<p>So it really doesnt matter what college I go to before Medical school as long as I get get grades and score well on the MCAT?</p>
<p>I have heard that OSU has a good acceptance to OHSU, but im not sure of any other colleges, thats why i was asking. I understand that there is not a pre med major but some schools are geared more towards science and i was just trying to get some advice. </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>kernan240sx,</p>
<p>Do not go to any undergrad with a specific med school in mind. It's really quite unrealistic. Very very unrealistic.</p>
<p>You will end up applying to many many med schools when your time comes.</p>
<p>
[quote]
So it really doesnt matter what college I go to before Medical school as long as I get get grades and score well on the MCAT?
[/quote]
I strongly suggest you get a book on med school admissions so that you understand what med schools are looking for and what the top applicants are doing. Not only might it prove useful in selecting your college, it will give you the info to make sure you are doing the right things while in college.</p>
<p>Admission to med school is not based just on grades & scores. In brief, med schools take a hard look at your grades and scores, especially grades in the sciences like o-chem. They also care about your letters of rec, your essays, and finally they interview those that make the cut based on the paper trail. An unofficial requirement for med school is to have experience in a medical setting (volunteer or paid work) so that you know what you're getting yourself into. A plus is taking part in scientific research while an undergrad.</p>
<p>And a word of warning about those recs. One of them is requierd to be something called a "committee letter" written by your college. Some schools, often the less prestigious ones that boast amazing med school admission rates, get those rates by doing something a little underhanded. They simply refuse to supply the letter to those outside their strongest candidates, or say they'll write the letter but will give an unfavorable recommendation in it. In either case your app is doomed. You should check with the premed advisor at each school you consider to make sure they supply a supportive letter for all candidates who request one.</p>
<p>So when you look at schools, pick ones where you'll get to know some faculty members so that you can get a strong rec. For some this means a school with smaller classes, others are fine at a larger U because they'll be sure to go to office hours. Pick a school where you'll be comfortable working hard for good grades and not be ostracized as the "nerd" who's always studying. Pick a school that's a good fit (and there's many college admission books that discuss this in detail) so that you have a chance to grow, make friends, explore new areas, etc; it's hard to excel when you wake up every morning wishing you were somewhere else.</p>
<p>Washington State University (Pullman)
Lewis & Clark College
Williamette University
George Fox University</p>
<p>
[quote]
One of them is requierd to be something called a "committee letter" written by your college.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Actually, committee letters aren't required, but they're a plus. Large schools, like UCLA and Cal, don't do committee letters.</p>
<p>UCLAri, thanks for pointing this out. </p>
<p>However when there is such an option, med schools commonly require it. As Cal notes on its Pre-Med FAQ
[quote]
Q: In many of the secondary applications, medical schools state something like, "If your school has a premedical advisor, advisory committee, or office for advising premedical students, your evaluation must be submitted by this official or through the advising office." Does Berkeley have anyone who fits this description or do we basically use teacher evaluations sent through the letter service?</p>
<p>You should indicate that your letters will be sent by the Letter Service in the Career Center. While we have advisors, they do not submit letters. The schools should be aware of our system. The cover sheet of the letter packet sent states that we do not rank applicants or have a committee process.
Career</a> Center - Pre-Med FAQs - Applying to Medical School - Getting Ready
[/quote]
On the other hand, some schools that do supply letters make no bones about what they can do. At Providence College, for example, the premed FAQ says "The chair would always inform an applicant if the Committee feels it would be unable to recommend a student in its letter of evaluation." At Bowdoin they say "When considering these statistics, it is important to keep in mind that we encourage individuals to apply when they are in a position to be realistic candidates." You can figure out what they say to those who they don't consider to be "realistic" candidates.</p>