Hi! I am entering as a high school senior next semester so I am looking at possible college options, but can’t seem to decide which schools to apply to and which school to use ED on. I’m fairly firm on my dream of going into medicine.
(This part is kinda long so to put simply, mediocre)
My stats:
- 4.0 GPA for the past 3 years (school does not do weighted)
- SAT score: 1450
- 4 on AP Euro, took AP Biology, AP Chinese, AP Lang, AP Calc AB, and APUSH last year (I think I passed them?)
- Taking AP Lit, Chem, Econ, and Calc BC next semester
Extracurriculars
- had done some shadowing with medical professionals
- HOSA (a health professionals club)
- scored top 25% at a medical law and ethics event
- marching band for 3 years
- Has an officer position in marching band
- In school band and a local orchestra
- Historian at a writing club
- Does Chinese to English translations
Preferences:
- in or near a major city
- I’m from California but both in state and out of state works
- medium to large student body
- mostly affordable (my parents offered to pay tuition so it could be a bit pricey)
- prestige. I’m planning to apply to one top 30 as a reach so any advice would be great
I am a bit lost so any advice or suggestion would help. Thank you so much for reading <3
Pre-med isn’t anything special or magical. Pre-med isn’t any particular major. It’s merely a list of courses that medical schools require of applicants. These courses are offered almost every college and university in the US and Canada.
You don’t need to go to brand name school or an expensive private LAC or university to be a successful med school applicant. Prestige is irrelevant for developing a successful med school application since the name of your undergrad carries very little weight during the med school application process. What’s is critical is your achievements during college–your GPA/sGPA, your MCAT score, your LORs from your science & non-science professors, the strength & variety your ECs, your leadership roles in your activities.
Since you’re from CA, I’d start by adding all the UCs (even Riverside) to your application list. Add both Cal Polys (Pomona and SLO). The CSUs also provide another option for Cal residents. The CSU provide a perfectly adequate preparation for the pre-med student. Not a glamorous choice, but a functional one.
Since you mention affordability I would reinforce that idea. Medical school is hideously expensive. Even your in-state publics. You want to minimize the amount of debt you take on for undergrad.
If your parent are willing and able to pay 100% of the $70K+/.year price tag for a private U, ask them if they would be willing to contribute to your medical school costs if you choose a more affordable option.
I would add another criteria to your list. You want to be in the top half to top 25% of all enrolled students stats-wise at your college. Why? Pre-med along with engineering and science majors tend to attract the strongest applicants at every college. Those other top high achieving students at your college will be your direct competition for the limited number of A grades awarded in science and math classes. Pre-med at every college involves a certain amount of weeding–key required classes where only the very best students get the A grades they need for the strong GPA/sGPA required for a successful med school application.
You may want to also post your criteria and stats in the FA forum to get some more affordable suggestions.
I also suggest you clarify with your parent just how much they are willing to pay annually toward your college education. 70K/year is a lot of money–and that’s commonly what private universities and LACs are running nowadays.
Thank you so much for the suggestions! I will definitely be applying to UCs and look into CSUs. I’ll also keep in mind about being in the top half.
About money, I don’t have much boundaries. My parents are willing to pay more than 70k a year, but I personally can’t justify spending that much on just undergrad. That’s why I wanted more affordable options. Fairly certain that they will also help with medical school tuition.
Of course I understand that prestige has little impact on medical school applications, so I just want to apply for one or two as a reach. It’s mostly parental pressure in this case.
You have gotten some great advice from @ WayoutWestMom and she is the expert on Pre-Med topics. The take away should be to keep your Undergrad costs affordable, “Pre-med” will be competitive at any school and it is not as important on where you attend, but what you do there. Select a school where you will thrive.
My son’s have several friends that were “pre-med”. Many ended up not applying for Medical school and pursuing other areas of interest. Some were lucky enough to get into Medical school and so far the most successful student ended up at UCLA Medical school and he attend SDSU.
A good school for premed will be nurturing/collaborative, not competitive. It’ll offer lots of opportunities to discover different subjects and get involved. It’ll offer free, easily available academic and psychological support.
So, find a “good value” college that’s a good fit for you.
Look into test optional colleges (both universities and national LACs) AND submit your score. CTCL colleges are likely to provide good merit aid and many have excellent premed/science programs (Whitman, St Olaf, Denison, Muhlenberg come to mind).