<p>How much does the undergrad school matter in a medical school? Big state college vs private uni. Is it a killer or will it not matter that much.</p>
<p>It matters some, but not in the ways that you’re likely to think it would matter. The actual impact is fairly nuanced. The most important thing is to find some place where you can be your most successful - academically, emotionally, socially, physically. There is absolutely no school whose “advantage” for med school admissions is worth being miserable in any way.</p>
<p>Put another way, the benefit of attending a prestigious institution is not as quantifiable as other aspects of your application. That is, it’s easy to see that 3.8 > 3.3 and 34 > 29. It’s also pretty easy to see that dedication to a variety of extracurricular activities > lack of involvement. You can also pretty easily understand that stellar rec letters > not so great ones.</p>
<p>But the prestigious private > state school is nowhere near as apparent. Do you get “extra points” for going to a private school? Or do they think you were coddled too much there, and your CV is inflated as a result? Does the school you’re applying to prefer people from a certain geographic area? Do you get an advantage for having rubbed elbows with the administrators at your Ivy? Is it better to “stand out” at a state school, or “just be average” at a prestigious one? Will a kid who goes to a school just because it has a good name actually thrive there? Too hard to tell.</p>
<p>So I agree with bigredmed–there’s no school whose “advantage” for med school admissions is worth being miserable in any way. Plus, if you’re the type of student who got into one of those prestigious schools for undergrad, chances are you’re destined to succeed at whatever undergrad school you choose. What matters is how well you fit there–and no one can decide that but YOU.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter too much. Maybe if you had a 3.6 at Yale while another applicant with the same Mcat score and extracurriculars as you with a 3.8 at a state school, you might beat the state school guy, but otherwise, don’t count of your school prestige to get you too far ahead.</p>
<p>The main advantage of going to a higher ranked school over a state school is probably the amount of opportunities you have with you to make your application formidable. While state schools DO offer SOME opportunities, higher tier schools tend to have more. Whether you take advantage of these opportunities is up to you. </p>
<p>In addition, some may argue that the higher tier schools prepare you better than a state school. Remember that you’re competing/studying with some of the brightest kids in the nation, so you will be challenged. The Mcat scores are most helpful in your advantage in this case.</p>
<p>While state schools do boast some geniuses, the majority aren’t the type of people you would have to worry about beating you harshly via the curve.</p>
<p>Good luck! =)</p>
<p>Just an echo of previous posters; the academic reputation of your undergraduate school matters some, but it’s almost impossible to quantify how much(per adcom member I know). The best course is the advice given above: find a school that fits you. You’ll do well where you are comfortable, and that’s what matters.</p>