Strength of Undergraduate Biology/Pre-med Departments

<p>I'm a high school senior intending to major in biological sciences and will probably decide to go on to medical school. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me about the various strengths or weaknesses of the biology departments of the following schools, and whether or not the school would be a good fit for someone who is seriously considering pre-med. Thanks!</p>

<p>Yale
Johns Hopkins
Carnegie Mellon
Middlebury
Notre Dame
Bowdoin
Northwestern</p>

<p>They’re all great schools for pre-med.</p>

<p>Don’t feel you have to be biology to get into med school, however. I’ve often heard that the most accepted undergrad major into med school is english. No matter where you go or what you major in, make sure you take the right course work and gain relevant volunteer/work experience.</p>

<p>If you’re looking at Biology programs, Yale and Johns Hopkins are at the very top, Carnegie Mellon and Northwestern not so much. But as revelations said you don’t have to be bio to go med</p>

<p>I’ll second what revelations said. Science majors (like bio) actually have the lowest med school acceptance rates. </p>

<p>All the schools you listed will give you a good shot of getting into medical school, pick the one you see yourself most at.</p>

<p>the above posters are absolutely right, but don’t misinterpret what they say…</p>

<p>english majors have the highest acceptance rates only because very few apply to medical schools–and the ones who do are usually the most determined/brightest.</p>

<p>on the other hand, a larger number of biology majors apply to medical schools and there are only so many who can get in.</p>

<p>:p</p>

<p>I must confirm tuakkii’s comments. Too many bio or biomedical sci major have no idea what to do beyond their undergraduate degree. They tend to apply to medical school and graduate school as hopes for a career-not because they are actually passionate about those career choices. By contrast, those taking non-traditional majors for pre-med, have to be very organized individuals. They are completing all of the requirements for their primary major as well as excelling in all of the premed science courses and MCATs. In my years on med admission committees, I’ve noticed these individuals also tend to have very high levels of relevant extracurricular activities.</p>

<p>Therefore by definition, these students who are able to excel in two very different fields are quite likely to do well in anything they apply themselves to. In addition, they add diversity of experience to the medical profession. All in all this makes these over-achievers outstanding candidates for medical school.</p>