does status of college really matter?

Question

Am I better off taking pre-med at my local university for nearly no cost, and saving my money for medical school, or taking out loans for an "elite" college? Do med schools prefer one over the other?

Answer 1

The main thing you need to consider is where you want to go to medical school. If you want to go to Harvard or Johns Hopkins, you will need the credentials to get you there. If you want to go to a normal medical school and get the exact same education, go somewhere that you will enjoy and prosper and save money. I lucked into growing up in arkansas, attending the university of arkansas (which was the school that gave me the most money), and being accepted the UAMS in Little Rock, so if the opportunity like that is presented to you, you have to consider it while thinking about the "elite" schools. And remember that public medical schools predominately accept "same state" applicants over "out of state", but private schools are not like that.
But to answer your last question, med schools accept applicants based on their potential, so it really doesnt matter where you went to school because your volunteering, application, personal statement, interview, grades, MCAT score, and experience will overshadow the fact that you went to so and so state university instead of ivy league. good luck.

Answer 2

Go to the local school. You will get an excellent education. Make sure to ace all of your science subjects, especially organic chemistry.

Also, take time to immerse yourself in the humanities.

Be on the lookout for subjects you like better than medicine. I went to the University of Illinois in Champagne-Urbana, majored in pre-med, took the sophomore course in organic chemistry, and I never left. I spent the next 50 years in organic chemistry.

There were moments when I faltered. Going for a Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Iowa, I audited four semesters of medieval history. I spoke to the professor, who suggested that the history department counld support me with an assistantship if I switched. I thought about it and stayed with chemistry.

Answer 3

Well, everyone will look at your grades, your recs, and your MCATs. But, seriously, if you really want to be a doctor, go elite. Unfortunately, the world looks at that first.