Could I get into a good medical school coming from UMASS amherst CHC?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
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Hi all, I recently received my acceptance letter to umass amherst commonwealth honors college, and I could not be more excited. Umass has just the right college environment I am looking for, and it’s band program is one of my top reasons for considering attending.

But I’m concerned that umass won’t be “good enough”… i want to be a doctor when I get older at a top research hospital, and I need to graduate from a good medical school to get there. I know umass is an amazing school and getting into medical school is really what you make of your undergrad, but is umass good enough? If I were to get into a NESCAC like Bates or Bowdoin, would I have a better shot there, even if I wouldn’t get as much financial aid and no band? Please respond; I know I don’t have to make a decision now, but I am torn :frowning:

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need to graduate from a good medical school to get there. I
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All US med schools are very good. Which ones did you think were not?

And…if you went to an undergrad with not enough FA, how would you pay for it? As a freshman, you can only borrow $5500.

What are your stats?

What are your parents saying about how much they’ll spend each year?

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@mom2collegekids it’s not that I thought there weren’t good med schools, in actually afraid I won’t get into any. I’m incredibly hard working, but I feel like everyone else is just as hardworking and smarter, you know? It’s always been a dream of mine to work at the boston children’s hospital, but I don’t really see it happening without me getting into a top tier med school.

I really have no idea how I’m going to pay for all this. I really want to go to college for free and I’m trying to get all the merit scholarships out there, but umass is only giving me $2,000 a year in FA leaving over $25,000 for me and my family to pay. Private colleges often meet 100% of demonstrated need and a handful of the ones I’m interested in are committed to debt free; but I don’t see how that’s realistic.

Stats:
Rank 7 out of 242
GPA unweighted 3.9, weighted 4.45
I attend a medium sized school in one of Massachusetts’ “inner cities”, and to my knowledge only a small handful of students have even applied/looked into any of these schools. I don’t know if it matters, though.
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
ACT- superscore 33, highest composite 32
SAT (new)- 1370, 22/24 writing
AP tests- Biology (4), AP Lang and comp (4), APUSH (3)
Senior course load
Total APs and honors taken- 7 APs, and
EC’s- 3 season athlete, all varsity this year and last year, and I’m captain of my gymnastics team. I am first chair trumpet in my school’s wind ensemble, jazz band, and marching band as well. I volunteer at my local animal shelter on weekends and I work as a lifeguard some weekdays after school. I also am a member of my school’s chapter of the national honors society and the tri-m music honors society.
Essay- I think it’s pretty well written! Not about a general topic like parents divorce or being adopted.
Recs- pretty good as I understand. They’re probably going to highlight my perseverance and exponential progress in music and academics. I haven’t read them, though.

My EFC is just under $20,000… which is ridiculous, because my family cannot pay that much without significant lifestyle changes (refinancing house, no more vacations for decades…). In addition to me going to college, I also have a twin sister who is not eligible for most merit scholarships, and who will not put much effort into helping my parents pay. But my mom and Dad dont talk to me much about money. Honestly it’s always been a very taboo subject in out household, and even though I need to be in the loop of our financial situation, I only know our EFC ($19,899) and adjusted income after taxes ($161,000). This is really hard for me to think about… med schools charge you for literally everything, and I know that most doctors don’t pay off their loans for decades, and some never finish.

Let me know if you need more info; thank you so much!

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You say your family’s income after taxes is $161,000. So that means gross income is north of $200,000? I don’t think you will qualify for that much aid even at schools that meet 100% need. Have you run the NPC at your schools? I would be surprised if EFC came up as $19k with that much income

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@wisteria100 yes I got the fafsa back and that is my family’s EFC- I have a twin sister who is going to college as well so it is the same on her end, adding up to about $40,000 a year for the whole family- But that doesn’t mean we can afford this!!! I don’t understand why colleges total it to be this much, trust me my family isn’t rich and I’m guessing they pay other expenses that they aren’t telling me about, which makes my EFC lower than expected. Their income before taxes is actually just a bit more than $175,000. Why do colleges expect my family to be able to pay this much??? Over 4 years, this cost will be +120,000, And our own home is only worth about 3 times that. I really don’t know what to do :frowning:

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@wisteria100 they will have 2 in college…$20k EACH child…the family’s EFC is $40k. The student is misstating. Her EFC is $20k. Her twin’s EFC is $20k. The family’s EFC (total) is $40k.


