Hello there, I am a senior in high school interested in becoming a doctor but am not 100% sure that it is what I want to do. I was recently accepted into Georgetown and Notre Dame and like both schools, but I’ve heard that if I am sure I want to go into medicine a smaller liberal arts school like Middlebury or Claremont McKenna may be better in terms of advising, attention, and research opportunity. It also may be slightly less competitive at some of the smaller schools with everything not being graded on such a curve. Yet, if I were to change my major and not go pre-med and say go into business - it may be better to have a degree from Georgetown then a smaller liberal arts school, right? Thanks for any feedback
This is why ND is the smart choice. It is overwhelmingly an undergraduate school like a liberal arts college.
I wouldnt agree with your last comment comparing Georgetown to liberal arts colleges at all.
Going into medicine from an LAC might be more comfortable but not less competitive but the advising end is certainly correct. The top LACs are not easy graders and when your classes are so small you can’t hide.
Wouldnt look at Claremont McKenna for premed, thats more known for business.
The 4 years of college are not simply years to prep for med school even if you end up going. The experience of being educated in a small LAC is distinctly different from attending a large university. Have you spent a night at a LAC and at a large or medium sized university. Very different kinds of places. I prefer the LAC but have been unsuccessful convincing others of the benefits. Educators tend to prefer LACs for their offspring but the offspring don’t always accept their advice of their parents.
For LACs, I would look at Colgate, Bates, Swarthmore and Middlebury. Bates has the benefit of a teaching hospital right across the street.
Will you be likely to have the option to attend a smaller liberal arts school?
Clearly, however, a variety of schools can be suitable for the pursuit of a successful pre-med path. This list supports one of your choices, ND, though I wouldn’t rule out Georgetown on this slim basis alone: “The Experts’ Choice: Colleges with Great Pre-med Programs” (available online).
for any school you consider, but especially for LACs, you need to find out their policy on the committee letter for med school. Do they screen?
And if you don’t know what the previous paragraph is referring to, then I strongly suggest you find out before you start picking schools intending to be premed.
@mikemac that is a red herring
First see where you get in, see what schools are affordable. Your list of options may narrow. Here are some other random comments:
-It is a bad assumption that the top LACs would be less competitive.-
-ND and Gtown are not huge schools so you should be able to see professors etc. –
-Don’t assume that you can easily switch into the business program of a college.
-Many LACs do not have business schools.
Thank you for all the replies. I am going to apply to a variety of schools, see where I get in and how much money I get etc. Then I will narrow down my options and decide