<p>Is it worth applying to a guaranteed medical program at a thrid or a fourth tier school?
For example university of illinois at chicago is a third tier school but it has a 8 year guaranteed program so should i apply?
also is opening 2 common app files legal cuz i'm applying to 35 schools which i know is crazy.
any suggestions?
thanks</p>
<p>*please excuse my spelling</p>
<p>Somebody please help me…i’m desperate.</p>
<p>Worth it in what sense? If you get accepted and complete the program you’ll be an MD whether it’s a 3rd, 4th or any other tier, is there something else you’re looking for? Since we know absolutely nothing about you, how would we be in a position to tell you if you should apply or not?</p>
<p>You need to seriously reconsider applying to so many UG colleges, not only is it crazy and expensive, it’s counterproductive. There is no way that you can complete that many quality applications, even with the CA, the supplements and customized essays will eat you alive. You’ll end up sending low quality applications to many schools, which lowers your chance for acceptance at all.</p>
<p>Yes, please cut down your list. Pick some safeties that you like, then cut out some reaches.
And, of course it is worth it to apply to 8 year programs, IF you are positive that you want Med School. If you aren’t sure, then you find yourself In a Pickle.</p>
<p>Even if you are not positive about medicine, still worth it. There are no disadvantages. However, some people have something against combined programs. I do not know what though. In regard to UG for pre-med, just go to any cheapest available UG where you feel comfortable, get very high GPA and decent MCAT and all other stuff (EC’s, job…) and you will be all set ot apply to any American Med. school you heart desires. it helps a lot to know that you have one spot though, it is yours, nobody can take it from you. This mind set helps to sit for 5 hours thru MCAT and be very choosy if you decided to apply out. No need to apply to 30+ schools, can choose your favorite 5-6. Saves whole ton of $$ and time.</p>
<p>No, you cannot open up two Common App files. The system has numerous edits, includind SSN, address, high school code, etc., to prevent such things.</p>
<p>One risk with applying to an 7/8 year program is that your interests may change once you get to undergrad work. Colleges offer hundreds of courses in things you’ve never even heard about in HS. Thus if you find a non-med interest, you are then ‘stuck’ graduating from the 3rd/4th tier school when you could be having more ‘fun’ at say, the main campus of Illinois, all the while receiving a first tier degree.</p>
<p>Ignoring ‘tiers’, the big issue I see with Circle Campus (I’m old school) is that is a commuter college primarily, which makes for a much, much different undergrad experience. Personally, I’d much prefer a 4th tier residential campus over any commuter college.</p>
<p>"One risk with applying to an 7/8 year program is that your interests may change once you get to undergrad work. "</p>
<p>-Assumption is that you cannot be ANY major(s)/minor(s) in combined program. It is NOT a valid assumption. In some programs (I cannot say all, I do not know about all programs), you can be any combo of major(s)/minor(s) and take your time graduating in UG also. Some of them are just as flexible as regular route and allow you to apply to other Med. School retaining you spot in a program.</p>
<p>UIC is a pretty good school. I think that it is worth trying. If you change mind, you should be able to get an advanced degree in a related field from a 2nd tier school. I have a hard time persuading my son to get serious about the BA/MD program in a 4th+ tier school.</p>
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<p>NOT even close to what I was assuming bcos there was NO assumption about major.</p>
<p>What I meant to post (which wasn’t clear) was that if your long-term interest evolves into something non-medical and that leads to you dropping pre-health apps altogether…you are still stuck at Tier 4 (when you could have gone to Madison - a top party school, with great academics, or stayed instate and attended college in Urbana-Champaign).</p>
<p>Not many 18-year-olds know what they want to do…and just earning a A in HS Chem and Bio does not necessarily mean pre-health all-the-time.</p>
<p>Actually, the on-campus population at UIC is at an all time high at about 25%. UIC is an experience. I learned a lot there. Due to its high commuter population, your experience is more based on what you decide to do. Many students like to complain about the school, but when you dig deeper, you learn they decided to not get involved. UIC will not hand out information on a silver platter.<br>
The LAS advising is notoriously so bad, that we always recommended that you sit and read the undergrad LAS catalog and look at your DARS report.
On a side note, UIC does have the largest med school in the country. Remember, you are not guaranteed a spot at the Chicago campus. You can be placed at Urbana, Peoria, or Rockford.</p>
<p>Hello. I was accepted into a guaranteed medical program. I must complete my four years of undergraduate, then if I have a 3.5 GPA I am automatically in, no MCAT or interview. I see absolutely no disadvantages! I can major in anything and if I don’t go to medical school, then oh well. Your program may be more restrictive! Weigh all the options.</p>
<p>i will be attending the 8 year program at uic this fall, and i personally don’t see any disadvantages to it </p>
<p>most medical schools don’t really care where you did your undergrad coursework. so why not apply to the direct med program, secure a spot, and then have the freedom to apply to other med schools without worrying about NOT getting into a med school at all. during my gppa interview with dr. chambers, he also told me that many gppa students do go on to higher ranked med schools (feinberg, pritzker, etc) </p>
<p>and about the 35+ applications, i can honestly say it’ll definitely come with more harm than benefit. my friend did the exact same thing last year, applying to over 30 schools both med programs and undergrad universities. she was completely burnt out by the end of the college admissions process. IMO, apply to 8-10, maybe 12 at max…</p>
<p>jamesjr which one were you accepted to?
thanks for the info everyone</p>