Honors colleges are advantageous because they usually give you scheduling priority. That’s about all, and it could mean more work. But it could also mean 4 day weekends.
If you live in a state with relatively lower cost public medical schools, (e.g. TX or NM) it may be a good idea to stay in state or nearby to be able to get to medical school interviews more easily.
4 day weekend? How?
OK, but let’s be clear. The kid has to really be serious about going to med school. Otherwise it is probably best to choose a more prestigious school–even if there is 1 bit of doubt about becoming a doctor.
4 day weekend…you schedule your classes for Tues, Wed, Thurs. Then you can have Friday-Monday off. The perks of the honors program in most schools.
I am really serious about going to med school. There are some illnesses in my family that have really influenced me. I would really like to help.
Then go to state school honors program.
@supernovacoach I strongly disagree. The cost difference can be as much as $300,000. Without knowing the actual costs of the other schools, no statements can be made.
State school honors program $300k more than any other option he has? Give me a break!!!
State honors college for me might be free Or fairly inexpensive.
I’ve said my peace. But you better be 10000% sure you want to be a doctor
Maybe I should just apply to both and see what happens.
True, I have no idea where my doctor went to college but I do know my father’s roommate at Brown went to Harvard. Not sure it’s connected but it might be. Not saying I could ever make it to Harvard.
What major are you considering? Since you mentioned Alabama in an earlier post, I know they have a pre-med track as an option as part of a BS in Chemical Engineering, which is fairly popular there as a pre-med choice. Beyond the Honors College, they have a few research programs (Randall Research Scholars https://honors.ua.edu/programs/randall-research-scholars-program/
and Emerging Scholars https://emergingscholars.ua.edu/ ) that you might find interesting, and they also have a pre-med scholars program https://mccolloughscholars.as.ua.edu/ .
My son had to make the same hard choices you are facing now (although he isn’t pre-med). After looking at all the options, he saw real value in being in a special program at a lower-cost school. He starts this fall as a Randall Research Scholar at Alabama and his experience thus far (campus visit, research program finalist weekend, orientation, advising, general communications, etc,) has been stellar. He wouldn’t have picked that school without the special program though.
Good luck with whatever choice you end up making!
Thank you for the information and insight. Reading firsthand information helps a lot! May I ask what Alabama campus your son goes to? How is the campus socially and culturally?
There are so many factors, it becomes confusing and overwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining. I am quite appreciative to have options. Not everyone does.
It’s difficult to watch some of my friends go full price and complain. Hoping a selective college will offer me a spot and enough money to make it possible. If not, I have to take a school that at least offers tution.
Since you’re absolutely positive you want to go to medical school, why not apply to the combined accelerated BS/MD programs? There’s an entire thread on those programs over at the medical school section, and as an anecdotal note, two of my siblings attended these programs(at different schools) and are glad they did.
You have to look at the benefits of each honor school. Classes available only to honor school students, priority registration, special housing, on/off campus events like cocktail parties with guest speakers or even a trip to a conference.
Or it could just mean more work with little benefit. YOU have to decide.
@happymomof1 My parents are helping my older siblings. Paying half of college bill. With my siblings’ savings (all of us work and save since 15), current wages, and federal loan, my siblings pay the rest.
My older siblings are smart, go to our state flagship. I do happen to have better scores and grades. Guess I studied more. Siblings are very proud of me and have encouraged me to go somewhere “better” than them. They would not care if I get more money unless my parents cut contributions to them.
A couple of points:
a) if your main goal is to go to medical school, you want to be as debt free as possible by the time you are done with undergrad; and
b) you probably will be sacrificing some things (academic peers, better quality faculty and programs, top notch internships, etc.) to go to the cheaper undegrad route, but the big positive is you won’t be saddled with so much debt and you might get a better GPA with less competition (e.g. big fish in a small sea).
Some say no one cares where you went to undergrad if going to graduate school but what they fail to realize is that the 4 year “education” you actually get is what stays with you your whole life (not necessarily the name of the college on your diploma). IMO, it all matters and will shape you into the young adult you will become.
Well it is also important to keep in mind that at the best schools, the professors hardly ever teach. They are wrapped up doing “bigger and more important” things than lecturing 18-22 year olds. Most of the teaching is delegated to Graduate students.
At the lesser regarded universities, Professors often times teach and have a passion for teaching their students. This point is so often missed by parents and students alike!