<p>For med school experts, formal and informal:</p>
<p>This is four years away (well could be less with AP credits not in premed areas). I will be attending Penn next fall to start undergrad majoring in biophysics. I know the general consensus is anyone going to med school is going to do well and be rewarded financially. I know doctors from a variety of med schools and there seems to be only little connection to their success. But my sample is not large and one that went to a lesser school also got a Ph.D., which throws that off I assume. Still, if I am going, I am going to tend to prefer the better reputation schools if I think I can have a shot at getting into a few. So for any experts out there, can you name the three best med schools that fit my criteria (not perfectly, but taking into consideration):</p>
<p>--Location where does not snow (and I mean regularly, not a few days a year)
--Most of campus is not in a congested urban area
--Very high residency placement rates
--Top notch facilities, on the updated side
--Degree can take me anywhere in U.S. quite easily
--High reputation in medical community overall (research and producing clinicians)
--General glitz of the name for the med school among all of academia (yes, superficial, but I'm going somewhere with this)</p>
<p>Experts, can you please list the three med schools that best capture these criteria, in your own opinion? I know this is thinking way ahead, but since high school is winding down I have not been stuffed with assignments or anything that matters except study for my AP exams. And I know even if I get a 40 MCAT and a 4.0 at Penn (not planning on that GPA but who knows; does not help that Penn gives out an "A+" but does not give it anymore points than an "A" which seems dumb, thus making it nearly impossible to get a 4.0 unless perfect, which is typical, I understand that) that I very likely will be rejected from top schools for no reason I could ever discern, at least from the ones that do admit me if any do (it seems so terrifyingly limited in space that they simply flip a coin or draw straws among the equally qualified interviewees).</p>
<p>So, THREE med schools for me, not set in stone at all, and in your opinion???</p>
<p>I visited Hopkins for potential undergrad. I did not like it or Baltimore. However, I did not see the med school part. I am also under the impression it does snow there. I just need a break from winter after living in Ohio and going to school next in Philadelphia. Washington U. slipped my mind. I guess it does fit. Did not visit simply because I was not interested in that area of the country living away from home right away. I think Stanford is the consensus gem for my conditions. I see it even jumped in the U.S. News med rankings this year, but I am trying not just to pick from that list so simply. Speaking of “Washington,” I’d be curious about the national rep of UW in Seattle since its rankings are high. I wondered if it is just so strong regionally it got a high national ranking, or if it is the legit pride and joy of an otherwise slightly above average University. Reading their site they seem to have pretty stingy requirements in how specific the experience in medicine for an applicant must be. Comes off as formulaic but could just be different. Stanford is really open it seems to the holistic admissions approach. Then I look at Harvard and the prerequisites will make your head spin in comparison but that’s aimed more at undergrad courses, not experience. And yes, Harvard is not my type of place. Though if I got a chance to interview I’d certainly take it seriously seeing its rep has been solid at the top of med schools for a long time it seems (doctors I know via work or family consider Harvard med tops but not by as wide of margin, with Hopkins an east coast rival especial with the hospital it has).</p>
<p>OP, just go to Penn, do well in your courses, and talk to the pre-med advisor there, who will give you much better advice than anyone here will.</p>
<p>Well, it’s not like I was going to follow this advice. I am sure he/she will give me the best advice. They are proven experts. BUT, I like to hear what the word on the street is sometimes, at least when I have a couple days off, plus weekend. My own research has these as my favorites:</p>
<p>Stanford
Duke
UCSF</p>
<p>Can’t go wrong with those. Stanford has always been my dream school but it was too far for undergrad to even consider. Alternate would be University of Washington. And, of course, I would not rule out Penn if it ends up winning me over so much I think I can stay for eight years in a row. I hope to get some summer gig at Penn med center (if not I can go back to the Clinic, as in Cleveland Clinic). Right now I guess freshman housing is my “worry.” Thanks.</p>
<p>Undoubtedly. And it is only a waste of time if I spend much time on it. What’s wrong with some curiosity? People act like this site is used to actually make decisions. Not for me. I see the med school admit rates and I see the amazing students that get rejected. And I will get rejected. I just don’t plan to get rejected from all of them. I’d like to get into one of the handful I like best. I have a lot of experience in the field thus far. I have taken the MCAT already based on a med school admissions guru’s (OSU med school) recommendation knowing that I had already studied quite a bit of its material (he said then I will know what I have to learn long term and his advice worked in making the demands of the test clear). Not for my med app, just as a baseline. So I know SOME stuff. I don’t know how well I’d do at Penn. I just have to be confident and try and let the passion for the work makes the grades, at least in the classes where that is possible. I’d be happy with a 3.85 at Penn (well, I’d be happy even with less based on MCAT potential, but I should start with a high goal, at least before org chem or something kills me). I did get into Princeton with no true hook, so I’m going to think positive. My uncle teaches at Ohio State med school. One could do quite well simply going there. So I understand the pessimism but it is just a dumb thread on a dumb site with a lot of waste of time. But not all. I started planning undergrad admissions with three years away, and well, it worked for me. And I liked the research of schools. That’s all. I won’t give a damn once fall comes around. I just don’t like waiting on the future. Should have made it a hypo of a sophomore or junior in undergrad.</p>