid.
As I am doing the A-Level curriculum I do not have a GPA however I am predicted an AAAA. Not sure what a NMF is and I believe you only take the MCAT when applying for med school. My parents are willing to pay around $30,000 each year. I am yet to take the ACT however in most practice tests I do score around 34 if that is an indication. My ECA’s include 4 years of helping disabled children play sport, shadowing several different surgeons, setting up the entire club system at my school (before I had arrived there had been no clubs at all). 9 years of guitar, Bronze and Silver International awards. In my GCSE’s I have recieved 4A 5A and 1C
Did you get into Honors at either one?
I am only just starting my senior year and hence I have not applied to any universities yet and am simply trying to decide where I actually would like to apply.
Oops…I didn’t mean MCAT…I meant to write PSAT. Lol
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around $30,000 each year
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OK…well…about $5k of that will go towards health insurance and int’l travel costs…so figure that your parents will pay about $25k per year.
Do they file US income taxes?
For you to go OOS, you’d either need to get large merit to get costs down, or QUALIFY for enough need based aid. If your parents can pay $30k per year for college, then it’s possible that you won’t qualify for need-based aid.
Nope, not taking the PSAT. I’m currently practicing for the ACT
It’s too late for the PSAT.
But you should also take the SAT.
@mom2collegekids Just to clarify the context, OP is a raising senior and studying in India. It is common many families of Indian origin who are citizens live in India and their kids are completing HS in India and entering UG in US. Since the school year is slightly different in US and India, posts caused confusion. OP will not be eligible for NMF.
@HorsesArePeople2 Since you are sure that you qualify for in-state tuition for Texas, go with Texas school. It is not worth to spend $250k for UG in out of state or private colleges. Since it is always better to have Plan-B for medical school, it is better to go with UT Austin in case if you change your career plans it will provide better opportunity and resources. GL
Op
The idea of a premed is to pay the least for UG while not compromise in science education. You could also look into automatic full ride or tuition scholarship universities. The most discussed school on cc is U Alabama, there are more.
Okay thanks, could you guys tell me about Pre-Med opportunities in UH as well as my parents would rather me go to school in Houston due to the fact that most of my family lives in the city at the moment, I’ve also heard it’s next to the TMC which could bring up some oppurtunities.
I thought M2CK had answered that question in #1. UH will not be looked down if you do well in the academics and medical ECs.
UH Honors college is outstanding.
Apply to UT but also Trinity Texas.
Okay thanks I’ve heard UT has many many premeds and that the advising isn’t that great at the school due to the sheer amount of students. Any comments regarding this opinion. Also I’ve heard about how the social life at UH isn’t that great. Thanks for the tip about Trinity Texas I’ll look into it
UH used to be primarily commuter, but they’ve built the Honors College as a community so that students in the Honors College have a good social life.
Yes UT has a huge number of (very good) students so advising is limited especially during the first years, unless you’re in an Honors Program, in which case you’d get a personal adviser right off the bat.