Howard vs. VCU

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>So basically, I am still waiting for the result from Howard BS/MD. And I'm looking for alternatives to what I should do if I don't get into the program (I pray that I do get in though). I can either go to Howard (full ride + room -> it's not that hard to get to be brutally honest, but I am thankful for it) or VCU (who gave me 1/4th ride as an OOS, but are considering me for additional scholarship).</p>

<p>So, where do you guys think I should go if I don't get in?
I know that Howard is ranked above VCU (VCU = 3rd tier and Howard is 95th), but I don't know how true that is.</p>

<p>Thank you very much for your time guys!</p>

2

<p>I am interested in going to medicine, if that didn’t come across already (lol).</p>

3

<p>VCU is the better medical school. They both will give you good opportunities being in the city, however I would choose VCU.</p>

4

<p>EngineerHead, do you think the ranking of Howard above VCU applies in my case? And do you think that VCU can better prepare me than Howard can for medical school?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

5

<p>I’m sorry, I did not realize you were discussing undergraduate specific, I thought you were comparing 7 year BS/MD programs. However, I still stand by VCU over Howard. I also believe, as well, that VCU is better than Howard not just in med school but as an undergraduate university, too. If you go to either, be sure to get into their Honors program. From a strictly unbiased, analytic standpoint, though, Howard would be the wiser choice being that you received full ride and they are both relatively similar in prestige - of course if money is not a problem then this doesn’t matter.</p>

6

<p>Ok, so I didn’t get into the BS/MD program and now I NEED to decide where I should go: VCU or HOWARD.</p>

<p>PROS Howard:

  • Full Ride (housing + tuition)
  • Ranked higher (95th - 1st tier -> I don’t know how valid this is)</p>

<p>CONS Howard:

  • I don’t know how I will fit in @ a HBCU. I am pretty shy, don’t really party, and have mostly interacted with other Indians (I don’t have anything against African Americans - but I have never really interacted with them).
  • In the ghetto.</p>

<p>PROS VCU:

  • More diverse
  • Better pre-med program ? / more well known pre-med program?</p>

<p>CONS VCU:

  • 15-22k/year for everything
  • Sort of in the ghetto</p>

<p>I really don’t know what to do and I keep changing my mind… PLEASE HELP.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

7

<p>They are both relatively similar, I would say that you will have more opportunities for research as well as other volunteer/job opportunities at VCU, but don’t take my word for it. Very similar, which is a better university? I don’t know, the ranking says Howard, however VCU accepts a higher caliber of students than Howard does, so again, not very clear-cut. I would go with VCU. Another con for VCU would be that it is surrounded by homeless people and walking around at night is dangerous.</p>

8

<p>EngineerHead, do you think it’s worth it to pay ~20k/year to attend VCU as opposed to Howard?</p>

9

<p>It depends on what you want to get out of it. I have a much more pragmatic personality, and therefore I would not find 20k/year worth going to VCU over Howard (of course this is not my most educated guess as I have not completed all the research to compare the two).</p>

10

<p>all things equal, i would go to VCU. But with a full-tuition scholarship at Howard, I would jump on that. Any advantage to going to VCU is not worth 100K+…</p>

11

<p>Thanks guys! I’m probably going to go to Howard, and then med. school hopefully !!! - thanks again!</p>

12

<p>how did u get a full ride?</p>