<p>I got admitted to both these universities. Both are great schools, but which will prepare me better for a career in medicine? Which is "better" at pre-med/biological sciences? I have a personal preference for U of R, but which one will offer me the better education? Thank you all in advance! :)</p>
<p>Only you can decide which school is a better fit. They both will give you a fine education. I assume UVA has premed counseling, etc. because, frankly, all schools of any size do now a days. I don’t know if you think it will be harder to do this in a big school or a small school. You of course understand that if do well at either, you will be fine. </p>
<p>UVA is more than 3X as large as UR. That’s the real difference. I think it matters a lot but that’s me. </p>
<p>Reasons why it matters include the scale of UR is small enough that you aren’t intimidated by not knowing enough people. So you feel free to do what you want, to join whatever clubs, etc. you want because your social circles will touch and overlap. It’s also large enough that you don’t feel you know everyone too well.</p>
<p>Another reason is that UR because of its size and the large amount of research money and the sheer physical closeness of the research facilities means you can get involved in real research as an undergrad. This is pretty darned easy to do. That can help you. I can’t imagine it’s that easy at a school the size of UVA.</p>
<p>As for education, I can’t speak to your interests but my kid has really liked the Rochester Curriculum’s lack of distribution requirements. She likes her classes and takes classes she likes. A lot of kids double major because it’s easy. Multiple minors are also common because it’s easy to accumulate the classes when you aren’t fulfilling a bunch of requirements. </p>
<p>So two good choices. Best of luck.</p>
<p>If you do well then either school will provide you with a strong pathway to medical school. I don’t know where you are from, and whether your fit/comfort level will impact your performance, but in addition to the significant size difference, as a former Southerner I can tell you that the difference in the vibes between the two schools is pretty stark. I’m sure kids can find their niche at UVA if they are not in the frat/sorority scene, but UVA does have quite a bit of Southern elitism that might be a challenge if that is foreign to you. My sense is that the clothes you wear at UR don’t matter, and while there is some fraternity/sorority scene at UR I am guessing it is far different and less dominating than at UVA. On the other hand, if you want a more sports-dominated (as spectator) and wilder social scene then you might prefer UVA.</p>
<p>Either school will prepare you well for med school. I seriously doubt either has “the edge.” Pick the school that fits you better as students tend to do better where they are happy/content.</p>
<p>So the academics at both schools are about the same? I’d imagine that UVa has more of a reputation in the States. I’m an international student currently living in Indonesia (I am Dutch), and both schools look amazing, but that is after research into both schools. Assuming I do equally well, will a UVa degree be “better” than a UR one, or is it the other way around?
The double-degree does sound good to me, though, and the opportunities UR offers might just be better than UVa, I guess, even though UVa has more of a reputation (assuming that’s correct.) If I do double major it will be in a life science and economics - of which both schools are pretty good at. </p>
<p>This is so stressful. </p>
<p>@Lergnom, does your kid find U of R worth it? I am leaning towards U of R, any pointers will help. </p>
<p>Thanks all! :)</p>
<p>Here in the states a UVA degree would probably help you gain employment in VA. In NY, UR would win. Outside of those two states, both schools are likely to be considered equal in caliber. Many employers like regional colleges they know to be good (based upon previous grads and local rep or alumni doing the hiring). That said, even in those two states there will be many employers who wouldn’t care which school you attended. Academically they really would be considered peers.</p>
<p>Med school admissions in the US wouldn’t care which you attended. They will care about your MCAT score, GPA, extra curriculars and similar. Since you are international, getting into a US med school is not easy. I’m not familiar with admissions policies elsewhere, but I still can’t imagine UR vs UVA being a meaningful difference.</p>
<p>thomas-- are you planning on med school in the US?</p>
<p>If so, you need to be aware that no matter what undergrad you attend it will be extremely difficult for you to be admitted to a US medical school. According to AAMC, fewer than 200 international students (in total) are admitted to US medical schools in any given year. (In the past 10 year that number has ranged from 80 to 183, with the average being ~150.)</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/download/321460/data/2012factstable3.pdf[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/download/321460/data/2012factstable3.pdf</a></p>
<p>(Internationals are at the very bottom of the table–under foreign)</p>
<p>The dearth is because fewer than 50 med schools will even consider admitting internationals and because medical education in the US is largely financed (even at private medical schools) by federal medicaid funds–which are restricted to use for/by US citizens. </p>
