<p>So I've narrowed it to the following schools... GWU, BU, Tulane Honors, Pennstate, UPitt. I plan on getting a biology degree and I'm pretty sure I want to go into med school afterwards... Can someone please help me compare?! (Money is not an issue... They're all about the same for me... Also, my mom is not keen on sending me to Tulane, as it's far away and I'm not a huge fan of Pennstate)</p>
<p>All of them can provide what you need to get into med school. Almost all schools can, it is pretty basic. the real question is what else are you looking for? Urban or rural? Big or smaller? Weather a factor? Sports? Classic campus or is urban concrete OK? We need a bit more info.</p>
<p>Campus and athletics and etc, is, again, something I’ve looked into… I was wondering which would offer me the best chance of getting into a med school or which one was known for a strong biology program… for instance, I know GW and Tulane both offer an opportunity to directly apply to their med school after two years… But I’ve heard that Boston U has an extremely strong Med program. Then again, UPitt and Tulane are both offering me honors…Will this help or make life more difficult to maintain a GPA? Yeah, I know, I’m all over the place, but basically I’m asking academically :)</p>
<p>I understand, but the real story is that any school in the top 100 will give you the same preparaton for med school, and none of these are really “known” for a strong biology program undergrad. Schools are known for their grad programs. But the premed program is just</p>
<p>4 semesters of chemistry, 2 each of Intro and Organic with labs all 4 semesters
2 semesters of physics
2 semesters of Bio with lab
2 semesters of calculus is highly recommended, required at some med schools
2 semesters of English with expository writing, but that is required anyway</p>
<p>That’s it. You can major in anything. Doesn’t have to be a science at all. Just do very well in those courses, get a high GPA overall, and do well on the MCATs. Then pray, lol.</p>
<p>As far as getting a higher GPA in or out of Honors Program, my opinion is in. Two reasons: 1) People tend to perform better when surrounded by high performers; and 2) numerous studies show people (and professors are people) tend to assess things at a higher level if they think they were done by more intelligent people and think more highly of people if they were led to believe the people were more intelligent to begin with.</p>
<p>Anywhere you go you will have to work hard and stay disciplined. It seems to me Pitt and Tulane are your best choices. You probably know I am a Tulane person, and I like the whole environment there, meaning location, campus, and weather, better than Pitt. But Pitt is a fine school with students that seem to really like it there also. Both great choices.</p>
<p>If your parents haven’t seen Tulane yet, they should. Maybe that would make them feel better about it.</p>
<p>I would agree that Pitt and Tulane have the two best reputations in the biosciences, and also agree that intelligent, motivated, hard working students at any of those schools will be able to find their way into med school if that is what they want to do. </p>
<p>However, another thing to consider is the environment of the schools as far as ease of access to things that will pad your med school application. Everyone has to volunteer in medical settings, but things like doing undergraduate research in med/bio labs can help your app stand out, and can also allow you to develop closer relationships with faculty that will be writing your letters of recommendation. In this regard, the largest amount of biomedical research activity, judging by National Institute of Health awards which is the major mechanism of funding academic bioscience and health research, falls in this order for your listed schools (approximate national rank in parenthesis): Pitt (#5), BU (#29 ), Tulane (#68 ), GWU (#83), Penn State-Main campus (#100). In addition, the ease of access to these research labs and facilities, and the hospital campuses, is also a factor just for being able to easily get back and forth to a lab/hospital between classes and other social engagements that occur during college. In this regard, Pitt’s primary hospital facility (UPMC, which is highest ranked academically affiliated hospital and medical school out of those on your list, as well as the largest) and research labs are right on or adjacent to campus. GWU’s medical center and school is also right on campus. BU undergrad is approximately 2 miles from the school’s med campus. Tulane’s undergrad campus is about 5 miles away. Penn State’s is in a completely different town 100 miles away in Hershey.</p>