So I visited UMD today, and all the staff there were hell bent on convincing us to choose their school over UVA. But, one interesting point that they made was how UVA just recently closed down their PreMed counselling program while UMD was still going strong with theirs. This made me wonder then how the heck UVA’s current premed program is organized, and how current students think of it. Is it hard? Are their helpful people along the way? Do they have good results?
In fact, any feedback from any premed student at UVA would be helpful, thanks!
This is truly bizarre and shocking to read. First, that faculty or administration at another school seems to have spent considerable time talking about another school and second, that they flat out lied about another school.
UVa has not “recently” shut down anything related to pre-med.
Most schools moved away from premed being it’s own major many, many years ago (it didn’t even exist when I was in school). Today, you can be any major and still avail yourself of premed advising at most schools, UVa included.
What IS interesting about UVa’s program is that there is no barrier to entry (no application, no required GPA, to required timeline). At any point in your career, you can take advantage of premed advising at UVa.
I know of at least one in state school, one that is considered a public ivy, that also spent considerable time talking about how much better their institution is than UVA during its orientation. And, it wasn’t just one speaker, it was several. It is shocking, because especially at the point of orientation, the student has already chosen the other school. We submitted feedback regarding the “put down” talks. I pointed out that UVA never even mentions other institutions in their orientations. I chalk up that kind of talking to envy and an inferiority complex :).
^^^^^^Another in-state school besides UVa that is considered a public ivy? I can’t think of another school that even comes close to being a public ivy.
I sincerely hope that it was merely a misunderstanding.
In detail, the Pre-Med representative at UMD said that their personalized premed advising system (NOT a major) was unique for large schools. The rep then used UVa as an example, saying that their rep for premed had retired recently, and that their program was thus kinda done.
But after looking at Dean J’s link, it seems that it is not so.
Anyway though, does anybody have any first hand experience with this program?
I think you should decide if you need this kind of hand holding or not. I enjoyed going to a large school and I didn’t need a personalized advising system because I am really good at googling. UVA advisors don’t hold your hand. I don’t consider this a negative, but maybe you want someone who will walk you through all of the advising things they advertised to you.
I don’t know of any college confidential members who went through UVA premed.
I wasn’t premed so I can’t say anything about that. Your initial advisor picked by last name will be useless though. What kinds of questions do you think you are going to need to ask?
@“Dean J” I have contacted the premed office at UMD, and it was a slight misunderstanding it seems. They did not intend to belittle UVa in any way, but was mentioning how UVa has stopped giving personalized committee letters about the students to the grad schools that they apply to. Can any of you comment on how important these letters are?
@Elpsycongroo, are you BlackJack7 in the Student Doctor forums? If so, keep reading about premed committees. Plenty of schools aren’t doing them anymore. FWIW, our advising staff tells me there wasn’t a real change in the success of the medical school applicants after they went away.
Let me add that UVa’s pre-health advising program supports ALL of the students who are interested in premed, regardless of GPA or MCAT score.
@“Dean J” I haven’t touched the Student Doctor website so it must be a different (but similar maybe) person. I have looked into premed committees a bit though, and it doesn’t seem to be necessary at all, as you say. Obviously, I will make my final judgement based on campus visits.
On the other hand, I have received generous Financial Aid Grant from UVA regardless of being OOS, thanks!
I work (student employment) at University Career Services, and there are three career counselors who are designated experts in pre-med advising. Their title was recently changed from Pre-Health and Law to the more inclusive Graduate and Professional School advising; perhaps that’s what UMD meant? Regardless, the counselors remain the same and are incredibly helpful resources. They know their stuff and give excellent advising. You’d be in good hands.