I’ve been admitted to a plethora of colleges but the two I’ve wittled it down to are UCSD and VTech. I’m planning to apply to medical school with a concentration in neuroscience. For UCSD I will be a Neurobiology major and at VTech I will be a Nanomedicine Major. I plan to tack on a Literature major as well to whichever one I end up going to.
My dilemma is that I like UCSD because it has a high admit rate to USF med school. But VTech has a Nanomedicine major that no other college I know has which would help me stand out in med school applications.
I like both campuses though I think I lean more toward VTech’s castle-like architecture, but Cali has the better weather and a city near by with many more hospitals for research.
Which one will help me better prepare for medical school?
Whichever one costs less, is located more conveniently for pre-med extracurriculars and travel to medical school interviews, and is more grade inflated relative to student strength.
It is possible that a different college in your plethora of colleges fits these criteria better than the two you named.
The other colleges I was accepted to haven’t offered the finicanial aid I need or didn’t click with me when I toured. I was accepted to 2 Ivy Leagues but I didn’t get any scholarships and the aid wasn’t enough. UCSD and VTech are the only two at this point that offer what I need and that I truly like. At this point it’s just a game of which of these two will benefit me the most for med school.
Not being close to NC doesn’t bother me. My main concern is which one will be best for me in applying to medical school later on. UCSD - with one of the most prestigious neuroscience programs and best research facility, or VTech - with a obscure degree in Nanomedicine that might give me a leg up in med school applications seeing as it is a unique degree.
I would go with UCSD. Although the major at VT is obscure, it really won’t make that much of a difference. You want to be able to have as many opportunities for research in undergrad for your resume, which you say UCSD has better research facilities. I’m a current UCSD student on the premed track, so feel free to ask me anything about the school.
I can’t see any med school caring one way or the other. They’ll care about your MCAT score, your GPA, and what you’ve done for ECs during your college years.
You say you require financial aid. I find it hard to believe there is no school in NC where you could obtain a bachelor’s degree and take your premed requirements. It is to your benefit to graduate debt free. You can major in anything that you would like but keep in mind you need a plan B if your initial plan doesn’t work out. Would you be employable if med school doesn’t work out for you with your undergrad degree and be able to pay off any debt that you incur? Did you not apply to any instate school? Did you consider UNC? If eventually you do get into med school will your family be able to financially support you?
College is costly and using criteria as castle like structure and weather are not the primary criteria to be used when looking at the path to medicine. The impression you’ve given is that you are looking for a school that will give you a benefit or edge and don’t seem to realize that your success is dependent on your ability and how hard you are willing to work to be successful in achieving your goal. Attending a specific school doesn’t guarantee admission to med school because it all depends on your effort.
There is more than one path to a career in medicine. There are smart students that can’t afford to go away to college and attend the local commuter school because it’s most cost effective. It they are dedicated and take the responsibility for making themselves a strong applicant they can be in a good position to apply to medical school.
Both schools you have mentioned are quite expensive for out of state residents who need some financial aid. Did you apply to a safety school? One that you can fully afford and would be happy to attend. You may need to look at your list again and reconsider some of the other schools that have accepted you.