<p>So my decision has come to UVa
or
Rosemont/Drexel 7yr program, Duquesne/Temple & W&J/Temple 8yr programs (still waiting to hear back officially from Temple)</p>
<p>UVa would cost 25-26k and I would go pre-med over there, probably neuroscience major, then apply to med school. How hard would the classes be? Would I have opportunities for ample research and ECs so I could get into med school? </p>
<p>At Rosemont/Drexel 3 yrs of undergrad at 17k maintain a 3.5 overall & BCPM GPA and at least a 31 MCAT score or with a minimum score of 9 on verbal and 10s on physical and biological science sections. Rosemont is a former women's college and its really small (I would have to take physics over at Villanova which it is right next to). But, I would have access to Villanova and Philly</p>
<p>At the Temple ones I'd pay 22.5k or 19k and have to have:
1. Minimum 3.5 GPA (overall & BCPM) for the first three years with no grade less than a C (2.0).
2. minimum 3.0 GPA for final yr with no grade less than C (2.0).
3. minimum MCAT score of 30, with no score less than 8 on sub-sections</p>
<p>I like Pittsburgh as a city, but Idk much about Duquesne (only had time to drive around campus), I visited W&J and it was great except for the fact that there was a big partying culture over there. Both schools told me that I'd have ample research opportunities. </p>
<p>Really unsure I like UVa but don't know if its worth giving up these programs, or how good they are at all? Any advice?</p>
<p>Choose a combined program if you are very sure about medicine. </p>
<p>It is not guaranteed that you will make it to a medical school coming out of UVA and if you come out with the mininum as required by your combined medical admission coming out of VA, you may not actually be able to get into a medical school. When you are out in the open competing for a medical school admission 3/4 years from today, there might be better applicants out there.</p>
<p>You can figure this out by checking the stats for regular admittees to temple medical school to see how much of a leeway you are getting by doing the combined program.
My guess is 3.5 and 31 may not cut it in the regular medical school admissions and you will be spending 4 years getting an undergrad at UVA.</p>
<p>Essentially, taking combined allows you to have a little less stress planning to apply to med schools again in 3 years.</p>
<p>Hey Vbhasin, Nice to hear you got into the Rosemont/Drexel program. I would say go to that or UVA. Whichever you like better- you seem like the hard working type so I’m sure you’ll be able to do good pre-med wise at UVA, but if you want that gaurentee, and want to relax a bit, then the drexel program is your safest bet. However, if there’s a huge difference in you prefrence for undergrad, for example you give UVA a 8/10 and Rosemont a 3/10, i’d say go to UVA…you wanna enjoy your college years too.</p>
<p>That being said, I hope you the best of luck for the future! I am going pre-med, it will be hard but i think with the right balance i can still enjoy college haha.</p>
<p>Not sure if the BS/MD programs are non-binding? You may want to contact the BS/MD admins at each college and request them to get you in touch with their current students in their UG program (at least 2 from each). This will enable you to get first-hand feedback about their experiences with the program. You may want to get some answers for a few things. Here is a starter list:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How easy is it to get involved in relevant funded research projects? Are undergraduates paid for working on research projects? If so, are they paid based on # of hours worked or on a fixed per contract basis? (Usually on a per hour basis). On average, how many hours/week are the students expected to work on research projects? Try to get some examples of projects that the current students are working on.</p></li>
<li><p>Whom have the students relied on for getting their reference letters? Pre-med guidance counselors of Professors? What does it take to get top notch reference letters?</p></li>
<li><p>At some Universities, due to heavy demand from pre-med students, it is difficult to sign up for volunteer opportunities. You may want to find out how difficult is it to:</p></li>
</ol>
<p>a. Shadow doctors at various hospitals in the area
b. Volunteer at hospitals/health clinics etc.</p>
<p>For comparing their UG programs, you may want to look up ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
However, their data is about 2 years old.</p>
<p>If you are not set on medicine, UVa is a good choice. It is among the best in public education, especially if you are instate. Law & Business are highly ranked.
My niece went there UG, and is now a sophemore at the med school. Summa cum laude, and unhappy with “average” MCAT of 36. Research every year and interviewed at top places, including WUStL and Duke, but only two admissions. Now she is quite happy with UVa. The facilities are brand new and she loves the forward thinking curriculum. Grading first two yrs is P/F. There is less pressure then when she was an undergrad. Program is also flexible. That being said, did the school give you any money?
Otherwise, I would favor the combined programs because of the guarantee. She was the top in her UVa UG class, but received only two admits. I am more partial to Jefferson and Temple, compared to Drexel.</p>
<p>hey golf, I’m leaning towards UVa now (don’t really like either combined and i would have to take MCAT anyways) but I had some questions, perhaps you could help me out. I’d be thrilled to go to UVa’s med school too.
Did your niece just approach professors about doing research with them or was she a part of college science scholars or something like that? (or was it outside of UVa)?
Is the pre-med advising good (i’ve been told their advising programs are not good)?
Is UVa really difficult? (concerned about GPA)
Is UVa really snobby and cutthroat?</p>