<p>There is an explicit writing component to every HUM course. It actually appears as a separate course on one’s transcript, although it doesn’t receive additional credit or a grade separate from the HUM (I think).</p>
<p>Now, you don’t need to take more than two quarters of HUM, so I suppose there could be an issue with a medical school that wanted to see a year-long expository writing course. Many people take three quarters of HUM anyway. I’ve never heard of someone having a problem with this – honestly, it’s pretty funny to think of a medical school questioning whether a Chicago undergraduate had done enough writing. That’s REALLY not an issue!</p>
<p>seadog.overseas: I suggest you to ignore both newmassdad and me and just simply talk to your adviser and CCIHP and upperclassmen (and your own professors!) when you get here. At least that was what I did; I just went to CCIHP and my adviser (and talked to my honor chemistry prof from last quarter). I can give you contact information for a couple of people at CCIHP if you wish. They do know about the differences between med school and PhD admissions.</p>
<p>In terms of research opportunities, UChicago is the place. I actually found a research opportunity in the hospital during my first week here. So far, it has been the best learning experience I have ever had. I think you’re going to love this place.</p>
<p>Follow-up: After doing some research, I found out that some science PhD programs do require you to be in the sciences, whereas others (like Harvard), follow the medical school admissions route (just fulfill prerequisites), so do your research before you apply for graduate school and see the requirements for the particular graduate schools you are interested in. However, all require extensive research experiences. Best of luck!</p>
<p>@seadog.overseas: pre-meds are required to take 3 quarters of HUMA. it’s not an option. </p>
<p>CCHIP is very mediocre. Don’t bother with it. </p>
<p>One reason why there are less UChicago students at top med schools might be that there are less pre-meds here to begin with, compared to other schools. People generally are more interested in research than medicine. Even a lot of pre-meds are really shooting for MD/PhDs.</p>
<p>As a current student at UofC, Cue7 is right on pretty much every point raised. For other posters, if you are not a student here or do not have close ties to the school, I don’t see how you can comment on this place being a ‘great premed’ school, because it isn’t. As an example, almost half of my friends who were premed are no longer, after gen chem for the most part or after second quarter ochem. The reason? Because the curve here is atrocious and classes are difficult. Unless you spend all of your time studying, then getting that 3.7 is pretty much impossible. Add to the extremely rigorous core classes (the average grade for Sosc is so that 30-50% of the class gets a B-) and students don’t have time to pursue extra-curriculars. I am not saying that UofC is a bad place. On the contrary, people who do well here as premeds are guaranteed to get into top medical schools. And if you are interested in research, then this is the place for you. But please be aware that even getting a 3.4-3.5 here requires MAJOR studying and time management, and I’m not sure if its worth it especially if you have to sacrifice so much. Other top schools do a better job and the premed advising people are horrible. So, if you are coming here as a premed, be prepared to work like you never have before.</p>
<p>The working like you’ve never worked before hasn’t changed too much: 40 years ago all it took to reduce the 450 premeds to about 100 at my state’s Flagship U was 3 quarters of General Chemistry and 2 quarters of Organic Chemistry (just as Dr. Baxter, aka Dr. ■■■■■■■, predicted on the first lecture).</p>
<p>J’adoube - my only problem with your analysis is that, outside of maybe one or two flagship state universities (Berkeley, maybe a UVa or Michigan), the average Chicago student (1400+ SATs, superb grades, etc.) probably has the drive and intelligence needed to become a doctor. Chicago though, seems to go through yet another round of very rigorous weeding (after the admissions process) for an undergrad’s first couple years at the school. </p>
<p>I guess that’s what I never quite got at Chicago. In terms of pure intellectual horsepower, especially now, you have a group of probably the top 5% of students in america. Is med school really that demanding that it merits ANOTHER round of weeding (outside of admissions) that makes, say, 40% of potential pre-meds at Chicago drop out in frustration? </p>
<p>On another note, as the Chicago student population becomes wealthier and the post-bacc programs gain notoriety, I’d recommend that students intent on pre-med at least think about coming to Chicago, then enjoying the veritable intellectual feast that awaits them, and then do a post-bacc program at Bryn Mawr or Goucher to fulfill the pre-med requirements. </p>
<p>Pre-med anywhere is difficult, and it’s good for students to know all of their options.</p>
<p>Woah, asli10. I’m a first year, so you probably know more than me, but I wouldn’t say it’s near impossible to maintain a 3.4-3.5 here. The majority of my friends (many in honors sequences, etc.) have really decent GPAs. Yes, it is work, but it’s not mind-numbingly hard. I think the curve in my honors science class couldn’t have been too terrible, because I was around the middle and still got a good grade.</p>