<p>I was recently accepted to Washington University in St Louis as a transfer for sophomore year. I have every intention of going to medical school and I am weighing the pros and cons of this transfer. </p>
<p>Are the pre-med courses at WU as hard as people make them out to be? I know GPA is a huge factor for med schools and I am very worried that a couple of B's in the hard classes will bring down my science GPA. Why would the university make their classes so difficult if it is renowned for the sciences? Is it possible to maintain good grades in a science major without selling my soul?</p>
<p>I am very discontent with the school I am at currently but worry that by transferring, while I know I'll have a much better undergrad experience, the chances of getting into the med schools I want to will decline. WashU seems to be a perfect fit in every aspect but I want to know I am not jeopardizing my career before I decide to attend.</p>
<p>I'm a firm believer in the idea that if you're happier, you'll perform better. If your current school isn't a good fit, then transferring is a good idea.</p>
<p>The one thing in your post I wish to correct is this "the chances of getting into the med schools I want to will decline" statement. Are you saying that there are medical schools that if you were accepted, you'd turn down, skip a year, and reapply to others? I tend to think that's not the case, but if it is, I think you need a serious readjustment in your priorities. I know of very few people who tell others "I want to be a __________ Medical School graduate" instead of "I want to be a doctor".</p>
<p>To Bigredmed-
I feel the same that I'll perform better where I'm most happy, which is why I'm pretty sure I'll be matriculating at WU. I guess I should have been more articulate when talking about med school "chances". </p>
<p>I know this topic has been discussed over and over, but I still am weary about the 'lower GPA at a higher ranked school vs. higher GPA at an easier school' debate. Where I attend isn't much of an issue compared to just getting accepted by any med schools. My fear lies in my desire to have choices in the school I pick rather than being stuck at the only one I got accepted to, (which really isn't a bad situation). Until now, I was forced to go to my undergrad school having no alternatives, and so I hope to have the security of control and the ability to have options in med schools.</p>
<p>The problem is that most people "get stuck" with medical school admissions as well. When more than half the applicants in a given year get rejected from EVERY single school they apply to, just getting in is the important goal. And in the end, what medical school you go to isn't that important unless you're looking to go into academic medicine (and even then, it's not an absolute vital element). Moreover, considering the great expense of medical education, it's a pretty easy argument that no matter what kind of medicine you wish to go into, the best option (and smartest choice) is to go to your in-state medical school regardless of prestige because it'll save you thousands and thousands of dollars in tuition compared to an OOS or private med school experience - a cost that any difference in quality of education is not likely to represent a worthwhile expenditure. </p>
<p>To sum it up briefly, you're making much too big an issue about this idea of "control".</p>
<p>Why do you necessarily need to get a lower GPA at a higher ranked school? My GPA at Cornell was only 0.05 lower than my high school GPA. Try as you may, you can't predict your GPA until you actually start taking the classes. There is a great deal of uncertainty in the application process especially when many med schools receive 75 applications per seat. You can only do your best and hope for the best.</p>
<p>I'm a premed at Wash U. Second semester of freshman year. The science classes are tough- no multiple choice, hard grading, every problem requires thinking. The means for my last 2 chemistry tests have been 51 and 56, respectively. I worked pretty hard first semester and managed to pull off a 4.0, but this semester is pretty tough and I don't know how I'll wind up doing.</p>
<p>However, it is very fulfilling and I feel like I have a much better understanding of the fundamentals of science (3 hours lecture + 2 hours PLTL(optional but most people do it) + 1 hour recitation + 1 hour lab lecture + 4 hours of lab + 2 hours self studying = easily at least 13 hours of just chemistry a week!) So Wash U really prepares you well in science courses, weaklings drop out and transfer into business (just kidding!).</p>
