<p>is it better to go to a prestigious school for undergrad like Vanderbilt and get a slightly lower GPA or a school like Michigan State University and get a higher GPA and also be in a residential or honors program? i know i would preform better at MSU but I'm not sure whether this would give me an advantage.</p>
<p>Boy…if we all got a dollar for every time this question gets asked…</p>
<p>Personally, I would want the higher GPA. </p>
<p>However, what kind of GPA do you think you could get at Vandy? </p>
<p>Can you get thru Vandy without any loans? </p>
<p>Are you a really strong student? What are your stats?</p>
<p>I have no idea how high of a GPA I would have either place but this is just in anticipation. I have a 33 ACT and around a 3.4 high school GPA connections to Vanderbilt and from the top school in my state. Worked in hospitals throughout high school, 400+ volunteer hours, lots of awards, varsity sports, they said I would most likely get in. And yes I could get through without loans. But at my prestigious high school which is said to be almost harder than most Universities I am around average or a little above.</p>
<p>The plan to go to an easier school and get better grades almost never works. Expect demotivation to get good grades that will keep you out of med school and possibly transferring/dropping out.</p>
<p>The plan to go to an easier school and get better grades almost never works.</p>
<p>??? </p>
<p>proof please???</p>
<p>BTW…don’t assume that MSU will be easy in the least for it’s bio, chem, orgo, physics, and calc classes. MSU isn’t some low-tier, poor academics school.</p>
<p>anyway…if you have a 3.4 GPA at your high school, that does not bode well for any pre-med major anywhere…but even worse at Vandy.</p>
<p>You’ll need to maintain at least a 3.7 GPA for college (especially in the sciences)</p>
<p>Is that your weighted GPA for all of your courses?</p>
<p>You should go to the hardest, most demanding school you can get into and afford; it will help with your own motivation, but more importantly with what you learn, which will be crucial for that MCAT score.</p>
<p>If this student with a 3.4 GPA goes to the “hardest, most demanding school” he can get into, it’s questionable whether he’ll emerge with a GPA that med schools will like.</p>
<p>As for what he’ll “learn”…he’ll learn even if he doesn’t go to a tippy top school. Again, MSU isn’t some flaky school. </p>
<p>I don’t believe that going to the hardest school will help with this student’s motivation. It could overwhelm him to the point of giving up. He’ll be with kids who graduate with 4.8 GPAs and perfect/near perfect SATs.</p>
<p>I don’t know why some people think that pre-med courses are not challenging at schools other than top 25 schools???</p>
<p>Frankly with a 3.4 GPA, his chances at Vandy are hurt…even with some “connections.” His rank may be too low as well…</p>
<pre><code>* 86% in top 10th of graduating class
- 49% had h.s. GPA of 3.75 and higher
- 28% had h.s. GPA between 3.5 and 3.74
</code></pre>
<p>77% have GPAs of 3.5+</p>
<p>“As for what he’ll “learn”…he’ll learn even if he doesn’t go to a tippy top school.”</p>
<p>Schools are not identical; a given student will learn more at a more demanding school, less at a less demanding school. It’s a matter of degree, not “learning vs. not learning.”</p>
<p>“I don’t believe that going to the hardest school will help with this student’s motivation.”</p>
<p>Two reasons some students drop out is that they find college too easy or too hard. The right level must be found.</p>
<p>“It could overwhelm him to the point of giving up. He’ll be with kids who graduate with 4.8 GPAs and perfect/near perfect SATs.”</p>
<p>No, those schools won’t admit a student with more B’s than A’s. Schools reject those who don’t show (via the transcript) likelihood of success. The hardest match schools should be found (because schools are not identical in the amount of learning they infuse). </p>
<p>Cost is often a confounding factor.</p>
<p>So, you think this kid won’t get admitted to Vandy anyway. Well, I don’t disagree with you.</p>
<p>However, my son has better test scores than this kid and much better GPA (was Sal of his school) and got 5’s on all his APs, but he worked his tush off for an A+ in Orgo II. None of his classes have been easy (he’s a ChemE major who is also pre-med), but he’s maintained straight A’s. His school is ranked equal to Mich St. </p>
<p>I would not say that my son is not learning enough to do well on his MCAT. I’m confident that he’ll do very well. His school has a high success rate getting into med schools.</p>
<p>Excellent! That’s probably one of the best pre-med selection criteria. Some schools with over 80% med school acceptance do like to brag about it. ;)</p>