CSU to med school?

[bravo49]

<p>Hi all, </p>

<p>I am considering applying to a California State University (CSU) because of their low cost tuition. I plan on going to med school and wanted to know which CSU would be the best one to attend, to help me get into med school. In other words, which CSU would help prepare me the best for med school? </p>

[Gumbymom]

<p>I would look at some of the top ranked CSU’s: Cal poly SLO, SDSU, CSULB, CPP,CSUF etc… You want to get a high GPA, have medically related EC’s and great prep for the MCAT. Getting an affordable undergrad degree is a smart move since Med School will cost…</p>

[DrGoogle]

<p>I would think CSUF is best for sciences. </p>

[mikemac]

<p>

which CSU would help prepare me the best for med school

They aren’t going to help/prepare you. You are going to own that responsibility, like it or not. Any large public (CSU or UC) is going to be impersonal. Nobody is going to go out of their way to make sure you are doing the right things to be a strong applicant, and if you just drift along taking classes and then apply to med school then your chances are slim at best.</p>

<p>Start by learning more about what becoming a strong med school applicant takes. Read thru the very informative FAQ at <a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/hpa/15890.asp”>http://www.rhodes.edu/hpa/15890.asp&lt;/a&gt; They also have a nice writeup in the PreMed Essentials link on the left side of that page. There is also an excellent online handbook at Amherst I recommend to get an understanding of the process and what really matters

What does elevate a student’s chances is to go to an institution (1) that energizes and challenges that particular student academically, while providing good teaching and academic support so the student can meet the challenge satisfactorily; and (2) that provides opportunities for accomplishment and leadership in extracurricular areas. Of course the student must take advantage of these educational and extracurricular opportunities - in the end it’s the student’s accomplishments that count, not the name of the institution.
[Amherst</a> College Guide for Premedical Students](<a href=“http://www3.amherst.edu/~sageorge/guide1.html]Amherst”>Amherst College Guide for Premedical Students)

For deeper detail it would be a good idea to get a book about medical school admissions so you understand the entire process and what you should be doing to prepare the next several years. And as for the quote above, if you are looking for teaching and academic support it will be incumbent on you to go find it at whatever CSU you end up at.</p>

<p>I always ask kids that say they want to be doctors, why an M.D? Not that I know it is wrong for you, it may be the right fit, but have you actually looked into the medical field and considered the alternatives? From the day you start college it will be 11-15 years before you are a practicing doctor, depending on what field you go into. In other words, think back to 1st grade; all those years since then matches the <em>minimum</em> it will take to become a practicing doc! Its almost a reflex action among HS kids, they think of a career in medicine and its “I’m pre-med!” Doctors are far from the only ones in the health field that help people. Physical therapists, radiology techs, nurses, speech pathologists, to name but just a few. Before you go heavily into debt and commit so many years I suggest you explore the alternatives. </p>

[jkeil911]

<p>what @mikemac said. Know what you’re getting into before setting out on a career path about which so much has been written.</p>