<p>I don't have the traditional "Ivy vs. BA/MD" dilemma as many others have. I was rejected from all the Ivys I applied to, although I was waitlisted at Cornell. I was, however, accepted into the Lehigh/Drexel and RPI/AMC programs. My dilemma is 1. between the two programs, and 2. between one of those programs and a few of my normal UGs (CMU, UCSD, JHU waitlist, Cornell waitlist).</p>
<p>Here's my somewhat abbreviated list of pros/cons (please keep in mind I might want to pursue a career in academic medicine or specialize in something. If my goal was simply to get any MD I can and open a private practice, I would have chosen the program instantly.):</p>
<p>Program:
Pros:
No stress, assured acceptance to med school, etc.</p>
<p>Cons:
No-name med school --> Harder to get a good residency
Lower quality UG, can't apply out to other med schools if I get a high GPA and MCAT score
At both UG and med school, won't be challeneged as much</p>
<p>CMU/UCSD:
Pros:
Better UG education
Possibility of top med school (much better chance of getting into UCSF/UCSD/UCLA med schools from UCSD)
High med-school admission percentage
Price (I'm a CA resident)</p>
<p>Cons:
Give up guaranteed spot in med school
Intense competition between pre-meds</p>
<p>If there's anything I missed, or if there is anything you'd like to add, please. Suggestions for number 1 and 2 would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Edit: One more question--should I wait for the Cornell or JHU? Thanks.</p>
<p>What I would do, and am doind, is going through each program and seeing the rigorousness of it. I'm also looking at med school requirements, and seeing how my regular schools match up. Hard decision though. If you come up with anything, let me know. Just post here.</p>
<p>I would say go for the med program. You are probably smart enough to get into med school the traditional way by getting this far. But I think med programs are good for people who have stressed a lot in early life on education. I see med programs as a way to relax just a little for 4 or 3 years of you life before embarking on a rigorous med school curriculum and then demanding yet rewarding occupation. Stress is a really big factor, and 4 years of stress is not going to be enjoyable. You'll get enough of stress when you go through med school. Save your energy for getting high GPA's and board scores in med school to get a good residency. I don't care how much some people may enjoy learning and studying, but just because you enjoy it doesn't mean there is no stress. </p>
<p>People at these Ivy's and top tier schools are crazy. No offense to anyone. They really have to work on GPA, extra curricular, leadership, internship. It's like going through high school again with higher stakes. I don't agree with people who argue that the undergrad experience is not as good in a med program. 3-4 years of undergrad not having to study for MCAT's and maintain a 4.0 GPA is worth the so called "loss of undergrad experience." When you are stuck in regular pre-med studying your butt off to ace an exam, spending your summers researching seems more like a loss of undergrad experience to me. I get the feeling that regular pre-med is like "shutting yourself into your room for four years." My dad has a friend who's son went to Columbia Undergrad, got full score on his MCAT's had a 3.9 -4.0 GPA and did not get accepted to his top choice med schools. He settled for Albany medical college (which is not a terrible school but if this guy pulled 3.9- 4.0 GPA in college, he must have been an incredible high school student). Not that this happens a lot, but there is always a risk. If this guy knew he was going to end up at Albany Med, I'm sure he would have applied to the med program instead of competing with all the other people fighting for spots in med school.</p>
<p>I COULD BE WRONG THOUGH. I don't want anyone bashing on me.</p>
<p>I would say if you are going to choose undergrad do JHU over Cornell. Pre-med at Cornell will be like WWIII for you. When I was volunteering at a hospital one of the interns was a graduate of JHU med and he said it was an amazing experience. Also, any of you in the Miami program, congrats because someone who went to that med school told me it was an insane experience. I think I am rambling now because I have nothing better to do but wait for my decision from the GW program. Seriously though, put it this way STRESS (traditional pre-med) or NO STRESS (PROGRAM).</p>
<p>If you had to choose between the programs, I would seriously just close my eyes and randomly pick one. They both are pretty much the same thing except for the MCAT requirement and location. You really can't go wrong with a med program unless you just completely flunk everything. You will remember me for this, when you are in first year med school you hear about all the traditional applicants and how hectic there undergrad life was and you just stand there and laugh to yourself quietly and be happy to see how easy you had it.</p>
<p>You actually might want to just completely disregard all my posts except this one. I have no idea what I am saying. Well I guess my reasoning is logical but it may not be the reality of the situation. Yeah, I have no idea what I am saying, just completely forget my advice and my ramblings.</p>
<p>From what the Dr. told me, the school was very laid back, but even though you were academically challenged in med school it was more relaxed than being constantly worrying about everything. And the weather is sick. And the parties are sick. Too bad Miami lost my application to the program that would have been a top choice for me.</p>