College Searching? Need help!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, my name is Zach
I have to admit that I probably am moving a little slow in my college search and was hoping you guys would have some advice on the matter of which schools to attend and what exact route would be good for me to take on my way to becoming a medical doctor.</p>

<p>First off I should probably elaborate on what I would like to major in. After thinking long and hard and trying to decide between an animal biology/ecology type field and a bio-medical type field of study, I decided that the medicine was probably a better choice for me. So I guess eventually I do want to become a doctor. Now I realize there are all kinds of doctors and I know what kind of work I want to do but, I am having trouble putting a name to it. If you have ever seen the show, "House", his job is the kind of job I would like to have heavy into diagnosing and figuring out the problem. If anyone could advise me on a route to this kind of work that would be a HUGE help.</p>

<p>Secondly, I guess I am not sure what to start off majoring in. I have heard that it is best to major in Biology at first because it is broader and easier to switch if I were to change my mind, however I am not sure exactly how that would work, so I would appreciate some clarification on that.</p>

<p>Also, I guess I need some advice on a good college for such a field. I have heard that the University of Maine would be good for my interests so I will be checking that school out, but are there any other schools in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or even Vermont that would be good to go to?</p>

<p>To help me with finding a college I suppose it would be a good idea for me to post some of my other interests and requirements, as well how I've done in school in the past.</p>

<p>I have always been a decent student. I kind coast through school while trying to do well. I believe my GPA is currently 95 (100 would be the best).</p>

<p>While in college I would like to play hockey. I play varsity hockey in high school now, but I don't care to even think about playing d1, d2 or even d3. That takes more talent than I have. I would like to play in a fairly competitive program though. I don't know if a intermural program is competitive or not so I guess I'm not sure what kind of hockey a college would have. I wouldn't even mind doing a competitive men's league in the vicinity.</p>

<p>I don't really have any other requirements besides the school having hockey I guess. Although I do NOT want a highly religious school. I am not very religious myself (sorry if anyone is offended by me stating those preferences). Also what kind of financial help might I be able to get? My family is not poor, but we definitely aren't wealth enough to be able to pay for college easily. I know in 8th grade when I went to a private school, we got financial aid.</p>

<p>In conclusion I guess I'll post the main questions.
1.) Is there a name for the job I described in paragraph number 2, and what should I do in school to get there.
2.) Sort of going back to one, should I start out majoring in just biology?
3.) What level of hockey would I be interested in doing at a college? I am kind of fuzzy as to which levels after playing in a division are competitive or more for "learners".
4.) Can I expect to get some financial aid hopefully?
5.) Are there any colleges that would seem to fit my needs in ME, MA, NH, VT?</p>

<p>To anyone who read everything I wrote thank you! Also any advice, tips, etc. is GREATLY appreciated. I'm kind of lost trying to figure this all out.</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>General med, Hospital med.</p></li>
<li><p>Major in whatever you want. Med schools don't care. They actually like seeing diversity. </p></li>
<li><p>Try finding a school that offers hockey as a club sport. Club sports are more competitive than intermurals, but not as cut-throat as actual division sports. Pretty much all schools have club sports of some type. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>4.You'll probably get some, but how much depends on a number of factors. </p>

<ol>
<li>BU is great for hockey, but again, any school known for hockey is going to be regarded on a division level. Just look for schools that offer it as a club sport.</li>
</ol>

3

<p>Thank you very much for your reply, that already cleared a few things up for me ;)</p>

4

<p>As far as religious schools Notre Dame, BC, and Georgetown are some of the more respected ones.</p>

<p>But the best med programs, and especially the ones with veterinary medicine/animal biology aren't religious. And veterinary science is only offered at so many places, for some weird reason.</p>

<p>But you could look into schools with active religious groups instead of places that just have an affiliation.</p>

<p>Duke, by the way, has great med and great vet programs. It's not in the northeast but it would be somewhere to look.</p>

5

<p>Oh sorry, I meant non-religious schools.
Thank you for the response and the heads-up on Duke though!
Everything here has been quite helpful.</p>

6

<p>If you are interested in getting merit-based money (that is money based on excellence in athletics, academics, or leadership) many students find schools that fall to the upper limit of their range, and then take a step down.
For instance, if you were a solid match at Duke University, you might not get a lot of merit aid. Instead, you could consider another school like UNC - Chapel Hill, where admissions are (slightly) easier and the chance for merit money is higher. </p>

<p>I don't know your stats (you can post them and try to get suggestions from myself and other CCers) nor do I know much about hockey, so I can't help you pick a school that will offer you both money and a competitive hockey club.
However, most colleges will have hockey as a club sport, especially those in the area you are looking because it is popular there. </p>

