<p>Hey guys. I was wondering about what the merits of going to a top school for pre-med were. For example, whats the point of going to Cornell, or UChicago, or even Georgetown for pre-med when you can save tons of cash and go to your state school? Also, if you are bright/hardworking enough to get into a top school, it would be much easier for you to excel at your state school and get that high GPA that everyone wants.</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on the benefits/detriments of going to a top school vs. going to a state school if you plan on doing pre-med?</p>
<p>^ Second the previous post. I especially like BDM’s ten steps guide.</p>
<p>Wonder whether this has been mentioned there. Depending on your parents’ income and assets and which top school you get into, going to some top college may not necessarily cost your family much more. Not all “top” schools are created equal even though many of them claim that they offer need-based scholarship.</p>
<p>No matter which school you attend, you need to excel there. The only difference may be that you need to be in the top X percents at one school, or in the top Y percents at another school. Maybe the lower tiered your school is, the attrition rate in the prereq classes may be higher. In other word, if a school does not weed out students at the time of college admission, they weed out the students in the freshman or sophomore year – and many students find the college classes are so much harder at such a school than the classes in their high schools (if their high school is not one of those magnet high school whose admission rate is in the low single digit percents.)</p>
<p>Post #5 is absolutely correct and I do not base it strictly on my D’s experience. I heard from plenty of top caliber High schoolers who end up going to state publics for various reasons, primarily to save money. Nope, not easy at all, not even for valedictorians (straingt A kids) from the most rigorous private prep. High Schools in a region, the ones that have students traveling every day from other states. And there are plenty of these kids in state public Honors colleges, in fact, it looked like D’s Honor’s college had primarily valedictorians with very high SAT / ACT</p>
<p>My state school is pretty good (ranked around 60th-70th maybe). The difference in any top school and my state school (barring merit scholarships; I also won’t qualify for fin aid), will probably be around 30-35k per year. I just don’t see the benefits to paying an extra 120-140k when Med school and the immense cost that comes with it is right around the corner. Now, I get the “curve will be much worse” argument, but I feel like that is simply because at ivies and other top schools, there are more “top” students admitted. Thus, at state schools, they need to weed out the students not at the necessary caliber through harsh curves.
But if I can survive the curves, wouldn’t going to state school be a better idea. I never understood why people went to expensive schools (like UChicago for example) with the intent of doing pre-med. It doesn’t seem like a fiscally prudent decision.</p>
<p>*My state school is pretty good (ranked around 60th-70th maybe). The difference in any top school and my state school (barring merit scholarships; I also won’t qualify for fin aid), will probably be around 30-35k per year. I just don’t see the benefits to paying an extra 120-140k when Med school and the immense cost that comes with it is right around the corner. </p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Sounds like your state school is IU or similar? </p>
<p>You’ve gotten into G’town, so your stats may get you some merit at a school that’s ranked in the 60-70s. </p>
<p>The fact that you won’t get any aid for G’town could be an issue IF that is an issue for your parents. What are they saying? Can they easily pay for G’town and also help pay for med school? If not, then consider your state school…especially if it gives you merit.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Now, I get the “curve will be much worse” argument, but I feel like that is simply because at ivies and other top schools, there are more “top” students admitted. Thus, at state schools, they need to weed out the students not at the necessary caliber through harsh curves. *</p>
<p>I agree. While you will still have to work hard for you A’s at a good state school, if you’re in the top 25% at the school, you’re less likely going to get weeded out IF YOU DO YOUR JOB.</p>
<p>My argument for “the “top” students admitted.” is that you do not care in your Honors class who in general is admitted to your UG. My D. in her Honors classes had the kids who would be accepted to many top colleges, but they simply did not apply. My D. did not apply, she did not see any reasons for applying to Ivy / Elite. She graduted #1 from the most rigorous private HS in our region (not just our city) and she decided to pursue applying to combined bs/md programs instead of top UGs. She was accepted to 3 bs/md programs all at state public schools in our state. She has chosen the one that really matched her personality and wide range of interests and still keep saying (currently 3rd year Med. Student) that she has chosen the best UG for herself. She was there on full tuition Merit award which has opened opportunity for us to foot her Medical School.<br>
Again, my example may not work for you. The key is that the UG you choose has to fit your personally. Keep in mind that it is 4 very important years of your life and you better be happy with your choice.</p>