<p>So I want to be a pre-med major, but I want to go to college where I can have the best shot at getting into a med school because it's really really competitive nowadays. I've heard about the curves for pre-med science courses and everything, and it scares me that I might not be able to get the GPA needed for med school because of that. I got accepted to Washington University in St. Louis, but I'm afraid that the pre-med program there will be much too hard, considering how it's ranked ahead of even Cornell... That being said, how is pre-med at Chapel Hill? Is it going to be VERY hard for someone like me? I struggled with AP Chemistry, and I'm just afraid it'll only get worse.</p>
<p>I hate to tell ya this, but AP Chemistry is a breeze compared to orgo. Really though, the main thing is to never doubt yourself because that just makes the situation worse.
In regards to pre-med, Carolina has amazing opportunities. The point is finding and using them. Don’t spend your summers at home. Study abroad doing something service and even better MEDICAL related (they fall over people working in underprivileged countries). Do good research. Volunteer at the hospital. Work your butt off studying. Build relationships with your professors so they will invite you to their labs (seriously, they do this if they like you) and write good recs. Don’t just major in bio or chem because you are pre-med. Major in something you LIKE. If you like your major, you will end up with a higher GPA. Above all, have fun with it. Don’t just choose activities because you want a checklist for med school. Choose activities that are fun for YOU. It will make interviews more interesting, which is basically what admissions is about after the initial process. They want a diverse and well-rounded class not walking dictionaries.</p>
<p>Haha of course! I am also very interested in psychology, sociology, art, and math–I’ll definitely be taking tons of those classes as well. It’s just Chem that might trip me up some. It’s been my dream to be a medical doctor for so long now, and I just don’t wanna ruin it. So overall, it’s not going to be THAT hard to maintain a high science GPA? I understand it’s tough anywhere I go, but how hard would it be compared to somewhere like College of William & Mary? If I don’t get into my first choice, I’ll be choosing between UNC-Chapel Hill and W&M.</p>
<p>It will probably be the same difficulty. They are both top public schools.
That depends on what you define as hard. You will definitely have to work on studying chemistry. Don’t be alarmed: you are not alone. Everyone has that subject that is required that they are just not amazing at. Studying and showing professors that you truly care about your grade are key.</p>
<p>I agree with mostly what has been said, but if you go to a school that had a lower GPA/SAT requirement, your chances of getting an A is higher, because your competition is less scholastic than a UNC student (overall).</p>
<p>@bagirl24 yes, true! I’m already considering Chapel Hill over higher ranked schools I’ve been accepted to such as Washington University in St. Louis (ranked #14), UCLA (ranked in the 20’s), Wellesley College (Ranked #6 national liberal arts 2 spots behind Swarthmore College), etc. so overall I’m aiming quite a bit lower already. I’m an out of state student and I got accepted to Honors Carolina. So I’m wondering if it’d still be hard and if I should aim even lower? Or should Chapel Hill be a good fit? </p>
<p>Any insight would really be appreciated because I’m seriously considering attending Chapel Hill. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>DreamsAreReal that’s a tough decision. If you were comparing Chapel Hill to any really top schools, I’d say go for them. But in your situation it’s a bit of a tough call.</p>
<p>Great schools come with a great reputation, but I have chosen a school with the most scholarship money. Med school is about 75k in tuition, per year, add that to undergraduate, and it is over 500k if going out of state. I feel I will have to work a bit harder to get the lab jobs/internships, and will have to be a bit more creative to make me stand out more against those applying to med school after graduating from top “25” colleges. But I will<br>
Explain I wanted to graduate with little debt. My father is a surgeon and he claims no one asks him where he did his undergrad work. His partners came from top schools and mediocre state universities, and they are all successful and make equal pay. Regardless if they graduated from Harvard or Univ of Kentucky. Go where you will be happy, incure the least amount of debt, and be able to rise to the top!
