<p>Hello All, (sorry if this is a bit long)
My younger son is in 10th grade and is determined to pursue a career in medicine. He has talked about this for years and works hard in school. He has maintained a straight A average with his current unweighted GPA around a 98 or 99 and he keeps getting better...this year I think he will have over a 100 average and expect similar results in 11th/12th grade. We live in NY state. </p>
<p>His plan is to take the SAT's at the end of 10th grade and also the biology subject test. He has already begun taking SAT practice tests and I've recently ordered a whole bunch of books to assist, as recommended on this site. </p>
<p>My quandary is helping him choose the right path for school, based on his career choice and whether it makes a huge difference where he goes for his first 4 years. Let me explain...my wife and I made a committment to our kids, that as long as we are able to afford to do so, we will pay for their undergrad school up to a max of $20K/year and they would be responsible for paying for their grad work. My older son, who is pursuing a degree in chemistry (wants to be a pharmacist), decided to go to a NY state school (SUNY) to do his undergrad work.</p>
<p>Even though money is a big factor it is not the overriding factor...much more important to get my son off to the right start. So my question is does it hurt him if he goes to a SUNY school (like Binghamton) for his undergrad work when he goes to apply to medical school? He wants to stay in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast area. </p>
<p>If you do think this is not a good idea(to go to a public school) and he should go private can you give some input on schools in the Northeast that have a strong pre-med program. </p>
<p>Going to a SUNY school for undergrad is absolutely fine if he wants to go to med school. SUNY schools are well-regarded, and ultimately it's all about where he goes to med school that matters. Sounds like he's off to a great start. Good luck!</p>
<p>you may also want to look into any of the combined, guaranteed or accelerated programs that are offered by about 30 schools. Some grant early acceptance to med school right from high school as long as they maintain certain gpa through undergrad.. some will require an mcat score during undergrad some dont. I ordered the "Medical School Admission Requirment" (MSAR) through the AMA website. this lists all the schools, all the requirements, stats on number who apply/accepted etc. Just checking the book in your area that would include:
New Jersey Medical school
Rutgers and UMDNJ
Brooklyn College and SUNY downstate med center
Hobart & William Smith and SUNY upstate med univ
Reensselaer and Albany
St Bonaventure /GW University
Siena College &Albany medical college
Sophie Davis & city university of ny
Stony Brook
Union College &albany medical college
University of Rochester</p>
<p>there are many more that woundnt be that far away. These programs are very competitive but worth looking into if he is sure that is what he wants. What a relief to know when entering undergrad that your med school acceptance is a sure thing!!!</p>
<p>I would second the combined degree program if your son is sure about med school. There are quite a few options at many places, and they take a lot of stress off down the road.</p>
<p>Just make sure to check the requirements carefully (like a reasonable GPA requirement, etc.)</p>
<p>The SUNY schools are fine. The most important things for medical school from my understanding are the MCATs and the GPA (with the right course preparation).</p>
<p>I agree with all the above. I'd add that if he does want to look into private schools, many fine ones do provide merit aid that he may well qualify for, depending on keeping up that fine GPA and future test scores. it may well be worth while investigating and pursuing both paths--public schools and private w/merit.</p>
<p>one other quick thing.. if he considers the combined etc programs he needs to start getting some EC that show his enthusiam for medicine ie volunteer at local hospital, shadow physicians etc. Normally those things wouldnt count if done in hs for med school application but if doing an early acceptance program he has to start in hs!.</p>
<p>^^agree with parent56, but not just for the application. Your son should also have a very clear idea about why he is considering medicine before he applies to one of these programs. Does he love taking care of and being around sick/injured people? Does he want to run a small business (ie a medical practice)? I know he's young and can't have had many life experiences to answer these questions, but the practical experience parent56 talks about will help him understand the daily tasks of a medical career and whether they are a fit for him.</p>
<p>i agree riverrunner. my son shadowed this summer ...he liked the orthopedic surgery and was excited with watching a delivery, but rather underwhelmed by family practice. I think it helped him realize that he leans more towards medical research actually, rather than a medical practice. Right now he is torn between an md/phd path, or a chemistry based phd. Mind you, right now he is a "I dont want to discuss it!!!" mode as we tried to get into a discussion of economics and practical issues which took alot of his choices off the table, and totally frustrated him. The competiton for merit aid is so tough at the schools he is interested in, and without it, attendance wouldnt be possible even if admitted. As he is currently a junior we are taking a breather from even discussing college!</p>
<p>Do your FAFSA now...and take a look at what it says you must pay to privates. This is hugely important to digest early as parents. You may have reason to celebrate. Many top schools are incredibly generous should your son be able to win admission...and will meet demonstrated balance of FAFSA. Secondly, you need to see your son's stats..and our son's topped into highly competetive only as he approached 18...so..not every kid's 11th grade scores are predictive. Stay open, stay informed, do not choose your path now. Then there is the pursuit of merit money...another path..which will be more crowded than ever in this downturn.
