Liberal Arts Colleges for PreMed

What are some good liberal arts colleges for premed? I really like the idea of going to a LAC, but one big drawback is the lack of research opportunities.

My D recently graduated from a LAC and I would disagree with your premise. From what I could tell one of the advantages of attending a LAC was that there are no grad students to compete with for research opportunities. Professors are happy to have undergrads help with their research.

In her four years at a LAC my D worked on three research projects with three different professors. She spent two summers on campus working on research (with pay and free housing). The results of one of her research projects was published in a scholarly journal soon after she graduated.

In terms of what LACs are good (most LACs would be fine for pre-med) for you it would be helpful to know your academic stats, what you can afford etc.

https://www.wooster.edu/academics/research/

If you have an interest in a particular academic discipline such as, say, chemistry, then your opportunities for research may be enhanced through attendance at a liberal arts college. For medically related activities and clinical exposure, you can seek on-campus EMT service as well as off-campus summer positions.

What are your stats?

96.8 gpa @ Stuy

I have yet to take the SAT, but I think i’ll get ~1550.

everyone thinks they will get a 1550. What did you get on the PSAT? Start there.

If you search “The 25 Best Colleges for Pre-meds,” you will arrive at LAC suggestions Bowdoin, Bates, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, Union, Carleton, Hamilton, Amherst, Middlebury, Williams, Centre and Colgate. You can research these colleges to see whether their missions align with your general academic interests and personal preferences.

With that GPA from Stuy, and if you’re able to get an SAT score in your predicted range, you should have a lot of options. A lot of the NESCACs would be appropriate match/reach schools. They tend to have good med school placement rates. Ideally I’d look for school within walking distance of a hospital, or if you’ll have a car, within a short drive. It makes getting research opportunities outside of school easier.

So many LACs would be suitable - Carleton, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Wesleyan, Swarthmore, to name a handful. I’d consider other characteristics you want in a school and narrow it down from there. Different LACs have different vibes.

+1 to what others have said about research opportunities being abundant.

Check out Rhodes College, too.

St Olaf as well

Thank you! Are there any other non LACs that you’d recommend? Opinions on places like Stony Brook?

The thing is that there are more places that are good for pre-med than not. Almost every college and university has the courses you need, research opportunities and/or opps for exposure to medicine. The main thing you need is a school where you can get a super-high GPA and graduate with little to no debt.

What @collegemom3717 and the others have said about LACs being just fine for premed. Generally within the top 15 overall for MD acceptance rates are (in alpha order): Carlton, Davidson, Middlebury, Pomona, Swarthmore, Washington & Lee, and Williams. HOWEVER, that does not mean any of those are the best for a particular student - it’s the student, not their college that gets them into med school. As you’ll hear from others, pick the college that provides an environment where an individual believes they can thrive in and out of the classroom, and remember that the CW is that most students who begin college as premed don’t end up that way, and the majority who do apply don’t get in. As for Stony Brook, there was a Quora post from a current premed not too long ago who basically said while there are lots of premeds, there are also plenty of resources if you take the initiative to find and use them.

Exactly

A source for this statement would be most helpful. Thank you!

Whether you pick a research university or an LAC, look for ones in medical districts so you have access to more opportunities all year, small schools in small towns may lack this advantage. Also avoid schools with graduate focus. Good research opportunities go to graduate students and professors also use them to teach undergraduates instead of doing it themselves.

College of the Holy Cross has achieved extremely high admit rates of its graduates into medical schools.

Do you have an actual interest in research, or is your interest because you think it’s very important to have research listed as an EC on a med school application. If it’s the latter, although nice, research is not a must have EC on a med school application.