Hi, I am a freshman at a community college planning on transferring to a 4-year college next fall but I’m torn between two universities. I am a Biomedical Science major so I understand how UAB would be the most logical pick of the two but I’ve always wanted to go to Auburn and I feel like I’d have a better experience there and I feel more comfortable there, it’s also where most of my friends are going. I’m worried if I go to auburn, that I will have a hard time getting into medical school, but I was told if I graduate from UAB they will pay for my residency?? I’m not sure if that’s true, but it’s one of the main reasons I even consider UAB because I don’t want a lot of student dept. I have also been struggling really bad to get my ACT score up to transfer to UAB but if I transfer to Auburn, my ACT score doesn’t matter. I really need advice, and my parents aren’t really helping because they just say UAB because it’s closer but that doesn’t matter to me. SOS!!
- Contact/visit UAB and talk to their pre med counselor.
- Research what it takes to get into med school. You will need to ace a standardize test (MCAT), so you need to solve your ACT problem.
- What is your plan if you don't get into medical school? Do not go to the Caribbean...
My wife is a doctor. In residency, she was paid. It is my understanding that medical interns and residents are paid (not much) no matter where they match. The pay in residency does not compare to the pay out of residency. That being said, UAB has a medical school. Auburn does not.
I’m not sure what I’d do if I didn’t get into medical school… I don’t really have a back up plan. And how will getting my ACT score up affect my MCAT?
If you have difficulty with standardized exams, you will need to do a lot of work on your test-taking skills and strategies before you attempt the MCAT. Good test-taking skills and strategies will help you do better on the ACT now, so get some help with figuring out what is holding you back. Don’t try to do it all alone with a test-prep book. Talk with the people at the tutoring center at your CC.
Visit both universities. Meet with the pre-med advisors. Apply to both places. See where you are admitted and what your aid packages look like. Then decide.
Your ACT will not impact your MCAT. They are two separate tests. The only possible correlation is test preparation strategies, but given the time between the two, even that could change. If you are set on being a medical doctor, then you should focus on reducing undergraduate debt and cost. Conversely, you should focus on ensuring that you have a high GPA in your undergraduate degree and prepare for the MCAT. Taking that into consideration, where would you do better, UAB, Auburn, or another school? Only you have the answer for that. Save your money for medical school.