Pre-med program or regular Undergrad?

[neptunesn]

<p>I am applying to colleges this year and I am still trying to figure out whether I want to focus my applications on Med programs like HPME at Northwestern, USPM at Wash U, and PLME at Brown or just apply to good overall schools. I was wondering if these programs are actually much more favorable over just taking pre-medicine centered classes as a normal undergrad student.</p>

[wittywonka]

<p>I think that there are plenty of very solid schools that boast an outstanding biology/premedicine department and solid overall academics. I personally lean towards these types of schools, just in case I change my mind about pursuing medicine as a career.</p>

[eatsalot]

<p>My two cents:</p>

<p>

When I was considering 7/8 medical programs, my biggest draw to schools like Duke and Penn were the fact that I’d be able to pursue an education for the sake of well… an education. I wanted to put myself under the test of whether or not I am truly fit to be a doctor (even though I loved medicine). But more importantly, I wanted a well-rounded liberal arts education, one that will allow me to branch out and explore different fields properly. I figured that if I did go into medicine, I’d need to understand my environment and the people around me much better to be a better doctor… and with medical programs, you don’t always get that. Rather, you are rushed to grab a degree. &I didn’t want to become simply focused on the end result of BANG “physician.”

</p>

<p>So here, I’d have to agree with wittywonka. :)</p>

[Sam_Lee]

<p>^you guys may want to read a little about Brown, WashU, and Northwestern combined medical programs first before offering your “advice”. Having an early admission doesn’t stop you from accessing the great biology programs and great overall academics those schools have. It’s not like you’d study medicine right away when you pursue any of those programs. You’d take the regular undergrad curriculum like all others; the only difference is you wouldn’t have all that premed stress (WashU is the exception due to the high GPA/MCAT requirements).</p>