Hey guys, I’m a junior and i was wondering if i could get input on these schools. I need to decide a top 3 from these because my dad said we can only go visit 3 of these schools. I want to have a top 3 that i can eliminate to a #1 that i can potentially ED to. I’m leaning on applying to Stanford EA but i feel like i have a better shot at these schools applying ED. I will be applying to all these schools regardless i just need find an ED school that i truly love and know where i will be happiest at. So which school will prepare me for Med School and the MCAT the most? Which school is easiest to get at least a 3.7 at? School with most grade inflation? Which one gives lots of research opportunities? Which one will help me get into a top 25 medical school? I’m undecided on my major but i like HUM BIO at Stanford but i’m not 100% sure yet on the other schools, maybe Biology. At which school will be able to have the true college experience with the rigors of pre med? At which school can i party, go to sporting events, and attend other social and school functions in my free time? I don’t want to join a frat but i still wanna be able to party once a week. Will i be able to have free time on the weekends at these schools? Which school is the most collaborative because i HATE competition between students. My plan in college is to “work hard, play hard” as you can tell lol. Thanks to all those that give me input because i will have to decide my top 3 by the end of April so i can make those college visits and decide my favorite school. i will be posting this on other forums
Well you might get biased views here (just like you will when you post on the forums for the other schools). I would go for a school that you think will give you the best education rather than the school that will be easiest to get a 3.7 in. There’s no use in getting a high gpa if you dont learn anything and that certainly wont prepare you for med school.
That being said, premed curriculums in all of those schools you listed are probably all very hard and very good so I would go for a school that you think you will fit well in (outside of academics).
As for which school will get you into med school, you will find that most top universities actually have a relatively high percent of students getting into med school (think around 70-90%). However, these percentages only include those who actually end up applying to med school, and do not count those who drop premed (which is a really large number). So basically at any of the schools you listed, if you manage to make it past the premed curriculum and the MCAT with good numbers, you probably have a descent shot at getting in somewhere.
As for research, washu’s med school is really highly ranked (I think 6th in the US) and very close to main campus (around 5 min train ride). It is really easy to get into a lab and do research. Essentially most people I know are in labs either on main campus or at the med school. But im sure it’s like this for any major research university.
@toplel Thanks for the reply!!! I have a few more questions for you if you wouldn’t mind to answer 
Are Wash U kids generally happy? Are the kids collaborative? What exactly is a “weed out” class, I’m still confused by that. And is there stuff always going on in campus? Are you doing pre med? The thing i like about Wash U distance wise is that it is a 8 hour drive from home so in my opinion i think that’s a great distance since it is far, but not too far
What is your financial situation?
@ClarinetDad16 My income bracket is 350k-400k so we doubt we will get any financial aid. My parents said they can pay up to 30k a year but i will be on my own for the rest (i’ll need to apply for student loans, scholarships), they said they’ll pay the same for my med school. My parents haven’t exactly sat down and talked about it i just kinda asked them in the car one day. But i really do need to sit down and talk with them about what they actually are gonna pay instead of just a quick question with a quick reply. How bad are student loans anyway?
@ClarinetDad16 So do you think i should apply ED? Because now i realize i may need a little bit of money
It isn’t advisable to go $100,000+ in debt for undergraduate and then even more for med school.
What is your home state?
@ClarinetDad16 i’ll privately message you it so i can keep my anonymity on here
@hamzag, I’ve read some of your other posts, and you really need to get an understanding of your financial situation before you go too much further with your school search. Have your parents agreed to co-sign for loans? If not, the most you can borrower alone OVER FOUR YEARS is $27,000. That is not going to be enough to make up the difference between $30,000 per year that your parents are offering and private school expenses. Schools like Stanford do not offer merit awards. Some schools you’ve mentioned like Rice do offer merit awards, but even the biggest awards at Rice will leave you right at the edge of determining whether your family can afford the school.
There is a saying on these message boards: love thy safety. So find a school that you will definitely get into, and that you can afford. For many people, their safety is their best public, in-state school. But if you have tippy-top test scores or you are a National Merit Finalist, then you will have many options. Be sure to get your safety school lined up before you spend too much time shooting for the stars.
You asked about a weed out class: it means that students in a particular major are being eliminated from their major due to a failed attempt at a required class. For many pre-med students, the class is organic chemistry at the beginning of their sophomore year.
@ScienceGirlMom thanks for the reply! you’re correct on understanding my financial status i guess i kind of just got too excited about college and completely ignored that
this is totally personal bias, but Wash U has one of the best medical schools and research facilities ever. and it’s also rated as one of the highest universities to have the happiest and brightest students. it has a pretty hefty price tag, but it offers so much in return. I hope you find somewhere that suites you. I remember thinking that Wash U was just another typical university until I visited. I fell in love right away make sure to visit Wash U. it totally changed my perspective. good luck and message me if you have any questions!
@candlee thans for the response!