<p>I am a Junior and trying to educate myself on what I need to do to get where I want. I would like to become a doctor in some specialized area (although I haven't found my passion yet - my new baby brother has Spina Bifida and so neurology may be interesting). Academically I have a 4.0 and continue to be top in my class, am highly involved in athletics, student gov., newspaper,UIL medalist,community service etc. My undergrad school options are some what limited by my parents (knowing they love me I need to choose within certain perameters). I'll only be 17 when I graduate and they want me to either attend a school within the state of Texas or a more conservative school affiliated with the Church of Christ. I have been leaning heavily toward Rice University to do my undergrad degree. Hopefully, my chances of getting in are good if my SAT/ACT scores are high. Is Rice difficult? I feel so ignorant. I enjoy school and have never really found it that difficult. Living in a small town of only 5000 people has me doubting my abilities in a larger pond. After reading a few strings on getting admitted to medical school - Would I be better off going to a smaller private church school like Ohio Valley University in West Virginia where I feel confident that I could achieve a 4.0 GPA? Would Rice be better? Or should I just live at home, save lots of money and go to UTArlington? Med school is my goal - what's my best bet?</p>
<p>With your record of achievement, apply to Rice and see how much merit aid they will offer. I would also apply to some other schools in Texas, such as UT-Austin...I'm not familiar with UT Arlington.</p>
<p>You can then weigh award packages and decide where to go.</p>
<p>The world is your oyster and you'll reach your goals no matter what school you decide to attend.</p>
<p>Getting into medical school will depend on your grades, acheivements and ambition more so than what undergrad school you go to.</p>
<p>If you really knew you were going to medical school, there might be an argument for a cheap, easier school, but most people who plan on medical school never end up going. Many change their interests during college, others realize it's hopeless based on grades or MCATs. and even among those who apply, half don't get in. With that in mind, you should definitely choose a great school like Rice, which leaves more options.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rice.edu/rice-baylor.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.rice.edu/rice-baylor.html</a></p>
<p>hey, I just wanted to say hello and whats u[</p>
<p>Rice would be great if you do well. Med schools in Texas easiest in country for admission if you are Texas resident. (If anyone wants, I can back this up with a listing of undergrad gpa's and MCAT scores at Texas med schools.) A 3.5 from Rice and a good, but not even great, MCAT and you are in. Do not go to a weak undergrad school; go to the best college you can. A 4.0 from a mediocre school will never be as good as a 3.5 from a good school. In addition, you would be banking on the 4.0 as well as giving up the other great advantages of the good degree, good education, and good experience.</p>
<p>Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that medical schools don't really care which undergrad you go to, as long as you get a 4.0 or almost 4.0. That's why you can go to a good state school and get a 4.0 there and still be able to go to a prestigious med school, if you wanted.</p>
<p>For example, JHU med school doesn't even consider any applicant without a certain GPA (I believe it's 3.9, but not completely sure) and even if you have a Harvard degree and 3.7 GPA they won't even consider you. </p>
<p>I just feel that medical schools are a real stickler for high GPAs and MCAT scores...but that's just me. School name does not carry as much weight as the GPA does, but I think this is different if you were applying to business or law grad schools, for example. <em>shrug</em></p>
<p>"For example, JHU med school doesn't even consider any applicant without a certain GPA (I believe it's 3.9, but not completely sure) and even if you have a Harvard degree and 3.7 GPA they won't even consider you."</p>
<p>That couldn't be more wrong. Last time I checked, the average GPA to Hopkins Med was something like a 3.7 meaning that half of the admitted students had GPA lower than 3.7. Also, your undergraduate school does matter.</p>
<p>Really? Hm, thanks for the information. </p>
<p>Can you elaborate more on what areas medical schools place an emphasis on then? GPA or school name?</p>
<p>^ If you were getting your degree from a diploma mill such as University of Phoenix, then I'd be worried. If you have strong credentials from a private university or a state public, the name is not going to matter.</p>
<p>For med school go to the best name school, with the most undergrad focus, with the most inflation. I personally think HYP, Stanford, Duke, Brown, Amherst, Williams, and Dartmouth fit this profile pretty well.</p>
<p>As for the OP. I would absolutely try to go to Rice if I were you.</p>
<p>The best school to be a pre-med at is the one that is the best school for you period. </p>
<p>In other words, remove your medical school aspirations from the equation when looking for an undergrad school. Instead focus on a school that you LOVE; a place that you're going to happy at for the 4 or 5 years you're there; a school that has the right balance for you socially, academically, physically, and emotionally.</p>
<p>That's it, bottom line, indisputable. Med schools care about WHAT you did, not WHERE you did it.</p>
<p>I'll admit I might be out of date, and the physicians I know are now middle-aged, but I know a lot of MDs, including radiologists, neurologists, dermatologists, and cardiologists, and many of them went to mid-level public universities for undergrad. or little regional LACs you have probably never heard of. Some are in private practice now, some are on the faculty of the State Medical School (at flagship U). They live nice lives. Most are not famous, if that matters to you. They were all top students where they went to school. Furthermore, quite a few have advised their own children--who hope to attend med school eventually--to attend our state flagship (mid-level rank), rather than a top private, in order to save money for medical school.</p>
<p>Not ALL are sending their kids to public U. Others think it worth the extra money to have a non-large public overall college experience, but I haven't talked to one who thought his/her kid could not get into medical school if she/he went to state flagship public instead.</p>
<p>Sushi15, you sound like the kind of person who would do well at Rice or at any good school. They say that it is important to go to a school that has a premed advisor, and preferably a good one. Rice and UT Austin certainly have one, but if you decide on a smaller church related school, be sure to check on that.</p>
<p>so it would be better to go to an undergrad school in which i know i would do well in--an easier school in other words--if i know that i am not a top, top student?
i was thinking of applying to those prestigious colleges, such as jhu and rice, but decided not to because i didnt think that i would be at the top of my class...
thanks</p>
<p>Apply where ever you'll be happiest.</p>
<p>Point is you do not need to be top of class at top school, just good student (though there will be a gpa, around 3.3 or so, that you would find hard to overcome though not impossible.) More of a roll of dice to project before even attending that you will be at very, very top at mediocre school and one of few who goes on. Your flagship state u or similar might be a good compromise if it regularly feeds into the state's med schools. Check it out. The information is available.</p>