<p>I've read the posts by many of the members and I realize that acceptance into medical school does not depend as much on where you go to undergraduate school, as your GPA and MCAT scores. However, I am also aware that many schools boast "strong premedical courses of study" such as Boston University, where I am currently. I'm a freshman, class of 2010, and I have been wondering about my options about transfering to another university. I have been discouraged from doing this because of BU's "excellent" premedical program, however I feel as though this is just not the right school for me to attend. I was wondering if anyone had any knowledge on comparing the undergraduate premedical program at Tufts University with that of Boston University. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>If you feel that it's not the right place for you, then by all means, transfer. Don't be stuck in a place where you are not happy.</p>
<p>That said, I think that you should not worry about the pre-med program at the school that you transfer to. I think focusing on that is likely what got you into your current predicament. </p>
<p>Focus instead on fit, and finding the absolute best place for you (regardless of the supposed quality of pre-med program), and you'll be happier, and likely more productive with better grades (which in turn makes for it's own "wonderful" pre-med program")</p>
<p>True, I feel as though I would be happier at Tufts, however, I really do not want to sacrifice something that could be beneficial to me in the long run. I am getting good grades at BU and I feel as though I could also get good grades at Tufts as well. I just wanted to know about the benefits of one premed course as opposed to the other.</p>
<p>BlueDevilMike will tell you that I"m fond of saying "excelling is a panacea".</p>
<p>The fact of the matter is that your school is overall a rather insignificant part of your application to med school. </p>
<p>What exactly does "an excellent pre-med program" mean? Is it that the courses are well taught? That there are good advisors? Lots of tutoring available? Lots of people get into medical school? A school-sponsored MCAT review course? </p>
<p>My feeling is, a college advertising that they are excellent for pre-med doesn't really mean much. The application process is an examination of your accomplishments and potential. There is no college in the country that will prevent you from getting into medical school if you take care the things that you can control. Does that mean that there are no differences between schools in helping you get in? No, but the ways in which a school is most likely to help you are not easily identifiable from an outsider - things like great advisors, a dedicated program to get undergraduates involved in research, volunteering opportunities, and so on. But going to a school that doesn't offer such things or at least doesn't advertise them, doesn't mean that these things can't be found with a little effort almost everywhere.</p>
<p>All that said, the bottom line is that you should not choose a college based on how much you think it will help you get into medical school. It's just not a smart move for many many reasons.</p>
<p>Thanks BigRedMed. I just wanted to get it out there that I'm not terribly unhappy here. I was just contemplating my options because I've heard many times from many people that I am in the right place to get into medschool. I was just wondering if Tufts was as much of a "right place" as BU is.</p>