<p>I'm trying to decide between Brown University or UF honors for undergrad. I know it seems like an easy "obviously pick the Ivy" decision but I'm wondering if the greater expense for Brown is worth it for merely undergrad, especially since it probably not wise to already be in debt before even starting Medical school. UF is way cheaper because I'm a Florida resident. But won't it be harder to get into an Ivy for Med school from a State school? Is advising less personal at UF than at Brown? Are there more opportunities offered to me at one school over the other? I need honest answers, pros and cons, personal experiences would be great. Thanks!</p>
<p>After spending a lot of time on this forum, you’ll learn that the prestigious medical school isn’t that big of a deal at the end of the day. So, if you’re choosing Brown for the prospect of attending a ‘tippy-top’ medical school then you are going to the school for all the wrong reasons. Brown is one of those schools were you really need to know if you fit in because of how independent and unique everyone is. You will find yourself really not liking the school or absolutely loving it because of its students and the culture. </p>
<p>So, don’t choose the school based on where you want to go to medical school. UF for undergrad is more than enough to get you into a top medical school if you do well.</p>
<p>Viggyram - what about University of Miami vs. Notre Dame for premed? The issue here is significant scholarship money received at UM and no aid at ND. Is tbe substantial cost worth it at ND?</p>
<p>Allthatglitters…</p>
<p>What is the financial situation? How much is Brown expecting you to pay? How much is your family paying?</p>
<p>What kind of debt are we talking about? If you only need to borrow - say - $5k per year for Brown, then Brown is probably worth it.</p>
<p>I know my opinion will be unpopular, but here it is: the school you go to does make a difference to Ivy medical schools. A 3.7 from UF vs. a 3.7 from Brown? The Adcom will likely choose the applicant from Brown, all else held equal. However, going to UF will not stop you from attending a top medical school, provided you work hard, garner many research/clinical experiences, and get a great MCAT score. In the end, if the money is that significantly different, I would go to UF. Brown would give you an edge, sure, but is 100k worth it for such an edge? Probably not.</p>
<p>Speaking from experience of D’s applying to Med. Schools this cycle and being accepted after going to State UG for pre-med on full tuition Merit scholarships, I do not see any reason to pay for UG if there is an option of going free. However, D. did not apply to UG Ivy, she did not apply to Ivy Med. School either, although her pre-med advisor strongly recommend it. However, she got accepted to few top Med. Schools and in a process of deciding which one to attend. Why aiming for 3.7? Aim for 4.0. In addition Brown’s Med. School is not highly ranked anyway and so are few others.</p>
<p>cadrie, well said. a kid in my broader family started in a private college which gave him a significant scholarship, but he still transferred to a state university and had 3.99gpa (idk his mcat score). he had one interview at a medschool ranked in the mid teen, but most interviews were at much lower ranked schools in mid fifties. ended up in one of the lower ranked medschools and also matched for residency in an even lower ranked place. maybe his research/clinical and other ECs in the collegecould have been poor. another kid went to an ivy and had 3.7gpa and matriculated in a medschool ranked in the thirtees. i am not sure how useful this info may be, but felt the college and research/clinical opps that come with it matter a lot.</p>
<p>^D. has been accepted to top 20 Med. Schools from her State school. Out of 8 schools that she applied, 6 invited her to interview. 4 accepted her, 2 waitlisted, she will never know about acceptance to these 2, since she withdrew from them. None in mid fifties in ranking.</p>
<p>Right, I said that an ivy undergrad (whether or not Brown has a good medical school) will give you an edge at a top medical school. Is this edge worth 100k? Probably not. I will be attending a top 10 medical school this fall, and I did my undergrad at a small liberal arts school that isn’t highly regarded. Yes, I did well. However, having met other applicants during the interview trail it was obvious to me that there was a bias towards students that graduated from an Ivy, or a school attached to a top medical school. So if you have the option, and if you can afford it, I would vote for the Ivy.</p>
<p>@MiamiDAP, looks as though your D has been well ready from the get go to prepare herself for medschool app, also being in a combined program (and by extension belonging in an ‘elite’ group in her UG) must have put her in excellent position to seek and gain numerous opps. The kid who finished state school did not decide until his sophomore year (transferred in freshman yr) to go all in for med – the fact that he even succeeded in medschool app and subsequently in medschool was his starting GPA (at the end, 3.99 is like all A’s with maybe one or two? A-). He still has been matched in a very competitive specialty and he enjoys his work – albeit a gruesome work schedule if you ask me. Your D certainly did well with her premed UG.</p>
<p>Why don’t people understand that anecdote /= data? Just because one person had a 3.99 at a state school and didn’t get into at top 20 medical school does that mean that no one can out of a state school?</p>
<p>^boy, read MiamiDAP’s D. Its a complete package incl. GPA, MCAT, ECs, Research, Clinical, etc. As long as these opps are readily available and the student is ready to take advantage of, then it doesn’t matter. But listen to cadrie about her observation in her interview visits in top 10 schools. When everything being equal, its the Ivys and top UG schools that get picked.</p>
<p>I went to a state school for undergrad and will be attending an Ivy for medical school. I agree with cadriethiel’s observations completely.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any thoughts on University of Miami vs. University of Notre Dame for pre-med?</p>
<p>If there is a significant financial difference, save your money and pick Miami. Med school can be very expensive and there is no where near the mount of scholarship money available for med students…mostly loans.</p>
<p>Eadad - thanks for your input. That is what I am thinking and yes there is a significant financial difference. We need to save our money for med school. Any thoughts on UM vs. UF for pre-med?</p>
<p>nafmom</p>
<p>It has been said here many times that “fit” is the most important thing in the entire process. There have been numerous studies that point to academic success being highly dependent on how happy a student is where they are. Many people lose sight of the fact that what happens AFTER classes end can be as important as what goes on in class.</p>
<p>Both are good schools that can and do prepare their students well for Med school admissions. I would try to learn more about whether they have Med school specific advising (some schools combine all health sciences to save $$) do they have a pre med committee that writes letters? If they have a committee does it screen and weed? etc…those could be key differentiators between the schools. I don’t know enough about either to answer in detail.</p>
<p>UF is big place…is an honors program in the picture? UM has all the distractions of South Beach nearby…and UF can be a party school…lots to consider here.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Eadad- thanks again for these great questions. I will definitely look into the pre med committee and advising. This is very helpful.</p>
<p>*We need to save our money for med school. Any thoughts on UM vs. UF for pre-med? *</p>
<p>What is the cost difference for you?</p>
<p>There really is no cost difference because she has received a substantial scholarship to UM.</p>