<p>Err, yes. I wasn't really sure where else i could get some input, so I was hoping to get some help here. </p>
<p>I've been admitted to USC for Spring 09 and Case Western in the Fall.
I know that Case Western has a better medical program, but USC seems to be the better undergraduate school? So 1) I'm wondering if that makes a difference in which school would be better for a "pre-med major" </p>
<p>If I go to USC, I would be taking some CC classes too because I want to graduate with the rest of the 2012 students. 2) Would CC credit be acceptable for med school requirements? I guess in general I'm kind of dubious about the starting in spring thing...</p>
<p>I think I like USC more because it's closer to home and I think I would like it there more, but I also really want to pursue a career in medicine and I'm feeling that Case Western might be the better place for that...But I'm not sure of that either...</p>
<p>Better UG school helps you better prepare for the MCAT. But lousy GPA will definitely kill your chance. I don't know anything about Case Western, but I did not see it in the list from the top 100 institutions. I think Case Western is known for law, one of my relatives graduated from Case Western Law school.</p>
<p>Not it doesn't. Why should medical school care? From the USC forum, people said it did not affect their ability to make friends nor get good housing. But it's your call, I just want to answer about the medical school part. Good luck with your decision !</p>
<p>Case is very well known for science and engineering and I have yet to hear anything about law school although their business school is well known. My son is a junior premed student at Case. The program is difficult and high GPA's are not overly common. If you've never been to Cleveland in the winter, it is very cold and you need to make sure you can handle that.</p>
<p>I would like to add that the two schools are very different. USC is much larger than Case and USC has a higher ratio of female students as well. Climate is completely different as I mentioned earlier. Case has its own medical school right on campus as well as the Cleveland Clinic a few blocks away so there are lots of opportunities for first hand experience which I know is expected from those applying to med school.</p>
<p>You might want to do some research on the question of community college credits being valid for med school. I assume they are, as many students transfer from a CC. You could contact a USC Admissions Transfer Counselor at 213/ 740-1111 and see if they can help you with the credit question.</p>
<p>First, to respond to Columbia_Student, Case is in fact a "Top 100" university and it is especially known for sciences, engineering, and its medical school and medical research programs. But, the quality of the Case medical programs will probably not have much if any impact on your chances for medical school. CC courses should also not have any impact, if your undergraduate institution accepts the credits in satisfaction of its degree requirements then there is really no difference for "pre-med" vs. any other program. Remember that for most colleges anyway, "pre-med" is NOT a distinct major; rather, it is a minimum set of courses in various related disciplines that are required for admission to med school, beyond that you can major in astrophysics, anthropology, or musical theater if you want to.</p>
<p>"I think I like USC more because it's closer to home and I think I would like it there more, but I also really want to pursue a career in medicine and I'm feeling that Case Western might be the better place for that...But I'm not sure of that either..."</p>
<p>If you think you will like USC more than that's probably where you should go. My D is premed at USC and is a Neuroscience major. She is very happy with her decision to attend USC and would not change it for anything. I think you should go where you think you will thrive the most. I think the happier you are, the higher your GPA will be. Your GPA is going to account for more than which of those undergrad universities you choose.</p>
<p>lol, sorry columbia_student, but i've never heard anyone be so wrong about a school.
Case is ranked 40 in the country I believe (I should really know since I go here). It is certainly not best known for law, but for engineering and the sciences. I don't know much about USC, but I'm pretty sure the schools are extremely different. USC is larger, has big time sports, warm weather, etc...Case is pretty difficult winters, and more of an academic focus.</p>
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Columbia_Student, Case is in fact a "Top 100" university and it is especially known for sciences, engineering, and its medical school and medical research programs.
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<p>Clarifying my comment. I had to shut off the my lap top quickly. I did not mean to say Case Western is not in the "top 100" university but rather the top 100 UG feeder to medical schools according to the AAMC site that I listed above.</p>
<p>I think you should go to USC, the fact that you can transfer in classes from a CC if anything will help you have a higher gpa at USC. If you take some of the intro science classes at a CC prior to entering USC, I can only imagine you'd get A's compared to USC where getting an A in science courses may be harder?</p>