<p>Don't worry too much about your major. Anything science related is well looked upon by med schools. Just choose something that you think you can handle and something that interests you. You may change your mind about med school in the future. </p>

<p>Good luck in the future.</p>

7

<p>I don't mind posting stats if it will help.
I have been part of class government as a representative all three years and plan to continue that my senior year. I have done Student Council for two years and plan on continuing a third year during my senior year. I was inducted into the NHS (National Honor Society) at the end of my freshmen year as is customary for anyone who meets the requirements and wishes to join. So Senior year will technically be my third year in NHS. I also did math team this past year and plan to continue that next year during my senior year. I have also joined Ecoteam as it's called at my school which is simillar to math team except it's ecology based. As I mentioned above my GPA is about a 95 while tanking all the hardest of our required classes, honors and CP1. Next year my senior year I am taking Ap English, Ap Calculus, Honors Physics, Ap Biology II, and my fluff class is Wildlife in Maine. I only have half of a study hall. I also have taken 4 years in French (the last year was actually considered an honors French class), although I don't think it did much good, never had a decent French teacher.<br>
For sports, I have done Varsity Ice Hockey since freshman year, and I did track last year and will be doing it Senior year along with cross country. From what I understand track is considered a varsity sport.</p>

<p>Oh and for SAT scores I was above average but they were nothing special. I got a 1670. Average is supposedly 1500. My math score was a 540. My other categories both reading, I don't remember their names I received a 570 and a 560. I am retaking it and hope to be able to bring it up to 1800.</p>

<p>That's all the stats I can think of so if anything else would be helpful please let me know.</p>

<p>Again, all of this is very helpful and thank you for all of your advice.</p>

8

<p>Sorry. Don't know if this is frowned upon here or not, but "bump". Still hoping for a little more information.</p>

9

<p>I think that U Mass Amherst has good club hockey.</p>

<p>I think that the MCAT is going to be a hurdle for you; it has a lot in common with the SAT. This web site has good forums for pre-med students:
<a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/index.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://forums.studentdoctor.net/index.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>I'd edit my Bump but I can't figure out how. I thought of another question. Will I go to a different school when I graduate and go to Med School?</p>

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<p>Unless you're admitted into a 6 year med program, probably. But there's nothing that says you can't be premed at Duke for undergrad AND go to Duke for med school.</p>

12

<p>hmmmm... if Vet med is what you "might" be interested in, I'd suggest VA Tech (not up north, I know, just thought I'd throw that out there)</p>

<p>Tech has a great pre-vet track, and one of the country's best vet schools, which it shares with Maryland</p>

<p>Money might ba an issue, it being out of state and all, but I loved the campus and feel when I went to a residential gov. school for Agriculture there last summer</p>

<p>If you might think it's too warm, think again: a nice amount of snow, and cooler temps due to its location in near the Blue Ridge Mountains and high elevation</p>

13

<p>Yeah, I don't know I just don't think vet med is for me. Just never even crossed my mind, to combine the two interests. </p>

<p>Also, The main reason I want to stay up North in the states listed is to be near my home, family, and girlfriend. It does seem like I might be out of luck as far as finding a college in the area I would like to.</p>

<p>Again thanks to anyone who has been helping me, and anyone else that does. I guess now I really just need a few schools, it's just so hard to decide which schools are "good" schools and are actually worth visiting.</p>

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<p>Your stats show that you are a hard worker. You are taking the hardest classes offered at your school and you are staying involved, which is smiled upon. From all your posts, I bet your essay will be a nice read as well. I think you have a solid chance at all the schools with your SAT in range and even some of those a little higher. </p>

<p>University of Connecticut seems like a good match. It is in the northeast and it offers hockey as a club level sport.</p>

<p>You can also consider Northeastern in MA, which is an urban campus and it too offers hockey as a club level sport.</p>

<p>If you are willing to go as far as New York, there's Syracuse, another urban campus with hockey. </p>

<p>If you are set on staying closer to home, then go to your state school and enjoy life while working your butt off to get into a more prestigious school for your MD. </p>

<p>When you really think about it though, sure you can go to a school that's just a 2 hour drive from home, but you can also go to a school that's just a 2 hour flight from home. It opens you up to a whole realm of options, the only difference is your method of travel.</p>

15

<p>Thanks for the schools and tips. I'll most likely be doing a little research myself on the schools that you listed, Poozislove. You've been a big help.</p>

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<p>Do you want the sarcasm that comes with working for House? I know I would (big fan of sarcasm....I think I could take House's abuse if I worked for him). :-p</p>

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<p>I work for my dad right now doing electrical work. If you ask him, he'll probably tell you I have enough sarcasm of my own to be house! ;)</p>