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Why do colleges expect my family to be able to pay this much???

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Because they don’t have unlimited funds to help you. They have limited resources just like your parents do. Most schools aren’t rich. Many/most have budget issues. You don’t have to go to an expensive college.

Families are first in line to pay for college.

BTW…most colleges will expect you to pay MORE than your EFC. Most schools give little aid, no matter what your EFC is.

You have the stats to get large scholarships at a few schools. I hope you’ve applied to some of them. Some deadlines have already passed.

If your sister won’t make any effort and won’t get much/any merit, then maybe she needs to commute to the local state school or CC.

Why does Mercedes expect me to pay that much for a car???

Oh that’s right, I can buy a Toyotal instead.

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It’s always been a dream of mine to work at the boston children’s hospital, but I don’t really see it happening without me getting into a top tier med school.
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Do you think all the doctors with privileges at Boston Children’s went to a top tier med school?? Do you think all of their residents went to a top tier med school?

Boston Childrens is one of Harvard’s teaching hospitals. The doctors there are from everywhere. Their residents are from everywhere.

Harvard’s hospitals don’t demand that the doctors (or residents) come from elite med schools.

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@mom2collegekids I understand they have limited funds, but a student whose family makes <30,000 a year will get a lot more aid than my family; some very elite schools cover full tuition for these people, and they end up graduating debt free, while the families who end up actually contributing to the college are up to their eyeballs in debt. I know that being from a middle class family my quality of life financially was better growing up, but it’s a terrible consequence for decades after school. I’m just trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’m going to have to win the lottery to not have loans until I’m 40 years old.

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@mom2collegekids I understand the getting a Toyota instead of a Mercedes, but the whole reason I started this thread was because I was concerned about not getting into medical school because I would come from a state college or a lower-tier college than the NESCACs or ivies. Even if I do go to umass, my family would have to pay $100,000+ Out of pocket after 4 years just for me as I’m not getting financial aid from there. I’m new to this whole paying for college thing; and just trying to find out everything I can. I’m not trying to offend anyone, I promise

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But my mom and Dad dont talk to me much about money. Honestly it’s always been a very taboo subject in out household, and even though I need to be in the loop of our financial situation, I only know our EFC ($19,899) and adjusted income after taxes ($161,000). This is really hard for me to think about… med schools charge you for literally everything, and I know that most doctors don’t pay off their loans for decades, and some never finish.
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Well, it’s time for you and twin to simply ask questions to BOTH parents (together), like…

It looks like colleges are going to expect our family to pay at least $20k per year per twin ($40k-50k+ for both twins), is that going to be ok? If not, what will be ok? If so, can you pay more than that?

If they indicate that they don’t want to talk about it, then you need to just politely let them know that you two need some direction otherwise you both could end up with no affordable schools.

In the meantime, please apply to a few schools that will give you AT LEAST full tuition merit scholarships for your stats. Why? Because unless your parents have a college fund for you two, it’s very possible that they’re not going to be able to fork over $40k-50k+ per year for your college.

Since you’ve missed some deadlines for huge merit, your pickings will be smaller, but schools like UAB, UAH, Miss State and some others will still award you big merit for your stats. and again, big merit needs to be full tuition or close. (UAB is excellent for premeds and has an excellent med school)

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I also have a twin sister who is not eligible for most merit scholarships, and who will not put much effort into helping my parents pay.


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This is a concern and who knows how your parents will handle this. Some parents will strictly say that they’ll spend the same on each twin, no matter what. Some might be less inclined to spend a lot on the twin who won’t put much/any effort into grades/academics or helping reduce costs. Some might reward your efforts of finding schools that give large merit and help you with remaining costs.

Remember…the biggest scholarships are from the schools that give them. Private scholarships are usually small and only for one year. Those won’t help much. You need 4 year awards.

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@mom2collegekids I want to be a doctor. I want it so badly and a colleges that give out full tuition for merit are colleges that can’t offer exceptional help on the premedical track. I know that people from all over the country get into Harvard medical school, but I don’t think any of them came from Arizona state or The university of Hawaii. Schools that offer best pre med help are incredibly selective and expensive, in exchange for state of the art education and test prep to get you ready for medical school. And I’m not a perfect genius Mensa member; I’m your average high achiever who has dreams that aren’t looking very reachable right now.

