What School for Pre-Med

College Search & Selection
1

Hello Guys,

I’m currently a senior with a weighted GPA of 3.97 and an SAT score of 1320. I wanted to know what would be a better option for Pre-Med. Would it be better if I go to NOVA for 2 years and then transfer to UVA or W&M through its guaranteed admission program or would it better if I went to some to some ‘lower’ tier colleges like VT and JMU.

1 ) Reach:
UVA (Universtiy of Virginia
or
Through NOVA (Northern Virginia Community College)
to
UVA (University of Virginia)
W&M (William & Mary)
GW (George Washington University)

  1. Match:
    VT (Virginia Tech)
    JMU (James Madison University)
  1. Safety:
    GMU (George Mason Univeristy)

Some people have told me that it’s better to go to UVA / W&M through NOVA while others told me that I might not get some opportunities if I go to a CC.

I am going to be applying to UVA, W&M, VT, JMU, GW, and GMU. I’ve heard from people that JMU doesn’t have much of a good atmosphere and I don’t seem to keen to go to GW as I didn’t like its campus much and the tuition is too steep (it is a private institute). In case I don’t get into UVA and W&M, would you think going through NOVA would be better or going to VT/JMU. Also, What do you think of JMU and VT for pre-med?

2
  1. How do cost and debt compare? Medical school is expensive, so more debt is not a good thing.
  2. Which school will be most suitable if you do not get into medical school (most pre-meds do not get into medical school, due to high GPA and MCAT minimums just to be a possible candidate for admission in a highly competitive process)?
  3. Starting at CC for two years means that some of the BCPM (biology, chemistry, physics, math) courses need to be taken at CC, due to the volume and sequencing of the pre-med BCPM courses. Some medical schools used to not count BCPM courses taken at CCs; not sure if any still do, but if any do, those would not be available. However, some others may frown on taking all of them at CCs. If your major is in a BCPM subject, you will take some upper level courses at a four year school; otherwise, you need to plan for taking some BCPM courses after transfer.
3

Any college in the country offers the lower-division science and math needed by premeds. Whether a kid works for good grades, get to know some profs so they get strong recs, take part in appropriate ECs, and develop compelling essays is up to them.

The concern I would have about the CC route is not whether they are capable of teaching the material but the milieu. If most kids around you are slacking off or don’t take academics seriously it could be socially uncomfortable to be the “nerd” that is at the library studying. Not only that but you don’t get the same college experience.

The real question to address at this point is not what college, but why an M.D? Have you looked into the medical field and considered the alternatives? Its almost a reflex action among HS kids, they think of a career in medicine and its “I’m pre-med!” Doctors are far from the only ones in the health field that help people. Physical therapists, radiology techs, nurses, speech pathologists, physician assistants, to name but just a few. Spend a few hours browsing on http://explorehealthcareers.org Unless you have considered the alternatives and has spent time actually working in a health care setting (which is an unwritten requirement to get into med school, BTW) its better to think of yourself as someone interested in exploring a medical career rather than someone who needs to pick a college based on the chance you end up wanting to go to med school.