<p>Hi everyone. I'm a junior in high school, but I'm already thinking deeply about next year. </p>
<p>Here's the situation: I * think * that I have good enough stats, EC's, etc. to be accepted into University of Michigan. I am * probably * a mid-reach at Duke University. And I'm * very likely * going to be accepted into University of Iowa.</p>
<p>Now, I am 100% that I want to pursue a pre-medical route and go onto to medical school. If I go to Iowa, I could probably get some scholarship money in addition to only having to pay in-state tuition. I know that Iowa isn't as prestigious as these other schools, but it's not a * bad * school. Will attending Iowa instead of Michigan or any school higher in ranking hurt my chances at getting into medical school? </p>
<p>I hear that GPA/MCAT are all that really matter, and I am pretty sure I could get a higher GPA at a state school like Iowa. Please let me know what you think. Thanks.</p>
<p>"Will attending Iowa instead of Michigan or any school higher in ranking hurt my chances at getting into medical school? "</p>
<p>-NO. “GPA/MCAT are all that really matter” - you said it correctly, so follow your own advice. My D. has been accepted to 4 out of 8 Med. Schools that she applied, 2 in top 20 and another is few spots below. She was notified by 2 of them that she will have some Merit Scholarships. She is graduating from state school. Apparently, she did not have any problem “getting into medical school”, neither her friends pre-meds.</p>
<p>thanks. prestige is nice, but if it doesn’t * really * matter THAT much, then i might as well attend a state school where i can get good grades/good scholarships right? that’s my thinking.</p>
<p>^I think you are correct with your thinking. Going to Michigan will not give you a boost over going to Iowa if your stats are there, and my thinking is that Iowa is less competitive than Michigan too. I think when it comes to picking between state schools the cheaper one is better (but don’t sacrifice enjoyment, ‘fit’, etc.!).</p>
<p>If you get into Duke and get a great financial aid package, then I would seriously consider Duke. It’s a whole different ball game when you get into a great private school with a great financial aid package.</p>
<p>PS: If you apply to Michigan, apply Early Action! They received so many applications this year (first year with early action, and they recently went to the common app too, so the volume of applications is enormous) so you definitely want to apply EA and get that acceptance before they wait forever to make a decision on your file during the regular decision round. I applied EA and it was really nice to get one acceptance out of the way while the other Internationals and OOS kids who applied RD are getting waitlisted.</p>
<p>but btw, i won’t get financial aid at Duke because i don’t * need * the aid. i wouldn’t get any financial aid scholarships. the scholarships at iowa aren’t a necessity, just a nice asset.</p>
<p>Then forget Duke…it will be far more competitive and having that kind of UG debt is not called for especially when facing the costs of Med school as well.</p>
<p>If you do well at Iowa, have the requisite high MCAT and medically related ECs, you’ll have no problem with med school…in addition the University of Iowa Med school is very highly regarded…if you are fortunate enough to attend there you can graduate from both UG and med school with VERY little debt.</p>
<p>^^ The op can afford Duke at full cost, and doesn’t need any aid. </p>
<p>If you can easily afford Duke at full cost, then why not go? If you aren’t going into significant debt by attending a school, I’d choose the school that is better academically. On the other hand, if you have to take out a lot of loans, to attend a particular undergrad school then its not worth it.</p>
<p>But if I were you, I’d start worrying about this stuff, when I have actually gotten into a couple of colleges.</p>
<p>Yes, do not overlook possibility of Merit scholarships at any palce. Full tuition or any Merit $$ for 4 years in UG is great. Your parents will appreciate that and might consider helping you financially thru Med. School. Just from a parent prospective.</p>