<p>My son wants to go to med school. He has been accepted into the honors program at the University of Minnesota, and he's also offered a very substantial scholarship. However, his dream school is Northwestern University. With his grades and overall test scores, it's a real possibility. However, I am concern that in such a competitive environment as NU, with students who are as good as he is or better academically, my son may not be such a stand out, and his grades may suffer as a result. I know that good grades are definitely important when it comes to med school admission. Another concern I have is that we do not qualify for financial aid, and paying for full tuition may be a stretch. Any thoughts? Thanks!</p>
<p>Like it or not, medical schools do give weightage to the schools’ reputation along with GPA, MCat scores, and the interview. And they make some adjustment to the GPA based on the rigor of the school. This has been our experience with our daughter who chose to go to a highly reputed school, got ok GPAs, yet was admitted to more than one medical school.</p>
<p>NorthwesternDad raises a good point. I’ve seen comments on College Confidential, particularly with regard to law school admissions, to the effect of “a GPA is a GPA is a GPA.” I disagree. I think that historically graduate and professional schools have done a far better job of contextualizing an applicant’s undergrad GPA than undergrad schools have done of contextualizing an applicant’s high school GPA. Granted, it’s a more difficult task in the world of undergrad admissions, as they are dealing with more students and more schools.</p>
<p>If GPA is low, there is no chance to advance to medical school. Same as or slightly lower GPA than less prestige school, applicants from prestigious colleges may have advantage. But the advantage is not significant as I heard.And next important factor to consider is money. 4 yr UG + 4 yr Medical school costs a lot if there is no financial aid or merit scholarship. As I know, NU doesn’t offer merit-scholarship.</p>
<p>I am not sure Northwestern would confer too much of an advantage for someone in your son’s situation, considering the costs. The additional prestige of Northwestern in my opinion is not enough to justify the additional cost, especially in a long-term context of paying for medical school, etc.</p>
<p>I can’t speak for Minnesota, but pre-med at NU is extremely competitive and organic chemistry is more challenging than at many peer institutions.</p>
<p>Thank you for your responses! </p>
<p>NU:
-All the students are as smart as you and weed out classes are graded to a C+ so it’s more likely to be weeded out and more difficult to stand out
-If you survive the weed out classes you will be more likely to be accepted into med school
-The average GPA is higher at NU than at UM
-You will learn how to work hard to keep up with your peers. This trait will serve you well in med school and as a physician
-A high tide lifts all boats
-Once in a lifetime opportunity to be in a community of gifted students
-You will be pushed out of your academic safety zone
-very expensive</p>
<p>UM:
You will be the smartest kid in most classes…so little risk of being weeded out
-a 3.9 GPA should be a piece of cake with little effort and never miss a party
-Only 48% of your fellow freshman will graduate with you
-you will be able to stay in your academic safety zone and never be pushed
-When you apply to med school there will be thousands of other students with 3.9 GPA’s from similar universities applying so it will be more difficult to stand out
-You can save your money for med school</p>