Weight of the undergraduate institution while applying for med school?

Question

I'm a senior in highschool and I am having a hard time choosing between going to a public school in my state (UW-Milwaukee) which has a research facility and "above average national admission" to med school (although, im sure that is kinda scewed as it includes people applying from community colleges etc. etc.) and going to a more prestigious institution that is out on the east coast and way more expensive/unfamiliar to me.

Im wondering how much the undergrad institution matters in admission to medical schools. Is a 3.5 at a prestigious college better than a 4.0 at a state school?

edit: the east coast school im talking about is no harvard/yale, but more popular and well-known than the state school

Answer 1

As a faculty member of a medical school and a cardiologist, I'd say the quality of the education is paramount. Go to the school that will offer the best, most well rounded, liberal arts education and then do very well on the Medical College Admission Test. Then you will likely be admitted to medical school, and if you choose not to go to medical school, you will have received an education that will allow you to pursue other options.

Answer 2

Getting a great education at whatever school you choose is key. I don't know which school in the east coast you may attend, but unless it is one of the premier schools in the country (say top 25), it may not give you an advantage. It would be foolish to say that you wouldn't have an advantage if you went to a school like Harvard. Nevertheless, remember that no matter what school you go to, you have to perform at a very high level, do well in the MCAT, and have some pretty outstanding extra curriculars.
As for the GPA, remember that it isn't just the numbers that medical schools look at. They look at how tough your classes were, if your school inflates grades, and the GPA distinction between your science grades and your non-science grades.
The bottom line is go to the school that you want to go to, do well in your classes, be involved outsides of school, do well on the MCAT, and you can get into med school.

Answer 3

Whereever you go, if you work hard, do well, and demonstrate extracurricular interests and leadership skills, you should have a very good chance at making it into medical school.

Most "prestigious" schools also inflate their grades substantially--so a 3.5 may be well below average at an Ivy League school, whereas a 3.5 may be top 10% at a state school.

Most medical school admissions committees recognize this disparity. But mainly, they are looking for intelligent, hard-working, well-rounded individuals. If you think you can demonstrate yourself as such an individual, it shouldn't matter where you go.

"Prestigious" east coast institutions do have the advantage of offering many resources and guidance with regards to the above. So if you see yourself as someone who may benefit from a helpful 'nudge,' then you may wish to go to such a school if possible. At larger state schools, you'll need to have excellent self-direction and motivation to accomplish the same goals---but many folks wishing to pursue medicine have those necessary skills.

Answer 4

That can vary between umpteen factors (listen to the cardiologist above!!!)

It's no secret that medical schools are going to look at your undergrad institution and attempt to comprehend the difficulty you would have had in attaining your GPA.

There are also schools where it is very difficult to get a high GPA, despite the fact that the school isn't known around the world (I graduated from one of these schools). Often, medical schools in the region (think half the country) will understand this and take into account a lower GPA --- and, in my case, a rather low BCPM GPA!

Also, look at your undergrad institution's own medical establishment. If your undergrad college has its own highly-ranked med school, you will be given extra weight/gentleness when it comes to a lower GPA. Both by your own college's med school AND other medical schools!

(Even my undergraduate biosciences degree gets worshipped since it came from a no-name university that has a well-known medical school...)

Best of luck getting into medical school... I'm not gonna lie to you, it's a b#*(@%tch. But, if you've thought it out properly, you'll be rewarded.

Answer 5

I have read that the weight of the school matters, but it is really your attitude that counts. A person who is from say, Harvard with hubris isn't going to get positive acknowledgement as much as a person from UW who is a positive and competent student who is aware of his attitudes and presents himself well.

It is much better, in my opinion to do best you can in a state school, involve yourself in research and publications of research, and join activities that promote well-roundedness, character, and analytical thinking skills.

The financial aspect: it is better to not be in debt and go with the public institution, but remember to keep in mind to try to *shine*. If you are going to attend a public medical school, then I think public undergraduate is fine.

Admissions really look at the whole person, not just institution. MCAT score reflects a more objective basis for comparing you to say, a Harvard student.

What also counts is the undergraduate major and how well you exceled in it. You can do any major that has rigour (avoid criminal justice, usually fine arts, etc) and go for english, math, sciences--whatever you know you will succeed in.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Amy P is correct. Go to U. Wis. Milwaukee if that's what you feel best with. Just make sure to ace all your science courses. ("A B in organic? What's wrong? You had a bad semester?") Medical schools like it if you do so well in your major that you could have gone anywhere, so you decided to apply to med school.