<p>Hello,
We are Alaska residents so we can participate in the Western undergraduate exchange. My son wants to major in Biochemistry for undergrad and wants to go to University of Washington (Seattle) for med school.<br>
We know University of Alaska is affordable but what would academically be the best WUE school for a person wanting to go to medical school? </p>
<p>Thank you
Kelli in AK</p>
<p>First of all, not all public Us participate in WUE. Some that do particpate restrict the majors in which they will accept WUE students. Some that have the major and accept WUE make the WUE scholarship competitive.</p>
<p>Have you run the WICHE search for 4 year colleges that offer a BS in biochem?</p>
<p>[WICHE</a> - Student Exchange Programs](<a href=“http://wue.wiche.edu/search1.jsp]WICHE”>http://wue.wiche.edu/search1.jsp)</p>
<p>There appears to be only about 25-27 that do.</p>
<p>Of the schools returned from the search, all are either more or less academically equivalent or weaker than UA-Fairbanks. The flagship universities in states other than AK that allow WUE are probably your son’s strongest academic options.</p>
<p>What other considerations do you want to look at for your son’s undergrad?</p>
<p>You might want to consider things like location (urban vs. rural vs suburban). Or the closeness of the a hospital to campus (for volunteering). Availability of undergrad research. Lifestyle wants (skiing/snowboarding; big time sports, etc)</p>
<p>FWIW, one of D1’s classmates, a MD/PhD student, is a UA-Fairbanks grad.</p>
<p>WUE schools often do not give a WUE student any merit scholarships besides the WUE discount, so the question is whether paying 150% tuition plus all other costs (including transportation) is worth it if the school isn’t better than your own instate option.</p>
<p>Tell your son not to get stuck on any one particular med school. </p>
<p>I guess that Alaska has some connection to UWash’s med school, but how many does it accept every year? Does Alaska have any ties to any other states’ med schools? </p>
<p>Your son might want to consider some other states where attending undergrad provides a hook for one of their med schools. </p>
<p>Does your son have the stats to get good merit scholarships at other schools?</p>
<p>Thru WWAMI UW reserves 20 seats for Alaska residents each year.</p>
<p>Alaska residents can also apply to other WICHE state medical schools and may receive special consideration at them. (Univ of North Dakota, Univ of New Mexico, Univ of Nevada accept medical students thru WICHE’s PSEP.)</p>