<p>I am a senior from a high school in central Illinois. I want to get into medical school after my undergrad. I have been admitted to Loyola University Chicago-Honors, UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago)-Honors and UIUC (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)-Regular Biology major programs. I want to study Pre-Med in Biology and apply to medical school after undergrad. I have visited all these three schools and I understand the size of these schools and their settings. The main question I have is how much would the curriculum and prestige of these institution matters when the admission to medical school is decided. Both Loyola and UIC have medical schools also in Chicago area whereas UIUC does not have association with a medical school for volunteering and reasearch opportunities. I know UIUC is very prestigious school and known everywhere. On the other hand, Loyola is rated higher than UIC but is still way lower than UIUC. I know Honors curriculum at Loyola and UIC is going to be more rigorous than a regualar Pre-Med from UIUC. Tuition is not going to be a deciding factor as my main goal is to have good opportunities for me to succeed to meet my goal.</p>
<p>Can somebody guide me which one of these three schools are going to be the best choice for admission to medical school.</p>
<p>Prestige should not be the deciding factor in your choice of undergrad. Except perhaps for a handful of colleges, the name of your undergrad matters very little to medical schools. Your GPA, MCAT and accomplishments matter much more.</p>
<p>What’s important is that you choose a school where you feel you can be successful. And happy-- since this is where you’re going to spend the next 4 years of your life. (Happy student = better grades.) </p>
<p>You might also want to consider that you may change your mind about medicine while in college. (About 2/3-3/4 of all freshmen pre meds never apply to medical school. Most not because they can’t hack it academically, but because their interests changed.) Which college offers the best opportunity to study other things you might be interested in?</p>
<p>P.S. While there isn’t an associated medical school in Urbana, there are 2 very well regarded private group practice clinics/hospitals: Carle and Christie. UIUC pre meds often volunteer there. Both are just a few blocks off campus–within easy walking distance.</p>
WOWMOM, Did you live there or visited there before? If not, it is amazing that you know so much about places thousands miles away! Another explanation about why you know so much about medical facilities around the country is the nature of your job. Anyway, I am impressed.</p>
<p>^^LOL! I did my first grad degree at UIUC. DH got his PhD there. We lived on W. Elm St in Urbana for 6 years. The guy who was best man at our wedding is prof at UIUC; he & his wife live in Champaign. I visit occasionally.</p>