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Well yeah, but that’s because their top students probably prefer Stanford so they can stay West of the Mississippi.

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Also, let’s take a look at Boston Children’s interns: http://www.childrenshospital.org/bcrp/residency-program-leadership/interns-and-residents/2016-new-interns

Yes, I see ivy grads, but i also see Kalamazoo, St. Bonaventure, USC, RPI, Providence College, Mizzou, UT, and what do you know, last but not least of the interns alphabetically went to…UMASS-AMHERST

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Absolutely! Why would us westerners ever want to move there’s piles of snow in the winter and ghastly humidity in the summer. The climate is so much better in Palo Alto.

I can’t stop laughing at this!

@elizajanebh
Your undergrad isn’t what makes you a competitive applicant for med school–it’s you and what you do during undergrad: your grades, your MCAT score, your ECs, the relationships you develop with your professors so you can get good LORs.

Med school pre-reqs are all lower level courses you can find at almost any college in the country.

Your undergrad provides ZERO in the way of MCAT prep. That’s all on you.

If you want a test case. I have 2 daughters. One attended our sub #200 ranked state U; one attended a “incredibly selective and expensive” private U. Guess what? They both had multiple acceptances to med school. Both decided for financial (little or no med school debt) and personal reasons to attend our state med school. Older D is now a resident at an Ivy hospital that’s a couple hours south of Boston. Her classmates matched into residencies at places like Stanford, JHU, Vanderbilt, UCLA, Mayo, UTSW–and, yes, two matched at Harvard.

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@elizajanebh I know right; just does not seem fair. I am in the same boat as your dad. the dreaded upper middle class I guess. that is what they would categorize us. Sure does not feel that way with all the demands on your pay like retirement, health care, living expenses, children, etc. An EFC of around $40K would be about right. That is the minimum your parents are “Expected” to pay. If they don’t have that then they will need to borrow. Or you will need to.

Yes, if you were living is a tent at a campground you too would have a lower EFC and with those stats would get a very generous FIN AID package. Truth be told, that is a fantasy that there are many kids living poor under bridges with your stats. It’s like the people who win powerball, everyone talks about it but it is very rare. Everyone talks about all the great FIN AID out there, but it is rare.

You will be fine coming out of UMASS pre-Med. But you need to rock out the grades. Like 3.9GPA rocking if you want to enter Harvard Med. What you did in HS will need to be replicated.

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@elizajanebh
If you graduate from Umass Amherst with 4.0 gpa, and have a decent Mcat, you should be able to get in any med school of your choice.

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I understand they have limited funds, but a student whose family makes <30,000 a year will get a lot more aid than my family;

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Actually at most schools, the low income student will get very little free money. At most schools, all they’d get is a $6k loan…and loans…and a big gap.


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some very elite schools cover full tuition for these people, and they end up graduating debt free,

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Out of the millions and millions of low income students, only a tiny, tiny number get into those few elite schools.


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while the families who end up actually contributing to the college are up to their eyeballs in debt.

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Not necessarily. Many, probably most middle/upper-middle class families do not end up with much or any debt from their kids’ college costs.


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I know that being from a middle class family my quality of life financially was better growing up, but it’s a terrible consequence for decades after school. I’m just trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’m going to have to win the lottery to not have loans until I’m 40 years old.


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Even low income kids rack up a lot of debt for med school. They, too, are paying off loans well into adulthood. And most college-bound low income kids emerge with debt as well.

There is no reason to believe that you’ll end up with huge debt unless that is path that YOU choose. You could go to a school that gives you large merit, you can get into a state med school with modest costs.

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Apply to women’s colleges (run NPC) and universities that still offer full tuition or 1/3 tuition merit. This way, if UMass CHC turns out to be unaffordable, you may have some choices.
First of all, talk to your parents. You need nbers, and fast.

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I know that people from all over the country get into Harvard medical school, but I don’t think any of them came from Arizona state or The university of Hawaii.


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Well yeah, but that's because their top students probably prefer Stanford so they can stay West of the Mississippi.

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Very true.

Going to Harvard Med is not the end-all be-all.

A premed should not be focused on any particular med school.

Do you realize that many Ivy premeds do not end up at tippy top med schools?

You seem to have overlooked residencies. As WOWMom noted, a med student can come from a state med school and get into fabulous residencies.

Which do you think is more important? The med school name or the residency name?