<p>Additionally there is no financial aid for internationals in US med schools. Every school will require prooof that you will be able to pay for medical school. This usually means an escrow account with 1 to 4 years of tuition deposited in advance of your matriculation. Or presenting a letter of guantry from your home country government. In total, you will need $250,000- $350,000 to pay for medical school–and you will have to demonstrate the availability those funds upfront in order to be consdiered for admission.</p>
<p>Here is a list of US medical schools and their policies towards internationals:</p>
<p>[Medical</a> School Admissions Policies Towards Non-US Citizens](<a href=“Home - NAAHP”>Home - NAAHP)</p>
<p>~~~~~</p>
<p>Due to the difficulty of gaining admission to a US med school, it’s suggested that international applicants who wish to practice medicine in the US, obtain their medical training in their home country and apply for US residency training program.</p>
<p>See the <a href=“http://www.ecfmg.org/[/url]”>http://www.ecfmg.org/</a> for an explanation of the process.</p>
<p>~~~~</p>
<p>For international applicants to US med school–“name recognition” of your undergrad is important. </p>
<p>So is having a Health Profession Committee that is familiar with the inherent difficulties that international applicants face.</p>
<p>UVA is one of the better public universities in the US. These rankings are mostly driven by graduate schools. That’s partly because top grad schools get more research money and, bluntly, because the name on your grad school diploma in many fields matters much more than your college name. </p>
<p>Public schools have a mission to serve that state. This means UVA is about 3/4 in-state Virginia residents. This speaks to a weird standard in ratings: a private school needs to have many fewer in-state residents to be considered good. UR’s in-state NY is about 35%. That percentage would be fairly high except NY has a lot of people. NY has many more people than VA and UVA is 3x as large as UR. </p>
<p>In terms of social life, UVA has a long history of frats and sororities. That’s something you need to be comfortable with - or not. Almost 1/3 of all students are in one, which means they really have a large impact on social life on campus. UVA also has big-time college sports. If you have a rooting interest or want one, that is something. If you’re turned off by that and by the special treatment of athletes at NCAA Division I schools, then no.</p>
<p>My kid loves UR. Currently doing an internship in one department. Doing another over the summer in a research project. Has lately been enjoying kickboxing classes at the gym. But of course the parents who post here will mostly have that kind of experience or they wouldn’t post. One nice thing about UR is that it’s easy and cheap to stay over the summer with something to do in your field - and it seems easy to pick up part time paid work as well. Rochester is really nice in the summer with lots of festivals and farmers markets.</p>
<p>Charlottesville is a nicer college town and of course the old heart of the UVA campus is famous for being designed by Jefferson. UR’s campus is nice and attractive but not that.</p>
<p>I agree with everything said by the other posters. These schools are academic equals. There may be fewer people nationally who know that UR is an equal, but most people who would matter (grad schools, career-wise) know. Otherwise, these are VERY different schools.</p>
<p>UVA is one of the original universities in the US and the “original 13 colonies.” This may seem very appealing and Charlottesville is known as one of best college towns. That said, there is a strong “blue blood” vibe so maybe more than some other schools whether you fit socially or not is perhaps a bigger deal. I’m sure there is a niche of alternative students, but UVA is going to have some aspects of a “country club” feel that may be inescapable. If you’re looking for that, and the partying and socializing don’t undermine your academic/career goals, then you’d probably be very happy. Which is not to say that you wouldn’t have a rich and rewarding social life at UR, but it would be different.</p>
<p>The UVA area and a 60 miles radius around there are in a beautiful part of the country. IMHO the Rochester area is very underrated.</p>
<p>I am curious about how you landed upon these very different choices. What other schools did you apply to? That might give a clue about your personal preferences.</p>
<p>My main universities of interest were chosen based on a) their academics/quality and b) the campus. I would love to have a proper collegiate experience - and a beautiful campus is part of such an experience. Rochester and Virginia have nice campuses as well as being excellent schools. I also applied to Hopkins, Emory (UVa, UR + these two were my reaches) and the rest were matches and safeties (Boston U, Pitt, Purdue). </p>
<p>UVa looks like an excellent school but I am not sure about their student population. I have no problem with their honor code but it seems to me that this would inspire a cut-throat mentality, would it not? At least that is what various people have told me. I would also prefer an environment that is friendly and supportive. Which one of these two would give me a proper collegiate experience while avoiding such a cut throat mentality and negative attitude? Thanks again everyone!</p>
<p>@WayOutWestMom</p>
<p>Yes, I realize that it is extremely difficult - although that will not stop me from trying! 
