Hi,
I got accepted to WWU, UW bothell, and WSU. I applied to UW seattle but im still waiting on whether or not i get accepted. But as it stands, im not sure where to go and study Pre-med at between UW bothell, and WWU. I feel like UW bothell and WWU are better pre med schools than WSU but im not sure between those two schools.
I need help on figuring out which university is best in the pre med program.
Thanks
Since pre-med is not a program I would start by looking at which one is a better fit for your personality and budget. I assume you live at home and commute for Bothell which would be a really different experience from Bellingham or Pullman. Most people I know feel like they would be at home with WWU or WSU but not both.
WSU certainly has well developed pre-professional programs with the large veterinary school.
UW has by far the better activities and opportunities for the aspiring pre-med.
The Natural Sciences departments are WWU are actually very good. Keep in mind however, that these days Med Schools want to see more than Biology and Chemistry on your transcript. In fact, you’ll find Math, Geology and even English majors among successful Med School applicants these days. Also, you can’t go wrong with WSU, as long as the large class sizes don’t trouble you.
The Natural Science departments at WWU have one of the top ten Climate Change deniers in the world. That would be very interesting. For a while.
@JustOneDad I believe you’re mistaking UW-Bothell with UW-Seattle. Those are two very different schools with very different medical resources.
Just because one person on the faculty is a climate change denier doesn’t mean that a student will take all of his classes with that faculty member, particularly if they’re planning on studying the biological sciences. There’s a professor in my college who flatly denies anthropogenic climate change. However the overwhelming majority of the faculty in that college as well as more relevant ones vehemently disagree with his position.
To the OP, I would choose between WWU and WSU on the basis of strong campus life, good to excellent undergraduate resources, and a diversity of offerings across a number of fields. UW-Bothell is a decent choice for a commuting student but I wouldn’t go there if you plan to live on campus.
One off-the wall professor doesn’t invalidate the professionalism and scholarship of a university; otherwise Prof. Ward Churchill would have single-handedly reduced U Colorado-Boulder to intellectual rubble. By the way, the Geology/Volcanology department at WWU is top flight. That’s a natural science field of study which is highly valued in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska and the rest of the west coast.
So if it’s between WWU and WSU for pre-med, where should I go?
Only you can answer that question. The two campuses are quite different. What did you think of Pullman? What do you like about Bellingham? Pullman is bean fields. Bellingham is forests.
You should go where you feel you fit better, would be happier and would be able to do well in your classes. Western is slightly less expensive if that makes a difference. Neither gives great merit aid but you will be able to compare and know if that’s make of break for your family. Western might be less likely to have the make or break do or die kids in your core math and science classes as they don’t have the veterinary school and engineering kids. The curve might be easier at Western for that reason (speculation not known fact).
It’s actually mostly wheat and lentils if that makes a difference to you 
You are correct; I did.
However, on the other point, I believe you are mistaken in assuming that I thought going to a college with a denier on the faculty would be a negative.
Campus isn’t really that important for me its just how quality of the classes. My goal is to study pre med in either of those universities than transfer to UW Seattle for med school. So whichever helps me more in accomplishing my goal will be the place I will go to.
That is a faulty premise. Pre-med is not a major and one cannot “transfer” to the UW for med school.
Can you commute to UW Bothell (do you live there)?
Does Bothell offer a sort of 2+2 where you attend 2 years there and commute, then switch to the main campus?
Would you choose it to save money and live at home, or would you rather live on campus?
What are your stats - GPA, test scores, APs if any?
Would you rank in the top 25% of any of these?
WWU: about 10,000 undergrads; 3.4 GPA; 25 ACT (25-75 range: 22-28)
UW Bothell: about 4,000 undergrads, 28% of whom are 26 and older; average GPA 3.3; average ACT: 21 (18-25, ie, the top students at Bothell are the average students at WWU)
WSU: about 23,000 undergrads; 3.3 GPA, average ACT low 20s (range: 18-26, no average provided)
Premed is just a set of courses where you need to rank at the top of your class: 2 semesters each of Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, Orgo; plus 1 semester each of Sociology, Psychology, a diversity-focused class, biochemistry, perhaps neuroscience and/or fluency in a foreign language spoken by local immigrants (especially useful when you volunteer at a clinic).
You should combine this with whatever major will yield the highest possible GPA for you.
In short, you need a school that’s strong academically (to prepare you sufficiently) but not cut-throat.
In that sense, it sounds like Western Washington would be the best strategic pick (since WSu has more tech/competitive students and Bothell isn’t quite as good as WWU.)
Your admission to med school will depend on a high GPA, a high premed science GPA, a high MCAT score, and experience (research, volunteering, shadowing, internships…) Good advising and a school that doesn’t restrict access to committee letters are pluses.