<p>I am a Junior right now and I am starting to look into my college options. I have wanted to be a Neurosurgion ever sice I was little and I plan on attending John Hopkins for my Graduate studies but I am not shure where to go for my pre-med. I would go to John Hopkins but I live in Va and I can not afford to go to John Hopkins for both. I am at a complete loss at which school to attend. I have thought about UVA, William and Mary, Mary Washington, Concord, and many others. So if anyone out there has some advice for me i would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Tony.</p>
<p>First of all, while wanting to be a neurosurgeon is great, realize that as a junior there is lots of time between now and the point where you have to decide that. You may find out that you hate neuroanatomy (I'm in the middle of neuro right now), or you don't want to deal with residency (things you would figure out in med school) or you may realize that organic chem sucks and decide that medicine isn't for you. I'm not saying that you won't end up loving medicine and doing great and loving neuro, just that there are thousands of kids who come in as froshes pre-med and change their mind.</p>
<p>With that said, the other thing I would caution you against is that you are set on JH for medical school...getting into medical school is not like choosing a college or a law school, where you can come up with these "safety" schools. Getting into any medical school is difficult and most people don't get accepted to more than one. Again, not saying that you won't get into JH, but that is a very highly thought of school (but more in terms of research, rather than producing clinicians) and they attract some of the best applicants from what is a very intelligent applicant pool. What I am trying to say is that you should focus more on the goal of getting in ANYWHERE for medical school first, then worry about where you will go from there.</p>
<p>So, for all that, in regards to your question, my advice, as a first year medical student, is go where you want to go. Go to that school that you feel best about, not the school you think will help your chances...go where you will be the happiest. You can get into medical school from anywhere, but no school can guarantee you admission somewhere. So for that reason you should go to the undergrad institution that will allow you to have the best possible undergrad experience possible. You'll probably know it when you visit the various campuses which one will just, for some reason, hit you as the place you have to be. Go with your heart on this one.</p>
<p><em>sigh</em> Maybe it's just me, but I'm personally sick of reading about all these high schoolers who want to be neurosurgeons/plastic surgeons/cardiac surgeons and splitting hairs b/w going to Berkeley vs. UCLA or Georgetown vs. UMD. Honestly, GO TO THE SCHOOL YOU LIKE THE BEST. This means the school that you fit in the best, the school you at which you can relate to the student body, the school you like the atomosphere of, the school you like the weather at. You are far more likely to work hard and study hard and do well at a school where you can be happy. Stop w/ these "strength of premed programs" posts. Premed consists of roughly 4-6 courses. I wouldn't choose a school based on the strength of its intro bio class lol</p>
<p>Definitely hear you on that NorCal...and I've been around for like a week...</p>
<p>i'm from va.. right now im choosing between uva and jhu for college. i, too, want to eventually go to jhu med school (who doesnt? =P) but i also want to have a good undergrad experience, which is why i'm holding on to uva as my other choice.</p>
<p>i absolutely love uva, and nearly all the students there seem to agree. also, uva is virginia's "trophy" school, so the academic quality is superior. however, some people tend not to like uva because it's a big school and prefer W&M's smaller size. i say go visit them all and find where you enjoy the most, but i think in prep for med school, uva and w&m are probably the best.</p>