Good luck!</p>
<p>@keepittoyourself Nearly everyone I’ve asked has been telling me to attend the “more prestigious” school. I don’t think most people in New York have heard of Chapel Hill…but at the same time, I’m not sure if I can handle the challenge. Sure, I did quite well in high school, but from what I hear, pre-med is supposed to be brutal and I’m not sure if I want to take a risk that could ruin my future. It definitely is a tough choice to let the top schools slip by.</p>
<p>@bagirl24 Hm, yes! I like the way you think. A doctor is going to be a doctor no matter what college they attended… However, does attending a less prestigious school make it harder to be accepted to med school? I feel as if my application will be compared to students who’ve attended Ivy Leagues and whatnot. However, I believe I’m still better off being safe than sorry in the end. So Chapel Hill could potentially be a good fit for me overall?</p>
<p>@DreamsAreReal I would say go for the challenge if you had been admitted to any really prestigious places (Harvard, Yale, MIT, etc), but in your situation it’s a bit of a difficult call. How is money?</p>
<p>Congratulations on your college acceptances. Don’t assume the sciences at Chapel Hill will be easier for you just because you perceive Carolina as less prestigious. Science at Carolina is rigorous. My son took Honors Chemistry his freshman year. It was a class full of students who got 5s on their AP exam and some of them still ended up failing the class. You will have intellectual peers at Carolina. Be humble and study hard. It is a great place to go to school, but you will have to work for your desired high science gpa.</p>
<p>Take the above comment serious … “Science at Carolina is rigorous”. I was an AP “A” Chem student (5 on the exam) and still had to up my game to continue to get good grades here. Med schools know that by the way.</p>
<p>So is Honors much tougher than normal Chemistry at Chapel Hill? I have yet to decide whether I should sign up for honors or not.</p>
<p>I hope med schools know–I think that’d be crucial when I apply to med school. From what other people tell me, it’s easier to get into med school if you’re from an Ivy League (meaning you can have lower MCAT and GPA?) as opposed to other schools. Also, thanks so much for the insight everyone! I will be taking the AP Chem exam in May and I know how hard it is to get a 5 on it. If people with 5’s still struggle, then I’d probably end up struggling as well. Are the other pre-med science classes just as hard as Chemistry? I already know Orgo is notorious for its difficulty, but I’m also wondering about Bio. Overall, I’m not looking for a school that’ll be a breeze, but I want to make sure I won’t be setting myself up to fail. I just want to be somewhere where I can be happy, and I know that if I end up doing poorly or having my dreams ruined, it would probably make my college experience miserable. Once again, thank you ALL so so much!</p>
<p>Getting into med school is not easier just because u came from an Ivey, I have seen many friends get passed over for good public universities. Grades and scores are most important, attend where u can get the highest GPA and the best education!! Or call some med schools and ask their opinion , I did!!</p>
<p>DreamsAreReal - I think a current student would be the best one to answer your questions about the classes. I am a mom and only hear things second hand. I’m not trying to scare you. I just wanted you to know that sciences are not a cakewalk at UNC. If you feel yourself struggling, make sure you take advantage of your professors’ office hours and of the tutors that are available to help. You might want to read some of the posts over in the pre-med forum. Many of your concerns about med schools and gpa have been asked over there. There are some very helpful and knowledgeable posters in that forum.</p>
<p>@bagirl24 Yes, that’s what I was thinking too…but I wasn’t sure. I know people who got into med school from an Ivy with 3.5 GPA and 32 MCAT, so I think the standards might be a bit lower? I’m not sure what to think. I also got accepted to Johns Hopkins University and UC Berkeley just today. Not sure what to do. I really need to make sure I can get a high GPA if I do choose to go to Chapel Hill though.</p>
<p>@BUandBC82 Thank you so much! I’ll definitely be on my way to check out that forum! Thanks so much for the advice.</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me about the honors science vs non-honors science classes at Chapel Hill?</p>
<p>Congrats on your additional acceptances, seems like you are a great student and will do well wherever you attend. Choosing colleges with great choices has its own stress, I’m in the same boat!! Still truly confused. But kids out of univ of fla got into Georgetown med!! Just this year, so my choices are really hard and the cost of med school keeps rising!! Total stress!!!</p>
<p>DreamsAreReal -It sounds like you have some wonderful acceptances and tough choices to make. Congratulations and good luck to you! I’m sure you’ll do well at whatever school you choose.</p>
<p>@bagirl24 @BUadnBC82 Thanks so much for the support! I really needed it haha. I don’t have the most confidence in myself sometimes, which is why I’m extremely wary about attending a school that could potentially hurt my chances. I know it’s possible for kids at state schools to get into wonderful med schools, but would the chances still be a bit lower (say, maybe you need to be top 5% of the class at a state university vs being top 20-30% at a top institution)? Like, overall, which would I have the best shot at? I feel like I’m not ready to decide so early! I wish they gave us more time.</p>
<p>I agree about needing more time, 30 days is not enough time to research and visit. But I am still hearing GPA and MCAT scores and not where u did your undergrad work. Of course the better the institution, the better your education. Try to speak to some medical students.</p>