OSU vs. SLU Med Honors

<p>Hi. My daughter wants to be a doctor and is trying to decide between Saint Louis University (Med Honors Program) and Ohio State University honors program. She is in-state for OSU and was given a scholarship, so it will cost her about $13,000 per year to go to OSU (down from about $21,000). She was accepted into SLU's med honors program and with scholarships, it will cost her about $20,000 per year (down from about $50,000). As parents, we are helping her as much as we can - giving the same amount for either school she chooses ($10,000). The rest is on her. The money difference is not significant, $7,000 per year, $24,000 total for four years), so we have advised her to go for the better program, the school she likes better, and those types of considerations. SLU allows early admittance into their med school for those who keep a 3.65 or higher and other considerations, but admittance is not guaranteed - you will just know a year earlier. We have talked to some doctors. One said SLU is a doctor-making machine and she could get lost at OSU since it's so big. One said it doesn't really matter between the two. And another, who hires doctors said that she can't go wrong with either, and it's more important to be diversified in her undergrad curriculum.</p>

<p>She is more excited about OSU because it feels like it has a more diversified college experience, she likes the campus better and because it is only 2 hours away from home instead of 6 hours away, but she feels like SLU's med honors program might be a better opportunity that she'd be silly to pass up. She feels like SLU is more structured for preparing for med school. She also talked to an OSU pre-med student who said he gets plenty of guidance from his advisors. She is very self-motivated and disciplined, which could help her not to get lost at OSU.</p>

<p>We don't really know much about this stuff and though we search online, ask guidance councilors and ask the few doctors we know, we aren't sure what resources to trust and if there really is a better choice that we should be making but we're too ignorant to see it. </p>

<p>Any advice would be appreciated. </p>

<p>The SLU deal appears better than it it really is since it is not a guarantee. Search cc and you’ll find several anecdotes from students who are paying big bucks only to NOT be recommended for med school. If she likes OSU, save the cash.</p>

<p>Thanks for the quick response, bluebayou.</p>

<p>I think the SLU program is actually Med Scholars, not Med Honors. </p>

<p>@Sullyville‌ </p>

<p>Not to hijack your thread or anything but I’m a current junior in Canada and I would like to ask a question slightly similar to yours, except instead of college it’s country: Canada vs US. Can I get your guys’ input and opinion on the feasibility and practicality of going to the states to get a science degree from top 25 school and applying to med schools back in Canada after?</p>