<p>Ok, so I bet this has been covered, but I've got something of a specific question to ask. I've gotten into Michigan with a 10k scholarship, (so cost will be 34k a year... expensive). I also got into University of New Mexico with a full ride (room board book, etc). I plan on going to med school, and I know that where you go to school plays a role, but isn't everything. My mom is thinking I shouldn't go to UNM because I won't be prepared, but the way I see it, being prepared for the MCAT isn't really what you were taught, because aren't all intro chem/orgo/phys/calc classes relatively similar in material taught regardless of the school? I mean, I can understand differences in teaching in higher level theoretical calculus classes, and other things, but I mean most of those intro classes are, well, intro classes. </p>
<p>So the way I see it, I might make an A at UNM or a B at UMich, but either way, doesn't it really come down to how much studying you did, and how well you prepared yourself for the MCAT as opposed to who taught you? A full ride is awfully appealing, and I can see how med schools could understand going to a lesser school with such a scholarship in this economy...</p>
<p>Now I've still got more schools to hear back from, but if it came down to those two to get into medical school, I think I'd pick UNM. Is that the smartest choice?</p>
<p>I go to a very low ranked state university, and I did pretty well (98th percentile). I have close friends who made anywhere from 28 to 39, and none of us felt that we were underprepared by our classes.</p>
<p>I think school choice matters if you're aiming for "top" medical schools. Norcalguy has mentioned the disproportionate representation of top 20 undergrad students at his interviews at highly ranked medical schools. But if you're looking to just get in to a school, one school, then you can't go wrong with your full ride. Looking at an acceptance from your state medical school, I don't see what undergrad you attend being significant at all.</p>
<p>That said, I'd also emphasize that you go where you feel like you best fit (providing it's affordable). I turned down Duke and Emory not because they were expensive, but because I didn't think they were good fits for what I was looking for. A full ride at Emory wouldn't have made it more appealing than my state school or UNC for me. So don't worry about UNM not preparing you, that won't be an issue, but if you like Michigan a lot more that might be something to take into consideration (although I'd imagine as both are state schools, your experiences won't be that different).</p>
<p>The only school I've truly fallen in love with is McGill, up in Montreal. But their harsh grading is a little scary. I have yet to visit UNM but I have a feeling its where I may end up. Every school I've yet to hear back from is a top 20 school, because I already have my safeties so I applied to abunch of reaches.</p>
<p>I'm not dying to get into Harvard med, I just don't want to go to SGU in the Carib. lol. </p>
<p>So did you find that doing well on the MCAT weighed more heavily on how much you studied the material and how well you prepared yourself?</p>
<p>My D is a premed at UNM (Actually she finished her BS in physics at UNM in May and she's now doing a post-bacc year to pick up her required bio and orgo classes.) She has several friends who graduated with her who were accepted at JHU, WashU and UWashington during this past application cycle. Their MCATs were in the mid to-high 30's.(33-38) D's practice exams are putting her predicted score in the same range.</p>
<p>Attending UNM didn't seem to harm their med school opportunities. The coursework isn't dumbed down if that's what you're afraid of. Because of the Lottery-Success Scholarship, many of the state best students stay and go to UNM. You will have plenty of competition.</p>
<p>That's what I was worried about was the level of classes. I have my heart set on med school so where I choose for undergrad will be affected by that. I guess now all that remains is whether I like the environment or not... I've spent a lot of time in Roswell and Santa Fe, but don't much remember albuquerque.</p>
<p>Albuquerque isn't like either Roswell or Santa Fe. Definitely more urban with all that entails. Much, much larger population. More stuff to do. Some of D's friends who have graduated and are working jobs in Santa Fe are now thinking about moving to ABQ and commuting to SF via the new rail system that just started service in December.</p>
<p>UNM is not in the best part of town, but the nearby neighborhood is undergoing alot of dynamic revitalization right now. Plenty of bars, shops, cafes within easy walking distance and the city runs special late night weekend buses to the downtown area (where there are more bars, theaters and restaurants). </p>
<p>Because UNM has an open, urban campus there is a bit of a crime problem--mostly thefts of unattended belongings. Don't be stupid and you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Campus isn't especially pretty and the "niceness" of the dorms varied hugely. There are a fair number of commuter students and significant "non-traditional" (i.e. older) student population. Most commuters are from ABQ--which is by far the biggest city in the state.</p>
<p>Two nearby hospitals. (UNM's med school/hospital is across the street from the main campus. Presbyterian is about 4 blocks west of campus. Lots of volunteer opportunities for pre-meds.) CNM's main campus is also about 6 clocks away. Parking in the area is expensive and hard to come by especially since alot of what used to be campus parking lots have been taken over for new campus buildings. Parking near med school/hospital is especially awful.</p>
<p>Public transit is available (and might even be free if you show your UNM ID--not sure though) but not well utilized by most residents or students.</p>
<p>And remember, like at a lot of other schools, pre-med is popular major. Freshman lectures will be big, but by second semester orgo about 90% of those kids will be majoring in something else. Heavy weeding takes place in gen chem, orgo, genetics, and molecular bio. Kids who make it through are genuinely smart and dedicated.</p>
<p>Uh, "MCAT preparation" is the last thing you should base your choice of school on (and by "last", I mean it shouldn't even be on your list).</p>
<p>So as a science major, I shouldn't base my college choice at all on the quality of the science program?</p>
<p>I bet the kids who could have gone to Harvard but end up at State U. for whatever reason in the end, but continue to work just as hard as the kids at Harvard end up with similar MCAT scores.</p>
<p>I'd be willing to bet that good science programs do not necessarily equal good MCAT scores.</p>
<p>
[quote]
So as a science major, I shouldn't base my college choice at all on the quality of the science program?
[/quote]
All introductory bio and chem and physics classes teach the same material, regardless of where you go. Like phonyreal said, "quality of science program" does not equal good MCAT score, as you'll get the same fundamental education anywhere. The MCAT is not even very content-based; if anything, I bet a school with a good English program would improve your MCAT score, not a "good science program".</p>
<p>If you want to talk about quality of science program, then you're probably thinking more about research opportunities and the like. You should definitely consider those when applying to schools, but know that these things will not help your MCAT score.</p>
<p>Good science programs may not equal good MCAT scores, but I'd go out on a limb and say bad science programs don't exactly help. I'm not saying "I'm going to X school because they put x% of kids into med school', I'm saying I want to take into account the quality of the program I'm applying for because that's important to me. </p>
<p>I was simply asking if different schools prepared you better/worse for the MCAT. Never said I'm only basing my choice off the stats. That's like saying you're going to some school because they have good food. good food might be important to you, but isn't the only thing you should look at.</p>