<p>Hey, I'm a transfer student from Boston College majoring in biology with a minor, possible double major in math and pre-med for sure. I was just admitted, so i'm looking for some information on Rice's pre med program, what opportunities there are for research and other stuff around Rice. The other school I'm looking at besides possibly staying at BC is Duke, so if anyone knows about both and could compare their pre-med programs, that would be great. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
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<p>You should know that “pre-med” is not a major. Anywhere. It’s a curriculum with prerequisite courses you need to take before you graduate that help you prepare for the MCATs.</p>
<p>Are you an incoming sophomore or junior? Also, there is not “biology” at Rice so to speak, it’s called “Biosciences.” And there are certain minors available, you need to make sure they’re available first.</p>
<p>Pre-med programs at Duke and Rice are strong (Duke has 85% medical school placement rate versus Rice’s 91% or so medical school placement rate), though I will argue Rice’s program is slightly stronger - not because of student caliber (they are equal), but because there are so many more opportunities afforded to Rice pre-meds, for example the Texas Medical Center, which is the world’s largest medical district and houses over 40 hospitals and more. </p>
<p>You must’ve decided to apply to Rice as a transfer for a reason, why do you see Rice as a good place to transfer? What is your research on Rice so far? </p>
<p>Since you have already been admitted, I would think you would have thoroughly looked into the schools you apply to transfer and that Rice would be convinced that you are transferring here for good reasons, so I don’t want to go on and on unnecessarily if you already looked into Rice and know about it.</p>
<p>Rice and Duke share many cross-admits, so whichever school you choose, it’ll be a good place for you to go. Have you visited both schools?</p>
<p>Right, I realize that pre-med is not a major, thats why at Boston College right now I am a biology major with a math minor, not a pre-med major. And I realize that Rice doesn’t have a bio major, but seeing as I’m at Boston College right now, I am as of right now a biology major. I will be an incoming sophomore if i choose to attend, and I love a lot of things about Rice, as well as Duke (i should preface by saying I haven’t been admitted to Duke, but if I do get accepted, my decision will be between these 2 schools. If not, then I likely will go to Rice). I’ve lived in Massachusetts my whole life and just kind of want to get out of here and live somewhere else so I know what there is. I like warm weather. I really, really like the residential college system, and the strong science program is a plus considering I’m a science major. I visited last year and loved the campus and Rice Village. Basically, theres not much I don’t like about Rice. But at the same time, my sister goes to Duke and I also love Duke, just a little bit less than Rice, so if the money is comparable, it’s going to be a hard decision for me.</p>
<p>"Texas Medical Center, which is the world’s largest medical district and houses over 40 hospitals and more. "</p>
<p>This is what I mean. I know the TMC is located near by, but do most students find opportunities there? How is Rice’s relationship with the hospitals located there? Is there any specific relationship Rice has with any hospitals that helps Rice students? Also, at Boston College, there is a program that allows students to apply to Tufts Medical School as sophomores for acceptance after undergrad studies are completed. Does Rice have anything similar, such as with Baylor? Any similar information regarding Duke would be much appreciated as well.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>TMC is literally across the street. I can’t speak to the whole set of opportunities, but my DD did a translating practicum at one of the med centers working with Spanish speaking patients, and her friend did some kind of research in diet and nutrition with one of the hospitals (I believe he is in a fully funded PHD program in nutrition somewhere now). Neither were “pre-med”, and both opportunities were ridiculously easy to get.</p>
<p>There are a lot of previous postings comparing Rice and Duke, including for pre-med. Try these:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/699462-duke-rice.html?highlight=duke[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/699462-duke-rice.html?highlight=duke</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/678292-rice-v-duke.html?highlight=duke[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/678292-rice-v-duke.html?highlight=duke</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/689532-rice-v-duke-pre-med.html?highlight=duke[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/689532-rice-v-duke-pre-med.html?highlight=duke</a></p>
<p>There are also a lot of threads about being pre-med at Rice, like this one:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/669948-pre-med-track-rice.html?highlight=pre-med[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/669948-pre-med-track-rice.html?highlight=pre-med</a></p>
<p>Search around on this forum a bit. You may find that a lot of your questions have already been answered.</p>
<p>It’s a big myth that you have to do research or have a medically related work to get in to med school, it may help, and it certainly won’t hurt, but it’s not required.</p>
<p>I didn’t have any and I’m now happily practicing general surgey.</p>
<p>Anything that sets you apart from the hoard of people who apply to med. school helps; go for the research, it can only help your application. I consider any resource within my reach that could boost my med. school application a must.</p>