<p>Wyoming, Idaho, Montana & Alaska share UWSOM with WA!</p>
<p>They also share UNM SOM thru PSEP!</p>
<p>(D1’s new best med school friend is from U Alaska where she majored in…agricultural science. )</p>
<p>Surprising that Colorado, Oregon, and Washington only have 1 med school each.</p>
<p>[Median</a> Grades for Undergraduate Courses - Winter 2012](<a href=“This page has moved”>This page has moved)</p>
<p>If anything, it’s easier to get in from an ivy compared to somewhere like UC Berkeley, where the curve is actually set at a C. Students from private colleges should be held to a higher standard because of grade inflation. However, I personally think grade inflation is reasonable at a place like Dartmouth. If a 2200 SAT. 3.95 student goes to a place like university of oregon or uc davis, they can get something above a 3.5 as a premed. At Dartmouth, that student would get the same grade. The people who really get the short end of the stick are the schools with both tough student bodies and reputations for grad inflation. (eg: cornell, jhu, uc berkeley, uchicago)</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
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<p>Don’t you mean grade deflation in this setting? Chicago, Cal, etc. have never had the reps of being schools where As are easy to obtain. I would agree with your assessment, though. My D goes to a top tier school where the kids are all quite bright, and the weed out process for pre-meds is notorious. I believe I read the avg. GPA at her school among A&S is a 3.2. I could almost guarantee it’s significantly lower for those pre-meds in their second year trying to major in a science; this is pure conjecture on my part because the GPA by major is not published. I know that some science courses, for instance, actually curve down to ensure that very few As are given. She’s been fortunate thus far; however, there are some incredibly smart kids who happen to not fair as well. (Yes, this includes 2200/3.95 kids like you describe.)</p>
<p>The schools that are notoriously “hard” really aren’t…look at these 2006 #s</p>
<p>Cornell - [Cornell</a> University](<a href=“http://www.gradeinflation.com/cornell.html]Cornell”>http://www.gradeinflation.com/cornell.html)</p>
<p>U Chicago - [University</a> of Chicago GPA Trends](<a href=“http://www.gradeinflation.com/chicago.html]University”>http://www.gradeinflation.com/chicago.html)</p>
<p>JHU - [Johns</a> Hopkins](<a href=“http://www.gradeinflation.com/Johnshopkins.html]Johns”>Johns Hopkins)</p>
<p>UC Berkeley - [UC-Berkeley[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Feel free to look at other schools at [url=<a href=“http://www.gradeinflation.com%5DNational”>http://www.gradeinflation.com]National</a> Trends in Grade Inflation, American Colleges and Universities](<a href=“http://www.gradeinflation.com/Ucberkeley.html]UC-Berkeley[/url”>UC-Berkeley)</p>
<p>The numbers have probably even gone up since 2006. Mid/High 3.2s is still relatively inflated. Also, a two tenth differential between humanities and sciences isn’t that great. </p>
<p>End of the day, get the highest gpa possible at the best possible school in a major you know can you can succeed in.</p>
<p>If you have 4.0 or very close with decent MCAT and all EC’s and NOT an anti-social hermit who is awkward at interviews, you should be all set up as long as you have “regular” list of Med. Schools. I do not know what would happen if you have only Harvard, Yale, U of Chicago,…etc. (you got my picture) on your list. Then there is a real possibility that you will not get in anywhere at all no matter where you went for UG. However, if you applied to wide range of Med. Schools, I do not see how you would have a problem being accepted, again, no matter what UG you have graduated.</p>
<p>Reading all this is really intimidating
I’m actually a senior in highschool in the IB program
I only took HL biology but didn’t take chemistry which I now regret and want to get into a decent medschool
Any suggestions on any introductory courses or anything else I can take in college? Or anything I can do outside of it, or maybe even summer before going into college?</p>
<p>First of all, all US medical schools are ‘decent.’ Be thrilled to be accepted any medical school! Every US medical school confers the same degree and offers the same opportunities for further specialization.</p>
<p>In college, take general chemistry freshman year and really apply yourself. You will have tough competition and fellow students with much better preparation than you have. Attend every lecture, every recitation, read the assignments ahead of time and prepare a list of questions of things you don’t understand, go to office hours, seek tutoring if you need it (and go early in the semester, don’t wait until you’re behind and playing catch up), form a study group…</p>
<p>But don’t be a grind either. Find time to pursue your own hobbies and interests. Med schools want well-round individuals with interests outside of academics.</p>
<p>Every college offers health professions advising where you can learn about what kinds of coursework is required for medical school and what other sorts of ECs successful applicants are expected to have. The advisors can help you navigate the process.</p>
<p>There are many different roads to medicine. Some are straight lines: high school–> bio major in college–> medical school. Many more are circuitious journeys with lots of detours along the way. Remember going to medical school is a process and goal; it’s not a set of prescribed steps or a check-off list to fulfill.</p>
<p>As for the summer before college–enjoy yourself! This will be the last time you will have a summer free from expectations. Get a job, spend time with friends, go on vacation with your family.</p>
<p>(Any ECs you do before the first day of college aren’t included on your med school application.)</p>
<p>great post, wayoutwestmom. thanks for easing my nerves!</p>
<p>One thing for sure, save your summers for fun, spending time with your friends, chill, etc. You will miss these type of summers later, do not waste your summers on some classes or worry about school. You can add few hours of volunteering, shadowing, research, job if you can get any at your home town. These are much easier to get into at your UG during school year. Just relax…enjoy while it lasts. Looking too much ahead is not a good idea, take one little step at a time and evaluate how you feel before taking the next one.</p>