I’m currently a senior and I was accepted to these schools so far. I’m out of state for all of these, but I got 120,000 Scholarship and honors college from Tulane. Even with that, though, they are all roughly around the same price. I am going into premed, but money is not a huge factor right now. I’m more interested in people’s opinions on what school you would recommend for premed. I know everyone will say “save you money!!!” But please I’m not interested in that discussion right now. Just wanna know if people think one of these schools stands out for premed based off of opportunities and stuff. Thanks for any input!
Embarrassment of riches. Congratulations.
Break it down.
big public u. Michigan or UT
Mid size private’s BC or Tulane
Smaller almost LAC style. Richmond
Tough calls. Depends on personal preference at these levels. But if you can narrow to top three it makes it easier. I would choose one from the first two types. And compare to the small school option.
First of all, congratulations! They are all really hard schools to get into, so I think you did something right not only in your high school program but also in your applications.
Since they are all excellent schools, you need to decide according to where you will enjoy being and where you will thrive. So, please tell us, in descending order from 1 to 5, where 1 is the most important characteristic and 5 is the fifth most important characteristic to you, which characteristics of schools are most important to you? (e.g., climate, size, geographic area, urban/rural, community involvement, school spirit, etc.)
On that basis we can help you think through which one you might like the best. Of course, if money is not a consideration, you might be able to actually visit these places, which would be the best way to get a feel for them.
@privatebanker thanks for the help — I’ll try doing that
@NJDad68 thank you!! I have actually visited all of these so I can probably eliminate BC just based off of feel but characteristic wise it’d probably go
1 - community involvement
2 - school spirit
3 - size (more of a preference of getting to know teachers)
4 - climate (I’m from the midwest so… I’m used to the cold)
5 - urban (I don’t like down time lol)
@privatebanker also just want to apologize for coming off as snobby — that was not my intent. I am not of a wealthy family that will pay for any college I choose to go. I’ll have to take out loans. I just haven’t heard back about all financial aid yet and am curious about opinions before I look at the price tag.
If you are certain about your future as a physician, then any of those excellent options will serve you well. Medical schools do not care that much about where you go to college. They are more concerned with your GPA, MCAT results, personal statements, research experience, if any, etc…
Based on your priorities, I think BC, Michigan and UT are better fits than Richmond or Tulane, I cannot see how you can lose attending any of those 5 excellent institutions. Medical schools do not really care that much about which college you attend. They care more about GPA, MCAT scores, personal statements, extra curricular activities, research and publications, and medical internships. The college you attend is of secondary importance.
The only advice I, and most of us can give you, is to save as much money as possible. Medical school costs roughly $400k, so you want to save as much as possible in college.
I did not take it that way at all. Big high five on the success!
FWIW my d is freshman at BC. Classes are tough but profs are really good she says. She is in the new neuroscience program that will meld with the new integrated sciences school in a few years. It’s a popular premed track first years now have as an option.
Sounds like, with your list of what you want, maybe Michigan?
The only place that I know for sure you’d get small classes and close faculty interaction and good research opps is Richmond, bc there are only undergrads, and my S is there. It’s not urban though, and the spirit at a LAC school, even with D1 sports, won’t match Michigan. Richmond has its own free MCAT review class for premeds, and I loved their science faculty - smart, fun, personable.
Can you go to any accepted student days? That would help you.
Also, it’s very important for premed to get the highest GPA you can, so if it were me, I’d avoid any place that’s known to have grade deflation (I’d go to the cheapest and easiest if you can figure that out, since they’re all good schools).
I agree with the other posters who say that you cannot go wrong with any of these choices.
That being said, based on your criteria, here is a possible order of the degree to which those criteria apply:
Tulane checks all the boxes, especially the community involvement one. Tulane was the first school to require community service in order to graduate and community service forms an integral part of the undergraduate experience for all students. Tulane is also extremely high on school spirit, routinely being ranked as having at or near the top of “happiest students” polls.
BC is a close second. It also checks all of the boxes, especially since you don’t mind the cold. While I do not know BC to be branded as a community service school, at least not to the degree that Tulane is, I am sure that there are numerous opportunities to get involved in the Boston community.
Since school spirit is very important to you, I would put UM and UT ahead of Richmond, with UT having a slight advantage because it is more urban, being in the great city of Austin.
While Richmond comes out in fifth in this fairly off-the-cuff analysis, if you visit it and fall in love with it go there. You can’t go wrong and the school’s reputation keeps improving along with those of a number of prominent southern schools.
I am sure you will wind up in very good shape no matter what. Best of luck to you!
@havenoidea thanks for your insight — I definitely agree that Richmond will have small classes and access to research. I think I might go on an admitted student day there. Thanks for the help!!
@NJDad68 I definitely feel the same way about Tulane. Thanks for your help! I like the listing characteristics thing I think I’m going to use that to help make my decision.
Congratulations on your amazing options! I agree with @NJDad68 in that I wouldn’t rate Tulane low on the school spirit scale due to an apparent lack of big time rah-rah athletic programs (although they are actually nationally competitive several lower tier sports and are making big strides in football). Tulane’s school spirit is less tied to sports and more to the students’ enthusiasm for the school and environment. It’s a fun, positive place to be and the kids appreciate that as a counterbalance to the academic grind. It checks your other boxes as well unless you have your heart set on a cold, dark and dreary weather environment for four years.
My relative recently looked at some fine schools. She liked URichmond a lot from everything from the facilities, to the class she sat in on, to the people in general. She applied ED and will be attending.
DS is pre med (Bio Chemistry and Math double major) at Tulane, also Honors program. Wonderful school- he loves it there! One downside is that he hasn’t been able to get an Org Chem prof who speaks english as a first language. They have been very qualified professors but the language barrier made an already difficult class even harder. It isn’t deterring him though. IDK if you have looked into the creative acceptance into their medical school but it is also an interesting option.
@threebeans I have heard about the creative acceptance into their med school — that sounds awesome because I don’t want to major in anything science. Thanks for your help!!
Find out what types of research opportunities, specifically for undergrads, each school has (a big plus for Med school). Schools may claim they are giving undergrads those opps, but you might be basically holding a pipette for a grad student. At Richmond, undergrads publish with the professors.
And, re community involvement, UR is very involved with the Richmond community. Look at UR Downtown and Bonner scholars program. My S has good friends who are premeds, all highly involved through school in the community.
I guess I’m biased…I think a LAC is great for premed because you will get the letters of recommendation you need due to close faculty mentorship, as well as lab experience, and with a city nearby, you will also get the shadowing you need. But, you do have to like those small classes - can’t skip and participation counts.
@havenoidea thank you for the info — I agree that the small classes and person experience of an LAC might be a good idea for premed. And i’m Not one to skip classes so that wouldn’t be a problem