<p>Having a kid who's just finishing WashU (admitted to several medical schools), one thing you're missing, crixx, is that there is much more than just a GPA involved, and WashU has a great deal to offer you. They have excellent pre-med advising. You are required to work on a draft personal statement for your application early in your Junior year, and it's reviewed by at least two people, which puts you in great shape to apply early with a strong application. You'll come to see how important this is. The have a class called MedPrep that provides lectures on what the profession is like and shadowing opportunites at Barnes. There are also research opportunities at Barnes, which is easy to get to, and one of the country's great hospitals. They provide mock interviews to get you ready for med school interviews. I believe, but I'm not sure, they are now offering an in-house MCAT prep class. There is a great deal more to your future application than GPA, and WashU aggresively offers help in all of those areas.</p>
<p>Mythreesons is right on about stuff outside of academics. Wash U Med School is close and there are tons of opportunities there. You can find research by yourself, or there are Wash U courses that will hook you up. Same with shadowing doctors. Wash U offers a course where you can actually go to the ER once every couple of weeks and watch. Aside from that, apparently advising is great. As a freshman, I have not yet talked to a specific pre-med advisor, but I hear they are very helpful.</p>
<p>Well about the selling your soul part....yes. but in the end I would say that it is worth it. I am a second semester freshman at Wash U. I would suggest that you transfer here but you CANNOT underestimate it here. My current roommate just transfered here from a state school and he is pretty much failing all his classes because he came in thinking it was gonna be a breeze just like his previous school. As a premed, theatre major I would say that if you have other interests than just premed you can do it but be prepared to study tons as well as not sleep much (hopefully 3-4 hours a night is enough for you). But if you want to have one of the best premed educations in the nation then come here. And also remember, all the statistics about average GPAs and stuff include people admitted from state schools and such. I would say that some of the higher GPAs come from them and the lower GPAs may come from schools such as Wash U. Med school admissions councils realize the intensity of a Wash U education (hopefully) and make decisions accordingly. I would say come here but be willing as well as ready to work!</p>
<p>Difficult is specific to each student. If you can do something, chances are it's "easy" for you. For instance, my lowest two grades in college came in the two history classes I had to take. I never found my science/music/english classes that difficult, but history killed me.</p>
<p>D is presently a freshman PNP/German major taking the premed prereqs planning on medical school. She was a NMF, val of her hs, etc. and chose WashU because she wanted a challenge. Well, she has been challenged to the max! She got the first B of her life in Chemistry last semester despite spending more time on chem than all of her other classes combined (which she received A's in). Her premed advisor saw the B and said, "I bet that hurt" - it sure does when it is your first and you have worked your tail off! Lollybo is right about the HUGE number of in-class chem hours you will have, but my D probably spent more than 2 hours A DAY studying chem, not a week! She basically studies or goes to classes all 16-18 hours a day, and she is okay with that. I will also mention that she came from a VERY mediocre, public high school with just two AP courses (none in the sciences - not even honors courses in the sciences). She is working extremely hard, but wouldn't change it for the world. We have a running joke - when yet another science test has knocked the wind out of her I e-mail, "Is that place beating you up too much - wouldn't you like to come back and go to StateU for free?" Her answer is always, NO I wouldn't like to go to StateU, thank you very much!! I have talked to other WashU premed grads who have had excellent luck getting into schools. They all say WashU was grueling, but well worth it in the end. Mythree sons is exactly right - the place runs like a well-oiled machine. If you are one the premed tract, they watch out for you. A partner of my husband who went to undergrad at WashU said he was so disappointed at how his medical school was run after coming from WashU.</p>
<p>There is also a joke around WashU that no undergraduates from WashU get into WashU med school because of the grade deflation associated with such difficult classes. Not true - one of D's friends at WashU was just accepted there!</p>
<p>WUSTL Med generally gets about 10% of its students from its own undergrad school. A quick perusal of mdapplicants suggests that they favor their own.</p>
<p>As a WashU student the sentiments I overhear concerning getting into the med school is fairly negative. Many do not view it as an option unless they do very well on their MCATS. </p>
<p>I dropped out of engineering into the business school btw. IMHO the ease of the classes has a lot to do with the teachers and availability of resources to study (all business class notes are online).</p>