<p>How does Richmond compare to more notoriously pre-med schools like Duke, Wash U, etc.? I really like Richmond's campus and the feel I got being there, but I want to make sure that the pre-med program is good enough that I will be able to get into a good medical school. How is the advising system? And are there many opportunities for undergraduate research? How hard is it to be successful as a premed at Richmond?</p>
<p>Chelsea, here is some info on the pre-health path at UR. [Frequently</a> Asked Questions - Pre-Health - University of Richmond School of Arts & Sciences](<a href=“http://prehealth.richmond.edu/why/FAQ.html]Frequently”>http://prehealth.richmond.edu/why/FAQ.html) UR has a strong record of sending kids onto some of the top schools in the country. If you have the ability and put in the work, you’ll be able to get in to your top choices with a UR degree.</p>
<p>During a recent visit to Roanoke College, the head of the Medical School faculty committee stated the obvious which I think would also apply to other universities. If one studies hard, maintains say a 3.7 or higher GPA, performs tons of community service at a hospital, gets great recommendations, and slays the MCAT, then one should get accepted to medical school. Relying on having a “big name” on the application such as Richmond, Wake, Duke, etc. and failing to perform as described above will not cut it. The competition is just too fierce. </p>
<p>In any event, guessing that gov’t takeover of the medical business is all but given, then you may want to re-consider giving up 12 years of your life to earn a medical degree. Why bother (unless money is irrevalent) since by 2014 an appointed gov’t body will be dictating that doctors can only make as much as a garbage collector. Well maybe not that bad, but undesirable nonetheless. </p>
<p>This is likely why my daughter is giving up on a medical career and going into Engineering, more lucrative, making 60-80K in just 4 years and 6 figures after 10 with no gov’t takeover currently envisioned.</p>
<p>vjstangelo I agree. Not only giving up 12 years of your life, but going into enormous debt for the privilege. But look at the bright side. The country should soon be desperate for doctors, so maybe med schools will be forced to lower their standards and admit a greater number of applicants.</p>
<p>And I used to think that some doctors did it to help people…</p>
<p>What a silly argument. Most physicians (outside of some of the primary care specialties) can expect to make $200+/year shortly after (or immediately after) completion of their residencies. If anything, some of the suggested changes should help those altruistic souls who choose Internal Medicine/Family Practice/Pediatrics. While health care reform may slow the growth of compensation for specialists, there is nothing to suggest that it will result in a decrease in income for physicians. It will remain a lucrative, well-compensated career (if that’s all that’s driving your choices) for all who pursue it.</p>
<p>URichmond2010 pretty much summed it up.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information about the Pre-Med program. I of course intend to work hard no matter where I end up.</p>
<p>I’m a current pre-med student at UR, and I personally think that the program is fantastic, especially compared to programs at other schools (UVA, W&M, Georgetown) that I hear about from my friends.
All pre-med students have the same advisor, and he is extremely knowledgeable about medical school admissions. Pre-med students get put on a specific “track” for planning their program, in which pre-med classes are scheduled throughout your years at UR in a way that makes you most prepared for the MCATs. Pre-med students are encouraged to do a Medical Humanities minor, which is a really fantastic program that delves into issues that doctors face, like doctor-patient relations, ethics, malpractice, politics, etc. I love the Medical Humanities minor so much that I’m turning it into a major!
That’s another great thing about UR pre-med - you don’t have to major in a science. I am double majoring in Medical Humanities and Anthropology, and I know pre-meds majoring in Music, Business, French, Political Science, and more. Pretty much, you can do what you love and still be pre-med!
As for research, EVERY pre-med does research. There are multiple research opportunities here, I’m pretty sure that every science professor is working on a research project, and they are all extremely willing to have you work in their lab. You can get great grants for summer research, as well as research during the school year. There are so many projects that you are bound to find one that really interests you, whether it’s biology, chemistry, biochem, physics, biophysics - anything!
I know many previous pre-med students that have gotten into top Med Schools, including Columbia, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Duke, and many others. My friend is even doing a PhD/MD program at Carnegie Mellon next year, and another is doing an MD/JD!
Pretty much, I have nothing but good things to say about the pre-med program here. The advisor really cares about you, your interests, and your future, as do all of the professors. I have found that everyone does their best to make sure you succeed.</p>
<p>URspider- thanks for the great info! That was really very helpful. I LOVE Richmond, really the only thing I was unsure about was how good their pre med program was. But it sounds great.</p>
<p>How are the science teachers in general? I am going to major in biology most likely, and a lot of bigger schools have those core science classes taught in huge seminars with TAs. Are the professors accessible, helpful, and (obviously) very bright?</p>
<p>Well, one of the great things about richmond is that you will never have a class taught by a TA. Only professors with PhD’s teach lectures and labs, although you will typically have a TA help with a lab. I used to be a bio major, and still may switch back to that instead of my Anthro major, but switching majors had nothing to do with the bio department. So far I have loved most of my bio teachers (there was one that I didn’t really like as a person, but she was still a decent teacher, but it was an easy class), and my classes have never been more than about 30ish students in an intro class, and that was the max for a science class. Thanks to small class sizes (which get smaller as you move to more advanced classes), professors are super accessible and helpful. They all have schedule office hours every week so you can meet with them if you’re having trouble with a subject, and I find that they are always willing to help. And they get to know you, which is really nice for when you need letters of recommendation, want to do lab research, or just need help.</p>
<p>I am really grateful for all of this information you are providing, URspider! </p>
<p>I think I am leaning towards attending Richmond. You simply can’t be the class sizes, which I feel to be extremely important for success in pre-med!</p>
<p>Any comments on the quality of the research? My aunt works closely with Virginia Tech, and she wants me to go there because she says they are conducting more cutting-edge research. However, I like almost everything else about Richmond better…</p>
<p>Maybe vjstangelo should focus on the question and hand, instead of acting as a propagandist for the Tea Party. Only an idiot would suggest that doctors will make what garbage collectors do. This country needs less misinformation based on preconceived notions based on Fox-News-type propaganda.</p>