With med school as a goal, it is good to get on paper what the best scenario is for tuition there and to also truly digest this long term outlay of money. However, if you can go to Hamilton for the same price as a public based on your FAFSA for instance...than you should also be visiting private colleges of all sizes.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think it helped him realize that he leans more towards medical research actually, rather than a medical practice. Right now he is torn between an md/phd path, or a chemistry based phd. Mind you, right now he is a "I dont want to discuss it!!!" mode as we tried to get into a discussion of economics and practical issues which took alot of his choices off the table, and totally frustrated him.
[/quote]
Parents - please realize that most kids change their minds about what they want to do in college. Please realize that they don't have to make any decisions now about what "path" they want to take, and realize that this is NOT your decision to make. I really feel sorry for kids who are encouraged to look so far ahead to an end-goal at such a young age, and worry about the spoken and unspoken pressures and expectations that end up being their burden to carry. jmho</p>
<p>great advice from everyone..thanks. He is sure he wants to go into medicine, my brother is a MD and has talked with him as well as my wife who is an RN. Next summer he is planning to work in a local hospital...and he may volunteer this coming winter season. </p>
<p>He's a pretty sharp kid that has amazing focus, I know he didn't get it from me :)</p>
<p>We are going to look into the accelerated programs too to see if that is a good option. My brother was not too keen on these programs but everyone is different. </p>
<p>Any additional input is greatly appreciated
Rich</p>
<p>true!
he isnt making any decisions but he has added a great question to his college search (when we resume) and that is... what are the research possibilities for undergrads and what facilities would be available to him at any school he looks at. Now, that may change again and that's fine because he has lots of time to figure it out. It has been his decision to look at sciences, (perhaps path was the wrong choice of word)</p>
<p>richny there is a difference between accelerated and combined programs. The accelerated reduce the number of years, the combined do not. reviews i have read are mixed. think i have read more negative re accelerated than combined. ie the stress of completing in 6-7 years.</p>
<p>Since your son is interested in medicine, I suggest you spend some time on the Pre-Med Topics forum here on CC. There are some extremely helpful sticky threads at the top of the forum which discuss what to look for in an undergrad college, what med schools look for, how the MCATs work, etc. Also, there are several current med students that participate regularly (BigRedMed, NorCalGuy and BlueDevilMike) and give excellent advice.</p>
<p>I have a D who is going the premed route and believe me, I've learned so much on that forum. Depending on the school, sometimes the premed advisors in college aren't as much help!</p>
<p>I am a physician, a product of public education, and have some experience in med school admissions from my time in academic medicine. I also have a D who wants to travel the path to med school.</p>
<p>Public vs. private is less important than prepared vs. unpreprared. Schools have reputations and a stellar GPA from a mediocre school isn't going to get you admitted to med school. Many schools will post their acceptance rate to med school on line, so it isn't hard to find the information.</p>
<p>I am not a fan of accelerated programs and I discouraged my D from applying to them.. There is more to medicine than science. There is isn't much leeway to take classes that will help you grow as a person or are just plain fun. (Yes, I know people are mumbling here that as I doctor I can pony up that extra year, full tuition for my kid for undergrad.) My med school has an accelerated program with a university and I sat next to students who lived and breathed their pre-med studies in three years to be there. There's something to be said for a year of life experience. Her school has an accelerated, not combined program, so she is going the traditional pathway.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>BTW, I am in private practice now and have no additional insight to curent med school admissions.</p>
<p>I know someone who was accepted to the combined program at UCONN--she received a full scholarship and has done amazingly well. She turned down both Harvard and Princeton for undergrad, and said that she didn't regret it one bit.</p>
<p>I purchased the MSAR book so my son and I can go through med school admission requirements and other pertinent info. From there I am hoping we can develop a good plan by looking at all programs. </p>
<p>I agree with LWMD...I need to see the acceptance rates.</p>