<p>Hi, I am currently a high school student in Louisiana. I plan on majoring in Biology, Cell/Molec Biology, or the likes of that. I also want to be on the pre-med track. (I know it is not a major.) My estimated GPA out of high school will be a 3.8 or 3.9 and my ACT might be a 30-32. (I could have a 4.0 but my school is extremely tough.)</p>
<p>The schools I am currently looking at are Tulane, UAB, Rice, UT-Austin, Baylor, and Emory. With my stats, I feel like I won't get into Rice or even Emory. I've done a lot of research on my own, but I'd still like to know some things:</p>
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<li><p>I want to go to med school in Texas. Will going to a Texas undergrad university help me? I know about the 10% rule that universities in Texas have to guarantee seats to the top 10% of each high school class. So what would be my chances since I am OOS? (Especially if I play up my ECs, volunteer work, etc.)</p></li>
<li><p>I have guaranteed admission to Tulane so I was considering going there and then to a Texas medical school. How well-known and respected is Tulane in the south/Texas?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it true that medical school is all about MCAT and GPA? If so, then does it really matter where you go undergrad as long as you get a good GPA (3.7/.8+) and a really good MCAT score?</p></li>
<li><p>How is Tulane for pre-med? Are there any students out there that can tell me about the classes and how well-known the school is in the south? I have heard it's a Southern Ivy League school.</p></li>
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<li><p>Going to a TX undergrad probably won’t help that much. Maybe if you find a place that has an early admission MD program. You’ve got good stats, so you can easily find a TX school if that’s what you really want. TCU, Austin College, and Southwestern are three great privates in TX that aren’t beholden to the 10% rule. </p></li>
<li><p>Tulane is very well respected. In fact, it’s got a med school of its own that isn’t too bad.</p></li>
<li><p>Yes, it is true. UG matters insofar as the school needs to be able to offer strong preparation and good advice for a medical career. Keep in mind that your goal isn’t just to get into med school, it’s to be a doctor. Once you’re in med school, it would be nice to perform well there.</p></li>
<li><p>Tulane is great for pre-med. It’s very well known in the south. I bristle at calling anyone outside the Ivy League sports conference “Ivy League”, but yes, it’s wonderful. See #2.</p></li>
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<p>*3. Is it true that medical school is all about MCAT and GPA? If so, then does it really matter where you go undergrad as long as you get a good GPA (3.7/.8+) and a really good MCAT score?</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Yes it is true. Unless the school is notoriously bad in the sciences or something. But, most universities are going to have good Bio, Chem, OChem, etc, classes.</p>
<p>Have you talked to your parents about how much they’ll spend?</p>
<p>You should also add Alabama to your list. If your stats are good enough, you’d get a nice merit scholarship. </p>
<p>Texas SOMs can be hard to get admitted to as an OOS student.</p>
<p>Lynxinsider: Okay, I will definitely look at Rhodes as well. And thanks, you really cleared up some of my confusion. </p>
<p>mom2collegekids: Luckily, my parents said money is NOT a problem! I am currently a junior. I am taking the ACT soon and then again over the summer. I haven’t taken it in a looong time. My goal IS to get a 30 by senior year. And thanks, I’m looking up Alabama as well.</p>
<p>Tulane is a very well respected university with a strong pre-med track. I would not hesitate to consider it. If you want to consider adding a smaller Southern LAC, I would second the recommendation of Furman. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>I’ve heard about Baylor, but living in Waco sounds horrible and I’m <em>trying</em> to go for schools that don’t have a religious affiliation.
I guess my real issue is that I want to go to a prestigious school like Vanderbilt, UT, or Emory. Half the things I’ve heard and read about Tulane are positive and the other half is negative. <em>sigh</em></p>
<p>Wherever you end up for college, just make sure you don’t jeopardize your in-state residency. You have a significant advantage in applying to your state medical schools if you don’t mess it up by registering to vote out of state, changing your driver’s license, etc… Going to college out of state is not, by itself, going to change your state of residency - but know the rules for determining residency in Texas.</p>
<p>Texas Tech in Lubbock accepts 11% of in-state applicants, and only 5% out of state applicants. U of Texas in Houston accepts 13% in-state and 4% out of state. U of Texas in Galveston accepts 16.5% in-state and 5.2% out of state. Baylor accepts 12% in-state and 3.5% out of state. U of Texas in Dallas is the exception - they accept 12% in-state and 12% out of state.</p>
<p>Baylor Med School is especially difficult to in – and yes, the in-state residents get first priority for admission, no matter where they did their undergraduate work. A med school in Louisiana will give you priority as long as you remain a resident.</p>
<p>*Luckily, my parents said money is NOT a problem! *</p>
<p>Ask your parents if they’ll pay for both undergrad and med school (which can be about $300k just for med school). If they won’t pay for both, then it would be a good idea to spend less for undergrad and have your parents pay (or help pay) for med school.</p>
<p>However, I want to warn about this. If you attend a top school with lots of pre-meds all gunning for the limited number of A’s given for the pre-med pre-reqs, you may find yourself with a lower than desired GPA.</p>
<p>If you go over to the pre-med forum here on CC, you’ll often find kids posting about their “awful GPAs” after attending some of these top schools. I’m not saying that a lesser school will be “easy As”. Not at all. It’s just that schools do limit the number of A’s in those pre-reqs to weed out students.</p>
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