<p>0.1 is approx. the same boost afforded to applicants of any top college. Again, I’m not sure what about UChicago makes it special or different from any of its peers in regards to premed? It is not grade deflated. Just because the students whine about it, does not make it grade deflated. We know this from MIT and Cornell, another two schools which are supposedly grade deflated but are not.</p>
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<p>Unless you can adjust for the difference in MCAT score, (i.e., what was the national mean gpa of accepted students with an MCAT of 30.2), the statement doesn’t corroborate anything.</p>
<p>Nationally, a 30-31 equates to a 3.6 GPA. We expect students from top schools to get in with lower GPA’s and higher MCAT scores because top schools are tougher than state schools.</p>
<p>You see this with Cornell (and also with MIT, UChicago, and any other top school that has released data):
<a href=“http://www.career.cornell.edu/downloads/Health/AaChart2008.pdf[/url]”>http://www.career.cornell.edu/downloads/Health/AaChart2008.pdf</a></p>
<p>Only 29 students with 3.9+ GPA’s but 95 with 35+ MCAT scores (which is 95th percentile nationally). In fact, you can see that the median MCAT score for even the 2.6-3.2 GPA students at Cornell is over a 30. </p>
<p>This inevitably begs the question, “Why not just go to a state school if top schools are so hard?”</p>
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<li><p>That ignores many of the non-numerical advantages top schools provide such as small classes, more research opportunities, better academic environments, better advising, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>If you are aspiring for top med schools, you need to go to a top college AND get a high GPA. Academics is rarely the factor that gets applicants rejected from top med schools. There are many of high MCAT/high GPA applicants. So, if you have to worry about your GPA, you are not top med school material in the first place.</p></li>
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<p>On a side note, is it possible to do research at Cornell as a freshman?</p>
<p>I know it is possible at Washington University, and it has a course called FOCUS, that provides research experience to all first-year premed students.</p>
<p>^^^ Theres plenty of research opportunities at Cornell, they have independent study programs, as well as small classes(so you can go up to your professor and discuss doing research). Look online for this stuff, I found this info online, so I could put it in my why Cornell essay.</p>
<p>I’m a Washington resident as well, and out of curiosity, how exactly did you secure a full ride to any school in the state as a junior? I know of a state scholarship program that your high school can nominate the top 1% of their class for senior year, but was unaware of any junior program. Care to elaborate if you don’t mind?</p>
<p>Same question as compactrunner (omg I live in WA as well).</p>
<p>As to the actual topic, I would choose Cornell over UW. Cornell’s FA is great, and while there will obviously be a disparity between a full ride and having to pay some amount, Cornell has much better opportunities. UW is an amazing school and everything, but Cornell is clearly better overall (this is discounting different program strengths; I’m talking about overall resources available). Going to UW won’t give you an advantage in getting into UW-Med; as long as you remain a WA resident, you should have that advantage anyways.</p>