UMich vs. UGA

So I recently received my acceptance letter from the University of Michigan. I was ecstatic. UMich is my dream school and I’ve been working for the past 4 years to get in. I love everything about it, the academics, the atmosphere, the location–just not the price. The tuition alone is over 40k, and although my parent are helping cover some of the price, I would still be left with debt. And with dreams of going to medical school, it’s best to play it safe financially. I was also accepted to the University of Georgia with a scholarship that allows me to attend with little financial worry. I like UGA enough, just not to the same extent. I would be a OOS for both.

Here’s my dilemma. I want to major in Art and Biology and hope to attend medical school eventually, most likely in primary care. While UGA is a strong school I haven’t heard too much about their biology major. I worry that going to a school not as strong or focused in the medical field could result in a lack of opportunities that other colleges could provide. Have any of you heard much about UGA’s biology major?

I also wonder if I were to do well at UGA and get a strong MCAT score would I still be able to attend more competitive or prestigious Medical Schools? (Such as Michigan, Johns Hopkins, UNSF, etc.) I’ve heard that undergraduate school doesn’t always matter when applying to graduate school, but I worry that having less opportunities could make it harder to stand out as a student.

You will be fine if you keep high grades and MCATs good from UGa. No worries.

UMich is a grade deflation school, or perhaps an aggressive weeder!

Plus your stress level with less debt is a huge benefit. I have a kid at UM, so I would try to talk you into Michigan if I thought it would be better for you. But in this case, I think you will be better off in many ways a UGa:)

You will have enough debt when you go to medical school. You don’t need to add any more in undergrad.

Go to UGA and save the money. Michigan offers no real benefits for what you want to study.

“I’ve heard that undergraduate school doesn’t always matter when applying to graduate school, but I worry that having less opportunities could make it harder to stand out as a student.”

Does UGA have a medical school in Athens? If not, that is one “real benefit” that Michigan provides. Sometimes paying a premium to attend a better school does pay off.

UGA has a partnership with Augusta University for a medical campus in Athens.

http://medicalpartnership.usg.edu