<p>I think the financial concerns are very real and are worth thinking about. Student debt can be majorly burdensome.</p>
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Well, this is what we’ve been discussing (ad nauseum) thus far. Obviously it’s something to think about.</p>
<p>Unless things have changed since my days, GPPA Med does require a minimum MCAT score. I just looked at the Conditions of Acceptance, and they do require a 9 in each section. </p>
<p>UIC does have its own special programs. The most well known is the Great Cities program. The school does do a fairly good job in placing its grads in decent grad programs. UIC is one of the largest health care universities in the country, and also, does have the largest medicine program. </p>
<p>You’ll make unique connections at UIC as well. Going to an urban school will give you a different experience than a traditional campus. </p>
<p>Debt is a major issue. I went to UIC pharmacy, and since graduating, I have met students who graduated from private schools. They have debt in the $100k-$200k range. Their monthly payments is more than my rent. </p>
<p>Unique thing about UIC COM at Chicago is that you go to school where the Cubs last won the World Series. On the west side of Wood St near the Clinical Sciences building, they have installed a plaque.</p>
<p>^ Can you provide link? The link I put says just take the test.</p>
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<p>Are connections, really that important in medical profession? I can understand connections being important in the corporate world and in politics. But, I am not sure how important connections made in college are for the average practicing physician.</p>
<p>^ It would depend on how average one wants to be. :D</p>
<p>^ Let me replace the work “average” with “greatest” 
You are on a roll today, aren’t you? Seriously, do connections make a practicing physician any better? How do they help?</p>
<p>Personally, I think it matters on what your goals are outside of med school. If it is just to become a doctor and practice in a quiet corner somewhere, then it really does not matter where you go to school for undergrad, med, residency etc.</p>
<p>There are people who want to aim much higher like get into super specialties, be a faculty member somewhere. From what I hear, lot of that happens with the connections.</p>
<p>It matters in the academic world. Also for med students as well. Really want to go somewhere for residency and your mentor is good friends with the program director there. Jackpot.</p>
<p>^ OP is talking about connections he could make at his undergrad school …</p>
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here you go. <a href=“http://www.uic.edu/depts/oaa/spec_prog/gppa/conditions/COA%20GPPA%20Medicine%20Fall%202013.pdf[/url]”>Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions (GPPA) | University of Illinois Chicago; </p>
<p>For residency, letters of recommendation are important especially for the selective programs.</p>
<p>This is an interesting stipulation. Are they saying it needs beat the average of the previous year which could be a moving target?</p>
<p>“Students must earn a MCAT score of at least the mean of the matriculating students into the COM in the year prior to expected entry, with no score below 9 in any segment of the exam. Students may retake the MCAT up to three times in order to obtain the expected score.”</p>
<p>On the connections front - These also work with alumni as well as med schools profs in those schools you might work with during undergrad.</p>
<p>It says on UIC COM’s website that the average MCAT score for 2011 was a 31. [FAQs</a> - University of Illinois College of Medicine](<a href=“http://www.medicine.uic.edu/admissions/apply_to_the_md_program/faqs/]FAQs”>http://www.medicine.uic.edu/admissions/apply_to_the_md_program/faqs/)</p>
<p>Hmm. That’s an interesting requirement. Anyways, according to USNWR, the mean MCAT of the 2012 entering class at UIC is 10.2. That’s 30.6 aggregate, with no score less than 9.</p>
<p>Another question for thought if you guys don’t mind.</p>
<p>Is it better to be amazing at an average university with the program or average at an amazing university?</p>
<p>^ My best answer is that you should try to be amazing at an amazing university. If you can’t go to what you consider an amazing university, then be amazing at whatever institution you attend. For the most part, where you did your undergraduate education does not really have that much influence on getting into medical school. However, for the medical schools that are considered to be the most competitive such as Johns Hopkins, WashU or Harvard, I do believe that there is an inherent bias towards selecting students from higher ranked institutions. I Can’t prove this, but I bet that if you look at where the matriculating students at some of these medical schools came from, they would probably be from higher ranked undergraduate institutions. We shouldn’t kid ourselves and think that there is no academic inbreeding present in this country. It is pervasive at all levels of education.</p>
<p>also keep in mind the students admitted to amazing universities are not “average students”</p>
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Either way is fine, honestly.</p>
<p>Congrats on your choices.
As most would agree it is mostly up to you and what YOU will do at college, than college itself. You should try to have as amazing UG experience as possilbe. that was my D’s goal and she has achieved it while in bs/md. However, she has specifically chosen NON-accelrated and very flexible program after she was accepted to 3 of them. She was able to have more experiences in college than she has ever imagined and also applied out and got accepted at Med. School of her dream way back in HS.<br>
The most important is good match between student and college. This is your criteria #1. being in bs/md is providing a great peace of mind. Sitting thru MCAT knowing that your score needs to be only 27 (requirement in D’s bs/md) acutally made it easier to achieve a much higher score. Going to Med. School interviews knowing that you are already accepted at one was also a huge advantage. But again, the biggest was the college that was a perfect match for my D. Looking back and being more familiar with other places and many graduates from other colleges, some are from the very top in the country, D. even more convinced that she has chosen the best place for herself. D. is a 3rd year Med. student.<br>
So, choose based on what is important for you. Get as much familiar with each of your choices as possible.</p>