Hi there: Can anyone give feedback on a better path for premed SUNY Binghamton freshman research initiative, or SUNY Buffalo Honors?
Don’t discount SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. I know two students who became MD’s from there. It is located adjacent to Syracuse University and Upstate Medical Center. You’d major in Forest Biology or Forest Chemistry but both are totally applicable to Med school applications.
Thank you. But she didn’t apply to that school! We are down to the wire with these two options for our SUNY’s.
You’re not concerned about which is best for the actual major?
I’m concerned about which school provides the most opportunities for research and participating in a medical setting in order to prepare for medical school. Wondering which one might have a higher rate of med school admissions and which people have been happier with.
People get into med school from both. The most important thing for acceptance to medical school is high GPA, high grades in the prerequisite classes, and high MCAT scores. If she were hoping to go the MD/PhD route, then yes, undergraduate basic science research opportunities would be very important. Otherwise, there are opportunities to do clinical work (volunteer or paid) just about anywhere. I would advise her to make her choice based upon other things, like location, atmosphere, available majors, etc. One thing to consider is that Binghamton is, I believe, still considered to be the most selective SUNY flagship U. It’s nice to be with the best and the brightest, but it’s also tough to compete against them in premed classes.
@muhlme have you considered whether you’re eligible for the early assurance program
http://medicine.buffalo.edu/oiace/education/education/early-opportunity-medicine.html
Good points. She would be in the honors track at Buffalo, but I know Binghamton is considered to be more competitive.
She actually interviewed for a spot at the Virginia Commonwealth University early assurance program and we are waiting to hear. She would not be eligible for the Jacobs school early assurance program. Thank you though!