Background: I am interested in Neuroscience research and my aim is to go for an MD/Ph.D.
I have previously posted about choosing between Oberlin, Reed, and Kenyon. On checking the financial aid, however, I see that UAB - the University of Alabama at Birmingham has offered a great merit package which will cost me 1/3 of what it will cost me at the other 3 colleges. Also, they have offered me an honors program where I can start research in my freshman year and early admission to masters which would mean completing my Master’s along with my bachelor’s.
Finances are not the only criteria so I am here to get feedback on UAB vs SLACs ( I am visiting them so will decide which one in the next 2 weeks).
Please let me know your thoughts on what you would do and appreciate your reasoning for your decision.
Either route can work (SLAC or big state school). MD/PhD programs are difficult to get into and require long time commitment. Limiting cost is always good if looking for training beyond the bachelors degree. Oberlin, Reed and Kenyon have good track records for supporting undergraduate research and placing students in graduate and professional programs. Getting into MD/PhD programs generally requires published undergraduate research, preferably first author, along with a strong academic record. Kenyon has a nice program where you can write a proposal and get it funded for summer work which is a nice element to put on your resume showing your potential for later graduate school productivity.
One upside of UAB is proximity to a med school and relative ease in getting shadowing time for a Med school application. I think having access to research at a medical school affiliated program tends to make the work more relevant for MD/PhD programs since it will be NIH funded in most cases and UAB is a MSTP site.
Beyond the style of the colleges you are considering, you also may want to consider their academic levels. As this goes, you appear to be considering schools across two distinctly separate academic tiers.