I am a future biology major who is pre-med and wants to go to medical school. I am choosing between a liberal arts school Puget Sound and UC Davis, and I do not know which one can best prepare me for medical school. In high school I had a very strong gpa.
I am worried that in a very large campus like Davis, it will be difficult to stand out as an applicant and get a good gpa, since the student body is more competitive, and it is difficult to build relations with teachers. At a small liberal arts school, these things are easier to obtain, but there are also could be less opportunities for pre-med.
I do not know which school to choose, and what will better prepare me for the MCAT and medical school in general. Does anyone have any experience with this?
UCD will be competitive but most schools for Pre-med intentioned students are competitive. GPA is up to you and if you are academically a high performing student in high school, you can do well at any school you attend. No school is going to prepare you for Medical school or the MCAT. Each school will offer the course requirements to apply to Medical school. Preparing for the MCAT, finding medically related EC’s and seeking out Pre-medical advising are resources you need to seek out yourself.
Also you want to keep undergrad costs at a minimum since Medical school is very expensive and have a backup in case Medical school does not happen. 60% of undergrads that start off as Pre-Med students never make it to the application process.
Both schools will provide what you need to succeed as long as you take advantage of all the opportunities available. Different locations and different campus vibes should be considered. Where do you see yourself being happy for next 4 years?
Is UCD less competitive than UCSD or UCI, for pre-med?