I am a high school senior and I know it’s late but I’m currently finalizing my college list. I want to pursue the pre-med track and eventually go to med school. I’ve heard that small liberal arts schools are better but at the same time, I’ve heard that smaller colleges don’t offer the resources that bigger universities offer. How do I pick between the two options, I know there’s also a middle ground medium sized as well. At the end of the day does it even matter where I go for undergraduate in getting into med school admissions, as long as I go to college? Also, what are people’s opinions about liberal arts for pre-med versus universities for best chances to get into med school???
Short answer: pretty much any accredited college/university will give you what you need to get to med school. The pre-req courses are pretty standardized. Find a school where you will shine - where you can get the kinds of grades you will need to get into med school. Remember that ‘pre-med’ is just a set of pre-requisite classes you have to take to get into med school- you can major in anything and still be ‘pre-med’. So, choose an LAC if that is right for you - smaller classes, smaller student body. Choose a state uni if that is right for you- bigger classes, but more course offerings; bigger student body, but more people for you to find your fellow travellers. Neither is inherently ‘better’. Just make sure that you can afford it, ideally, graduating with no debt- med school is expensive.
Schools can differ significantly with respect to access. For example, these dozen colleges have a relationship with the Early Assurance Program at the University of Rochester Medical School:
Amherst
Bowdoin
Carleton
Colgate
Hamilton
Haverford
Middlebury
Morehouse
Spelman
Swarthmore
Williams
Xavier
While superficially undergraduate schools might seem equal with respect to access and pre-med opportunities, with a closer look differentiating qualities may appear that could be of importance to you.
Regarding LACs versus universities, well-resourced LACs in cases can offer 750+ courses. If deciding partly on the basis of curricular breadth, research whether a quantity of classes beyond this level would truly be of relevance to you.
Pay attention to costs. Medical school is expensive, so consider saving money and avoiding debt for undergraduate so that you have more money for medical school. Even the application process for medical school can be expensive, with short notice travel to interviews.
Accessibility to medical school expected extracurriculars can be a plus for your undergraduate school. In addition, if your state of residency has attractive (low cost, easier admission) in-state public medical school options, going to an undergraduate school in or near your state of residency can make getting to medical school interviews easier and less expensive.