Hi,
I will be entering as a freshman in college during fall 2016. I am very confused about three schools. I have been admitted
into Collegium V program, University of Houston HBS honors college and well Austin College. Which will prepare me best for the medical school? I wanted to have some research opportunities along with a rigorous program. Any experience please. I really wanted to join a college which prepares students for MCAT advise for Health Carrier.
Thanks.
Based off of personal experience and knowledge, I would say that the University of Houston is your best bet for medical school opportunities. In my opinion, it’s difficult for Austin College and UTD to compete with the resources that UH has to offer, especially with it being located in close proximity to the Texas Medical Center. I am a high school senior from Houston interested in medicine and UH Honors is where I would have ended up in the fall if I hadn’t been accepted into Rice ED. Also, I know that the HBS program is quite rigorous to be admitted into and would definitely help with gaining research opportunities, as would being part of the Honors College as a whole.
Colleges don’t prepare students for the MCAT. The premed prereqs for med school are just basic classes that other STEM students are taking. Success is up to you.
Doesn’t matter whether it’s an honors college or not.
The University of Houston receives a mention in “The Experts’ Choice: Colleges with Great Pre-med Programs” (available online). You can look into the list’s methodology to see if its factors apply to your interests.
Collegium V is stronger than the UHouston Honors college - stronger students, better offerings. For instance, McDermott Scholars, one of the nation’s premier Honors Program, are enrolled in Collegium V. Average CR+M is about 1480 - vs. about 1320 for UHouston. With 1/3 students being interested in med school, they offer Honors seminars that allow them to fulfill their gen ed requirements with special medicine-related topics.
http://honors.utdallas.edu/cv/classes
You could email each college and see what the Honors College has to offer in terms of 1° help with health-related opportunities, 2° help with finding a lab where you can do “meaningful” research, and 3° help with scholarship, fellowships, and internships. Also, ask to be put in touch with a current Honors Premed student. See what they’re doing, what they like/what they dislike about the college, etc. (All will tell you their college is the best, but how exactly is what you need to find out).
Thanks everybody for your input. Houston is out now as I did not apply for any scholarships. Now between Austin College and UTD Collegium V. I think that GPA is very important for Med school and my parents think that smaller school like Austin College would prepare me more as they have very good premed program. Dr. Pierce is a great advisor. I am interested in CV program at UTD but at the same time, everybody with different majors so not much focus on Premed prerequisites as well as at least 30 students per class compared to 12 :1 at Austin college.
Please advise,
Do they have advisor at campus for CV program?