<p>Well no one should really go by rankings in general. All of them are practically. </p>
<p>Don’t go for “prestige” over fit.</p>
<p>That’s very true.</p>
<p>By this worldwide ranking system, UMD is ranked number 29 in the country and number 38 in the world. </p>
<p>[Academic</a> Ranking of World Universities - 2013| Top 500 universities | Shanghai Ranking - 2013 | World University Ranking - 2013](<a href=“http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2013.html]Academic”>http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2013.html)</p>
<p>marylandude Forbes rankings are predicated off ROI (return on investment). CMU and Hopkins are ranked lower because their cost to attend are extremely high whereas W&M is a State school (lower cost). Don’t be caught up by overall school rankings, college is what you the individual make of it.</p>
<p>12 more days! I’m so excited, but I’ll still have a tough time picking between my schools.</p>
<p>To anyone who has a difficult time choosing among colleges (myself included), schedule college visits once you have been accepted so you can determine which one better fits you.</p>
<p>I personally compiled my list with schools that I think fit great.</p>
<p>I think as far as rankings go, there are many reasons for that. Penn State might have ranked higher because they are the most recruited state school by employers according to The Wall Street Journal. The job placement percentage after graduation might be higher, and therefore the ranking is higher. I don’t think the quality of education is any better. My son chose Penn State, and I have to say, it is an amazing school. On the other hand UMD is high on my daughter’s list. I think it is more what you do with your education than where you go.</p>
<p>Krissy, I agree…where do you live? I think both are great schools, but I can’t see choosing one OOS if you’re in-state for the other, unless there are unusual circumstances.</p>
<p>So, you guys are saying prestige shouldn’t be considered over fit, how much does prestige actually matter? I’m going to be choosing between Maryland and Ohio State if I get accepted to Maryland. Some rankings show Ohio State as 10 or so above Maryland and others show the opposite. Does this not matter at all?</p>
<p>I’m from NY so for me, it doesn’t matter because both schools were OOS for me. Unfortunately for me, my kids had/have no interest in our SUNY schools.</p>
<p>I’m choosing between ASU Barrett, UMD, Miami (FL), and Georgetown. </p>
<p>Prestige only matters in some fields, mainly business and finance. I plan on going to medical school, so prestige is meaningless to me. I will go the place where I’m most likely to get a good GPA and save money. I only applied to schools that are a good fit.</p>
<p>There is no prestige difference between OSU and UMD. People act like potential employers keep up and know every year’s rankings…they don’t. Both schools are known to be good, large, state schools; that’s as far as it goes. I’d say go to whichever is cheaper. If costs are close, go where you want to live after graduating and to which one you like better.</p>
<p>RoscoeDash, there is no prestige difference between OSU and UMD the way there is between UMich and one of them. They are both good large state flagships schools. One school might a little better at this, and the other school a little better at that. Go where the total package is less costly.</p>
<p>teenbodybuilder…you dont think medical schools look at where you did your undergraduate degree? Medical schools look at GPA, MCAT scores but they also look at rigor of your academic course load and undergraduate institution competitiveness</p>
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<p>This is a common misconception. Prestige is negligible.</p>
<p>There are 141 allopathic medical schools in the US, many of which are attached to large, non-prestigious state schools. There is no substitute for a top GPA and MCAT score. Medical schools do not give you a pass for going to a prestigious school. </p>
<p>They look at the applicant as a person and assess if they will be successful in medical school. The first thing is sGPA and then overall GPA. Did this person take all of the required classes and excel in them? What else did this person take and are they successful in those pursuits? Then they look at MCAT score. The MCAT makes or breaks most applicants. If both of these check out, they look at your ECs and your writing to see if you have the desire to stick with medicine and become a doctor. THEN, you MIGHT get an interview, if all of those check out. </p>
<p>All of this matters so much more than the name of where you go. As long as you go to an accredited school and have an academic major, prestige is such a non-factor. I’d also bet that it’ll be much harder to get that high GPA at a prestigious school with the same amount of work at a less prestigious school. They tend to cost much more too lol.</p>
<p>As for rigor, I’m majoring in biochemistry. It’ll be rigorous no matter where I go. Any of the sciences are like the engineering fields, all rigorous at every school.</p>
<p>^^ exactly the same for Vet School</p>
<p>We are struggling with what school my DD will accept She will be an animal science/prevet major</p>
<p>GPA is the most important of all</p>
<p>That is very interesting. So if there is student from Arizona State University and Harvard and they have the same GPA, major and MCAT scores they have the same chances to get into Johns Hopkins Medical school?</p>
<p>Well the ASU student would be in Barrett, which routinely places students in Ivy League grad schools. </p>
<p>I think the misconception is that there’s never going to be two people who are exactly the same. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>The GPA at these top schools is so much harder to get due to the level of sheer competition. Classes are curved and there are only so many As. The hypothetical scenario of a 4.0 at both schools is so unlikely, because you aren’t getting a 4.0 at the other school. The average GPA at Harvard is around a 3.4, and this is students with 2300 SATs and 4.0 GPAs. At UMD, the average GPA is a 3.05. If you graduate with a 3.05 at UMD, you aren’t even getting into medical school. One main reason why the pre-med attrition rate is so high is because students go to a school that’s competitive, then get meh grades, then pre-med isn’t even an option any more.</p></li>
<li><p>What you do outside of the classroom is going to be why a medical school accepts you, provided your grades and MCAT score holds up. They want unique people who have dedicated themselves to medicine and healthcare. The most important thing is the interview. No two people are going to have the exact same accomplishments and ECs or interview the exact same way. They don’t get any bragging rights and don’t say “our class of xxxx has a Harvard graduate.” No. Where you go doesn’t affect how they view you as a person. </p></li>
<li><p>Prestige of your medical school does not affect the residency you match to (USMLE scores are viewed in comparison to students at your school to determine rank, and can be compared with all other students). But that is a discussion for another day lol.</p></li>
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<p>@Doberlady I am currently a Freshman majoring in Animal Science (pre-vet) and I can tell you that so far I have no regrets choosing UMD over another Animal Science school, NC State. ANSC101 was a great intro and the professor (Dr. Moyes) was very good. Definitely a great school for pre-vet. Let me know if you have any questions.</p>
<p>@teenbodybuilder</p>
<p>The average grade at Harvard is actually an A-. ([Harvard</a> grade inflation: The real problem is admissions.](<a href=“http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/12/05/harvard_grade_inflation_the_real_problem_is_admissions.html]Harvard”>Harvard grade inflation: The real problem is admissions.))</p>
<p>The idea that there are so many As to go around is a common myth.</p>