<p>mrcapslock, you cannot generalize about "a liberal art school", when all colleges and universities are different. One liberal arts school is different from another, just as one research university is different from the next.</p>
<p>If your intent is to adopt a pre-med track, you will be able to do so at a national university or a liberal arts college and be assured that you will be adequately prepared at either -- assuming you are conscientious about your studies. The requirements of most medical schools include: 2 semesters of Biology/lab, 4 semesters of Chemistry/lab (e.g., Organic Chem), 2 semesters of Physics/lab, 2 semesters of Math, and 2 semesters of English. It is entirely possible to major in say, Music, and still be on a pre-med track.</p>
<p>The single most important factor in getting into medical school is your GPA (some say that a 3.2 GPA is too low for consideration, but it does depend on the rigor of the college/university; most applicants to med school average 3.5+). The next important factor would be your MCAT scores. The lower your GPA, the higher your MCAT scoes must be. Other factors are important, but they may never be considered if your GPA and MCAT's don't make the cut. </p>
<p>As for LAC's, one of the best in America is Swarthmore College, outside of Philadelphia. Their acceptance rate of grads into medical school is in the 85-90% rate -- far better than the national average rate of 49%. They're not alone either. They're not alone. In the Northwest, the University of Puget Sound claims an acceptance rate of 80% of their grads into medical school. Ultimately, it's not the school or university that will make the difference, it's the degree of diligence on the part of the student to stay academically focused.</p>