<p>I am currently deciding between UT Austin, UC Berkeley, and Emory University (Texas Resident). I plan to major in biology or chemistry with a Pre-med track. </p>
<p>I wanted to know how rigorous is Pre-Med program at Emory?</p>
<p>Do the professors prepare you well for the MCAT and entrance to medical school? Are a lot of resources available at Emory campus to prepare for the MCAT?</p>
<p>What is the average GPA for Pre-Med Students and is it difficult to maintain a high GPA (>3.8)?</p>
<p>Also, how difficult is it to get research internships at Emory?</p>
<p>I can’t say for sure, but I think Emory has a pretty good pre-med program. Around 85-90% of Emory undergrads with a gpa of 3.6 or higher get accepted to med school. At least that’s what I’ve seen. </p>
<p>Plus the hospital is practically on campus and the research opportunities are endless. :)</p>
<p>Really easy actually, except for the 3.8 (but you really need like a 3.5-3.7 anyway, if you freak out about not having 3.8 at any given time your more than likely to become one of those idiots that will drop a class because they have a B+/A- or something) part, but that will be hard at all 3 schools as Austin and Berkeley are larger, so the environment is tougher and the curve is harsher. Best that you take the professors that overtrain for the MCAT. Most profs. teach at least on par, but the better/tougher profs. will make it so that the MCAT is easy to you (people like Spell, Eisen, Campbell, and Calabrese, Weinschenk, Soria, most physics profs, especially Bing). I’ve looked at pre-med work at Berkeley and it seems the same as easier-moderate profs. here. You can find much more rigorous, but great profs. here that will prep. you for the MCAT without really destroying your GPA (most of these curve or provide extra credit oppurtunity or something if averages are low).
Internships- Of course, Emory owns/is part of a giant healthcare system, with a large portion being at the main campus. Emory also has great connections with the MCAT/Grad Test prep. agencies, so that’ll be no prob.</p>
<p>I always thought that the 48-50% was absolutely atrocious, but now that I put it in context of the approaching 400 applicants coming from a school of this size, it actually isn’t that bad at all (350+ is supersaturation and but so many should be expected to be admitted). This many people shouldn’t be applying, period. There are many other fields to go into other than medicine, some of which do actually involve health care and wellness. Oops, surely they know that already. Wonder why they do it (sarcasm)?</p>
<p>Also, I’m confused, was the very last cycle 2009 and the current one is 2010? I don’t get how this works.</p>
<p>Anyway: This is a mess, and it seems that more people apply each year. Emory needs to admit a more academically diverse(as in more diverse interests) student body. That 375 number certainly explains some of the academic climate/environment here. However, not having something like engineering or more specialized/branch off fields of the major natural sciences kind of hurts (as in stuff like marine bio, biochem, stuff that you will see at lots of state schools and some peers). Or maybe Emory could begin to re-orient many it sciences courses so that it’s about more than just pre-med/medicine and more about science(and how to actually do and think about science moreso than memorization. Many profs. already do, but it should be implemented at a greater level even against the pre-profs. wishes) so as to get students interested in it, not to mention it’ll technically make science courses more intellectually rigorous which can over-prep. for the MCAT/any standardized exam in the sciences while also weeding out those who really don’t want to do it. That way, we could get a more scholarly community and perhaps raise that rate by simply just having less apply, and only have those that are well-qualified applying without ever considering a “formal selection” process.</p>
<p>@Bernie12 - Can you share your major or plans after college. Like you mentioned there are so many premed students who go to Emory. I’m curious if my daughter changes her mind about premed what other opportunties are out there at Emory as far as majors and if she could graduate and pay off the debt she will have from attending… LOL</p>
<p>Also without any bias would it be better to go to UT Austin or Emory in terms of pre-med/class competition/GPA/acceptance to good medical school (ie Baylor College of Medicine, WashU, Emory, UT Southwestern)?</p>
<p>It shouldn’t matter. Wherever you see yourself performing better. Undergrad institutions have no control over that (unless the associated med. school accepts a lot of its own students). </p>
<p>That reflects the fact that some apply before becoming a senior, and some after graduation. </p>
<p>Also, OMGmom, I hope to enter a graduate program in chemistry or perhaps molecular pharmacology (Drug design is really intriguing to, plus I love organic chemistry). I have no idea where yet and may take a year off to decide where I want to apply. It really depends on if I get the Chem. BS(as opposed to BA) which program I apply to. Right now, I’m slated to get a Bio BS, I’m just not too sure about chemistry. I’ve only been messing around with my classes of interest in the chem. dept (you know, grad. classes, electives). without paying too much attention to requirements, so I still need quantitative and PChem for the BS. However, I am willing to forgo those if I find more interesting courses in the grad. school for either biology or chemistry. </p>
<p>Essentially, I intend to go into academia/research.</p>
<p>@Bernie12 - Thanks for the info and good luck on your future plans. So did you find there were plenty of research opportunties to be a part of at Emory, and how aggressive do you have to be to get them? Also, did you do research as a freshmen? </p>
<p>@nanobot1 - Looks to me like if you are a senior with a 3.5 you are considered an Emory Senior. Otherwise you are lumped with the Emory Applicants…</p>
<p>It’s really easy. You don’t have to be, but so agressive. Simply send some e-mails or even knock on a few office doors and you’ll land something. Research opps. are very plentiful, and that’s what makes it easy. Not to mention, many profs. themselves strongly encourage undergrad. research. Most aren’t the types that say to UGs:“I don’t have time to teach you guys nor do I have time for accommodating you guys in my lab.”</p>