In response to your comment, which school has the better “name?” you said that the name recognition of your undergraduate school is important. UR/UVa is not bad, provided I do well in college, right? Any tips? Thanks for your reply - hugely appreciated.</p>
<p>Thomas, I am not sure you are actually reading the replies to you.</p>
<p>I believe the poster or posters said name recognition of undergrad did NOT matter…that your grades and MCATs and limited number of international slots will matter. (Maybe you just left out a word.)</p>
<p>Why would an honor code have anything to do with how cut-throat a college/university is?</p>
<p>What is a “proper collegiate experience”? You said in your very first post that you had a personal preference for UR. What is that based on?</p>
<p>You’ve been given a lot of detail about vibe, size, etc. Did you have any reactions to any of that?</p>
<p>UR seems to be pretty easy going in terms of competition. </p>
<p>My personal feeling - and this is me, not advice - is I’m not comfortable with a frat dominated social culture. I assume it’s still kind of like what it was. Not talking so much about drinking but about the social pegging of people into a role and a sort of hierarchy. There’s certainly good in frats. And there’s good in hanging out with people you like. But it isn’t me.</p>
<p>@finalchild</p>
<p>I have been reading the posts. I may have misinterpreted it, but this is what I was talking about:</p>
<p>“For international applicants to US med school–“name recognition” of your undergrad is important.”</p>
<p>I have a preference for UR because it is a great school and it is a smaller schoolthan UVa (size). In my first post I asked which university would provide the better education. I would be fine going to UVa, as long as they prepare me well for med school and give a “better education” than Rochester. I realize both are very different universities. Creekland and Lergnom have said that both are equals in preparing me for med school, and have added their descriptions of the differences in the universities. I would prefer a smaller school, so that is why I am leaning towards Rochester.</p>
<p>Well, it seems to me that some students will lie just to “frame” another student (operative word being “seems”).</p>
<p>@Lergnom</p>
<p>Yes, I agree! I wouldn’t want that. I think I’ll opt for Rochester. Thanks!</p>
<p>Thomas, I apologize. I was thinking of what Creekland wrote, and shame, shame, I had not myself read WOWM’s post word or word. Given the odds that WOWM indicated I think you would be well-advised to have a back-up plan in case US med school does not pan out.</p>
<p>Best of luck. If you pick UR I think you are making a superb choice.</p>
<p>@finalchild</p>
<p>It’s cool Thanks for your pointers, I committed to Rochester and am working on a backup plan! so excited.</p>
<p>UVA and UR are approx equal in name recognition.</p>
<p>The only advantage I can possibly see for UVA over UR is that UVA’s medical school will consider internationals for admission; UR’s does not.</p>
<p>Thomas, both of these schools are also on my final list. if you’re looking for a cooperative academic environment, I think you’ll be very happy at Rochester. When I visited, I was struck by the cooperative approach of the students. Also, with no set core or distribution requirements, the other students in your classes will be there because they’re interested in the subject matter.
Good luck to you.</p>
<p>@WOWM Is going to UR for undergrad, and provided I do well, apply to a good med school is a good plan, all in all? I realize the difficulty for internationals, but UR’s name might help, I guess. I’m happy with my choice, though, no matter what. </p>
<p>@Candles Yep! That and Rochester’s not-so-partying/frat scene pointed me towards Rochester. Rochester looks to be a school where I will get an outstanding education, meet great people, and be supported by a friendly, intellectual community. UVa is a great choice too, but not for me, I guess. </p>
<p>Good luck to you too! I’m sure you’ll do excellent whichever school you pick.</p>
<p>UR’s name won’t help in any substantial way with med school admissions. (Harvard, Princeton or Stanford might help…but not anything below the very top tier.)</p>
<p>And you can see if you still want to apply in 4 years. Lots of kids change their mind because they discover new interests along the way. </p>
<p>Whatever you decide–make sure you have a back-up plan.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>