<p>Since I know for sure I want to apply to Med School, would it be more sensible to go to a less cutthorat/less expensive college for undergrad, so that 1) my GPA will (most likely) be higher and 2) I'll have more money for Med School?</p>
<p>I come from a school where 15% of the graduating class go on to college. 15%. Needless to say, my school doesn't really prepare its students for any type of competitive environment in college, so I'm afraid that if I go to say, UChicago or Cornell, I'll fail because I haven't attained that hard work ethic needed to survive in a cutthroat atmosphere.</p>
<p>The irony is top colleges are often the easiest places to earn a high GPA. And it’s counter intuitive, but mid level state schools can be hard places to get high grades.</p>
<p>And there’s no sure thing where applying to med school is concerned. The majority who were sure in high school never apply to med school. Some get knocked out early with pre med courses they don’t do well in, others develop new interests, much will happen in the next 4 years, so your best strategy is probably to go to the best college you can get into and afford.</p>
<p>Really? I’ve always thought places such as Princeton/Columbia/UChicago/Cornell/JHU were incredibly cutthroat compared to a state school or lower-ranked schools like USC/Rice/Brown.</p>
<p>BTW, the reason I’m using these particular schools is because this is pretty much my list of college I was/am going to apply to.</p>
<p>First, brown is not lower ranked than your top tier.</p>
<p>The ivies are well known to have very high average GPAs. Harvard and Princeton have taken steps in recent years to become a bit tougher. Chicago is a work hard school with tougher grading (where fun goes to die as they say).</p>
<p>There is a certain calm and confidence you find at top private colleges. There are lots of wealthy and well connected kids and good alumni networks. The attitude is that everyone will do well so cutthroat competition isn’t necessary.</p>
<p>ah true true, usually it’s only the very best that get in. But my stats fall into the range of the top-tier colleges, and I’m afraid that if I do go to a college in the Top 10 or 20, then I won’t be able to survive because of my lax educational background. And, actually, a lot of Ivies have pretty low average GPAs (< 3.5), and so it’d be almost unrealistic to hope to be above average when people from Top 1000 high schools and competitive prep schools are the people I’m competing with for the curve…</p>
<p>Thus, would it be more beneficial for someone who hasn’t had a really rigorous high school academic career to go to a college with a less competitive atmosphere? And also from what I’ve heard from current students and friends at Princeton/Columbia/UChicago/Cornell/JHU, it’s pretty tough to get a really high GPA (3.75+) because of the super geniuses and overly aggressive GPA students and be a competitive candidate for Med School.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the top privates don’t weed as state school do. Weeding meaning they’re going to flunk a certain percentage of pre meds out. And because of money issues and wanting to stay in state, good state schools have lots of top students.</p>
<p>And don’t be so sure you can’t compete. You may have to work hard and use resources, but whatever you need will be there at top schools.</p>
<p>*I forgot to mention: My parents have told me that I may only apply to Top 20 schools (USNEWS rankings) and my state university as a safety school. They’re Asian parents who only look at USNEWs rankings, but I can’t argue because THEY are the ones paying for my college education. *</p>
<p>if I had a 2100 SAT I, 770 Math II, 690 U.S. History, 680 Biology. My GPA is a 5.2/4.0 W; my UW is unknown. My rank is 3/250, and I come from an extremely rural town (we have cows and farmland).</p>
<p>My parents are forcing me to apply ED to Rice University.</p>
<p>Is this all true?</p>
<p>Anyway… While top schools are known for some grade inflation, I don’t think you can ignore the cut-throat aspect amongst pre-med students who feel that they will be competing with each other for admission into top med schools as well.</p>
<p>Hah. USC curves their 1st and 2nd year science courses (general biology, biochem, molecular bio, gchem, ochem) to a 2.5 or so. only 15% of the students in a course get an A or A-.</p>
<p>ps: it’s hard to get a 3.75+ no matter where you attend. this isn’t high school where any competent student has a 3.7 UW or higher.</p>
<p>ah yes. @mom2collegekids that is true, but just in case I get deferred/rejected, then I’ll have more options </p>
<p>I understand pre-med is pretty much difficult anymore, but if I attend a difficult school and take pre-med, then that would be x2 difficult, and I’m not sure I want to take the chance and get a really sub-par GPA.
I’m pretty much just trying to narrow down my college list here, so I won’t have to apply to so many places.</p>
<p>Also, let’s say I do get into Rice ED. Even though I can’t get out of the binding agreement, I’m just wondering if any top Med Schools (out-of- state) would see a difference between Rice and, say, Harvard. I’ve heard they really only look at GPA, but do they factor in your undergrad school too? or is the difference between Rice and Harvard negligible?</p>
<p>Why not also look at the top 20 LACs? The class sizes tend to be smaller, weeding is less common and there is a level of social coherence often lacking in larger schools which makes competitive behaviors among students less acceptable. Also, the faculty are more accessible so it’s easier to get letters of recommendation not to mention the mentoring you may want? LACs also have research and internship opportunities for which you are not competing with graduate students and post docs. The downside (other than the fact that your parents may not have heard of these places) is that you have fewer classes to choose from and fewer majors, and the variety of research opportunities is smaller. Nevertheless, unless you are a potential MD/Phd, a LAC is a great place to go if you are pre-med.</p>
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