UNC vs UIUC vs Miami University for Pre Med

College Search & Selection
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My daughter has been admitted to the above 3 . She is thinking of a pre med track. Which one of the above is best?

CT

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What are the cost differences and how will that impact her ability to pay for medical school?

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UIUC is instate , Miami has partial scholarship and UNC - oos.

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Also, what would your answer be if we were to take cost out of the equation .

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For pre-med, cost is almost never out of the equation unless you have enough money to float both undergrad AND medical school without leverage. I’m old enough that I graduated with a manageable debt load ($30K). I have patients and friends though that had to carry hundreds of thousands in debt. It’s impacted their ability to save for retirement. One told me that had he known the full impact of the loans, he would have been an electrician.

If money truly isn’t part of the equation, it would be hard for me to justify full pay for an equivalent school to Illinois. That’s just me though.

Money no object, I’d leave it in your student’s hands. Getting into medical school is all about grades and MCAT (plus a few other things). It’s more about the student’s performance than the institution. I’d go with their gut.

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Thanks eyemgh!

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If you ignore the cost, UIUC is a very good university.

However, @eyemgh is entirely correct, it is almost never appropriate to ignore the cost when “premed” is the immediate path.

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Miami is different and with merit may = UIUC in cost. . It’s smaller. It’s rural
not even a small town. It’s got a big LAC feel. Also it doesn’t have Greek houses. I believe they house in a dorm
the sororities.

Many don’t love the UIUC campus. So if the size or aesthetics of any school were off that might matter as you’ll be there four years day after day.

Some hate I say that about UIUC but other students recently on the cc have stated as a reason they aren’t going.

Also, what major? Most pre med will not be in med school and pre med is not a major. You can literally major in anything.

All three are very reputable schools.

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They are all fine colleges. Your daughter can satisfy the premed courses at any four year college in the country (arts conservatories excluded).

What are your net costs at these colleges? Is there a cost differential? Can these be funded without taking any parent loans? Because med school will be loans, loans and more loans should she get that far.

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Are they affordable without loans? All 3 schools are good.

Premed is an intention. What is her major (or possible major)?

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And, Miami of Ohio or University of Miami? If Ohio, honors?

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I assume Ohio - because he said Miami University. U of Miami would be Florida.

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I misread!

Stu Nachbar lists Miami-Ohio and Illinois among his 12 Public Ivys for 2020-2021. It’s been continuously on since 1986! They have a great honors college. If it’s the same price as UIUC in state, that’s where I’d send my pre-med.

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Take pre med out of the decision matrix–now which one would your child choose?

I suggest taking pre-med out because most (typically around 60-75%) freshmen premeds never actually apply to med school. Not because they don’t have the grades, but because they find other interests and passions along the way or become disenchanted with idea of postponing their life for a decade or more while they complete their medical training.

Any of the schools your child has been accepted to are fine schools and will allow your students to complete med school pre-reqs and obtain the necessary ECs for med school.

Pick the college that offers the best combo of

  1. Fit–because happier students do better academically. And because it’s 4 years of their young lives they will never get back. They should enjoy those years.
  2. Opportunity --to get involved in campus activities (med schools want well rounded individuals with interests outside medicine & science); to find mentoring from their professors (who will involve them in research activities and write the needed strong LORs for med or grad school), to explore new ideas and interests (which may or may not led them away from medicine); to grow as person; to meet a diverse new group of people (people skills are key for anyone who wishes to be physician)
  3. Cost–med school is hideously expensive and financed primarily through loans so all potential pre meds are advised to minimize their undergrad debt.

UIUC and UNC-CH both have adjacent medical school campuses w/ hosptials-- which may allow for easier access for clinical volunteering and physician shadowing.

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Ok I thought it was Miami Florida, not Ohio (good school btw- my colleague’s son went there). My D was bio/premed at UNC - OOS- but changed her mind during her gap years following graduation due to the reasons noted above. I would go for affordability and fit- almost any school will have the prerequisites and I think it’s important and beneficial to explore. I would be happy to answer your questions.

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I just happened to see this and felt compelled to respond. In my opinion the campus is lovely especially in the late spring, fall and after a recent snowfall in winter. Since you’re instate, I’m sure you can understand the weather’s impact on perceived beauty.

Both of my kids attended UIUC and I never heard a complaint about how the campus looked. I personally would not base something as important as a college decision on aesthetics
unless there is some other circumstance, like seasonal affective disorder to consider.

Also while some might see 4 yrs as a long time, I talked with both of my kids during the decision-making process about it. We talked about how fast their 4 yrs of high school went. We talked about what they wanted from their college experience. I don’t believe we mentioned aesthetics at all.

I do think this is an important question. If your daughter were to change her mind about med school, what would she do with her future degree? I would want some flexibility and I would want my daughter to have a realistic grasp of the pre-med track.

Since my kids did go to UIUC, something that was beneficial for them was the amount of credits they received for their AP classes/test scores. They were able to skip intro classes and take higher level classes early, while not having to have heavy academic workloads. As business majors, this freed up time to explore and immerse themselves in other campus activities.

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I asked about major because some schools are ‘stronger’ - at least by rank - then others. While doubtful as a pre-med, let’s say someone wanted to major in accounting. Then they should likely be steered to UIUC because it’s superior but if it were bio or anthropology, it probably doesn’t matter.

Aesthetics are all in the eye of the beholder. To some they matter, to others they don’t. I only noted UIUC because the opinions on it are polar opposites depending on the observer.

For my kids, aesthetics mattered. For others maybe not.

Everyone is different.