UA, UAB, or Emory Pre-Med?

College Search & Selection
1

Hello all and thank you for helping me out,

I currently a high school junior that attends a competitive high school in TN and was thinking ahead about college. I have always been interested in being a physician, so I have been doing research on colleges that seem to be my best option. I have three colleges in mind when it comes to Pre-Med: UA, UAB, and Emory. I understand that Medical Schools don’t really care about school rank and love the GPA. I believe that I can get the highest GPA at the UAs and will get a fair amount of money for going to those schools. However, Emory seems like the perfect place to have a pre-med “environment” with the connections to the field having a medical school on campus as well as the CDC. My family is willing to pay for Emory as long as we can get around 50% scholarship. Which college do you all believe is the best place to go?

My family is upper middle class. GPA(uw): 4.0, GPA(w): 4.66. ACT: 34

2

What does Emory’s net price calculator say?

Of course, getting into Emory is not a sure thing.

At UA, a 36 ACT will get you a better scholarship than your current 34, assuming you maintain a 4.0 GPA on your transcript.

3

In your opinion, regardless of money, which would be better for pre-med? UAB or UA?

4

Hi! I’ve gotton into UA and UAB - both with scholarships and waiting on Emory rn…

If you were to go Pre-Med I would say Emory, and it depends on what major too. I plan on majoring in Neuroscience so UAB would be a better fit for me as UA doesn’t have Neuroscience. SO SCARED FOR EMORY’S DECISION!

5

Haha good luck on Emory! I heard they’re neuro/behavioral bio program is amazing.

6

My son was premed at UA and went to med school at UAB, so if you have any questions, I can answer them. The medical center is on the same street.

As for neuroscience and Bama…while Bama doesn’t have that major, many have used the New College option at Bama to create that major on their own. Something to consider.

If you’re serious about going to med school, I would choose the school where I could get the best GPA.

Are you expecting merit aid or need based aid? I don’t think you’d get much/any merit scholarship from Emory and your upper middle class family won’t qualify for need based aid. Did you run the net price calculator on Emory’s website?

7

Pre-med
If you want to go pre-med then think about:

  1. The cheapest reasonable college so you/your parents can use the money for med school
  2. The college needs to prepare you for MCATs but still allow you to get a good GPA
  3. Access to volunteering opportunities (e.g., near a hospital)
  4. Success in graduates getting into med school
  5. Options if you don’t go to med school
1 Like
8

As a smaller and less selective alternative to Emory, take a look at Rhodes. Its largest scholarships cover about half of the cost of attendance, and it’s excellent for the sciences.

9

@mom2collegekids
Hi! Just noticed your post about UAB. I have a daughter that’s been accepted and planning on majoring in Neuroscience on a premed track. She was also accepted at Tulane, which is her top choice. She seems to be reluctant to UAB because it doesn’t have that small college campus feel. Since your son goes there, any recommendations you could provide so I can attempt to get her to revisit UAB. The costs between Tulane and UAB is significant and I am encouraging her to save the money for med school. I know your son attends med school but just thought you may some info regarding undergraduates. Thanks in sdvance!