My top two decisions for college are now UMass Amherst and WPI but i don’t know which is better for me. My parents don’t want me going to UMass Amherst because they think it is too much of a party school and want me to stay close in Worcester but I know UMass Amherst has gotten their students into amazing medical schools and they have an amazing biology program. For me, I feel like WPI is too engineering based even though it does have a better reputation, they only have 30 students on their pre-medical track. I’m also thinking of double majoring in biochemistry and psychology. I’m really just wondering which choice would be the best since I want to end up in the surgical field.
WPI hands down. With proximity to UMass Medical school a few miles away you will have opportunities for research as undergrad and internships that would not be possible in Amherst. But dont tell too many ppl, it is a great secret program at WPI…
For those of us who prefer our dogs, consider WPI for pre-med vet school in a joint program at WPI and Tufts School of veterinary medicine which is in greater Worcester. See https://www.wpi.edu/academics/undergraduate/pre-professional/pre-health
You might also want to check out the Biology and Biomedical Engineering areas where women actually are a strong majority of the students. Check out the Psychology major also. A lot of research and a very fine faculty. It is not all about crawling under cars and shooting rockets anymore! It is about interdisciplinary teamwork.
See Biology & Biotechnology @ https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/biology-biotechnology
For BME see https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/biomedical-engineering
For Psychology see https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/psychological-science
For Biochemistry see https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/chemistry-biochemistry
Are you interested in off/campus/out of country research? See and explore https://www.wpi.edu/project-based-learning/global-project-program. All students have an automatic scholarship of up to $5,000 to meet the additional cost of participating in off campus project centers.
UMass is also a very fine University. These Universities have very different environments. Try to stay over at both if possible.
WPI '67
No matter what college you attend, pre-med will be competitive, so visit both to get a sense of the atmosphere at both. You can major in pretty much anything so long as you take the appropriate courses required for medical school.
generally…https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/applying-medical-school-process/medical-school-admission-requirements/admission-requirements/
specific example from Harvard Medical
https://meded.hms.harvard.edu/admissions-prerequisite-courses
Regarding double major: that may make it tough to get all the courses needed in four years, if that is your plan.
And remember that in addition to good GPA, you’ll need to take the MCAT; there are additional matters pretty much required, too(eg. physician shadowing).
Do both of these schools have pre-med advisors who can assist you through the process?
MODERATOR’S NOTE: Closing thread since decisions have been made and the OP hasn’t been around in a month and a half.