<p>Ok, so i'm having a lot of trouble coming up with good schools to apply to. I going pre-med and my parents are putting a lot of restrictions on where i can go. as of now i have to stay in illinois, but i think i can convince them to let me stay in the midwest. after reading a post by sakky and others, i've decided that i like the idea of going to a liberal arts school. the problem is deciding which one will help me get into med school. right now i'm in the top 2% of my class, with a 31 act. my parents wanted me to go to a school where the percentage of students with acts over 30 would be relatively low, so i would be ensured a spot in the top of the class, plus get good scholarships. But i think this is a little risky, i still want to go to a good school. but the "being the big fish in the small pond" concept sounds pretty good. I'm so confused, so if you all could gather your genius and send some advice my way, that would be great. also a list of schools i should apply to would be great. </p>
<p>so far i have
University of Chicago----problem is this is a very competitive school, and i might not be in the top</p>
<p>For med school, they say it really doesn't matter where you go as long as the school is accredited. Of course, some schools look a lot better on applications than others. However, a decent/good, small liberal arts college that has a premed program in place (with qualified advisors, plans to help you find volunteer work, research opportunites, etc...) would be just fine - maybe even prefered. You will get a lot more attention at a small school, your classes will be smaller and you might stand out more. </p>
<p>Having said all that, make sure that you go where you will feel the most comfortable. Because if you like it, you will do better and that GPA and MCAT will matter the most.</p>
<p>Male or female? It's not midwest, but Agnes Scott College (for women) has a good premed set up with advisement, research opportunities with the CDC, local hospital volunteering , premed club, etc... It is also liberal arts. It is located in Decatur, Geogia (very near the city of Atlanta) .</p>
<p>"University of Chicago----problem is this is a very competitive school, and i might not be in the top"</p>
<p>Please take no offense to this... just know that I am simply responding to what I have observed in both this and another one of your posts.</p>
<p>You are afraid to go to an outstanding school because you might not be the top of your class? Are you afraid to work hard? YOU decide how well you do in school, not everyone else. If you want to be the top of your class... work harder than everyone else. Study more, get tutors or assistance of some kind. If you are saying that you wouldn't go to a prestigious school not because you don't want to, but because you think you won't be "the best"... then maybe you should re-think medical school all together. Seriously.</p>
<p>What happens when it comes time for Medical School? If you go to an "easier" college where you MAY not have to work as hard (which may also be untrue) or be the "big fish in a little pond"... once you are ready for medical school, you'll be competing with all those students you were trying to avoid in the first place by choosing an "easier" school. PLUS they have all had to compete to be "top in their class" for 4 years while you coasted. Medical School will likely be the hardest years of your life. If you are concerned with taking the easy way out by going to a smaller or easier school, maybe you're in the wrong arena. OR if you don't have the confidence that your hard work will EARN you a high ranking (which is less relavant than your GPA) just because someone else MIGHT be smarter than you... oh man... you really ought to take a step back and re-think much more than what college you want to go to.</p>
<p>Please take all of this in the best way possible. But if you think that your IQ determines how well you do in school.. think again. If you aren't willing (or don't understand the concept) to work harder than everyone else and EARN your class ranking... then you aren't ready to pursue a career in the medical field. Med School is about how hard you work and how willing you are to strive to better yourself and constantly educate yourself. Just because someone may be smarter than you (what's to say they are?!) that may mean that they don't have to work AS hard, but if you do work harder, it shows your determination to succeed at something you love and want to do.</p>
<p>And if your parents want you to go to a school where it would be easier for you to be top in your class... they may not understand this concept either. How well you do in school is dependent ONLY on you. You can learn anything you want. Its whether or not you're willing to actually put forth the effort. And if you aren't, then Medical isn't for you. I guarantee that 99% of what you learn in Med School... you don't know now. And neither do any of those other students you'll be competing against in school.</p>
<p>Illinois Wesleyan might give you about 10 K in merit aid and will accept you if you clearly show your commitment to this school/ visit, make friends with adcom people, chat with them during college fair etc.
Knox is very good school and sends about 12% of their students to med schools- very high.. You also might get some merit aid there- this is one of the very generous school.
Benedectine has excellent education values but is heavy on religion part- see if it going to be a problem for you. Graduates from Benendectine are known to get into good med schools.
Augustana is nice choice as well- great science program.
I think those schools are good matches and I do not think you will be big fish at those schools. Knox has about 40 % of students with scores 29 and higher, same as Illinois Wesleyan so you will have plenty of very bright kids around you.
Try visiting them all and see where do you fit- all of them are very distinctive.</p>
<p>Thanks for that inspiring post, can you PM me something like that so it can help me through the hard time that im about to face( Im starting premed, went to a preview to a state school, with 40000+ student, dont know how I will survive my classes.</p>