Hi, so i’m a peculiar case. I go to school in India however I was born in Houston thus I am a US Citizen, I was wondering how these Universities compare with each other in terms of a Pre-Med student and also looking for suggestions as to which programs to apply to. I have quite alot of ECAs and good grades. I am interested in private schools like Rice however the financial cost would be too much for my parents. Thanks
@HorsesArePeople2 some more background about you will help forum folks to give more specific help. Assume you are a current HS student applying for UG in the current cycle 2016-2017 interested in medicine professional. Is your parents maintain Texas residency?
- Texas a great state for students who plan to pursue medicine. Since many programs are exclusively for TX residents and second the lowest COA for MD is TX schools.
- Are you considered doing MBBS in India (Since already you are in India) and come later to US. (Ironic, always the other side is green! that is human nature)
- Spend time in CC in getting some input for international students applying UG. There are some schools which give merit aid for international students (if not full tuition). For example, if I remember Tulane gave some good aid. Also they have some early placement programs for medicine.
- Keep CA as last option (see the posts from @wayoutwestmom on how hard for CA students to get MD admission). Also CA does not give a dime.
- UT Austin, you may not get aid though that is a very school with research opportunity. But UT Houston or UT Dallas may give aid.
- Rice is a very good school and they do give few aids (I know it is very hard to get).
- Other point you need to check is (since I am not familiar). Though you are doign HS in India if you are US citizen and if your parent income is less, if you quality for need-based aid or not. If you are qualified, then you should apply for good schools like Rice and others.
You’re OOS for Texas publics correct? Will your parents pay the OOS rates?
Texas med schools heavily favor Tx residents. What’s the point of going to a Texas undergrad for premed?
Are you a Texas resident - ie, meaning, your parents still have a house and pay taxes there? Or will you move back to TX and graduate high school from TX?
If not, it doesn’t make much sense to apply to those schools.
However, UHouston has good merit aid including for international applicants if you have high test scores.
My parents and I do maintain Texas Residency thus I would be paying Instate fees which is the reason I am discussing public schools in Texas. I am quite sure of this as my sister applied for University last year and was considered a domestic student living abroad and thus was eligible to pay Instate fees. Thanks for the replies as well guys.
If you wouldn’t mind could you tell me about the premed opportunities in these universities and how they compare with each other?
Thanks
It sounds like your sister applied but did not attend a Texas public. If so, you can’t yet be certain that a Tx school would determine you to be instate. Your sister didn’t attend, so who knows if ultimately the school would have allowed her to pay instate. She may have submitted her app claiming to be instate, but if she had enrolled, the school may have then asked her to verify residency and there could have been an issue with that.
On what basis has your family retained its Texas residency. Owning property in Tx is usually not enough. How long ago did you live in Texas?
U of Houston is close to many hospitals.
UT-Dallas is also good for premed.
However, you need to be certain that the school would allow you to pay instate rates. Much could depend on the reason that you’re living abroad. For instance, families living abroad while the parent has official gov’t work abroad usually keep their state residency.
We visited U of Houston as well as UT last year and confirmed that our residency was maintained and that if either me or my sister applied we would pay instate fees. I am not sure of the logistics but I am 99% sure that the residency has been maintained. Thanks
Apply to all three, as well as Trinity, St Edwards, Austin College, perhaps Texas Tech and Texas State.
Once you have your results, we’ll evaluate based on your acceptances.
@HorsesArePeople2 Agree with @MYOS1634. 2 more things you can thing about.
- Since it appears you are US resident (and not international student) and if your parents income is less then why not consider Non-TX schools also if you get solid aid (need or merit) provided the COA is <= what you will pay in Texas as Tx resident?
- Are you interested in pursuing only the regular route (BS and then MD) or are you interested in BS/MD programs since there are few in Tx (including UT Houston)?
I’m not sure how you’d be treated since UT admits based on class rank (top 8%).
TAMU doesn’t guarantee you will get the major you wants.
UH is still quite commuter, although access to the Honors College and its housing mitigates that a bit.
The issue is that premeds need to be among the top 25% of admitted students to have a shot at making it to med school. They need great support from professors and centers (writing center, free math/science tutors with hours that match yours, review sessions, study groups, student assistant or learning assistants), classes that don’t purposely weed-out (which doesn’t mean they will make it, but at least classes where the curve isn’t designed to fail a certain percentage and where the average is set to a level that makes it impossible for most would-be premeds),
It’s probably best if you get into an Honors Program/College since it’d provide better advising and support.
Apply to all, include applying to the honors colleges, and to a few more - 2 safeties, 3-5 matches (and a couple reaches if you wish). Decide once you have your acceptances and people here will gladly help you decide between your choices.
I am interested in pursuing both, either the normal route or a BS/MD
@MYOS1634 Thanks for the advice, I am not actually sure what an Honors Program is, could you explain that to me as well as it’s advantages.
Thanks
An honors college or program is a special unit within a larger university whereby top students can have smaller, more interactive classes, a personal adviser, special (usually better) housing, scholarships, etc. It depends on the university, you have to look at each university’s website.
@GoldenRock I am interested in both the normal route and BS/MD. As for OOS Universities I am considering applying to some but am looking for advice on which ones to look for and apply to. If you have any advice on these two things that would be great.
Thanks
@MYOS1634 Okay that sounds really interesting, that would definetly take care of my worries about the large class sizes in these public schools. I’m assuming these programs are incredibly competitive, are there any specific things that I could do to improve my chances in gaining admission into an honors program.
Thanks
@HorsesArePeople2 Are you a senior or junior in HS? Because if you are Senior it is already a crunch time. BS/MD programs are extremely competitive and insane application process. So first you need to nail down how many programs you would like to apply, and then have further breakup for BS/MD vs regular route, Tx vs OOS etc.
Definitely first apply to Tx schools both BS/MD and regular. Visit the BS/MD threads (under multiple programs). There is so much information and discussion there. Also focus on schools which give aid (merit and need based).
Agree with @MYOS1634 on honors college since u get benefit in dorms, adviser etc. But note, not all classes will be small. Only courses which are offered either by honors college or some courses from non honors colleges will have the small class size. Most of the pre-req or general courses invariable will have a huge size which is unavoidable, especially in public university.
I am currently a junior in HS doing A Levels (AP equivalent) so I guess I should try and start the application process soon. I am definitely going to apply for honors programs as well.
If you wouldn’t mind could you recommend me some OOS schools to look at?
Good since you are junior, you have time to plan and decide. First spend time in to establish the boundary based on your personal situation (interest, affordability, location etc) and then go their web site and understand better and finalize the list. Are you planning to apply only if that school provides aid? Are you eligible for need based aid? these are all very critical factors and may sway how your list will whittle down. If your parents also in India, do you prefer a state where your siblings or relatives are there for any support or are you ok to go to any state? How many BS/MD programs and how many regular UG you plan to apply? Don’t under estimate the complexity in the application process, including some crazy requirement of sending by postal and fax etc and you may decide to skip those colleges.
For example, if you can not afford full tuition and not eligible for need based, then all the Ivies and top 20 raked schools will be hard. Any preference only for private schools vs public school? Gist is first establish your parameters based on what ever factors are important in your personal situation and do further research on those schools.
Take time to see the current and last year threads related to BS/MD programs.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/multiple-degree-programs
Okay, thanks for the advice it helped a lot. If I have any more queries I’ll be sure to ask!
I’m going to start researching schools based on these factors I’ll keep you all notified for the benefit of others that visit this thread.
Thanks