<p>I got accepted to Upenn which I ALWAYS wanted to go to since freshman year, but I also got accepted to Sophie Davis which puts me in the forefront to become a doctor… (7 year program, no MCATS)… I am 100% sure I want to become a doctor, but this decision is eating me away</p>
<p>My dad (a Doctor) says to avoid those programs as in exchange for a guarantee they put you into a med school that is not top-notch, which makes it MUCH harder to get a top-notch residency.</p>
<p>You are much better off going to a prestigious undergrad (Penn) and then aiming for a prestigious med school (Penn again? ;-) ).</p>
<p>I'm in a similar situation, with the PSU/Jefferson program...hmmmmm...</p>
<p>I had a friend who matriculated into the PSU/Jefferson program...she quickly transferred to Stanford.</p>
<p>Really, because I have a friend who matriculated in the PSU/Jefferson program and he loves it... one person's story doesn't really mean much.</p>
<p>I'm very impressed that she managed a transfer from PSU to Stanford. Did Stanford look favorably upon the fact that is was a special and selective program? I'd love to hear more about this person's situation.</p>
<p>Well to get into any accelerated med program you have to have competitive stats. My friend is currently deciding between the same PSU/Jefferson program, Columbia, Duke, Brown, and Dartmouth.</p>
<p>My dad interviews people for residencies. I can tell you quite simply that people from the 'special' programs like PSU/Jefferson don't do as well as the ones who went to a real top-notch med school.</p>
<p>I'm really appreciating all this information. How would you rank Jeff as a med school? Additionally, if you do extremely well at Jeff, would the fact that you went there hold you back? I was under the impression that it was a good place with a solid reputation.</p>
<p>There is a difference between "solid" and "excellent," at least as far as the people interviewing for residencies in Penn Medicine are concerned.</p>
<p>Is it impossible to get into a good residency if you are at the top of your class at a good school? Also, which are the excellent schools? Of course Harvard, Hopkins, Stanford...would all the other Ivies be in this list? Who else?</p>
<p>I have very little perspective on the relative quality of med schools as a high school senior, which is definitely making this harder.</p>
<p>USNWR med school rankings: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/med/brief/mdrrank_brief.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/med/brief/mdrrank_brief.php</a></p>
<p>Penn is top 3. Brown is in the 30s. Princeton doesnt have professional schools.</p>
<p>Georgetown has one of these programs though. Is Georgetown good enough to go with the guarantee? I'm definitely going to Penn next year, but I almost applied to Georgetown for one of those programs.</p>